Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-11-08
Prom Chicago.

culture, delivered last evening, for another
letter Yours, e.
From Chicago.
CHICAGO, Oct &c, lS72
| Editor Free Press and Times.
The work Of rebuildingthe stricken city
has been much retarded by the deadlock
between bricklayers and contractors. Strikes
among all classes of workmen have been the
order of the day for some time, but all have
ended in the defeat Of the union men. until
the bricklayers demanded eight hours work
about two weeks ago. They still refuse to
resume work on longer time. This has been
very unfortunate for all parties concerned,
because Of the loss of much favorable
weather
Notwithstanding the fact that few build
ings lately commenced have been proceeded
with, many of those whose walls We're near
~ up are being rapidly finished
The immense marble depot Of the Michi-
gan Southern railroad fronting down Lasalle
street, has received its roof, and the grand
structure viii be ready for occupancy
very soon. The new Sherman House Is re-
ceiying its immense mansard towers. and
now looms up above the scores Of pre-
tentious blocks that surround it. The
Briggs and Matteson Houses will be open
this winter. and the Grand Pacific in
March next. The walls Of Potter Pal1aer's
grand hotel, are far up. The Gardner House
opened in grand style Oct 9th. the ami
versary Of the FIRE The immense building
Of the Board Of Trade opened the same day
Four new theatres unsurpassed in the
world, are now in full blast they are Ne
Nicker's, Aiken's, HOoley's and Meyers.
and next spring new Opera House temple
viii be started. Hundreds Of the most sub
stantial stone and iron blocks occupy the
business portion Of the burnt district, where
a year ago was only heaps of smoking de-
bris. The new Tribune building is 50 far
finished that the paper is issued from it.
The Times and Stats Z7nng buildings are
ready for their roofs The churches are fast
rising from their ashes. The new govern
ment buildings are already under progress
No one who i not an eye witness can COM
prehend the vastness Of the work of rebuild |
ing done in eight months A careful COM
putation Of the extent of stone, iron and |
brick fronts completed on the anniversary |
Of the fire, shows the astounding fact, that,
if these buildings were placed in one con-
Iinuous block, they would extend ten
iHIics, and with but very few excep-
lions where the ground leases were
nearly terminated, these edifces far
'urpass in grandeur and strength those
which were destroyed by fire on the same
iues. The Hon. George II. Pendlet0n, be-
ore commencing a political speech to the
Liberals of this city. Wednesday last, paid
he following fitting tribute to this Phoenix
ike city He said, .. feel abashed at the
presence in which ! stand tonight One
ear ago the fire of Heaven seemed 10 have
descended upOny your city and to have stricken
{ with the red right hand Of its impending
wrath To-day You have illustrated the
able of antiquity you have realized the
tory of that bird, which alone of all its
lind, found IN its smOuldering ashes the
dement's of perpetual life. and rose from the
eavenly fires, which seemed to have con-
umed it, clothed with a more brilliant
eauty, and imbued with mightier power.
Ind as | see to-day the palatial edifces you
re building-the stores. the warehouses,
he elevators, the depots, the residences, the
hurches, the school houses 50 perfect in
heir design, so unequalled in their execu-
ion, | feel that must bow my head with a
seling akin to awe and not far from rever-
TT,r hr Of. 4
rgy, enterprise. wealth, wisdom which
Duld accomplish 50 wonderful a work .
lready the business portion of the city Is
sbuilt, and by a second anniversary of the
re no trace Of that c0nhagrati0n will be '
zen. !
The main question now among the citi-
ms Of Chicago, and in fact the Inhabitants
Cook county, seems to be how they shall /
ct titles to their real estate Three firms +
this city, Chase Brothers. Jones q Sellers
nd Shortall Il Hoard, Conveyancers. had
their united possession complete abstracts c
the records Of Cook county, and BY great b
.ertions they saved them from the fire. \
lille the original books were all DESTROYED.
lese three firms at once consolidated under Il
e name Of Chase Bros s Co.. and for sev-
al months furnished complete abstract ,
les Of any lands 10 individuals at enor-
Gus prices, coming thousands Of dollars Il
lily. The Legislature of Illinois ATTEMPTED | "
give relief to the public by legalizing the .,
cords Of Chase Bros. d Co.. and fixing "
e price of each abstract furnished at al
80, and directing that each applicant OF
lst be furnished in numerical order as of
ey made application for titles. This sum p,
lase Bros. Co. say will not paw the "
,rical force requisite 10 do the writing. sa
J the first day Of July, when this law came eli
% force, they closed their doors took down III
sir signs and from that time have posi-
ely refused to transact any business at III
Feeling quite curious to see W
at was going on at their Of do
:, your correspondent took a deed :
his hand, and went there to quiz "
IN. He found their Office darkened and TO a
outward appearances to be dead or mae 70
E. tanning admitanee at last he found m.
lself in contracted room, containing
, clerk, who evidently attempted to ap- ca
II idle, all doors leading from this into so
building exhibiting the inhospitable sic
rds mo Admittance. ~ Approaching
5 clerk he asked for an abstract of title co
the deed. He was told it could not be tn
nlshed. He then asked If Chase Bros. 4 TIL
would not give him written opinion u
o the validity of the title The polite ""
X replied this could not be done for many OF
ks to come at least He then asked for a ga
bal opinion, and was told that if the party n,
KING the purchase would come in person
alone, perhaps Mr.. Chase would look it oai
r and express verbal opinion. Finding Ia
could not be approached he fingered in o.
II ONCE until one of those mysterious H.
rs was opened and behold, inside he saw ~
Try large number Of clerks with windows Tia
S < IRON the midday sun, irriting Uery ma
ly By gas hgh. With the only records on
be hands of monopolizing firm and
firm refusing to communicats wh
nance Is left for real estate transac, of I
s, on secure basis and the on
I way possible is for some larre 7.
company, or the county, to buy their
ks,-whlch Chase, Bros. & Co. offered to pay
Tor 81 100000, but the county would of /
but 500. 600. Now they seem quite the
lned TO close their doors and await the N,
. when the county will be Obliged to aii'
them out t0 prevent the multitude of to
ds, which have just begun to appear in teri
courts of Cook County, by parties setting deb
tiles TO all kinds of lands, upsetting tax
; as well as all other transactions 'an
ne city authorities, in response to the pan
ated urgent appeals of citizens are try the
TO suppress the sale of intoxicating noe
DIS and lager beer On the Sabbath this p
perates the entire German population. reas
are determined 70 stand by their ma ing
Al toyerage. Last Sunday there was hon
( excitement here, and several brewers
osed TO fight the law and filed wagons OF
beer kegs and drove through the him
Is, giving away the dark liquid free to ever