The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-23 00:00:00

CANADA AN!) CHICAGO.

It may not be unprOtitable not even uninteresting to
leave Weal discussions to take care if themselves for a
time, and, turning to the great West, peep in upon
Chicago, one of the modern wonders of the woleu. Liver-
pool, Portland, and Quebec, expect to be by railway and
steam much more closely and directly connected with this
great mart of grain and flour; and, in accordance with
such expectations, much excitement prevails, whenever
plans for these more direct methods of communicato are
agitated. But the rapid increase of Chicago within the
last few years affords a fit subject for contemplation to the
politician and philosopher, as well as to the mere
man of busines or the general reader. In 1840 the popu-
lation of that rising city did not exceed 4,470 inhabitants ;
ten years ago it had not reached 17,000 ; in 1855 it
amounted to 83,500 ; and in 1856 this number had increased
to 110,000. This is a rapidity unsurpassed, we may safely
say, in the history of the world. At the centre and head
of a territory preeminently agricultural, the resources of
which are yet mainly dependent on the productions of the
soil, Chicago might be. regarded as especially liable to be
affected by the .changes and vicissitudes of the times,
and 'the uncertainties of seasons and crops.
Her position, -hewever, is such as to enable
her to reciprocate and to be the medium to
others of reciprocating a vast variety of benefits, and in
itself comprises the essential requisites for a course of
progress and prosperity. It is well known that Chicago,
in addition to her direct connection with the great waters,
is a central station or terminus to several railways. 'The
Governor of the State of Illinois, in his last Message to
the Assembly,' remarks that, four years ago, there were
less than 400 miles of railway constructed in the State;
whercts the amount now in operation will amount to little
less than 3,000 miles. To the North the intercourse with
the mineral deposits en the shores of Lake Superior, has
increased, and the compariiee formed for the manufacture
of iron are said td proceed steadily Wit their prepara-
tions for active business. To the South new coal bets
of superior quality, and within easy reach han been
opened, and promise a plentiful and cheap( supply. Pa;.-
ther on railroad communications have been nearly cone-
completed, which will form an easy and rapid connection
with New Orleans, and the Gulf of Mexico. "To the
West," in the diction of a local paper, "the iron steed has
left the Mississippi behind, and is
'urging his way onward
towards thu Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Eastward an entirely new iron highway, of 1000 miles in
length, has contributed another most important link with
the old Atlantic. It is from the Circumstance of Chicago
being an unrivalled, unprecedented emporium of cereal
productions' that she has acquired her highest reputation,
and aspires to be entitled." The Queen of the West." The
flour trade, although yearly increasing, does not as yet
appear to keep pace with the traffic in grain. Flour mills
are multiplied, but the demand made by an heareasing
populatiOn has advanced with equal rapidity ; and
drought occasionally reduces the number of mills in
operation. In 1855, therewere received at Chicago 240,66'2
brls of flour, and 79,650 ground in the city, making in all
320,312; of which there were exported, 163,419 barrels,
leaving on hand, or consumed in the vicinity, 158,893. In
1856 there were received —324,921 barrels and 86,068
ground on the spot, making in all 410,989; of which there
were exported-215,389,
.leaving as on hand or consumed,
194,609. The details concerning the sources of supply are
highly interesting, but more properly of a local nature.
We may remark, however, that the Illinois Central
Railroad, which brought its first barrel of flour the
year before last, furnished last year 13,212. In like man-
lier we may state more briefly' the total shipments of
wheat, in 1855, amounted to 7,535,097 bushels, and in
1856 to 8,767,760. Chicago, therefore, with some justice,
claims to be, in the phraseology of her people, the
" greatest primary grain port" in the world. In confirrna-
, don of this, it is stated that the total receipts of flour and
grain, last year, amounted to 24,674,824, being nearly
double what they were fonr years ago ; and the exports,
21,583,221, nearly double what they were three years ago.
We have only room to add, on the present occasion, that
Chicago occupies an equally prominent position as a
lumber market ; her trade in this respect, taking
the lead of any other city in the United States. Every
year adds to the extent of her resources and to the magni-
tude of the demand. In 1847 the receipts were 32.000,000
feet ; in 1856 they reached nearly 500,000,000. We have
founded the preceding remarks and statistics on a synop-
tied review of the trade and progress of Chicago, pub-
lished in the Weekly Democratic Press.