The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-18
Rambling Letter from a Rowing Corr
respondent.
CHICAGO, May 16, 1871.
To the Editor of the State Journal.s

OHlCAGo, May 10, 1911.
To the Editor of the State Journal.
In the spring of 1854 your correspon-
dent first visited this city. Its appearance
then had little to attract the stranger. In
dead, it seemed the last place fitted by ma
ture to build great commercial metropo-
lis. The entire area of this now busy
thronged city was originally one great
marsh or bog, with small sluggish stream
running through it into Lake Michigan,
the waters of which were driven by every
easterly wind over most of the territory
now covered by the city. Many Of the
early residents became dissatisfied with
investments made here, left for other To-
calities, believing that Chicago would
never become a place Of any Importance.
Time makes great changes.
The settlement of the great Northwest
by emigrants from every country in Eu-
rope and the higera from the Eastern and
Middle States, created necessity for some
great distributing point on the shores of
Lake Michigan, to which the hungry East
could send its merchandise to be con-
verified into breadstufs grown on the
fertile prairies. Thus the white-winged
commerce of the lakes met at this point
the garnerings of the husbandman brought
hither by the railroads that stretch out in
every direction over these vast grain-pro-
duoing regions.
These results are the fulfillment of the
prophetic foresight of few earnest strong
men, who in the past had confidence in the
future growth and Importance of the Mis-
sissppi Valley, aud thus believing. COM
mitted themselves to the work of binding
together with bands of iron every portion
of this vast region-the grand centre or
converging point being Chicago. Thus
the commerce of the lakes is here welded
to that of the land, and quickened by its
influence.
This city is now the great pulsating
heart of the Northwest. What wonder
that it should now number 325, 900 inbab-
itants The stranger the moment he
steps foot into the midst of this busy, ac-
tive throng, feels fresh impulse given to
his sluggish energies, and is thereby
aroused to new and noble purposes. No
one thinks, questions, or cares where this
moving mass Of emigrants who are coming,
thither daily, came from. Nor does any
JUG itti ally luleTt5G III tuelr TeilSiUu Ut pOl-
tiles. They stand on an equal footing,
whether their worldly goods are contained
in pine box, a carpet-bag, or hair trunk.
Given two hands and heart to work,
every man of whatever race or color,
finds here hearty welcome and an equal
chance in the labor of life.
One here realizes that the West, which,
thirty years ago, was represented by the
Eastern portien of Ohio and Michigan, is
now transferred far on towards the setting
sun, not even bounded by the shores Of
the Pacific, but leaping its boundless waste
of waters, is claiming to embrace China
and Japan!
What an suspicious future there is 10
store for this country of ours The child
Is now living who will be witness to the
truth of the prophesy, that 100 States and
100000, 900 of inhabitants win soon occupy
this land bequeathed to us by our fathers,
Let, then, every man be up and doing his
part of the great work before US.
SITo