, 1874-01-08
THE LAKE-FR0NT.

Tho Proposed Salo to tho IantIrouds.
70 TIC Ed'lor af Tho Chicago Tribune:
SIN: II there oyor was tilno whom perfect
unity Of opinion should prevail upon a public
question, II surely should Prevail now, In regard
to tho proposed Balo Of portion Of The lake.
front to tho Illinois Central and otnor l,airoaa-
Conpanies who desire tho land for depot-pur-
poBes.
It soomB strange TINT objection should come
from any quarter, and particularly from any
proporsy-ownor on Michigan ayonue.
The building OF such depot as ia proposed
would moro than double tho preHent value oil
every foot Of property On Michigan ayenue north
Of Harrison street. It would at onco establish
the character Of tho street aB TINT Of great
Neutrality-suspicious.. Wabash avenue would
also bo groat1y benefited. rs would be tho ontirc
business-hcart Of the city north Of Madison
Htroet.
1t soems therefore, extremely foolish, on tho
part Of any private owner to oppose moasurc
which, II carried out, cannot fail to add 1arso!y
to the value Of Ills property. And yet somo
men aro so mysteriously constituted. and their
reasoning powors aro 80 strangely distorted, Ms
to conclude that whatever iB beneficial to others
must consequently bo Injurious to themselves.
Suppose TINT representations on Michigan
nvenno 1cgally havo an i" oasemont" lu tho
Lako Park" upon which thoir 1ota front.
would not tho unqucationablo enllancomers III
lent for tho surrender Of this fauclfnl right !?
While graBping At this shadow of an easo-
mont" t4cy arc In danger Of losing tho SUBJ
stance Of real valuo. Their lots aro gradually
sinking in worth, and becoming moro md moro
It Ia gratifying to know TINT the Michigan ~
enuo property. holders, with ono or two inexpli-
cable excoptions,. aro unanimously. In favor Of
the proposed sa1o to tho Railroad Companies,
and nro perfectly willing to fordgo any i'm
"Lake Park" In consideration Of tho immediate
and immenae public and private benefits that
would nccl1io.
In regard to tho throo blocks required by tho
boon expressed. II tho property IL worth 80
mncli more than tho Companies havo offered,
why do not othor responsible parties offor moro ?
Property il really worth what it will bring ut q
FUR salo, and not what people fancy 1t to bo
worth. It is much castor to mako figures than
to realize them.
In my Judgment, tho railroads havo offered
fully Us much as chi, nov be obtained for tho
property, uudor any mode Of salo whatever
Whnt il tho property valuable for?
Surely it is worthless for rcBitlenco-purposes
AZ for business, with 80 many vacant seoros OIL
Our chiof thoroltghfaren, what is tlore TO induce
any ono to tAke ssoro oAst OF Michigan ave.
uuo, even II it wero offered him rent free ? 1Io
u
Only for manufacturing purposes could the land
DO required for years to como, nnless Ho'no great
enterprise or improvement should bo inaugu-
rated which would have tho effoct Of creating
and drawing business towards the Lako.
Why ia Michigan avenue now SO life
less IL it not clearly for the roa-
sou TINT thoro is at present noth-
ing to attract business to that thoroughfaro
And NJ it il ut present SO it will remain, unless
something IL dono to giyo it now character.
tnhrA il n
gan avenue property, neither. would there
bo any salo or demand for the Lako-front
property In casc tho railroads should bo driven
out and the land thon put upon the marAet.
Such, at loast, iB the honest conviction OF tue
writer Of this communication. =
Tho only parties, it seems, who want the
property, are.tho lsairoad Companies; and thcy
wish it for D purpose TINT will ba Of inestimab1a
benollt to tho whole city.
Tho moaaul omout Of value with somo parties
scoms to be- not what tho property il roatly worth
to othors, but how much will tho Railroad Com
panios payY How much more can DO squeezed
out of them !? Such reasoning 10 pitiful.
For my part. I think We should he liberal to-
ward tho railroads. Tho railroads. more than
any other agency, have contributed to build and
rebuild Chtcngo; md tue policy tint would
tnjustly shackle them comes OF Ignorance and
prejudice, and is unworthy Of tho citizens Of a
gront and enlightened community.
Tim vast prospective increase in the business
OF tho roads demands tho erection OF depot
psoportionate to the requirements Of tho future.
30 far from throwing any obstacles in tho way
Of SO great n necessity aud 30 grand design,
wo Hhonld offer every possible encouragement.
The railroads come with thoir money il hand,
Mt o time when the City Treasury is empty. and
whom tho sum they offer will relicvo the present
urgency, and snvo the property-ownerB from the
iutilotion OF increased taxation.
Beyond doubt, tho Railroad Companies will
ag1oo to pusl, forward their improvements at
onco,-a circumstance which will givo employ
impart to Michigan avenue a atimulus. aud to to
the busineas-heart fresh tality, which will
soou satisfy tho most doubtful that q wiHo thing
has boon done, tho result Of which will be 4
magnificent building in front Of the city. sur
pnssing in grandeur and boauty anything OF tho
kind tho world has yet soon. Respectfully
yours j. EsA1As WARREN.