New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-14
CHICAGO AS 1T IS.
Present Appearance Of the City.

A writer for the St. Louis Democrat give
the following description Of Chicago as it is
Standing near the river on the north sid,
and looking north, the eye ranges over
vast plain miles in extent, broken by the
trunks Of withered and burned trees. scat
tered throughout the landscape singly and
in clusters. and the ruins Of burnt churcht
here and there in various stages Of destruc.
ton looming up against tie sky, among IL e
most noticeable being the North Presby-
terrain, Episcopalian, corner of Cass al d
Superior streets. German Lutheran. Uni Y.
Robert Collyer's, the New England, C., D.
gregational, German Reformed, St. JOSEPH .
Catholic, St. Michael's Catholic, and Other 8,
The ruins of Sands, Hills Heack's, Mil er
e. Bush's and Brands breweries also fol m
prominent points in the landscape. Toward
the northeast the waterworks tower lifts it's
beautiful proportions un'njured, to the sky,
but the waterwOrks Immediately to tie
east Of 1t and hundreds OF feet frOra other
buildings in the line of the fire, is COM
plete wreck, the engines and massive ma
chlnery inside presenting a scene Of utter
destruction and desolat,on. Near the june
ton Of the north and south branches Of the
river were four immense elevators which
succumbed to the flames about ten o'clock
on Monday morning, and are heaps Of burn
ing grain and timber.
Near Rush street bridge, on the north
side, the Galena elevator is a heap of smoul-
dering ruins. McCormick's reaper works
to the eaet, and the sugar refinery beyond.
have also been swept away. A few brild-
1nge and one elevator near Kinzie street
bridge, Mr.. Ogden's residence, with stable
IN the rear to the north of Washington
park, and a schoOlhouse in the extreme
northwestern part are about all the build |
lngs remaining on the north side. The fire |
swept to the nOrthward until it reached the !
h0 nVtv
buildings were left for the fire fiend to feed |
upon. The fire even entered the old Gene |
terry at North avenue and lick Il I'D the |
trees and shrubbecy, cracking and dr'i oy-
ing the tombstOnes in its way. The NicOl. |
son pavement has passed through the fierce
ordeal in very perfect manner. and it is as
firm to-day in nearly all the streets az need
ne desired. The gasworks on the north
SIDE, on the river bank. appear to have SUE
tanned but little damage.
1he large hre on the west side. which
occurred on Saturday night, NAV now he
looked upon as a real blessing, IL had it
not been for the vacant ground orc ssionea
by 1t 1.-TWO blocks in width) the fire would
have swept unhindered to the uorthward-
and destroyed in its path the PRINCIPAL
manufacturing district Of the city and the
business portion of the west side. As II
was, this vacant ground was the means OF
checking the fire on the west size. but on
us way to the south side it swept away
the national elevator, which So nObly with
stood the fire on Saturday night.
The ground burned over on the west side
Is about one mile in length, from De Raven
street to Van Buren,, and perhaps a quarter
Of mile in width, bordering along the river
for most of the way, and consuming the
Chicago and Alton railroad freight house.
together with all the freight cars in thew
yards. The PittsbIrg and Fort Wavne
freight house was saved. On the south side
the district burnt over extends from Har. ,
risOn street, north to the river, and from
the south branch. east, to the lake, taknr
IN every building without exception but a
block located at Randolph street bridge and
the new building on the corner Of Lasalle
and Monroe streets; The Michigan South
ern and Rock Island passenger houses, and
The great Union depot together with all the
Michigan Central and Illinois Central ,
freight houses have been swept away, TO- ,
gether with one Of their elevators The
principal offices of the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy, and of the Chicago and North
western railroads, are also utterly de- p,
.troyed.
From the latter not scrap of paper out
side Of the safes was rescued. The most
remarkable ssature of all is the fact that d;
he brick OF the buildings were burned to !
ashes, the same as if wood, go that for the
most part the rubbish does not present a I
formidable appearance, here and there De- t
ng a projection of wall. Hundreds of
!cres are nearly as clear as nicely cleared
ield. Stone work, both sand and lime
,tone, melted down for the most part into a =
iIisintegrated mass. In the destruction of T
me courthouse the county records were de-
.troyed, and a great deal of trouble NAV !
Oe anticipated from this source. 1t is re- .
ported that Chase Brothers abstract mem q
AVE saved their copy of the records by re-
moving them In vehicles from their rooms q
before the fire reached them.