The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-09-22
From Chicago.


81 El &AE ~ &HH
Special Correspondence to the Courier.
CHICAGO, sept. 10th, 1870.
The war; the White Stockings; and
the great fire, have been tho popular
topics of the week. If the former
has not been quite as prominent as
usual it is because the others have
como closer to tho point of observa-
ton, and appealed, the ono to the.
proverbial local pride of Chicagoans,
and the others to their sympathies
first, and their business common
sense afterward.
Our population well sprinkled
with Germans, has heartily espouscd
the cause Of Germany; but chiefly for
tho reason that it was the cause Of
right and progress With Amori-
cans in general, they have encored
every telling stroke from Prussia;
not that they were lcd by Prussian
ideas, but that the Prussians seemed
the more nearly following ours. We
have had meetings, clubs and fairs;
have talked, cheered and sung; have
been free with buncombe, sympathy
and cash, (sso,OOO) for Prussia. For
six weeks no one but q German has
boon of any Importance. The flow
of "lager" has been frightful. Now
mon pause. They reconsider. They
watch while the scale beam Of SYM
pathy dips on tho French side. Tho
smouldcring fire of enthusiasm for
the new Republic only warts the Re-
public's wise action to burst into
flame.
Cincinatti has been Inundated,
and Chicago exultsl Sho don't care
if it was only that a crack stock
company gambling base ball club
from Chicago defeated another ut
Cincinatti. Iti is the demonstration
of her superiority by any means
that she Graves; 90 she welcomes
homo her "conquering heroes" with q
great deal of undigniied ssfuss." She
will not directly own her jealousy
for Cincinatti, but 1t will crop out. NJ
| The fire Of Sabbath evening, Sop
tember 4th, was . sad disaster both
in the destruction of life and proper
ty. 1t was the largest fire since tho
eLake Street," of '6s. Thus far
three human remains have bcen.cx-
humed. At least eight persons arc
supposed to have fallen victims. Fully
two and q half millions Of property
wero destroyed, about one-half Of
which was covered by insurance.
The FIRE originated in the paper store
of Latin, Butler & Co., on Wabash
avenue: Tho entire block, one Of the
finest in the country, and almost new,
was entirely destroyed, in spite of
the utmost efforts OF the FIRE depart
ment. Its a striking comment on
the value of wealth compared with
life, that tho prominent thought In
the public mind is not ofthe vanish
cd millions, but of the priceless lives
Of the few who perished in the con-
fagration. Tho great question fol-
lowing such disaster is, How can
they be preyented?'' Its approx
mate solution may bo one OF the few
good results ofeven such a calamity.
Notwithstanding various complaints,
no real blame seems to have been
lodged on architects, builder, owner
or occupants. Tho resultant opinion
tends to condemn Mansard roofs on
such buildings, unless constructed Of
iron; torccommend iron ceilings, and
ifpossible, floors and window. castings
also the conducting of iron-wator
pipes with hose attachment to every
part of the building; and as of great
er Importance, the employment OF
competent, careful and practical
architects. We can heartily recon-
mend such o firm of architects to
those who ever expect to build.
Marian 4 Street, Room AZ Reynolds
Block, Chicago. Competent draughts
men and careful superintendents,
they have had the most practical ex-
perience in long following of the
builders calling. They have some Of
the finest, safest buildings in the city.
They make a speciality of church
and school house architecture, and
can refer to fair specimens OF their
work throughout the country.
| Chicago breathes free. Tho census
approaching completeness promises
TO sustain her claim of a population
which her rivals declared was cxtrav-
agante boas.ing. She claimed 3OO,-
600 and is assured it will not fall
below $4,000.
| The colorod sculptor, Miss Edmon-
ia Lewis, from Rome, is in town and
her statue of Hagar is on exhibition
at Farwell Hall. 1t is work OF
merit, but we think she has como far
short Of the ultima in tho develop
ment Of her subject. We admire it
rather rs a fair promise of what she
may yet accomplish.
| Chicago has a new and sprightly
evening daily, The Nail. lis two
cent paper, neutral in politics. Mn
II. r. Hubert, of the American Press
Association, is supposed to stand its
sponsor.
| The papers joke over tho unique
case of a prominent business man in
this city, adjudged by tho court in
sane, ,oithoat Aaring committed mur-
der.
| A party of Toronto business mon
visited Chicago this week, and tho
occasion was made the opportunity
for awakening interest and engaging
capital in tho Huron and Ontario
| Ship caSal. In an address be-
fore tho Board of Trade, Mr.. Capreal,
4 Prest. OF the Canal Co., claimed
that by tho new route vessels could
kget TO Liverpool quicker than they
now go to New York; that it would
| shorten the distance to lido water
400 miles over the shortest route by
the Wclland Canal; that it would
enable carriers to reduce charges for
eastward freight one-half. Making
all reasonable deduction for tho by.
perbola Of commercial enthusiasm
there is still no doubt that it is an en-
terprise OF great importance to the