The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-03-15
CHICAGO.


lengthy article on Chicago in The, Allan
tic MOPlhIy for March. It was written
BY james Parton
When Professor GolGWin Smith was
Preparing for his voyage to America. Mr.
Richard Golden said to him, a See two
things in the United States, If nothing
else, -Niagra and Chicago" Professor
Smith acted upon this advice, and. while
visiting Chicago, acknowledged th at the
two objects named by bis friend were in
deed the wonders Of North America
Chicago can claim one point of superior.
ity over its fellow wonder. According
TO Ike gelogists, the cataract has been
about four hundred centuries in becom
ing what it is, but the, city has come to
pass in thirty three years. f4aasa
On Monday morning. October 4, 1884,
word vas brought 10 The people of Chi
eagO that large black bear had been seen
in strip of woods quarter Of a mile
out of town. The male population seized
their guns and made for the forest, where
the bear was soon freed and shot. After
so cheering an exploit, the hunters, dis
inclined TO resume their ordinary labors,
resolved to make day Of it, aud have a
dash at the wolves which then prowlsd
mig hIly in everysi,art of Chicago. Before
the night closed in they had killed forty
wolves, all on the site Of the present Me
tFopols of the North west The wolves,
however, did not take the hint, sinea We
learn that, aslate as 1888, the bowliugs
Iof this pest of the prairies we're occasion.
ally heard far within the present city
limits. Yet even then the inhabitants OF
the place were bewildered at the rapidity
of its growth, aud spoke of the
brilliant prospects before it very much
as they now do. z.t
Chicago. for fifteen years after it began
it's rapid Increase, was perhaps of all prai
RE towns the most Tepulsiye to every
human sense. The place was in vile
odor even among the Indians. since the
name they gave it, -Chicago,-if it does
not mean skunk, as some Ole hunters
aver, signifies nothing of sWeeter odor
than wild onion. 10 81. r. .e.r..
.ai The prairie on that part Of the shor.
OF Lake Michigan appears to the eye as
flat as The lake itself, and it's average hight
above the AXE is about six feet. A GEN
tleman who arrived at Chicago from the
South in 1888 reports that be waded the
last eight miles of his journey in water
from one to three feet deep.-a sheet or
water extending as far "a the eye could
reach over what is COW the fashionable
quarter of Chicago and its most elegant
suburbs, Another traveller records. that
in 1881, in riding about what is now the
very centre and heart of the business por.
ton of the city, he often felt the water
smashing through bis sIirEups. Even in
dry summer weather that part of the prai
RE was very wet. ard during the rainy
season no one attempted to pass over it
on foot. II would rot have given six
pence an acre for the whole of it, said q
gentleman, speaking of land much OF
which is now held at FIVE hundred dol,
lars foot. II looked so unpromising 20
farmers eyes, that Chicago imported a
considerable part of its provisions from
the eastern shores of Lake Michigan, as
late as 1888. Chicago. that did this only
twenty eight years ago, now leeds states
and kingdoms. % p.