New-York daily tribune., 1851-10-02
CHICAGO.
Its History and present Condition.


Core noondcnce OF The y. y. Tribune.
CHICAGO. "Wednesday, Aug ., 1851.
There are two elements in the honest
surprise which fills the mind OF an Eeslemer on MS
first visit to this Western city the one hat Chicago
is as ii $50 uansceudiu. the conception OF II prev
allen, at the East the other that has become what
il so short time that While yet mis- teens It
has grown TO be a fully dcyoloYed, well formed coni-
pac,ly knit robust, properly behaved and digl.dcd
individual OF city Chicago is Ult-as man r, II not
most of Eastern residents, suppose collection o!
low, uncouth buildings, bordering on The slatec OF
der OF architecture set IN the midst Of bog swamp
on the contrary, II ls buit on ID broad and now 10y
prairie, which stretches blch llOm Lake A l.s1a 20
an angle of elevation sufficient Tor DRAINAGE being
no more like swamp faal arc The lOamy meadow,
on the banks OF tAe Connecticut IL L. lfd Out IA
WIDE streets, which mters.ct 70 right angles IS dot
ted with pubhc squares ana Is made Up, 70 cOnslc-
cradle extent, OF blocks o. brick b. dinss. and agree
able private mansions, pleasantly surrounded hy
yards and gardens he streets IRE Tor he most part
paved with plank, there no stone N ns country
suitable for paving the sidewalks also oi plank.
and very broad and rows OF Neuns trees-elInS, To-
Gusts cotton wood and m4N.c-iIne tAc avenues and
surround the DIV elhrg HOUSES.
And ones suTprlsc grCWS INTO ast0n.shIncut or re-
aizng that all thlS broad extent OF building ani ele
gance OF Surroundings have been Effected since 1888
IL was with a strange feelrr ot mingled wonder and
reverence, and skeQncism too (Which could not
wholly get nd Of a. the niarvei3uS fac. before me-
that rode about the city the other uOrnlng. under
the guidance of Oae OF TIE " oldest inhabitants, ~.
young man. fer a. th.t-aGd was shown the .l'Id
frame building erected in thltsgo-Wl1ch. as 10y
friend said, " assisted IN raising IN the spring OF
lsS3"and the log house where ne boarded, the sec
OLd dwelling house Ol the place. Stl LEI standing
III q back ward. and incoscd bysargt tilyrc four
story warehouses ard blocks OF huck Stores wGicn
the merchandise from great meet ot vessels,
cTowclng the neIghborag docks. I told m iuend
that though, he could uo. out have some oouot OF
his personal identity, he looked back through the
short term oi i years, ana recalled, tie place OF
this thriving, busting e,buit city. the open prai
re, dotted by two dozen log nuts it viii moi oe
profitable TO your readers tTust, 10 have presented
them picture of Chicago rs u now is through the
meclum OF some statistics Which have taken pans
10 collect.
The porulation : estimated a, 3lep Inlsf5,
was l2,OOO The census OF y months ago makes II
$500. According 30 these figures 1t has increased
the ratio oi = per cent. ol the ponu.lcu OF each
succeeding wear. ~ ,hlS ra'e OF Increase Il Will
number IL 1855, 1900 inhabitants and IA lso0
i1jCUQ and Il Is not ChlmerIca 10 expect that thi.
or nearly this vii prove 20 os the fact especially
a. some two cholera seasons have retarded the rre-
vious growth The ciy Is situated lhat its Growth
cannot iall 10 Il immense, and "a tlle that vii
prove tie aLtcpatIOsis Of sober conservatives :, be
mere puny notions. and the PROPHECIES Of the most
SaneuIne ylSonaTIes 70 be unsurpassed oy the eshv
Chicago Is AZ the hesd Il navi.,aon. A good r4iare
Of the mtTChaiidlSe which VII be wanted through
oul these broad States must pass through her zate
and pay the ;o., snd much o he gram which y II
teen IN these 0ounCle>> Rfalrlts viii saiher frOll
little Tyulets into larger streams and pour through
rushing rte by heT door INTO the bosom OF the
East. Before many vedrS. chicago ID be ia d-ers
water communication With Europe. ard goods salp-
ped Al Liverpool Viii 5e unsnlpped for ne AIs, time
on thicagO'> wnarTeS. Moreover = 10 be tue
center rom whlcn - II rdcldte Railroads In every
direction except that occupied by the vaters of
Lake Michigan. ~ this respect Z Will be 81 -ont
Boston OF ne Ra,lro4tS now n operation. OF GER
tam " cour r.ci.On .shll itss wears. ali0N le g.
sNC q hSs. IN The hr>i place, commencing az the
cA~lfrflnt>f rlNln>. = Ire Nll ll-ln ieUfr ksll.
roat. now ~ operation between Detroit aud Nex-
krta.o, All contracted - be completed through 10
Chicago. around the southern end ol LAKE Mchl-
gen within The year his rOGd Is cCln- very
prosperous business, .s i commands the greater
part O.; the travel between Chie aEO sal Detroit
much Il furnishes -elie.t trdNtifng accom-.
notation, tFes passengers through n ole-ta.rd
The time. AZ 1.inosi tie same e1fsuse aoc T4lsVes
o.o u ne CITc 1ecs sSlty OF >s..-slcknss-.
No d i ,he N.csical >oufherl Railroad. gA.ch
Hlil l, l.,;sd 'r..l rol,lo to Cli.t-o 'siliI
.t-T Ili>l, fit.' .o ire ,trtrl EotL
VI Isl iLc tn-rrgo rrir- c- tte nlnols fs4-ml
H3ilr af Seirr = q. - rCal - Dc T. -ii igJm