The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-08

OUR CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.
CHICAGO, Illinois. June 8, 1854.
City Grounded aoiM Eastern Visiters-Ihe Rock
Island Railroad Ercmrsion-Er- President FIJI
more Among the Number Chicago, its Loca-
fion, its Ultimate Destination, &c.
The city is filled with visitors from the East, des-
tined for the Rock Island railroad excursion and the
trip up the Mississippi to the Falls of st. Antony
and st. Pauls, in Minnesota. The rush by the cars
during the last two days, has been 80 great that
scores could find no resting place at the hotels.
Sleeping out was resorted to- as ut Saratoga other
wise many would have been compelled to shirk for
themselves in the best manner they might; and this
is not very agreeable for strangers, particularly
with wives at their arms. The fremont House,
the St. Nicholas of the West is headquarters for the
excursonists Tx President Fillmore arrived amongst
the earliest. He has spent two-thirds Of his time
for three days in the halls and public parlors Of the
house. He is particularly attentive, and very COL
loquial with all who are made his acquaintance.
His body guard is Nathan K. Hall, of Buffalo,
Judge OF the Supreme Court OF the United States.
Tor life, of the Northern district Of New York, under
the seal manual Of Mr.. Fillmore when President Mr..
F. has never been far West before in his life, and
intends to proceed with the party to Minnesota
No other ex-President has ever visited this the
garden city, except Mr.. Van Buren,, who was here
few years since, and came to regulate some land
srecuatons in this region. On Friday yesterday
afternoon the Mayor and several Of the dignitaries
of the city paid their respects to Mr. Fillmore and
spent an hour in his company very agreeably.
This trip is intended like his recent one South for
the purpose of showing himself to the leading whig
politicians, whose support he desires to obtain for
the presidential nomination in 1856. Close upon
his heels followed Thurlow Weed. He has friend
for the presidency, whose prospects must not be
injured by the rambles of the ex-President. On
Monday morning, at O'Clock, the excursion train
leaves this city, arriving at Rock Island at o'clock
in the afternoon.
A stranger visiting Chicago for the first time,
will at once be stuck with establishment with its
commerce, its trade and the industry Of its citizens
There is no city in the interior of the country which
possesses the water and rail advantages which
this now does. Its commerce is as extensive as the
western lakes. 1t has communication with all the
harbors on lakes Erie Huron, Michigan and soon will
have with Superior. It's railroad facilities are now
more extensive and varied than any other point;
and when the population of Illinois, Iowa, Min
nesota, Oregon, Nebraska, and Kansas become
begin to predict the Importance which this city is
ultimately destined to occupy. Within the last five
years great attention has been paid to the cree
ton OF warehouses, stores, private residences, &c
substantial buildings have been erected. There are
twelve hundred in course Of construction, many
with white marble, as elegant as Stewards, near
the Park, in New York. The attention paid to the
erection OF privae dwellings has called ont the
skill of the architects here; and any one taking
view OF some Of the mansions, particularly several
in Michigan avenue, will find them nearly equal in
exterior splender to those Of the merchant princes
with Milwaukee brick, such as are in the Trinity
Buildings, in Broadway, New York, which, with q
paint OF the same light cream color and white
pencing, render the exterior beautiful in the ex-
IRENE. The mechanics here are, however, deficient
in New York architecture, which should at once be
introduced.
The Chicago river, or rather canal, runs through
the northeastern and eastern sections of the city,
On either side are storehouses and grain elevators
OF immense magnitude. All the vessels trading
with this port enter this canal on the eastery side
Of the city from Lake Michigan, aud are lowed
Chose with sails only) by small tugs to all points in
the canal. This keeps half dozen draw bridges in
pretty general notion TO the great annoyance of the
hundreds OF carts, carriages and other vehicles be-
sides constant stream of pedestrians, crossing be-
tween The north and south part of the city. The
bridges are easily and expedtiously moved and two
OF them are probably the greatest span, allowing
more space for vessels, than any other in the
country. The plan upon which they are built ought
to be used for the bridge at Albany on the Hudson
in case one is constructed there. The docks and
st0rehouses are piled mountains high with merchan-
disc and other freight destined for the farther west
and south. More merchandise arrived here yester.
day, than was received in whole season ten or
twelve years ago. THIS is destined to be the great
distributing port of merchandise, and the mammoth
receiving depot of the productions OF the West.
More railroads centre here than at any other point
on this continent, extending in every direction
east, south, and westpenetrating far cviliza-
ton and population will warrant. Many of them
are adding largely to their space and dimensions in
this city; the most extensive, however, is the ILL
nois Central. Some twenty acres of the lake Shore
on the east is being prepared for business and pas
senger accommodations. Immense freight houses
are being constructed, and in a short time store
houses and grain elevators will be erected to receive
and discharge into Buffalo vessels the wheat from
the granaries of the far distant prares This must
evidently become the great mart for this controlling
staple and dealers and shippers in New York and
Boston will be compelled to locate themselves here,
as the business will be too immense to pay commits
sions as is now, and always has been Che case, to
agents and runners.
This whole city, now boasting Of its sixty thou.
sand souls, is scene of activity not known west of
the seaboard Indeed, the magnificent steamers
and heavy draught schooners with shrouds, and
ropes and rigging creaking in nor wester, toge-
Their with the wide expansc OF this inland ocean, re-
mind person very forcibly of the New York
crowded South and West streets, with their ships
alongside. Business of all kinds, especially mecban-
CAL is driven at 2:40 speed. Not an idle person is
seen in the streets-not even beggar. Wages for
mechanics and laborers are nearly up to New York;
as for instance, stone cutters lately struck for and
obtained two dollars and fifty cents day, quitting
at five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and their
weekly pay regularly in cash.
There is one kind of business, however, which is
being oyerdone, and that is jobbing in real estate.
Spectators are as thick as June bugs, and as impu
pudent and mportunate as the old clothes dealers
Ia Chatham street. Their plan has been TO purchase
plot OF ground in the suburbs of the city of five
or ten acres, cut 1t up IN lots of about twenty five
by one hundred feet and then offer them for sale
to any person who will advance fifty dollars on
lot, the entire sum running from five hundred
to two or three thousand dollars a lot. This
first instament generally covers the original cost to
the SPECTATOR and the remainder he gives credit
on for ten years or So by securing an annual pay
ment Many thousands Of dollars have been an.
nualy accumulated by shrewd Yankees, who come
as perfect strangers. This mania has reached the
business portion Of the city. Landlords are now
receiving rents, in many instances, much higher In
comparison with their investments, than anything
In New York out of Wall street aud Broadway.
This specializing mania is at its extreme height
1t has reached its maximum, and must reoede.
Many OF the shrewd ones are aware that panic
must ensue in the traffic Of real estate and pre-
pairing to meet it.. No person should come here,