The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-28
Western correspondence.


CnIcAoo, Oct % 1873.
Editor qftht Register;
The growth. progress, and wealth of
this great Queen City of 1.-THE vest" is
truly wonderful. II one wants definite
and tangible idea Of the growth Of "ihc
west" let him look at Chicago
II he wants the western definition of
the word, let him look ut this great mart of
trade In 1928, Chicago was an Indian
trading post. In 1880 there were four
white families, as settlers, the population
numbered but seventy. In 1884 forty
wolves were killed in one day, on the site
of tho present Metropolis, In 1888 the
city exported seventy. eight bushels Of
grain. 10 1S45, she had never heard
whistle of locomotive, and in 1852, the
first train of cars reached here from the
east. Now the city and its suburbs num-
bers hard on to 100000 souls. The val.
uation of its real aud personal property
in 1910, was S393,457 in 1870 it was
S275,012,140.
What city in tho world can beat this.
Now, instead of seventy-eight, she ex.
ports over sixty millions Of bushels of
grain every year, and the railroad system
Of which Chicago is the center, embraces
over $500 miles of tract, while trains of
cars are arriving or departing every fif-
teen minutes of the twenty.iour hours.
Those lands where wolves held carni-
val and were confronted and slaughtered
in 1884, and which you or | would have
considered dear at ten shilings per acre,
are selling to-day at over $4,000 foot
front.
Instead of wolves, she now slaughters
hogs enough every year, to make a solid
line Of pork, standing one behind the
other enc thousand three hundred miles
in length. Over what was once miles of
quag mircs, now stand for miles TO.
getbcr, large and magnificent blocks OF
brick and marble, equal in style of archi.
lecture, and in amplitude OF dimensions
10 any in Atlantic cities,
As cattle mart, grain depot, as a
lumber depository, she is the first city il
the world. Nor is here, enterprise con-
fined to material interests alone. Nc
city on the continent has a more thorough
system Of schools, and none where every
charitable and christian enterprise finds
more willing hands and jealous advoc ltes
Here Mission schools are regarded a.
among the most effective and successful
in the land. The daily press of Chi
cago ranks confcssedly with the ablest oil
the country. 1t equals the daily press o
New York City.
COMMERCIAL.
AS Il commercial city, Ohioegv ..nh
first in the west. At fifty.three aud fifty
five Michigan Avenue, can be seen the
store of Ezra Warner, Esq, formerly o
Mddlebury, Vt The firm of Sprague
Warner & Co., ten years since, began a
the foot of the ladder 1t now rank,
with the leading houses Of the city on it
line. Its reputation, for fair and honor.
able dealing, has contributed 10 its yearly
growth and enlargement of business anC
now its annual sales reach the point o
S1,750,000. 1t has from $500 to 5000
permanent customers. 1t employs forty
hands, and keeps stock of 100000
This is an importing house of teas dlrec
from China Its yearly sales, of teaI
alone, are over $780, 600; while those o
tobacco reach the large sum of S350,00C
to 100000. 1t is gratifying to note
their rising success.
FIELD, LETTER 4 co.
This firm, to Chicago is what that O
A. T. Stewart Il Co., is to New York
1t is mammouth concern, This firm
occupy store on State Street, $50 by
Us feet, and six stories high The lane
sold, after the fire, for $4,000 per from
foot. Cost of the lot S330,000. The
building cost about S450,000. Lot anc
builing jointly cost s7S0,000. 1t il
owned by Singer, of Sewing Machine
firm. The firm pay yearly rental o
$4,000. 1t employs over 500 hands
about $50 OF which are females, engaged
in dress and cloak making, Ladies seec
their goods at the counter, step into al
elevator, and ascend to the fourth story
where they leave their goods and meas
ure, and at time appointed, return anC
find their goods metamorphOsed to mod
ern, fashionable garment, suited to any
party or occasion, in the city or world
Female attire is kept manufactured and
for sale constantly SO that ladies can pur
chase garments ready made if they prefer
to do So This concern is devoted entire
ly to the retail trade, which amount;
yearly to 100000. The wholesale
department is conducted at another store
and amounts yearly to upwards of SIG.
100000. The firm keep 100 fine horses
used mainly in distributing goods, sold
to city and foreign customers,
ANOTHER TUNNEL.
A new and second tunpel for the sup
ply OF water TO the city is now under
construction. 1t takes the water from
the crib OF the first tunnel, two miles dis
tant from the lake shore. 1t is carried
two miles under the waters of the Lake
to the shore, thence under the city a dis
lance of six miles, to Center Avenue, Oh
the west side. The contract is for $780,.
600, which together with the distribute
ing works will swell the amount to nearly
100000. In prosecuting the work al
accident recently occurred. In passing
under brick building,the diggcrs worked
faster than the bricklayers, aud con.
sequently the building sagged and became
unsettled and unsafe SO much, so that i,
was decided to be necessary to take down
the building and rebuild it. 1t only cost
the contractors the sum Of So 900 to set
tie the matter. Rather dear bill, all
for the lack of due caution and care.
RECONSTRUCTION.
The rapid rebuilding Of the city is
most wonderful M record can be found