The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-11-22
Letter From Chicago.

Letter From Chicago.
To you who have not visited the
q" Garden City " within few years, per.
haps short memorandum of events and
observations might not be unacceptable
To be acquainted with Chicago, person
must either live here, or make very fire..
quent visits. TO say that you saw the
city in 1850 or So, is about equivalent to
saying that you have seen the site of the
present city of Chicago.
The traveller may be excused for think.
ing that it sprang full grown into exis.
tance, like the Goddess from the brain of
Jupiter, when he is told that forty years
ago the Prairie wolf was bowling in his
native wilds, where now dwell 100000
people; surrounded with the appliances
and comforts of metropolitan life that
where less than forty years ago. birds of
passage found safe shelter and abundant
food on the shores of Lake Michigan, and
in the waters that empty into it to-day
the wild fowls retreat is covered with
the shipping and merchandise Of city
that is fast rising to rank among the
largest inland cities of the world.
In looking for the causes that have
contributed to such result you may
not find many causes that contribute to
the growth of any city, that have not con-
tributed to this. Climate favors it by
its geographical position it is the seat of
life in the skeleton of the continent. 1t
lies within thirty miles of q point that
divides the waters that Aow to the At.
lantie from those that enter the Gulf Of
Mexico. Vast fields of coal, and noun.
tains Of iron lie, either in close proximity
or easy of access. 1t is fed by region
of country whose fertility almost removes
the primal curse that rested on man.
1t lies upon the bosom OF country TEEN.
ing with agricultural and mineral pro.
duets, Of such vastness that it was no ex.
aggeration to say. that 1.-The infinite corn
fields above vie With the infinite coal.
fields beneath"
Natural cause, indicate that here was
to be laid the foundation Of city that
one day should become commensurate
with the vastness Of the country that con.
tributes to it, Add to this the fact that
its population consists Of class of people
that is more devoted to its welfare more
willing to risk for its success, and more
confident in its destiny than the inhabi.
tants of any other city in the Union. A
more sagacious, clear headed and per.
scvering class of business men can scarcely
be found. Not town in the great west
but that feels the influence of Chicago
through her capitalists and traders
Grain from the higher latitudes, and
grain from fields where almost perpetual
summer reigns, mingle in the immense
elevators of Chicago. The steer that fed
on the upper waters of the Mississippi
dies here beside the OK that browsed on
the plains of Texas.
At home no enterprise is too great to
be undertaken. Her people drink water
that comes in aqueducts from the pure
waters Of Lake Michigan; two miles
distant from the shore. The annoyance
of draw-bridges is obviated by tunnelling
the river, so that huge ships sail over the
heads of the hurrying throngs of people
Chicago Is representative western city
to an eminent degree
The people are no imitators, or if they
initiate the copy will out do the original
According to their numbers they car
get up larger charities and bigger frauds
they can build more churches and more
gambling hells; make more schools and
more iails, and excel both in morality
and SIR any other American city.
! Their willingness to make expendi
tures on public improvements is truly
commendable. AT an immense expense
they make parks and boulevards for tn,
amusement of rich and poor The court
of Justices sit in building of most costly
construction. The unfortunate are careG
for in we'll appointed asylums aud th'
|, children of rich and poor enjoy the ad
vantages of school system that is unex
celled by that of any other city.
And now that you, who still live in tina
beautiful valley, where the sun makes hi
morning salutations from the peaks ofth,
Green Mountains, and at evening hang
his crimson mantle over the crags of tn,
Adirondacks, may not grow discontente,
with living in country where develop
meDts go on in what western.men woul.
call geological time. You ought to b
told that by far the greater part of thos
who have become eminent in jurispru
dence, in the ministry, in letters, and il
commerce are the sons and daughters o.
New England, and in the land Of thei
adoption they fondly retain the happ,
recollections of that of their birth. H
nhicano Nov @ 1870