The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-08
Our Chicago Letter
CHICAGO Aug. ). 1867.

CHICAGO Aug. 5. 1867.
EDITORS TELEGRAPH:
The eight-hour strike, in the very height of
the building season, put stop practically to
all effort in that direction, but since that cost
ly and ruinous experiment has proven an en-
tire failure, building has been resumed and at
this time in all sections of the city, scores of
handsome ediices are going up. In the cen
trail portion of the city, buildings which have
been rather creditable to our city in the past,
but inadequate to meet the enlarged and con-
stantly growing requirements of business in
the present, are being replaced by larger and
more costly erections, marble fronted and
magnificent. Five splendid new school houses
are being put up, each of which is capable of
accommodating thousand scholars. Hun
dreds ofdwellings most of them neat, two story
cottages, are going up on the borders of the
city mainly on the west and south sides, while
the engagements, raisings etc. of buildings
are quite innumerable. Under that latter
head, by the way, comes something witness
ed the other day away over ON West Harrison
street. gang of carpenters were hard at
work, transforming a stable into dwelling
house and store What had been the hay-loft
was already nearly completed as three room
tenement, and family seemed to be moving
in, while the stalls were still standing
on the first floor. The scene reminded me of
the stories old settlers tell of the early times
here, when Chicago's greatness first began to
be developed. Then, a wall tent was palace
and people started boarding houses in dry
goods boxes and sugar hogsheads with Sleep
ing accommodations on the bosom of the prai-
rie. What change from then to now There
are American cities which possess more pic
| tuesque beauties have been more favored by
nature in this respect, than ours, and which
wealth and the progressive civilization of
years have adorned with more beautiful resi-
dences, but there is, I believe no city which,
taking into account its youth and intensely
| business character, lat llleaGs Chicagoin arch
| itectural beauty in all classes of buildings.
On the south side Avenues and over on the
! west side at Union Park and beyond there are
very many residences which will compare fa-
vorably with the richest mansions of eastern
cities, while that large district bounded by
the river on the north, Market street on the
west, the Lake and Monroe street on the south
may be said to be a mass of model stores and
business blocks of which even New York;
boosted Broadway might not be ashamed
! BY the way, notice that there is not so much
complaint this year on the score of exhorbi-
tant rents as is usually heard. Land lords
seem to have partially recognized the fact
| that their rapacity tends inevitably to drive
tenants to such deeds of desperation as the
erection of houses oftheir own
! An ammusing incident occurred the other
day at one of our third-rate hotels too good to
be lost forever. You are no doubt aware of
the fact that showmen have a slang or argot of
| their own,a choice mixture of all other slangs.
| Well, circus which went through here re-
Gently left q 'canvas man. who was very sick
and two of his cOmrads remained with him.
Both loved him as an old and true friend, but
as soon as it became evident that he must die
one of the two became particularly affected.
| Weepingas he looked upon the glazing eyes
of his old friend and brother he exclaimed:
Stag his goggles, Gully" (see his eyes COM
rade) 1t was with difficulty that bystanders
could maintain their gravity.
The markets to-day are quite Stagnant gen
orally, except in corn which has gone up 50
| @413; closing quotations are as follows: Flour
81, 50@12,50 for white winter, $9,75@10, 1919
for spring extra. Wheat 50, 1902, Is for No. /,
50, 05@2. 10 for No. 2; Red 81, S2@1, S5 for No.
| 81, 7O@1,73 for No. Spring. Corn 90@9315c
for No. l, 86@8915 for No. 2, S1@S415 for re-
iected. Oats 5000 for No. l. 60063 for No
| 2. Rye 93095 for Ne. 1. Barley S00$1 ,05 by
sample. Freights easy, corn 215c to Buffalo
| Don.