The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-06-23
CHICAGO, June 20, Is


Messrs. Editors "A few days Of necessary
delay here have enabled me to look about this
fast western city, and with your leave will
rattle off a few lines fer the amusement Or pro-
vocation of your readers. Anything for ex-
element as the boy said when he kicked the
hornets nest TO pieces and walked up an army of
those formidable little devils-so to relieve the
tedium Of the hour I'll bore your compositors
with an epistle Of most unspellable chirogra phy
and your readers with-whatever suits my
taste.
Chicago il a city of some one hundred and
twenty thousand inhabitants. more or less, built
upon marsh near the entrance of skunk river
into Lake Michigan. 1t was an old army post
when most of its present residents were little
children in Germany, Ireland, France and other
portions of Europe. In the year 1884, only "a
years ago. it could number nearly 900 people,
including Indians. Its actual growth COM
mcnced in the wildcat times of 1885, Gas
was the author of its early prosperity and the
citizens Of the place have never abandoned the
use Of the article. Other cities may have had
greater natural advantages. but reliance upon
the gifts of nature is of little value against that
active, untiring. "keep-it- before the people,
theory which Chicago has steadily practiced for
the past twenty years; the consequence is that
the village at the mouth of skunk river has
grown into an immense commercial mart while
these places around it which possessed merit
bit were too indoent or too stingy to publish
their advantages to the world, have been swal-
lowed alive by the far-sighted Adventures who
| drove the musk,ats and wild-fo wi from the fcns
| and morasses whose ancient beds are now sold
| at five dollars per square foot printers
Ink has been the most powerful friend the
mnrsh has formed an alliance with by means
of this it has acquired real merit, great advan.
| tages over its neighbors, more Rail Roads of
national importance than any city west of the
Allcganies, and growth Of population unpre-
cedented in the history of American towns.
Chicago has suffered more from the late
financial crisis than any city in the union
The sudden arrest of a train of cars on race
OF mile a minute has most destructive ef-
feet upon persons and property ON board-if
the motion were but one mile an hour, break
would hardly lie noticed. This city has been
travelling ON the Great Western Lightning Ex-
press Train and the displacement of the
s~issA,s4sa.>As~.~fco nHdenor isst NH, pisyed
the very devil with it. 1t has not decreased in
population however, because every residen.
here we'll knows that so soon as tic track of
Commerce is again in order all the elements
of trade are ready to POUR prosperity into the
lapof the North Western Emporium. Viewed
now by one who saw its busy streets a year ago
it presents gloomy appearance. Its South
Water street. once the boast Of Western Mer-
chants. looks deserted and friendless You pass
building formerly occupied by the active and
thriving firm Of "Brown 4 Co." and the shut
tiers arc closed against the prying eyes of
curioaity-the next room has Smith e. Bro"
orer the door and "To Rent" in large letters on
1.-THE next establishment has "selng off at
Cost" prominently displayed at ito mast head.
If you travel up and down Lake Street, the
street of Chicago. you will soc the same indi-
cations Of the ravages of the crisis. The ladies
are traversing the side walks in an agony of
eagerness to grasp the bargains in laces silks,
crinolnes ETC., which necessity offers at what
| ever prices the pretty jewesses please to give
The cry Of the auc,ioneer is mingled with the
rattle Of empty omnibuses flor people do not
ride now as much as formerly The theatres
North . and McVickaris) sustain themselves
tolerably BY employing second-class talent.
(esen talent is a-begging) by reducing the
price Of admission and by throwing in lunch
of pork and beans With ten cent smile be-
tween the acts The Hotels have reduced their
fare and discharged their help and by the aid
| Of low prices for eatables and small wages for
employees they manage to keep alive. The
Churches are well patronized in the way Of
audiences. because disappoin,ments in trade are
sure to divert the Spectator from things earth.
y to things spiritual but it is matter of fact
that latterly the devopt are rarely troubled with
circulation of the plate of collection Every
thing is flat. but am glad to say that matters
are now evidently improving True, there is not
half demand for the shipping that Aaps its
lazy sails in the breeze, but there is an improve
| mcnt within the last few weeks, and there is
strong reason to hope that We are now on the
vosd - oonysiescence at least, If not to entire
commercial health.
One of the most remarkable. and to stran.
ger the most objectable features of Chicago is
the style OF street and pavement or sidewalk
which the council have adopted. The street /.
raised some 3 feet above its former level and
this necessarily leaves the pave that much be.
low the carriages and drays. Some of tie
buildings have been raised by the new jack
screw process 10 level with the grade and
some OF them remain in statu quo The con-
sequence of this diversity of tastes is that the
city presents the most pleasing undulations
Imaginable. You walk fifty feet on the pave
and then 60 up stairway Of four or five steps
| fifty feet more and you descend stairway
twenty feet farther and you mount to grade
again. If You should cross the street in the
night you must bear in mind the attitude you
occupy else You may unfortunately step up
when You ought to step dO,cn--a mistake Of
| this kind often brings your nose or yoir shins
In unpleasant contact with sharp board or
pile OF bricks or stone laying convenient to the
| PERSON OF the pedestrian. have heard that
young lady Of Chicago was racantly taken to
Boston and became seriouily ill her ph yscian
learning the topography Of her late residence,
had little stair-ways constructed in the garden
OF her New England friend, and the frequent
travel he prescribed over them soon restore her
| to health! do not vouch for the truth Of this
! statement but it 10 undoubtedly true that every
person in Chicago who walks mile must travel
up and down not less than too hundred steps in
the sidewalk 1t looks now as though every
person designed to establish grade to suit
himself and If variety has the spicy effect at.