Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-02-02
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.

CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.
The Snow Storm-The Wheat Market
Fork Observation-Disclosures Failures
Trade-Business Prospeets-Relfgious
1nterprtse-The Advanee-Lecfures-
Concerts - --latest Novelty Amuse-
ments.
CHICAGO, JAN 21, 1s71.-The late snow
storm the most severe that has occurred here
for years-has proved q serious interruption
to business. The delays of freight trains
much more protracted than the stoppage of
passenger trains-have been quite embarrass-
ing to the public. But mild weather, the OPEN
ing Of the usual thoroughfares, and the re-
sumption of travel and trade have restored
our wonted activity, and Chicago looks like
herself again, at this season, save that there
is an unusual quantity of snow and slush. The
freezing sleet did some damage to the trees.
and farther south was quite destructive. The
storm extended over a larger region of coun-
try than usual, and the amount of snowfall
was almost unprecedented.
THE WHEAT MARKET
Has been quite active the past week, No. 2
selling for S1-221z-an advance of about 20
cents in month. The receipts are small.
but next week will probably show large in
crease
Has been very active through the season up
to the time of the January thaw, when il al
most entirely ceased But il is being re
sumed again, with large supply of live hogs.
Thus far there has been a large increase on
last season in the number of hogs packed, and
about twelve per cent. increase in weight
But prices have ruled much lower than last
year.
BUSINESS FAILURES.
The number of failures here has been larger
than was anticipated six weeks ago. But they
L. -. ~. "A ~ n
have been weak, or embarrassed, for some time,
though their condition was not known to the
general public. Some Of them were expected,
but few were general surprise. One cause
of failures-aside from the stringency of the
money market and the partial failure of crops
the past seasons the sxorbitant prices of
rents, in some cases absorbing all the profits
and part of the capital of the merchants. We
shall get down to hard pan and ante-war prices,
by and by, and have fewer fluctuations in the
prices of everything. But not until we have a
return to specie payments.
TRADE.
The volume of trade, despite the complains, y
of hard times, has been greater than ever be-
fore, but business men represent that their
sales have been made at small profits, one
house assuring me that on sales of 5000. 900,
since July, they had not made cent This,
however, may be an exceptional case. But
been quite low. though TIE larger houses have
done a very satisfactory trade.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
There have been large preparations for an
increased trade the coming season, many new
and capacious stores having been erected for
that purpose the past year, or will be complet-
ed in season for the spring trade There is a
marvellous energy and elasticity in the Chicago
business man. He may be disappointed in
Il n
eternal in his bre st, and If he fails in one en-
terprise he tries another, and another till he
succeeds. A well known firm here, not worth
dollar In 1865, though doing a large bust
ness, are now worth a million and q quarter.
RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISE.
The energy manifested by Chicago. in bust
ness pursuits, is equalled by her activity in
religious enterprises. In this respect. she
obeys the command, ~ Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might" MOI
only are large sums raised to build churches
endow religious seminaries, sustain Christian
associations and support public charities, bu
her religious newspapers are conducted in thu
same liberal and enterprising spirit, and No
material or intellectual resources are spared L
make them represent the genius. and suppl,
| the mental, moral and spiritual wants, of thu
great Northwest They are more truly nation
| al organs OF religious sentiment than any pub
lished at the East, are managed with equal
If not superior, ability, in a broader and NOR
catholic spirit, and better comprehend tn
spiritual needs of the West than Easter
journals can.
Pre-eminent among this class of religion
newspapers, Is
THE ADVANCE.
published by the Advance Company. at $3.50
yeaE. Its editorials are able dealing frank
with the live questions of the day and ar
supplemented by articles from a large corps O
the best thinkers and writer's of the time. 1t
commercial department is reliable. its miscel
lany and family reading is of the highest order
it has able and well-informed correspondent
at the great business and government centres
and sustalns the great religious and human
tartan enterprises of our times, and truly rep
resents the Christian progress of the age
Within three years 1t has attained wide circu
iation- 1t offers, az a premium. splendi
chrome picture of Henry Ward Beecher-th
best / have ever seen-11 by IA inches-wortl
sc, to any who viii send three new subscrip
tons, one new subscription for three years. o
for two years and g additional. or for ON
year and 80 additional.
LECTURES.
We have had a surfeit of lectures, from pei
sons eminent, and some not so eminent.
few, like Sumner and Phillips, have draw,
large audiences, but most of them have had
moderate attendance. Even Miss Edgartor
inc REAR OF the Platform AS her friend
designate her-and the delight of the anti
women suffrage folks, had but few hearers
Mrs. Stanton is to lecture on Marriage an
Divorce, next week. Wednesday evening.
CONCERTS
Of various kinds, and for various purposes
have been numerous, and have gratified tn
music-loving, at a moderate cost But tn
Nilsson concerts have eclipsed all others.
THE LATEST NOVELTY,
which will interest the ladies, is an electr1
sewing machine, in which the motive rowe
is electricity, superseding the treadle. 1t i
easily managed, can be applied to all kinds O
sewing machines, be made for half the usus
price, and be run for three cesfs day. 70
lightning.
AMUSENENTS.
We have the usual attractions, for the lover
Of the drama, at the various theatres, the par
ticular star being Mrs. Bowers, in Mary Stuar
and Queen Elizabeth, at Mcyicker's. B.