Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-11-03
Chicago.

crgy of the people of that city would
deprive us of the sight forever by
rebuilding it, we took hasty de-
partiirc by last Friday evenings
train, and landed in the stricken
city in the early hours Of the next
morning. Stepping from the cars
Of the Northwestern road, a glance
over the river gave our first view
of the scene Of the fire. It was
a vista of jagged and blackencd
walls, heaps Of debris and clouds of
dust, through which could be seen
the sharp outlines of numerous
buildings, shanties, &C., construct
ed Of pine lumber, in all stages of
progress, and all degrees ofrudencss.
Taking quarters at the Briggs House,
late tile Lacledc, but new christened
for the present, the presence of
carpenters aud painters at work in
the office and halls, scant room, i'm
provised Accommodations and applian-
ces of every description, gave token
that some serious disturbance had
taken place, and that the hosts were
not doing rs they would, but. as
they best could under the circum-
stances. ~~ :. = 80
Fortifying the inner man with q
.heatty breakfast, we started ont to
view what was as, we remembered
it a few weeks before, the busy mart
Of trade, the architectural wonder
Of the west, the South Division. Its
beauty is gone but terrible sub
llnaity has taken its place. The
streets, narrowed by huge piles of
debris and suggestive rows of iron
safes, warped and twisted by the
fire, and overhung in places by
fragments of walls and angles,
smirched and defaced, yet retaining
in their shapes some traces of their
former beauty, are ankle deep with
dust and ashes, through which a
stream Of vehicles, horse cars and
pedestrians constantly pours, filing
the air with clouds of matter by no
means agreeable. In the cellars on
either hand were scores Of workmen
and teams engaged in clearing the
foundations Of the burnt buildings
from the mass Of bricks, stones,
cinders, iron beams, pillars and
rods which cover them. Other
workmen were seen far up on the
topping piles of masonry, three
and four stories from the ground,
with ropes and derricks, sending
down huge blocks Of stone and re-
ducing the ruins to a common level.
There is certainly no need of pres
ent restitution in Chicago for those
who are able and willing to work.
Upon almost every pile of debris
may be seen rude signs bearing the
inscription "Laborers wanted here"
and the demand for skilled labor,
especially, in the building line is
equally imperative. The greater
number of the buildings being
erected in the burnt district are of
wood-though we notice few of
brick nearly ready for occupancy
and are generally of the chs apest
character, balloon frames and shan
ties. But for their isolation in
most instances they would furnish
the most favorable material for an
other large confagration. Lake
Park is almost entirely covered
by buildings of this character. They
are generally but of one story, about
25 feet wide, and in some instances
running back nearly or quite $50
feet. These are mostly occupied
by the heavy firms in the wholesale
trade.
Speaking of trade reminds us Of
a sign which we saw conspicuously
displayed over heap of rubbish,
bearing the announcements: "Debris
for Sale Cheap" 1t certainly strikes
the stranger in Chicago that that
article ought to be cheap if its
price, like that of other merchan.
disc, is regulated by the law Of sup
ply and demand. There is nothing
so plenty in Chicago as debris.
It is serving a good purpose how
ever in creating real estate OH the
lake side Of Lake Park, where it is
being dumped by the thousand cart
loads day. Strolling through
Wabash and Michigan Avenues we
found the elegant residences nearly
all occupied for purposes of trade,
banking or Offices Of various sorts.
Usually the family has rctreated
to the rear of the house, renting the
parlors and Easements. The streets
along the river on the west side arc
thronged with all kinds of business.
The ./o"rnol and Tribune offices
are side by side on Canal street.
A glance from the street shows their
accommodations rather limited,
and the appliances for labor primi-
tive. The business office is in front.
In the same room at a long rough
table are seated a score or M, re of
editorial writers, reporters, &c,
scratching away for dear lite, and
in tn. rear of these are the tyne