, 1873-06-01
THE MlLWAuKEE.AVENUE EXTENSION.

II The Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:
sm: This enterprise seems to hung fro.
The Mayor thinks the expense to bo incurred to
accomplish it too great for the benefits to accrue
But possibly the Mayor, and others before whom
the matter has come, do not comprehend what
Milwaukee avenue is to the portion Of the city
through which it extends. =:
Easy, unfailing, and direct access to the great
business centre is necessity to the welfare Of
every phrt OF the city. The northwest portion
Of the city is bounded, along the line Of Kinzie
street, by iron tracks, numbering from one to
dozen, from the North Branch Of the river to
the western city limits, and indefinitely beyond
that. Every street leading toward the centre Of
the city brings up unerringly against railroad
tracks. II you wish to Cross, you may do 90 by
waiting patiently from fifteen minutes to an
hour and 8 half. Probably q train Of twenty
or thirty freight-cars will pass along before you,
and, just when the last one is about to cross
the street and leave the roadway open, there is a
eudden jerk, and the whole concern files slowly
back into the position in which you first discoY-
cred it. After this has bee1 repeated sufficient
number OF times, you may, il you look sharp aud
work lively, make break through an opening
accidentally left between the tnil-ends Of two
such trains Such is the life Of adventure in
etore for an inhabitant Of the northwest region.
Now, hero is q large territory, bounded by
Kinzie street and railroad tracks on tho south,
the North Branch of the river on tho east, West.
ern avenue On the vest, and Fullerton avenue
On the north,-s1 square miles Of populous ter
ritory,-thns cut of from safe and direct conf
Elunicaton with tho centre OF the city.
All Northwest Chicago, as above described
travels On Milwaukee avenue. Passing diagonal
II, as it docs. through this large aud populous
territory, it is easily accessible either from the
north and south streets, or the east and west
streets. For the reason that it runs thus
ciagonally, it is a shorter route than any other
to the business-ceutre Of tho city.
Az to the street itself, it is one Of no mean
pretensions. It is almost continuously built up
from its present beginning, at Kinzio street, to
tho city limits at Fullerton avenue It is q
thorough and thriving business street, and o
main thoroughfare. 1here is probably not
street in the city that is more greatly crowded
with pedestrians at o'clock in the morning and
o'clock at night.
There are other streets at which it has been
decided to erect yiaducts. That is well, and on
some OF those streets they ere already neccs-
sty; but were tho people OF the Northwest Di-.
vision to have their choice In the location Of tie
first one to be erected, they would unQuestiona-
bly, decide in favor Of milwaukee, avenue.
When the matter Of the viaduct and EtTeet-e1-
the only opponent Of the scheme seemed to be-
h1r. Sweet, who Owls the northeast corner OF
Kinzio aud Desplaines Streets, which property
he thought would be damaged by Naduct. |
Thon mr. s. WIS elected to the Council, and sinca
then, notwithstanding the improvement had |
been ordered and the work comm enced, its pros !
ecntion has been entirely abandoned. Whether |
Mr. s. approved Of the project Individually or |
not, or whether he labors in behalf Of his con- |
stituency or not, it is work that must, sooner
or later, be done. i
Take any Of the other leading streets in the
:ity,-Lake. Randolph, or Monroe street, for in
'tance,-put half q dozen tracks across them
sgith trains switching across at all hours of the
n$,l~1 ~1xvHf l.