Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-11


81 rawless that she hugs the idea that she will
be something IL she can only get the national
capital. Her business ideas are represented by
such men as the deadibeat keayis; She Aasnt
fraud she counts in all ST. Louis county as the
population of st. Louis. We might rs justly
reckon all Cook county in ours. Chicago wilt
ing! Not q bit Of it. st. Louis knows better
Why, st. Louis capitalists are to-day investing
In Chicago lots In preference to their own real
estate. They know whether Chicago is whiting
or not. We've got the trade and we are going
to keep it. In ten years Chicago will be the
great distributing city of the country. New
York will do the wholesale importing and the
cago will dist ibute the goods. We've got dfty
railroads now, and wen have hundred in ten
years. We have not only the greatest railroad
We can import by water direct from Liverpool,
and return freight the same way. St. Louis
talk about sending grain TO Europe by water
without breaking bulk Why the grain sprouts
posing they ever get to the Gulf by way OF their
ditch of a river. We can undersell st. Louis
right under her nose-at st. Joe, Sedalia, Kan
sas city, and all the way to Denver. Chicago
This is the way they talk at Chicago, and the
appearance Of things here certainly gives rea-
son for the faith that is in them. COMPARED
with the business stir here, st. Louis seems to
be literally standing still, though the latter city
is doubtless doing q large, quiet, safe business.
fact that it has been rebuilt, as il by magic, i'm
two years since its devastating fire, is known to
the world, but only those who see for themselves
can appreciate how substantially and hand
sOmely il has been rebuilt. Whether or not
Chicago is to be the great distributing city of the
country in ten years, she has made preparations
to do the business The new mercantile build
ings OF Chicago have been described many
times, and need not refer to them, but these
are only ''in q cOncatenation' with the grand
new hotels, built or in progress, that are to &C
coinmodate the expected rush Of visitors to the
coming city of the West. Compare the new
Sherman House (the carpets alone to which cost
$50, COO with the shabby leading hotel OF ST.
Louis, the Southern! And the Sherman is to be
dwarfed, in size at any rate, by two or three
other hotels in course of erection. These are
the Potter Palmer House, Ito cost only So
100000, the Pacific, Isl 900 ,0Oo,) and the Ire
mont, $3.50 ,000) The new Sherman costs about
s2jO,OOO, and while retaining most of its old
popular features has some added conveniences
aud elegances, which, with its superiority of
position, win doubtless enable it to hold its own
with the biggest of its competitors.
The private buildings in course of erection
are on the same expensive scale. Mr. Thomp-
son, president OF a street railroad here, is
building house on Prairie avenue To cost
S26O.G which would seem to be rather ..pala-
tar for new western city. T.. NJ. Pullman,
9of sleeping-car fame, is having an unpretend-
ing little affair OF house built i'm the same
neighborhooa, at cost OF Sl2J,0 900. and resi-
dences costing from So, 600 TO 500 900, are get
ting to be rather common sort OF thing in the
fashionable quarter OF Chicago.
Great care is taken in the new business build
lngs to provide against fire. Several have sunk
arteslan wells at heavy expense, capable of
throwing heavy stream of water over the
highest buildings, and with sufficient force to
be usefully employed in working elevators TO
the fifth stories. Almost every large establish
employees, who are drilled daily or weekly, and
are fully equipped with the best quality of
fire apparatus. In addition, one sees on every
landing In business houses, hotels, and private
houses, the patent apparatus for smothering
fires by the application Of chemicals. Chicago
Is also doubling her water supply from the lake
at great expense, and evidently means to take
the fire. hend.
wAsHISGToNIANs IN CHICAGO.
I see quite a number Of Washington faces
here. Mr.. James w. Sheahan, OF the Tribune
editorial corps, is an old Washingtonian but has
been here long enough in this city Of the New
ness to be counted as one of Caicago's own.
He is, find, greatly respected here, both as .
writer and in private life.
Col. NJ. b. Miller, formerly in one Of the gov
eminent departments, and who married beau
tiful and cultivated Washington girl, is now
Connected with the wholesale iron house Of
Hall, Kimbark s. Co.
Mr.. Wilmer s. Shepherd formerly of the
Washington firm Of A. r. Shepherd s. Bros.)
is established here in q very hne business; and
superior quality of bis work in carrying OF
some Of the heaviest contracts offered in Chi
cago, including the plumbing, Sc, of the new
Sherman House, the fremont Mouse, &c.
This speaks well for Washington workmanship
and Washington enterprise.
Mr.. Rankin, the architect, is much esteemed
here as in Washington, and is basily engaged
experimenting the execution Of Mr.. Mullet's
plans for Chicago's grand new Custom House
and Post Office combined.
Hr. Thomas v. Bryan, who is held by Wash
ington as a citizen, though Chicago puts In
some sort Of absurd claim or priority title. has
just returned from Colorado much improved in
health. MIR. Bryan has several heavy business
enterprises in Chicago, amongst them the
"Fidelity Safety Depository, on the same plan
as our Washington "National Safe Depository"
on 18th street. 1t 10 one Of the wonders of
Chicago on account Of It's having passed I'M
scathcd through the hottest OF the Great Fire.
There are some 1000 vaults or recesses in this
Depository, and there are departments for
various kinds Of depesites; for lady's valuables,
diamonds, laces, costly dresses, &C., as well ss
for valuable documents, money, bonds, &c
While was there to-day several parties OF
ladies, about to leave the city for the summer,
came in to deposit articles OF jeweiry and wear
ing apparel, in packages, or in trunks. N.