The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-05-23

Mail and Day Express, ....... 500 A. N.
Freight and Accom-. .......... $50 A. M.
Night Express Pass. ......... 400 r. n.
The Chicago Convention.
An uncomfortable desire to witness the
gathering Of the Republican clans at Chica-
60 took us to that citv on the 18th. There
70 to 40 thousand strangers there; hotels
were overfowing, the streets were blocked
up with the living tide of politicians, dele
gates, business men and lookers-on, and if
We were to write an hour we could tell
nothing that would convey an adequate
idea Of the crowded state Of the streets and
the houses. The United States Fair drew
a mass far larger, but one-halfor two-thirds
Of these were encamped or located out Of
the busy portion of the city, while these
vere concentrated on Lake and Randolph
and their cross connections; away from
those streets Chicago was about as quiet as
e is usually seen. There is probably no
IAN the Union that is SO we'll calculated
athcr an army Of strangers as is Chica-
Her business is extensive, she is an
rant political center, her theatres and
accs Of amusement are we'll sustain
hotel accommodations are extensive
ap, she has IA independent lines Of
with an equal number of tributary
and she has the most enterprising
q home buffers in the world. Added
Aese natural magnets, there were on
occasion influences of an extraordinary
Ter to increase the "sea ofhumanity."
49, availed themselves of the half fare to
q the meeting of the Convention on
ness, thousands came to assist in the
3de pressure for their fi.vorites, while
thousands went, as people often do,
m execution. eve disclaim any
nee to the slaughter of Mr.. Seward y
we got there as aforesaid, on Tues
ening and put up at the Revere, the
6f the Indiana delegates and out.
Being among friends, albeit not of
itlcal persuasion, we had first-rate
md enjoyed the show amazingly
IGwAM was the great center of attrac-
is on Lake Street near the bridge,
BALI mile west of the fremont. -
nade Of wood, two stories high, braced
hout like an immense barn, with gal
and perforated with only about half
lows and doors enough to be suitable
ut weather. Inside it is ornamented
Statuary, flags, paintings, portraits,
coats of arms; the braces are festooned
Nth evergreens and garlands, and the barn
will hold from 10 to - thousand people
1.-THE order of exercises consisted in trav-
cling from Hotels at 10 o'clock to the Wig
wan; being squeezed almost to death on
the street, and quite to death if you hap
pcned to get into the sanctum. The CALLER
les were reserved for the ladies and their es-
corts, and it may be imagined that there
was extensive show of our crinolined
fellow-citizens as the United States has ever
witnessed in political assemblage. The
doors were opcncdat stated hour and then
the rush commenced. Delegates and alter
mates had seats ON the platform, and Editors
(only about 800 of this useful class were
reported to be presently were ticketed to
chairs in front Of the platform on the
ground. 4, .---.. .0.. ...l,......
Van Amburgh's Circus was in town, so
also were all the side-shows that usually
follow large crowds, Sands Ale wagons, and
Joy & Morris Ice Wagons, and Somebody S
Bakery teams, each gang preceded by a
band of music, paraded the streets process
sionally, and assisted the omnibusses, the
2:4O buggy nags, the handsome family car
riagcs and the legion of Horse Rail cars to
keep up q "noise and confusion" that would
have destroyed the nerves of Gen. Cass and
would have justified even GouGH in imbib-
ing something to quiet his apprehensions Of
turnout of Pandemonium or quick res.
toration of the scenes Of Babel That
something ,ras imbibed there is little doubt.
The Republicans probably numbered nine
tenths Of the strangers in the city and the
receipts for "refr,shments'' were not less
than $4,000 day for five days! The
cashier of ono establishment informed us
on Thursday that his Saloon, or Hall, wo'd
receive three thousand dollars during the
week, for Billiards, Cigars and drinks, Bill.
iards counting about one-fourth of the re-
ceipts, and this Hall is but one of the dozen
first class establishments of similar kind,
besides countless numbers Of smaller halls
and an infinitude Of saloons where drinks
are sold alone. Fifty thousand dollars a
day is not too much to estimate the wastl
Of money at, during the the week Of the
Convention. To this, if we add Hotel fare
Bus hire, and legitimate expenses of visit.
ors we may guess that the city received
over $700, 900 by the accident Of the Con.
ton! If we count the extra trade she die
with country merchants who could come
from long distances on cheap rides we may
safely conclude that Chicago has made ,
nice thing out Of the WIGwAM. She car
afford to invite her cousins to see her once ,
year, and we are not sure If the Railway
would run passenger trains for nothing ant
divide with those who skin the game wher
it arrives, their stock would be in better
shape in Wall Street.
We were saying that the order of exer
cises was to march in the morning towards
the Wigwam, then to be squeezed, then t
return at one to dine; back at 8 or 5 to tn
Wigwam; listen to business about an hou
and > half, then adjourn the Convention t