, 1873-03-05
BROADWAY OF THE FUTURE.
Wabash Avenue Propcrty-Owner
Aroused.
They Propose to Cut Down The Trees from Hubbard
Court forth, and Generally Improve
tue Thoroughlare.
Committees Appointed to Look After the Interests
of the Future Broadway

1argely-attcnded meeting Of owners o1
| property on Wabash arcnue Was held at tue
| Msttcaon House, yesterday afternoon to con-
| eldor snndry street improvements in which they
| arc specially interested. DR.. Ryder presided,
and AID. McGcnniss acted as Secretary.
Mr. Briggs said, at an informal meeting OF per
Sous doing business and owning property On tho
avenue, the condition Of the thoroughfare, and
its standing as business street, was discussed,
and it vas decided to call a general meeting,
with the view Of drawing attention to
the main thoroughfare of the city,"
He had confidence in Wabash avenne,
and nearly all others believed it would ultimate
" be the Broadway Of Chicago. It was consid-
cred necessary, as the spring business was COM
mencing, that the sidewalks be nude uniform,
and the dead and live trees cut down. We're
this done, the avenue would become q prone
made and business street.
Capt Avereu had prepared tho petition, re-
questing the Council to cause tho trees to be cut
down north of Hubbard court, and to lay side
walk Of uniform grade to the nav street line, on
both sides OF the avenue. He submitted it for
the approval OF the meeting
Mr. Prus8ing desired to attract the ladies', and
to do this it was essential to make the street st
tractiye.
Mr.. Bowen said there was great need On
tho avenue Of retail dry-goods store, and an ef-
fort ought to be made to get one, az it would
attract customers. Landlords should reduce
their rents, otherwise no one would pay the e1-
orbitant prices now asked. J. y sca1n1non, be
said, notably demanded high rents. The dry
goods stores would benefit adjacent property,
and owners shonld be more generous than they
seemed disposed to be.
Mr.. Giles thought it would not be proper to
take any action in regard to high rents. He
suggested that committee be appointed to look
after the interests Of the nyen1lo, and to cali
meetings when they dcamed them necessary.
Mr: Owen thought the owners OF property
should be appealed to to cut down the trees and
construct 16-foot sidewalk. All wanted the
street improved, and Why should they not do it,
and make Wabash az enue a business thorough
fare.
Mr. Avc1ou said there we're a great many non
residents who owned property On the Avenue,
ticable
The petition to the Council was adopted, and
those present 81 gned it.
were appointed to look after the interests OF the
avenue: Mr. Ayerell, Mr.. Giles, Mr.. Nilmarth,
Mr.. Owen, and Mr.. Prussing.
Mr. Owen moved that committee Of three
be appointed to wait on tho property-owners and
request them to construct sidewalks and cut
down the trees. Tho ownerB should do this.
They could not expect the whole city to do it.
when they alone would be benefited.
AID; Mcdenniss said the property-ownera
would have to pay for the improvements some
time, and indorsed the proposition.
The motion WAS agreed TO- and the committee
was thus constituted; Messrs. Owen, Biggs, and
McGenniss.
Mr.. Mathews considered it desirable to know
how many Of the vacant lots on the avenue
would be built upon in 3 year or two years. He
hoped the Committee Of Five would bo instruct
I'd to find out.
On motion tho Committee we're 10 instructed.
The meeting then adjourned