, 1864-12-03

Probably the most solid evidence or eroEinr
prosperity in our city will be found in the masnit
cent extenstons Of docksge and storage facilities
now In progress in Chicago. We are not vet a
manufacturing people; probably many years may
elapee ere we rise to that dignthed poddon. But
ne are established a. the great entrepos OF travel
| and traffic In the West The treasures OF the Mis-
aiAsippi Valley ase poured into or lap. Corn,
wheat lrmbe1. pork, beof, aid numerous other
| products find here tha npatural resting place ere
they are seEt forth to minister to the needs Of
hungry world.
No company or corporation te doing more for the
development Of our commercial Importance few
70 mnch-as the Chicago South Branch Dock
Company, whose extensive works, now five years
In npEogress, ararapidly approaching completion.
They have takenn hand the task of forming ont Of
more than half section Of land within onr city,
magnificent system Of docks, containing more
intetsected everywhere BY ratlroad tracks which
connect with all the roads running Into the city.
The projectors Of this stupendoas undertaking
early recognized the importance Of Chicago az
commercial center, and saw that in a very few
years every available foot Of ground would be re-
9uFsd for he storage Of the ,iniab1s products Of
kind wanted but they set ahout to provide for the
requirements OF the not distant future. Five years
wo e Sen esEs asas
for epace are in advance Of the supply. The South
Branch Docks arc eagerly sought after, being look
GU upUu HH HuI0E u LuC Dtt4 10EkAEE ETOu1Q L1G
city, and as presenting superior facilities in point
Of connection for transfer over very many older
docks in Chicago.
South Branch OF the river, in the West Division,
just across the way from bridgeport II takes in
the whole Of the han1f Of the river from ualste
In this are cut seven etip canals al right angles
with the river 100 feet wide Il feet deep and aver
aging l1G0 feet In length running back to South or
Twenty second street From this runs 4 street
along he middle Of each peninsula, dividing It
into two sets Of docks, and furnishing easy com
MNnicarion with every part Of the city.
ton if also thus secured. railroad track Is laid
along each Of those eub-streets, branching from
track laid Just south Of Twenty street. this
rms into the track ofthe c.,B. 4 O. Railroad and
that company has agreed to receive at point near
theif nam track, and return to the same point
We had thought to have given map Of this
magnificent wofk:, but the fast-otlacial-map o{
70 he tact Question es s'ss a1ass Se
center Of the lower half Of thai nap and is marked
"Greene's South Branch Addition That refer
ego. It lies ut thc head Of the illinois and Nichi-
gan Canal, connecting directly With this, With the
lake, md with all the railroads. It is destined
west, that point in the city where will converge
every item Of our traffic except, perhaps the grain
trade: The cost Of dockage there will be much
tendaut on the delivery md receipt Of cars to and
BE- By
panfee will be able to make up lumber trains direct
from the yards here located, and send them of al
The work was begun in 1856 By private com,
pany, but after laboEine with It two years the prop
erty was glvcr up to Its original owners. In 1s5s
me- men nsmed n ehe Act 7 being William Greena e sW
3. Sampson. B. ). Arnold, }. F. Hance, r B. Ma
ron, A. g. @ @Thsoop @ and I'd 4 A. J: knissly H. TIE capita
being increasahle to any sum not exceeding tht
entire yalue Of lands and improvements. SInct
benr ese
the ground being leased out for that purpose, &
atthe digging Of the canals haz been source 0
!. cavated. doeked and ready fez nee, on the slips
i about 200 feet and The river, about 400 feet
= Besides this there are ,1oo feet doeked h9t no
d esE Sa e. Rs' ccmp
has been laid, one Of he su1tracEs Il lsid 1hat o.
+ Ills he G., 3: : q. Company arc now run1ine
quired. and are now actively engaged in removin
lumber from those-docks. -..
n. Ludington s Co. have purcnased $50 feet o.
!. the WcEt eide Of Joys canal; Jee2e Spalding s.
e feet on Mason'r canal; and James Fasf, Jr., 20
r feet on Aliens canal, which will all be occnpie
5 sppE Mesers en 1esssd 1o
= 1eet on Mason's canal, for a planning mill, an
Q are now engaged in its erection.
: When finished, these canals will afford 4bou
d $1,000 feet Of water front, or more than u
n miles, besides one mile Of river frontoge. Abou
1000 feet Of alp front belonged to the Dock Com
pany prior TO the eales recently made.
q The President since june 1864. is Colonel r. Z
a. Mason, one Of the original incorporators. Th
:. | Secretary is Abraham J. knisely: He has duc
e that position e1nce the first election OF officers
n his office is in Cobb's Building.
r Within five years from now, this tract Of Ian
will be covered with lumber, and the waters Of tn
% canals will be covered with vessels unloadin
n their frsIghts. while on the railroad tracks vii
stand long trims Of cars taking np their burden
for distribution into the interior. Il will be bus
n the improvement, i've yca1s hence every foot q
= land and w1tcr will be In pse. Thus We progress
Our march Onward IL oA the double quick, and no
= the least prominent among the elements OF Oh
: future greatness will be the Chicago South Branc
|