Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-17


w. iool through history in vain for any
liz aha, will at oil compare with sae :
800, abstraction Of Chicago by fre. Since
,hs nan fir,t begsn recording the deeds ana
..i,,o,,nD.. of Man, no similar calamity 70
All. IA. .v.r occurred, that we have any
Lroxl.do. Of Il stands alone In blazing
n,on;,snoe. ius, as the strange rise Of Chi
o.vo to oonm srOiAl grsstnsss stands alone
in oouspicuous brillisncJ. All its palaces,
and marble blocks, and csntsrs Of trade
and traffic have been swept away with
.lmos. lightning like rapidity. And the
whole world has been amazed stths appall-
ing disaster. |
We predict, however, that the instantaneous
up-springing ofth New Chicago will amaze
uS sill more. We have more unbcundso
faith in the courage, energy. sssaci'y' Ano
ability Of its people than most OF our con-
temporariss. The manner 10 which order
has been brought oct Of chaos since the
fatal consum mation Of the ere, is indeed
wonderful. We already hear Of the com
meuoemsOt of building projects; of the
reorganization of society; the public jour
nails have nearly all re-appsared; business
hrms are locating aud filing orders; capital
il flowing 10; everything is progressing IN
magnificent style, and within = few years
our North west metropolis will be greater
than ever, and more than ever the wonder
Of the world
One short month ago, in fsr-resching
enterprise i, stood in the very front OF Amer
loan cities. Occupying = location which
enabled il to command the vast traffic o
the great lakes, with railroads rsdiAtins
from il in every direction, and all Pouriai
toto its lap the wealth OF the fertile North
western States, Chicago Was the synonym
of progress. BY gigantic wOrksh had over
come the sanitary Disadvantages Of its site
1t had raised up it's streets and building
from the msrshy level of the lake, secure
bountif1l supply Of pure water through
Submarine Aqueduos extending two mile
from the lake shore, and reversed the eour'
ofS river to carry the eily's sewage into Il
Mississippi, the only possible way of ma
ing IL clean aud wholesome. Most OF the'
noble Improvements have been damaged I
destroyed. Banks, railroad dspots some
them the largest and finest in the world
hotels, insurance, newspaper and 'elegraE
Offices, blocks after blocks OF great war
houses and stores filed with merchandI
huge elevators bursting with the harvest
the year, great piles Of lumber and co,
churches and public baildiDgs, gas wOr
and water works, aud thousands Of dwelh
houses, beside tbs many other msnufaeiu
log and commercial establishments of
large aud thriving city, are all gor
Many who we're rich are penniless. L
Of thousands are homeless. But the loc
ton which made 1t Queen City is still
same; the railroad system that built
up is- still extAu,, aud above 81
the old. aspiring, ambitious, giaI
like spirit Of Chicago remain
and the great metropolis will RI
again. Rival cities will gain Temporary q
vAntAgss, and trade for time may Sc
new channels for convenience bot the co
msrcs and railroads oentsring At the 500
ern end Of Lake Michigan will make
restoration Of Chicago mere OF a vouc
IhAn its original growth.
Even suoh q terrible calamity has
been wholly bad, in that il broaEhs to
surface tina, better part Of human nat'
which ia prosperous times is so genera
hidden beneath the Austers commercial I
terror. Almost simultaneously with the
port Of the destruction which came 10 {
night upon the stricken city. voice pro
iing aid and rescue came from distAn, CO
munitiss. Cincinnati, Boston, New Yo
Gnd cities far and near sent back prof
words Of commisersgion A1d offers of b
The value Of the proflsr was not lesse
by delay, but IL eAmo Immediately, 'po'
neously and hsarnly-S proof Of sHbssAn
sympathy that indicated . stronger b
than that OF dollars and cents in the Wa,
reciprocal trade. The intense, blustsT
activity Of Chicago may have been the 81
isot Of euvious Jokes in timss Of safety .
plenty. bss under the inhueree OF snch
blow As this has been, no thought was giV
10 ANYTHING bot the common bond OF
manity which united the suffering commu
~ with Us oil 10 our prosperity aud
whole sisisrbood Of cities, villages a
states responded to the call for aid even
fore il was made, with . whole-heartsd
sral,y thA, makes US proud of our race.
In many ways 90 can continue the Sc
vork-by giving employment to refugees
BY words Of encouragement; by the prOu
remittance Of accounts due, and not gu
due and By extending toward it's m
chants a mcIs liberal patronage than ey