The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-09-25
Letter from the West.-No. 9.

NoSNSAi. loWst, CcpG. Q, lOOJ.
Mr.. Euing:- wrote you from South
Bend, Ind, and promised to write next
from Omaha. l have not reached that city
yet, but have had a birds-eyc view of it
across the Missouri about four miles dis
tant.
am now. pleasantly seated at table in
quite child, seven years ago.
OF the great city of Chicago 1 will not
attempt any description, except to say that
no one can pass through it without exper-
fencing feeling of wonder and surprise
at the magnitude of it's business, the I'M
paralleled rapidity of its growth, and the
unequaled enterprise Of its population.
The Corn Exchange is one of the curios-
tiles of the city. will endeavor to give
you faint description of it. A large stone
building some three or four stories high,
the first floor occupied by offices and bust
ness rooms of various kinds. You enter
the front door and ascend to the second
story by large flights Of stairs right and
left. At the head of the stairs you are met
by an attendant who asks for your ticket
of admission. Unfortunately had none.
But learning by inquiry that Twas stranger
in the city, he politely invited me in. Be
tween the landing places of the two flights
Of stairs, is a platform in circular shape,
with large chairs to be occupied by officers
officiating in any public business meetings
held in the room.
Arranged in front of the platform are
some eight or ten reporter desks with the
names of the papers they serve on silver
plated cards on the front. The room 1
judge to be about 100 TT. by 80 it.. the cell
ing about 81 it. high. The walls are ele-
gantly frescoed-the painting along the top
of the side walls representing the harbor
of Chicago, steamboats, and trains of cars
at full speed. Around the room on each
side, about Is feet from the side walls, are
arranged some 80 or 40 walnut tables about
feet high, covered with marble tops. On
these tables are placed small paper boxes,
with samples of flour, meal, &C., on one
side of the room, and of corn, wheat, oats,
and other grain, on the other side. In three
of the four corners of the room are tele-
graph offices, and between the rows of ia
bles is & bulletin board, upon which is pub
lished, from time to time, among other
things, all shipments of grain made every
"a hours.
At the other end of the room, opposite
the platform, is a balcony about Is #. high,
the floor where lady visitors are admitted
ascending large flight of stairs in the real
vestibule of the building, around which
rooms for the Board and its officers are ar
ears are saluted with a confused hum OF
voices, and you see before you a shifting,
moving crowd of from 800 to !, ZOO men,
moving, twisting, turning, weaving in and
weaving out, carrying in their hands, sam
pies of flour or grain in small paper boxes,
or strips of paper a little memorandum book
with pencil in hand, making notes, talking
together for moment, and then each is of
|
ask some information; he answers you
very politely and very fully; but he has nc
time to delay he is off to see or speak with
some one else he sees in the crowd. Pres
emily the big bell strikes IL, and the Secre,
tary of the Board takes his stand in the
balcony, and with three raps of his gavel
calls the crowd below to ordcr-the muir.
muring ceases and he announces in clear,
distinct voice, the reports from New York
and Buffalo, received by despatch, of prices,
demand and supply of grain, flour, pork,
whisl1ey, gold exchange, &c. Having
finished his announcement, he closes with
blow of his gavel, and the murmuring OF
the crowd commences again, and the differ
ent rings re-asscmblc. In one part of the
area between the rows of tables, is the
Wheat Ring; i'll another part, the Corn
Ring: in another, the Flour, and in anoth.
er, the IVhishey Ring. On one table, on
the grain side, was quantity of bottles
of California wine, an article lately intro,
duced into the hall, and commanding a
ready sale. The corner left of the platform
is appropriated to dealers in provisions,
beef. pork, &c.
| Thousands of bushels of grain change
hands every day without either party hav,
! ing seen single bushel or paying dollar