The Portland daily press., 1875-03-11
Letter from Chicago.
to Know about Our EIevator-wesiern
WeaIher-PersonaI.
CHICAGO, March 4, 1875.

OhiCASO, Marcn 4, 1910.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Accepting the invitation of a member of the
Chicago Board of Trade to visit the room, and
witness the proceedings of that Assembly 1
was introduced to and conversed with quite
number of the members. All of the gentle
men whom L had the pleasure of meeting
seemed much pleased to meet with Portland
er, and L was piled with innumerable ques-
tions relative to the Portland & Ogdensburg
railroad, the Caughnawaga canal and the pros
peet OF speedy completion of these projects.
Very many Of these, in fact most of them,
was unable to answer. was, however, able to
give them some slight information relative to
the purchase of Galrs wharf by the city of
Portland, its lease to the Grand Trunk Com
pany,.the proposed erection of grain eleva-
tor by that company, and of the hopes enter
tanned of increased facilities for communica-
ton between Portland and Liverpool. All of
those with whom conversed expressed them
selves very much 10 favor Of increasing their
business relations with Portland, the advan-
taaes of which as a shipping port to Europe
they seemed to think to be greatly in excess OF
those offered by any other seabosrd cities. L
deeply deplored my ignorance Of the subjects
regarding which was questioned, and wished
very much that some better informed Portland
man had been present Why would it not be q
good idea for committee from your Board
of Trade to take short vacation dur
ing the coming season and travelling over
the proposed and available routes between the
two cities, visit Chicago, talk with her me-
chants and establish a friendly intercourse be-
tween the business men of the respective cities
with view to extended business transactions
in the future when Portland shall be ready
and able to handle and tranship the entire
exports of the Chicago granaries and packing
houses?
Chicago has suffered as much if not more
than any city in the country from the effects
of the late intensely cold weather. Many Of
her streets not being yet filled up to grade and
all of the water drains being laid on level,
the cases of frozen aud bursted pipes are innu-
merable. The water comp any is doing every
thing in its power to relieve the distress thus
occasioned. To reach the seat of the diff
Guilty the frozen ground has in many cases to
be opened to the depth Of five, six and even
seven feet In order to thaw out the pipes
immense fires are lighted in these excavations
and kept burning night and day. The effect
of these subterranean fires burning in every
direction all over the city is wierd and grand.
With the exception of this temporary difficulty
Chicago is probably better supplied with water
than any city in the country, Portland perhaps
excepted, for in addition to the old lake tunnel
of which You have all heard q nsw one has
been built and recently reopened which is q
third larger than the other, extending the same
distance out into the lake and reaching the
same clear, pure water of which all Chicagoans
are SO Justly proud. In this matter of clear
ness the water of Chicago affords most strik-
inc contrast to that of St. Louis which drawn
from the Mississippi is at this season of the
year in spite of the settling reservoirs through
which it passes, of the color of coffee and
which il let to stand for short time deposits
thick sediment on the sides and bottom of the
vessel containing it. However, the people of
St. Louis as in duty bound stand up for their
muddy water and declare it to be the sweetest
and best and most healthful water in the world.
L was somewhat disappointed not to find our
friend Wheeler. formerly of the Falmouth, at
the Palmer house. Upon inquiry learned
that Mr. w. like true eastern man had de-
cided Chicago to be too far west tor him and Is
now to be found in the Revere House Boston.
Chicago is at present, with her youth, her ru-
ms her damaged credit, her vast ideas and the
overpowering rowdy element in her population,
in horribly crude, rough, transition state of
| existence, but with her indomitable energy and
perseverance, her vast wealth of surrounding
country and her commanding position one liv-
ing to the ordinary age of man will yet see her
occupying the position of Queen of the West
the New York of the inland seas. Let Port
land make of her friend and she will never
have cause to regret it. X.