, 1875-10-24
Considerable improvements
Made the Past Season.
The Commissioners Hard Up for Names
for the Parks and Avenues.
The Real-Estate Market Steady, with
Few Transactions.
Large Loans for Investment in
Improvements.

THE SOUTH PARKS
aoMETH1sG TO BIZ PROUD OF
The people OF Chicago have abundant reaso
to be proud Of her rapidly extending commerce
embracing already, with the exception OF Mexico
The entire North American Continent, and ve1
large and rapidly increasing direct export ao
Snport tAde With Europe; of her railways
reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocea1
aud from all the Great Lakes to the Gulf
Mexico; OF her miles Of magnificent busines
blocks, built a. il by magic since the great fire Q
1s71; OF her having become in the short epao
af quarter OF century the largest gram
lumber, and domestic and animal produc
market in the world; Of the high characte
pf her merchants, and the fact that, with only I
few exceptions, al1 her banks stood up nobl.
and paid all demands promptly during the palut
ut 1878, while those OF every other leading city
In the Un1on we're suspended for weeks; Of al
this and much more may our people be justly
proud hut in nothing does the marvellous prog
ress and metropolitan position OF Chicago
more certainly appear than in the great extent
ana rapid progress Of her
PARKs AND BorIEvAEDs-
It may be doubted nlso whether any other I'M
psoyements will bring her more substantial
capital Or larger and more desirable population
than this system OF drives and parks that are
BOON destined to surround the entire city. Merss
chants, banke1H, capitalists, and gentlemen Of
taste frcm all parts Of tho country are Attracted
by them, and come and make their homes among
NE, that their families may grow up in the en-
ioysnent Of the pleasure and the culture they
afford. Hence Chicago never made better in-
vestment than il. these elegant SOURCES Of health
and amusement which arc becoming so marked
feature in the progress OF our city.
Five years ago there was not decent drive in
or about the city. Immediately after street
was paved every dray or heavily loaded team in
that section Of it crowded ths- thoroaghfare land
it was, in month 1t most, full OF holes. and
was very soon nearly spoiled by the tremendous
buainass that Was put upon it. Three years ego
last spring the South Park Commissioners COM
menced active operations, and they have now at
least
Pu1EIv MILES OF EXCELLENT DRIVES
and splendid bonlav.rds, and moro than as many
miles of sewers draining q wide extent Of coun-
try. This drainage is now roally worth to the
Town Of Lake more than all the tax tho
people lhsre paid to the Park Fund. Our
citizens can spend an entire afternoon with
sgteat pleasure showing their friends what has
already been accomplished
!: few rods hom the station. near tho north
side Of the most southerly Of tho two parks, tho
Commissioners have e1cavsted from slough.
aha muck of which was needed to enrich the ad-
joining sand ridges, two beautiful lakes, in all
from 100 to 200 feet wide and 1000 feet long.
The rustic bridges will be finished snd the lakes
filled within the next few weeks. Between the
md YTfFHe 3FmAr %hA 1ArA AvS1 ~j-
the lake ahore is another large slough, which
viii be e1cavnted and form another lake These
4iou6he furnish tho boat material and At the
cheapest possible cost for eariching the soil and
south Of the north line pier has been thrown
out, and dredging machine is steadily ut work |
Sessd la4e, for sDD t is - intended end Pbat thet
pleasure steamers shall have access TO it. The |
park extends nearly two miles along the lake |
front, on which it is proposed to make splen-
did drive az soon - possible. These improve |
1nants are probably known to one in hundred OF !
those who yisit the parks We recommend visi- |
tors to drive south from the south end Of Drex-
el boulevard, and to follow the splendid avenue
south directly 10 the greenhouses to where it |
turns east on the 60a feet connection between
the two parks, and thence across the Illinois |
Central to the lakes -shofe- Till Jou reach the
shore park there is not much Improvement, and |
a@ong the lake only promise Of what is to be
son.
AT THE G1EEs-HousEs
he writer found Prof. Babcock bnsilv engaged
liking up things for the winter. He and his as
Ealuable services to the city without fee or re-
Sard except in the consciousness OF doing an
artistic and most important work. In the few
nontha the department has been organised, the
Professor has received AZ gratnity from IN
hvidua1s, and public and private gardens in diff
exens payts OF the world. some g. 500 varieties Of
leeds and plants, and within the shortest time
will require to grow them our citizens will !
ave ready for inspection specimens OF nearly |
IL the trees. shrubs, and plants that grow upon
ng beginning has been made, and our citizens
Gin soon find themselves very greatly indebted
0 Prot. Babcock. his associates, and the South
lark Commissioners, for one Of the rnost de-
ghtful places to visit that taste and culture eau
nggest.
M1thln the Last feW weeks the promise OF the |
commissioners made last spring to commence in |
arnest the improvement OF
WESTERN AvENUE
as been fulfilled The fences on the eaet side
I the avenue for nearly the entire distance be-
ween the canal and Pavilion PARKWAY (Flfty-
fth street, hare been set back 400 feet;
he ground in the centre has been plowed !
p, and preparations have been made to plant | ;
'ees the entire distance before the season
loses, It is dne to the people, and especially
10 taxpayers in Southwestern Chicago and in
le northwestern part Of the Town Of Lake, that I
lis grand boulevard should be pushed forward i,
} completion without unnecessary delay It is
ftanded to make it similar aud equal in every .
aspect to prexel boulevard.
The Commissioners find themselves sadly III | !
eed OF names. An expressive as well as
eautlful nane ls more important and valuable
boulevard or a park than might at first be
opposed. such q name ia needed for Western =
'enue from The canal to Fifty-ffth street.
2 to the name OF that street suggested by Mr. +
instead, Pavilion parkway, it has no signl6-
tnce whatever. 4 pavilion Is defined to be ~ +
nt-a temporary movable habitation !" in
chteeture. - kind Of tnEret or building :
sually insulated and.contaiued under single | ,
Iof :" and 80 Of the other detinitlons given by
ehste1, none Of winch have any application to y
, avenue, unless. indeed, Mr. Otmstead sup
,sed it would be lined On each side With tents y
theory that will never be realized. 4 new and
'propr1ate name therefore ID needed for Fifty "
til street As to
WENTWORTH PARE, =;
Hjs3iNpniehad rira @hn | =.