The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-03
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ChicaRo-ItE WODdeTful Growth The
Causes OF It's SucceSs-The Character
OF It's Business Msn-Ths RatIr0s DIS
CentrInE Here-New England Capital
and New England Men-The Press OF
the CIty, Etc. Etc.
CHICAGO, Nov. 29.-Chicago is The great EN-.
porium of the Northwest It's growth has been
so rapid as TO be almost Startling, and as yet It.
shows no signs of tagging. Ii is going ahead
as fast to-day as ever before. A generation
ago 1t was a small Indian trading post now 1t
IL city of three but dred thou aud In b. bitants
with q commerce second only to that of New
York and Philadelphia. The causes which
have LED TO this remarkable growth are few and
simple. A great city, unleys buit~up mainly
by foreign commerce, is the p, oduct OF a great
country. A glance at the map will show that
Chicago is the distributing point for a vast
region OF our fertile territory-an empire In
itself 1t is the growth and development OF
this magnificent and fruitful country that has
made Chicago what she is. Look a moment at
the increase of population in the states of whloh
Chicago Is the commercial centre. Illinois her
self has grown from a population of $50 900
In 1850 10 nearly three millions; Indiana,
f'om 9SS.OOO TO about Two millions: Michigan
from 3T 900 TO a million and more; Wisconsin
from tO5,COO to over million; Minnesota from
600 to three hundred Thousand; Iowa from
10000 TO million; Kansas from nothing to
nothing To hundred and fifty thousand. 1t is
this stupendous and unparalleled growth that
has made Chicago the metropolis of the North
west. The increase Of population in the States
named from 1850 to 49, o was nearly three mil
lions of souls. From 1850 to 1870 pIte the loss
of life by the war. the increase will be still
greater. or course, the entire commerce of these
States does not centre at Chicago. Mocn of that
ofSou hern Illinois goes to St. Louis of Indiana
fr A,fIF ~
trolt; hut the great mass of the trade, and in an
increasing ratio, centres at Chicago. The means
by which this city has managed to make her.
self the commercial centre Of this vast section
Of country are worthy of study. In the first
place, the city was fav ,,rably located, near
the lower extremity of Lake Michigan,
at the very point where the early settlers
before railroads We're built, would natu
rally debark in seeking homes in the
new country beyond. The same reason
made 1t the nearest and most favorable point
for the shipping of surplus produce and the
receiving of supplies. Long before railroads
had penetrated 10 the West, the Illinois and
Wisconsin farmers could ship their wheat and
corn from Chicago TO Buffalo. and thence by
the Erie Canal 10 New York. The line OF settle
ment thus connected itself from the earliest
period with lis natural outlet, and as the
country back of her grew. Chicago grew with
1t. Being already established as a commercial
point. she attracted to herself the rsi railroads
that were built to connect the East and the
West. ThencefOrWa ard her growth and supre.
macy were secured. Her business men have
always been noted for sagacity and enterprise,
and their great endeavor has been to push rail-
roads out in every direction, until now she is
surrounded with a perfect network of them.
| There are some fourteen or fifteen separate and
distinct lines now centring here, and the
number OF trains arriving and departing daily
must be over one hundred AS a specimen of
| the commerce transacted by these roads, let
me add few figures which pick up at ram
J dom from one OF the city journals lying
| before me. The receipts OF beef cattle dur.
| ing last week were 4267; shipments 1880
| Number OF hogs received, Ill 2iO; shipments
27OO. Receipts of produce for twenty four
houis-Flour, 6l34 barrels; wheat, 48, $50 bushels
corn. "a 0l0 bushels; oats, 23.7i4 bushels; barley,
| l04l5 bushels grass seeds, Ill .l3O lbs broom
corn, 800 lbs; cured meat l3.0l0 lbs; tallow,
IL 10 lbs; hides, 67 700 lbs wool, ID 676 lbs; be-
| sides other Items too numerous to mention.
| Chicago has now become the great hog market
| of the country. Cincinnati used TO enjoy this
pre- eminence. but she has lost it. probably never
TO regain IT, Chicago 10 also one of the greatest
lumber markets In the country. Above her lie
The extensive pine forests OF Michigan and Wis
consin. while hey ond her, In every direction. is
the vast prairie country, requiring All kinds OF