The Republican journal., 1872-10-17
A Day in CHICAGO.
Correspondence of the Journal.

Correspondence OF the Journal
CHICAGO, Oct. 10.
Arriving in Chicago at nine o'clock A.
NJ, by the Michigan Central R. R. we
were instantly surrounded by a crowd of
hackmen and omnibus agents who seized
the passengers on every side and en-
deavored to torce them into their several
carriages. By vigorous exertions, and at
the imminent danger of losing our coat
tails, we broke away from them, and hail
ed driver who sat on his box with the
| most supreme indifference as to whether
he had any passengers or not, and told
him to drive to the Metropolitan House.
On arriving there he demanded one dol
lar, though the distance was not quite a
mile, but on q threat to report him, he
was glad to take fifty cents.
One thing which a stranger will notice
is the great number of bridges, though
they cant be avoided as the two branches
OF the Chicago River run nearly north and
south, until they unite and make the main
river, which runs east, consequently every
street running west from the lake crosses
them by pivot swinging bridges so as to
allow vessels to pass. About every five
minutes you will hear the warning whistle
OF the tug-boat, the bridge will swing
open, and people are obliged to wait nm
til the vessel passes through.
1t is not quite year since the fire, vet
such is the indomitable energy of the peo-
pie that it is estimated that nearly three
tonrths of the buildings which were de
stroycd are already erected or in process
OF erection. All OF them are constructed
Of the best material, and the most of them
are built in the most elaborate STYLE of
architecture
The great union depot of the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern and Rock
Island Railroads, which was said TO have
been one of the finest in the world, is be-
ing rebuilt on rs grand a scale as before.
Several OF the large hotels are approach
ing completion. The Pacific and Clifton
houses are very well along. The Shcr-
man House is under the roof. and when
finished will be equal to any west of New
York, and will surpass the old house
which was burned. The Mccormick
Reaper Works are nearly done, and will
be completed this fall They are much
larger than the old works, the several
buildings covering six acres. Besides re-
building the burned district, a large
amount of building is being done in the
north and southwestern parts of the city
In the southwestern portion an immense
car factory has been built this summer,
all of the buildings covering fifteen acres
OF ground, which one year ago was the
prairie. Besides these there are great
machine shops, foundries and industrial
establishments almost without number.
The Northwestern Railroad has pur-
chased an immense tract of land west of
the Central Park, where they propose to
erect their machine shops and car works
tor the manufacture and repair of locomo-
tives, cars, &c. This will employ large
number of men, and will build up a city
west Of the park. Many families are con
templating moving in that direction in the
spring, rs laborers find it impossible even
with their great wages to pay rents in the
city. Ii is claimed, by those who ought
to be able to judge, that Chicago has forty
thousand more people than before the fire,
and their faith in the future is sublime
They say that before fifty years they will
be ahead of New York But be that as it
may, Chicago is growing very fast. With
her eleven railroads forming Il network
all over the country, and vessels and
steamers to all parts of the world, she is
destined to be the finest inland city Of the
country. d.