New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-26
REBUILDING CHICAGO.
TIE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WESTERN
METROPOLIS

season found Chicago further advanced In rebuilding
than the most sanguno citizens expected whom year
previous they stood amid her smoking ruins About two
thirds of the city has been restored TO more than Its prs
tine spendor Blocks Of beauty and grace sprang up ike
Jonah's gourd with marvellous rapdity. AL Winter and
all Summer long the ring of the hammer aud rowel
made the air. forests Of derricks and building
materials incumbered the sidewalks, rendering them
almost impossible, while tho roadways were thronged
with wagons conveying stone lumber, iron, and bricks
to their destination. The result Is now before u.s.
The business district Of the South Side Ia resum'
ing Its old appearance, familiar names SHINE nom
store fronts, and the currents OF trade are again
flowing in their former channels. There are
In the city buildings to-day than on the night OF
the fire. and the taxable value greater Our careful
and exact Mayor authority for this statement IL
really entertaining to walk through the rebuilt area
and mark how the labor OF 20 former years has been con-
densed into single twelvemonth There is Madson-st.
associated in the mind dwelling upon ante1rc times
with dllapidated rookeries OF them built so far
below grade bring the perambuator OF the side
walk on level with the secondstory windows; with
whisky dens and degraded caravsnseres that like their
denlzens, seemed
Fired Ike plant on tb, p,eul,r spOt
To draw nHlrion propagate and roI
These have vanished they vanished in night vere
purged with fire, aud In their places have risen proud
structures Of trade and commerce. This street
vastly improved 1t is the best street In the
wabahave overake It, and assert their superiority as
they may do In 20 years. Many wholesale dry goods
fur hat and cap and boot and shoe houses are ON this
treet There are also two European hotels, The
tribune office, Mcvicker's theater, five banks, and
numerous retail stores.
THE NEW BUSINESS LIMITS.
Washington was noble street before the fire. boasting
many OF the best structures in the CITY, The few re-
naming relics Of early days being swept away by
ofi i'm distance between
and the river would have been continuous line OF
massive facades AS far as restored 1t maintains It's
former character building perhaps OF an inferior or
der being excepted Its frontage 10 imposing There
re banks, insurance offices, the new Chamber ofCom-
merce the new Times and the Siaais Zeisno Offices
all odinces Of some elegance. Many lots now vacant
will be occupied in year two. This will be good
deal OF legal thoroughare account OF its proximity
to the Courthouse Square Randoph-st. has few
fine buildings but the majority plain and unostenta
tious 1t has some unimproved lots and Is backward
compared with rival streets About twothirds OF Lake
Ct is rebuilt 1t Is not SNOWY Madison or Washing
top there being less marble and more brick 1t is as
solid and substantial, however. 1t will be occupied
principally by Wholesale houses IN iron. leather,
etc, and will not be much Of fashion
ablo promenade formerly. The commission
merchants have gone back to South Water
st.. and the river front presents familiar look
The buildings are mostly of brick without preten
tion nothing but plain walls roofs, windows doors and
in front them piles OF produce which sellers and
buyers are commercially eloquent There may be seen
butter eggs. FISH, bea-skins, bear meat buffalo robes
poultry game hides wheat corn. whisky and all the
other productions of the fertile country Of which Chicago
s the market Monroe Adams and other streets south
ofMadson do not extraordinary vitality and none
have made progress fast those above mentioned
II will take time patience and money to put them In line
The improvement Of the streets running east and west
extended the business literally and has checked
for a time the tendency toward the south. Market,
FRANKLIN and Wells well filed in bet ween Madison
81 and river but have made slow progress further
south La Sale has gone south to Monroest IL has on
side the Metropolitan Oriental the Otis and Bryan
blocks the other the side elevation Of the Chamber
Of Commerce. Major block. and the fine building used
temporarily as o Customhouse. These are the more
notable buildings The Pacific rears Its towering
further SOUTH aud at the end OF the street
tho now depot of and Rock Isisni NAH
roads, a heavy white edffice remarkable for rough
ond vigorous beauty. There is still room for Investment
on La Sale south of Monroe and property in that locality
Is as high any in the city, high indeed that nobody
can afford purchase and improve it, Clark IL eonva-
lescent and very much better than the old street. II
nay said be well built from the river, south, TO
Adams, and has splendid frontage nearly all the way
The new Sherman House, with its seven stories and lofty
mansard stands the old site, corner OF Randolph and
Is nearly completed. Superior block stands dagonaly
opposite, presenting rich. browns stone gloomy. and
massive countenance The Mccormick monument, at
the corner OF Washington might last forever but for Its
mansard roof which, while 1t enhances its dignity Il
not likely in ofre, 10 increase Its safety Dear
born will be marble iron throughout As far south as
Jackson where the now PostoGlce ia under way, the
buildings are among the best in the country. The
Tribune building, of Madison, is brownstone
vetory affair." in the Italian style. few doors further
south The Journal is preparing an elegant office. The
two blocks, Immediately south OF Monroe, are
what gaudy their classic features being marred ny
pouse ornamentation especially on top OF one OF them
where there is figure Of Mercury, several birds Of
freedom and innumerable urns &c. There Is no
fountain az there ought to be. to complete the land
scape on the roof Safest, the future Broadway Of
Chicago as the OF lots love 10 think of IT, 10
nearly finished TO Adams. The block on the east sde
between Washington and Madison. formerly Booksel-
er,-row. Ia singularly beautiful. The Palmer House.
between Monroe and Adams has reached the fifth story
and Is alternating In Winter quarters. Work viii DO
resumed in the Spring, nothing happens. 1t will be at
once grand and unique, majestic structure Of unusual
hight and unusual architectural combinations. "a many
Widowed fabric huge Wabash and Michiganaves
are developing their future business streets. Bust
ness will reach south 10 Harrison below that, Michigan
will be residences for many years to come, and Wabash
is already degenerang into boarding houses The lat
eral expansion will eoDne business between the river
on the north Harrsons the SOUTH the river on the
vest and the lake theI east About solid square
mile OF buildings will be used for business purposes
HOTELS AND TITEATERs
Over the river, the North sde which was almost
wholly devastated by the flames is the home Of 10000
PEOPLE, who have returned since the fire. The houses
ire mostly Of wood. except on Cark-s, the principal
thou hfare where there some really creditable
structures Of marble stone, and brick The beer halls
in full action once YQre The district cast Of Clark
st to the lake shore, where stood sor5 OF the finest
residen in the city, 1t left by the nre except
here ana there where owner Of property, more
nlfhx than hIa has rnAtnrAd hia homestead