Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-10-03


DE,R Sta: Ihnve 80 many subject. con.
corning which would write YOU. that
hesitate which one 10 take mp. might
devote my whole letter to matter, worthy
Of mention in this city alone, VIII ch in point
Of commercial interest, has no superior per-
haps in the world-ccr,ainly not In some
important features hut, at this period Of
VIXEN politics absorbs tho attention Of almost
every ono, and especially your, probably
les interest would be found In statistical
facts relative TO the business Of city -
remote from you, than 10 a few spceula,ions
as to the rcsultof the approaching Prc'idcn-
tial elections in the Western States. Allow
me. however. before passing 10 that impor.
tant subject to alludc somewhat leugthily 10
few Of tho most prominent features Of the
e Garden City Of the West"
Chicago, YOU are aware. is bat yc-ns
city, and not an old town only atDu' ~
years have elapsed since /, was a fort AMI
government tuding.post andwiihin Few
weeks the block.housc built by the United
States Government, and the first hou.,
erected here, has been demolished and re-
moved, 10 make room for more modern and
useful, but not more attractive structure,
for that was one Of the novelties or the city.
In 1910 Chicago had population Of only
1000 souls In 1856, tho city is said TO con-
tain 100000, inhabitants bat YOU have
my permission n knock otT from that
number ten or fifteen thousand, which am
somewhat obstinate in believing will brin.
the figures moro nearly correct, ami cysn
then show an increase of population scarcely
without parallel AZ this time every
quarter OF the city has an appearance Of
nrwucss. and much Of IL look. Ike town
just begun. You will remember that the
whole region here j. lat prairie, anil that
not a hin or scarcely prrcrp'ibln cminencc
appears in any direction Ascend thfh high
80 building, in the city, and with = spy
glass look abroad and the vision of sight i
ouly arrested By tho horizon. which shuts
down on the vast, level rrarirs or the clear
waters OF Lake Michigan. The louulcr. %.
thr city probably not anticipating H. event
ua' importance, erected ~ the buildings but
slightly elevated from Oh, surface Ut the
ground, rendering them Unlocking, unheal.
,hy. and the basement. llhl, On %, iugnll-
tcd On the occasion ut every severe fll uf
rain. The land Is 50 NEARLY level thai ,sw-
CTS. &, drain the cty. are constructed AMI
kcp; M order with the grWt..t d,lEcuity
consequently there Away, ha, hcn, and
.ull 0, much staenani and filthy water, even
loo tIo ihiekly populated districts, and has
hrru 'hr origin OF the belief -o prevalent
90 distance, that Chicago 0, cy-rrlr;IY
unhealthy Thi'sat.uu tlc llyautburit',s
have commenced new bo,tominr ihc town
and several Ut the street. are bein. raised,
regarded and paved with stone, ari s..-
tenn al sewerage BIAS Lr.u commenced which
will hr Drylst benefit hereafter. Tao work
ofri,ing tha streets operate hlly igrtNua'
vh, had previously erected Substantial
bailIiu-., 70. they are two 0r thrr' fee De-
low ,h, grade and iu s,iu, nut VI thcm %
ern.- 90 che oppl'it, sI!e on frequently na-
tau3s tHrre o. four steps, nui thD.s who
have built within year la,r hu,lt boo as-
corlAur, with tuc new grade, SD ,lat r.lr.-
,ri1n, arr constantly going up and down
stair. Ou,.hall the .tgcg'. az b.ogsud.l
with huillins material, and 10 Is estimated
that as many Is hrrs thousand Irn tHdrt
and nv laidi1g, will h,,rratel .n Chicago
the present season, and thoss, with an aver
asc front Of twenty-five irat, would racIa
dis,tnc, OF about seventeen and thr-luar-
tor miles aud at an average cost OF S-uun
apirc,. would amount % toe sum oI So
100000, Of mistake not. Immense blocks.
with graceful marble fronts, publ.cauI rr,-
gltc offices equal 90 tie most elegant
aul substantial structures % thc uiI r caste
crn cities, ar going up ia all sections, AMI
uuI will add much q the character and im-
por,auc, Ut tho city. The whole town has
an cn,.rpri,ins and thrifty look but ,ho
confused state Of tho streets, consequent
upon the Improvements, presents an uuia-
yorable contrast when compared with thc
clcln.svcpt and well.ordcred avenues 0i
Now England cities. Plank sidewalks Q1p,'
and uncyen,) plank roads aud streets, or
what /, worse, the mud or dust "a stato Of
things governed entirely by the weather. Of
the unrayed streets, where the virgin soil
j. constantly outraged by the hoofs I'D
wheels Of travel, are anything butaurlcGac
To those who have long been accustomed 10
the brick aud stone thoruughhrcs Ut other
cities. The town j, Wild with activity
wholesale aud retail trade Of al! kinds il
fair ,hi. season, and indications arc pro-
phc,ic Of the continued prosperity Of the
city.
A. grain and lumber market, Chicago
has no equal in the world and this asser-
ton can subsiantiatc to your satisfaction
in a brief paragraph; but the statistical
facts connected with this business, which
are easily to be obtained, would occupy
more space than have time % I'LL or YOU
to examine. The following are the receipts
of lumber, &c, to september lst in too
years
1855 1856
Lumber. feet. lg7 ,O3G,G25 3l7L4,339
sti,,l,. num5er 44.sI7.TjO $4,000 200