The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-11-10
A VIEW OF THE RUINS OF CHICAGO.

Chicago has never presented more |
evidences of activity-Of real, earnest |
business activity, than at this time. It |
merce, as in former times, but the ac-
tive work Of clearing away the remains
of its ruined buildings, and of prepare
ton for rebuilding on the same ground. |
An observation OF q single hour viii
be likely to convince the observer that |
q new Chicago viii soon rise upon the |
site of the ruins made by the recent
But it impsrts 8 melan-
choly reflection, that the streets of the
new city, like the new Inhabitants fur
nished by q succeeding generation, viii
be so different, that, like the new faces
of the succeeding Inhabitants, they will
not DO readily recognized by those who
were once familiar with its streets.
An excursion from the southern linn
it's of the ruined portion at Harrison
street, to its northern boundary, few
squares above the entrance to Lincoln
Park (being about five miles in extent>,
presents a scene of utter desoiation and
ruin. The only relief to this view is
in the presence of large number of
Iaborers who are engaged in loading
the rubbish upon wagons in order that
&c may go to fiji up the basin along the
east front of the city upon the south
side The filling of this basin will
furnish g means for adding o large
amount Of the most valuable grounds
along the lake front of the city. In
this way manyshundreds of thousands
of dollars viii be added to the property
of the corporation, for the grounds
along this front are the property of the
city.
r. The old landmark guides for the ex-
cursion through the ruined portion are
extremely few. But some guiding points
are much needed in passing from place
to place through the once familiar por.
tions of the city. The naked and black
ened walls of the Court House, and the
white and apparently uninjured walls
of the Postoffice, furnish the principal
landmarks for the guidance of the ex-
cursionist through this scene of desola-
ton. Some places, as the sites of ho-
tells, which were once. familiar, may
often be passed without recognition,
and in most cases they would be, but
for the aid furnished by the Court House
walls.
The>coprsing of my way along the
wide avenues leading from Harrison
street to the site of the Michigan Cen
trail depot was no easy matter, for the
lines of hundreds of teams employed
in conveying away the rubbish were
constantly met, and to pass them safely
would often require rapid retreat into
some narrow space between the rubbish
and other materials which extend along
the streets and walks.
Seeking the entrance to the Lasalle
street tunnel, we passed to the north
side by this under the racer passage,
and then down TO the street railroad
station, near where the Revere House
stood. The site of the hotel, and of the
fine drug store of Mr.. Birath, are indi-
Gated by painted boards placed upon
the ruins. We then passed by street
cars along North Clark street, to the
northern limits Of the burnt portion,
which Is q short distance above the en-
trance to Lincoln Park. The only
buildings left along this line from Har-
rison street, which is not less than five
miles, are the house.of Mr.. Ogden, and
the RESTAURANT opposite the Park en-
trance. Nearly opposite Mr.. Ogden's
is the ruin of substantial stone edifise.
by the side OF which is large conserv-
atory, with the glasshnbroken and the
plants pniuiured. It Is not easy to find
q more cherries solitude than must be
experienced by the occupants of these
homes, for they are in the midst of q
scene of desolstion which extends az
much az mile and a half tprobahly
morc) in every direction. This line OF
street cars seems TO be well patronized
but ! suppose it is chiefly by sight-seers
like myself.
A lively trade has sprung up in relics
OF the fire, in which nice relics, cheap
are offered in various outdoor places
but at nothing like uniform prices
Among them are watches, chains and
other ieWelry, as we'll 4s specimens OF
wares from the crockery stores. One OF
these vendors had pile of perhaps q
dozen dinner plates which had been
partly fused into solid mass. Large
numbers of safes ethe name proved &c
be not altogether appropriately were tc
be seen along the streets, and in the
midst of the rubbish. A very large
portion of these proved to be the means
of disappointment to those who trusted
their valushles ip them.
A large number Of shanty like build
ings have sprung up IN all directions
and a building here and there which
seems to be valuable for mere tempnrs,
~ use, but too fFail for permanent pnr.
poses. A prominent feature all Over
the ruined city is the traffic in lager
beer. Upon one of the shanties, upon
the square north of tn Postofice is 6
book store sign, and card which indi,
Gates that Is Is the fiVst fro proof build.
ing erected since the fire.
CrYc.co Nnvarohor q 1871