The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-07
A Glimpse of Chicago.

To the Editor of the Press:
Our first glimpses of Chicago, the most
wonderful city in America were by gas light,
through tbe windows of the omnibus, which
transported us to the grandest hotel in the
worla, so the Chicagoians say-The Grand
Pacific. Every thing is on a grand scale,
certainly-it covers a square-an acre and a
half-in the heart of the business centre of
the city, six stories high, and built of Ohio
sandstone, in very elaborate style, and fin
ished with Mansard towers. 1t is richly fur
rrished. The upholstery of the parlors is in
CT imson, and drab satin-two shades of drab
co. 7trasting with the crimson, gives a very
rich effect. The halls are spacious; the din
ing hall, in keeping with all the other rooms,
is handsomely frescoed-and the small tables
give it a very social air. Here, and there
in the corridors are huge coils Of rubber hose
all ready at an instant's Warrington use,
reminding one of the terrible scourge of III.
Luxurious western taste is not satisfied, even
with this success. Another hotel more ele-
CANT and costly, is rapidly nearing completion
called the Palmer House.
very elegant structure built on sand stone
with an illuminated clock stands near the
Grand Pacific. 1t is proposed to build four
other depots within the radius of half mile.
The Exposition building now being COM
pleted, will be opened Friday the 26th, ''cele-
brating the rebuilding of Chicago" 1t is a
magnificent structure" built OF glass, iron
and wood, 800 feet long, 200 feet wide and
leo feet high. 1t is situated on Lake front,
Michigan Avenue and has been erected in 80
days. Forty arches span the building with
supports and braces of iron, running in every
direction. From the dome, one would expect
to find grand view of the city,, Lake, and
surrounding country OF the Lake, we have
magnificent view. 1t seems like the ocean
ineits shoreless stretch-but even at an alti-
tud,e of 1SO feet, one can scarcely overlook
the uldings; there is no unobstructed view,
becaus e, probably, it is dead level for more
than 20 miles around.
From ,,he galleries as we looked down on
the busy scene below, it did not seem possi-
bile that all arrangements could be perfected
in, the short space of four days. 1t promises
TO he a very fipe display of Inter State re-
sources.
The Chamber of Commerce, is another
splendid building. The new water works on
Chicago Avenue, built in stone, in castella-
ted Gothic style, supply the city with an
abundance CT pure water. In the engine
room 142 feet long, 60 feet wide, are three
engnes-one, tie largest in the United
States" with pumping capacity of $4,000
600 gallons every "a hours. The water is
supplied by means of a tunnel which extends
| two miles into the Lake connecting with a
| crib. A second is in process of building ON a
line parallel with the first. Near by stands a
very high tower, into the top of which the
water is pumped to obtain the pressure need
ed for the city.
The grounds of Lincoln Park are very ex-
tensive apd ornamented with trees; NINA
ture lakes-and winding rivers-have Dee"
scooped out, and picturesque little nii'S i'''
all around in perfect imitation OF Nature