Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-10-27
correspondence Of the Baltimore Americnn]
CIIICAgo-ITs WONDERFUL PROGRESS
AND PROSPECTS.

CHICAGO. Illinois, Oct, 1955--Chicago is
great city. In any other country than
this il would be regarded as one OF the won
ders of the world. A few years ago it was
considered at such distance from the sea-
board that journey to it was far more per-
ilous than voyage across the Atlantic. and
required more time to reach it than is now
occupied in making q voyage TO Europe and
back TO say nothing of the hardships and
privatons of the journey. AT present it is
less than n two days journey from Baltimore,
and if necessary the traveller could carry in
his pocket as much provisions us he would
need on the trip.
Chicago was, prior to 1881, an Indian
trading post, In that year the whites began
TO settle there its commanding position Civ
ing assurance of its future prosperity. 1t is
situated near the head of Lake Michigan, on
its West side, which makes it the depot of a
vast amount Of trade from all the country
bounding on that lake as well as on lakes
Huron and Superior, the latter being the
largest Of the great inland seas that form the
distinguishing feature of this section of the
Union 1t is the trade from all this lake
shore country that first gave it its Importance,
and which, since the introduction of railroads,
has increased to an almost incredible extent.
But It's geographical position not only secures
TO 1t the lake trade but commands and COM
pels an amount of railroad traffic to pay tri-
butte TO 1t that no ether city can boast of.
No less than SoreNieen railroads connect it
with various points in the country around it,
all of which either directly or indirectly have
their termini at that city, The aggregate
length of these roads is nearly 5000 miles
completed. One of them, the Illinois Cen
tral, extending from Cairo, at the confluence
of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to De-
buque, Iowa, distance of 454 miles, connects
with Chicago by no less than seven different
railroads diverging from the latter city. The
territory, fertile beyond any other portion OF
the Union from which these roads draw
their incXhaustible stores of wealth and
pour them into the city Of Chicago, is not
less than 100000 square miles, or an extent
of country equal to that covered by more
than a dozen of the old States east of the
| Mississippi. The Illinois and NJ ichigan
| Canal, from Chicago to Peru, opens an easy
access to the coal fields of Central Illinois
In lS40, the population of Chicago was
4,500; in 1S45, 1900; in 1850, $4,000 ii
1854, $4,000; and III 1865, it is estimated &c
be $4,000. Railroads, as yet, are in theil
infancy. What will Chicago be in tenycars
The receipts of corn alone, at this point il
1854, were 100000 bushels of oats $500
600; of wheat 100000 bushels. The tota
amount of wheat corn. oats rye, barley ano
-four, (reduced to bushels received there in
1854, was l5,S0I,500 bushels. The receipt,
flumber are enormous. The quantity re.
ceiyCd in 1851 is set down as follows Lum
ber 252, 800, 200 feet; shingles. ll3,S54, $50
and laths &c, 1900. Besides these, | vii
only mention that there were immcns,
amounts Of beef, pork, lard, hogs, wool, fish
! &c