, 1873-10-09

Complete Tabular Statement Of
Buildings Erected.
Detailed Description Of Potter
Primers Hotel.


Chicago, like Rome, dates oil her enterprises
from tho day Of the foundation OF the city,-not
Of the Chicago which at this hour, two years
ago, WAS rapidly being 1noltod into Bmoko and
aebes and scattered over tho face OF tue North
east by howling aouthwoBtorly gallo, but Of tho
mighty, splendid Chicago which took tho placo
Of that which perishod, and is to-day looked
upon Us tho wondor Of tho world and the beauty
aud ornament Of tho continent Of America. all
TINT Was of Chicago two years ago was smoking
pralrip, whose surface VAS covered with
jagged walls and bon,lres, unhabtabe by
mnu or beast All our business was
chaos; our population distracted !;
third OF 1t absolutely homeless; thousands
wero mourning thoir dead, and thousands moro
III agony of suspense for thoso Of wlioBo life or
death they had, and could have for d long time,
no assurance. Everything wad gono but synlpa-
thy and kindness from abroad.
It IL needless to refer minutely to the spon-
tauoous outburst Of brotherly sorrow that
brought assistance from oyery habitable quarter
Of the Garth, but reforo1ee to tho fire on this
second anniversary, or, indeed, on any future
one, would be incomplete without al acknowl-
alignment Of
WHAT CN1CAdo OWES HUMANITY.
It was by this helping hand extended to Chi
rago TINT hor scattered forces woro col
iected, and brought to bear upon tho
enormous work of resurrection. Our Industries
were suppressed our places Of business utterly
wiped out there was neither capital nor col
lateral, but money came pouring III, and street
by street tho city began to ASSUME an aspect Of
opulonce that aHtouishod even those whose gen.
erosty and taHto had couHpirod to render build
lngs for business, palaces, aud unconscio'lsly
erect for themselves and the city monuments OF
boauty and art. As tho dnys went by, and
feeling OF confidence in tue coming city sproad
abroad, commonor building materials, md sim
pler architectural modela wero discarded, ind
pach now enterprise was
0nANDEn THAN THE LAsr.
Such season OF building activity as that be-
tween Oct. 8, 187l and Oct. o, 1872. was never
known in tho history Of civilization. The ami
eeranry article published 'n The Tribune OH
tlat latter date shows that in tho burnt district,
by actual count, 51,010 lineal feet Of building
had boon done at O cost Of nearly $50, GOO, QUO !;
that wlile this tremendous effort Of roconstruc-
lion had been going OH, bnsinoas had been led
buck to Its former channels, an1 tho prospects
of brilliant commercial future for the city were
better THU ever. Those buildings we're oil Of u
superior order, in point Of finish aud arctu-
tectural beauty, and woro sufficiently numerous
to almost fill tho streets left bare by the fire,
leaving ouly occasional gapH to be covered dur
ing the past yonr.
4 resident here may Hcarcoly have observed
tho amount accomplished during
THE FAST TWELVE MONTHS
in closing up unsightly openings Oh tile business
tLoroughfares Of tho city. md D list Of buildings
commenced md finished since Oct. O. 1872, viii
probably create surprise in its extont. And yet
this is but fraction Of tho amount that has
really been achieved. Last anniversary saw tue
virtual reconstruction Of the business district
to-day celebrates all im1nense amount ACCOM-
plishud III the rosidonco potion Of tho city
Our recuporatiyo energy in restoring the homes
destroyed two years ago is Hcarcely iesn romarka"
bic than that exhibited in replacing rows Of
buildings with
D1ooHs OF PALACES.
Tho official record Of tho work done during the
past twelve months shows that 81 ,013 lineal fool
lave been built upon III TINT timo, mostly resi-
donces, nearly wo-thrds tho amount done lasl
year. The character Of the buildings liirort
from that of tho preceding year, and tho cost hat
been much smaller in proportion. But tho artis
tic element has survived. and i'll tho thousands
Of buildings erected for dwellings III improved
GHtuEllE 4GG4ME 10 utpA $hA14O LULU II
no marked contrast between the business block'
and the residences. They aro equal in point O.
beauty. Tho work of building has been conhnos
to no one particular division.
THE MONTH SIDE,
which included tho greater portion Of tue burn
district llad, to tho limo OF the fire limits, boo1
pretty we'll built up with wooden dwellings, ans
s,nail stores q year ago, and no account wa
II. ,{x Sn{t, ",
of tho work accomplished, although tho cos
must have beon sonso millions OF dollars.
.yide "trip, running from tha main branch 0
tho Chicago River 10 Lincoln Park. mud noarl
half milo wide, including tho two mai
thoroughfaros Of the Ncrth Side, Lad boen bu
sparsely covered with durable buildings, three
story common brick structures being, i'll general
the only eyidcnceB Of returning prosperity
During the past yoar hundreds of costly dwell
luga have covered vacant lots, while 4ore an
thoro Oh Clark and Wells strootn imposing bric'
hnl STONE buildings have boon raised.
Tho principal streets thus improved on til
North sido aro Lasao. Dearborn, State. Pine
and Cass. An evidence Of tue dcs're for boaut,
il found in tue diversity OF tho Bty}es.
THE GOTHIC REVIVAL
Of tho paat decade llaA beon slowly working 1T
way West. It las found expression In soyora
of tue forty-nine plans submitted for tho new
Conrt-Ilouso, and takon mnro uolid form In thoa
elegant North Side dwellings. On Doarbor,
street especially, many Of the now houses ar
Gothic In general dealgn, modified occaslouall
Into not unpleasant hybrid. Stone, marble
and pressed brlok are tho materials employed
aud what WIS two yours ago tho beautiful roBi
douco quarter, tho Brooklyn of Chicago, wil
t.. to roer ftfura 1nanryn To rank with thu fIbns