The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-02-06
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
CHICAGO, February Ist. 1863.

The great event Of the week past III
this city has been the terrible contiagration
OF Tuesday night last by which nearly
three million dollars worth of our most
valuable business property was destroyed
The particulars Of that great disaster you
are no doubt informed of already, by the
Chicago papers, so that it will be quite
unnecessary for me to dilate upon it.
Fortunately it came at a time when our
merchants had comparatively light stocks
Of goods III their stores. The damage
inflicted was consequently less than it
would have been at almost any other
season, Or even what it would ordinarily
have been at this season in more prosper
Gus years. A happy instance of the
elasticity of the American disposition in
recovering from even the severest shocks
of hard fate was afforded by the manner
IN which the firms which suffered by this
fire took their misfortune and rose super
ior to it. The first morning after the fire,
sign boards tackled on prominent points
Of the ruins Or stuck In the mountains of
ice which covered the still smoking re-
mains of what had few hours before
been stately buildings, informed the
passers by that the former occupants had
removed to No. and in the
morning papers nearly every iirm ahich
was burned out published cards notifying
the general public that they were ready
TO transact business and fill orders as
usual at their new locations Ii burning
ones whole stock in trade, destroying the
books of the house and completely wiping
t,o h,,,1 h I,t,
was, has 10 effect to cheek ar even ma
terial!y dcrangc business, what short ol al
earthquake which sha. swallow up the
proprietors as well, viii ruin these active
and energetic men. The insurance com
panies suffered enormous losses by this
fire, SO great. that it is not yet very clear
the pressure. Their preceding losses
this year have been very heavy, and with
the added weight of this one, some Of
it hard work to worry through the storm.
ever been shown before, the fact that
Chicago is not adequately supplied with
water to check great conhagration.
Our mains are too small TO supply the
immense volume Of water which is used
on Tuesday night, their engines are liable
sufficient supply. A plan is now suggest
Board of Public Works, which it is be-
lieved will remedy this evil. This is to
construct great culverts, running south
wardly from the river to Madison street,
on alternate streets, carrying through
| -, of
haustible supply of fluid which probably
comes as near to water as anything which
is not water but which will serve quite as
well as water for the purpose Of putting
out u fire.
The utter stagnation of trade which |
have had occasion to remark in some Of
my recent letters still continues and with
little apparent prospect for earlv improve
ment.
The Great Eastern railroad was mulct-
ed yesterday in the sum Of $4,000 for
running over young man some time
since and causing his death. The jury
awarded the full amount of damages
claimed. This road is in rather a bad
way. Their business is bad, numbers Of
their employees have not been paid for
FIVE months, and it is rumored that some
of their best officers contemplate leaving
them.
The grand annual masquerade of the
Chicago Turn Verein is to come off on
the Sd inst.
Booth is playing a highly successful
engagement at McVickers.'
Quotations at close of change to-day,
were as follows Flour $l3, so for white
Wi 1ter, S9,00al0,50 for spring extre.
| Wheat, No. l $2,l0, No. 2, s2,054a-
2,069. Corn, Nc. l, S5cts. Oats, 5Saa
Rye, l4Sal51 Barley, by sample, 81 goa
2,33 Mess Pork, $40, 75a2l 90. d. S.
Shoulders 75aS. Short Ribs 10cts
Short Clear III. Lard 13ial3!. Dress
ed Hogs 81, 15aS,60 Don.