Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-25
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
Views Of Chicago Chap who was for
Twenty.One Years Resident
Of Plymouth.
WHAT HE READS IN THE REPUBLICAN.
The Court House, the School House, the
New City Hall. the Iron Bridge and
tie Centennial Opera House.
A GRERNBAcK ADVOCATE.
CHICAGO, May 23d, 1876.

CHICAGO, May 23d, 1876.
Editor Republican 1t having been |
now about one year since we left
your beautiful little city, and having
leisure hour we are tempted to drop
you line from the city in which We
find ourself to-day, trusting to your
generosity that it may appear in
print.
Since leaving Plymouth we have
traversed pretty thoroughly this
wondrous domain of ours,-via-: the
United States, north, south, east and
west, always bringing up, however. in
Chicago, as a resting place from the
tumultuous rumble of steamboat
whistles and car-wheels. During the
year we have spent away from Plym-
outh, we have passed through there
twice, once to Pittsburgh and once to
Indianapolis, each time catching an
other glimpse of the handsomest
Court House, and the model Semin-
ary of Northern Indiana AS one
who has seen much OF the outside
world" in the last year passed, and
who can draw "bird's-eye view
so to speak-of the place that has
been for twenty-one years our home,
and in doing so, also draw compari-
sons between that and most other
Northern Indiana towns, we would
give it as our opinion that Plymouth
is doing handsomely, both in the
management OF her city government,
and in the matter Of public and pri-
ate improvements. To begin with,
you have the handsomest Court
House north of the Wabash river,
there being only one place in the ter
ritory, within the State, north OF that
stream, that can boast of building
that can "hold candle" to the Plym-
outh Court House-that place being
Goshen. Others that have seen both
will agree with us, that, although the
cost of their building was trifle
greater than ~ours," for beauty. con-
venience and solidity of construction,
the Plymouth Temple Of Justice CON-
pletely takes the rag off the bush-' y
The Marshall county taxpayers may
gaze upon it with pride and If the most
penurious Of them could hear what
we have heard people, even as far of
as Chicago, say of it, they would new
er have kicked against the two per
cent. special assessment that built it.
As still further improvement,-and
much needed one,-we would sug-
gest the construction of a new coun-
ty Jail, one that prisoner could not
kick hole through barefooted, with
out damaging his big-toe. We un-
derstand the County Commissioners
have already condemned the old one,
and it has been a conundrum to us
that they have not made the appro-
priation for a new one, or else author
lied an election to see what the
voters say about it. II two per cent.
special assessment built the Court
House, then thirds OF one per
cent. would build suitable Jail, and
put an iron fence around the square
the same being another improve
ment that would add greatly to the
appearance Of the buildings. II We
were an editor we would stir the
commissioners into some manner Of
activity about this.
Then the Public Seminary is anoth-
er one of the permanent institutions
"a "thing Of beauty and JOY for
ever"-if it don't last quite so long.
When we look back TO our school-boy
days, and consider the old shell in
which we used to study our First
Reader" and through which the win
try blasts would whistle with SEEM
ing delight, We connot help but think
how much better place the average
Plymouth boy has now, TO lay
the foundation and to complete his
education. Now you have a magnifi-
cent brick building, through the walls
of which run both hot and cold air
tubes, by the means OF which you
can have it cool and comfortable in
the summer and warm and cozy in
the winter The extra advantages
should stimulate our boys to extra
exertions. Go in boys and winl Who
knows but the President of the
United States may yet spring from
your Plymouth graded school? This
for your temple of learning"
Next OF your permanent convent
ences, is your Iron Bridge over the
river on Michigan street. A more
solid and perfect piece of workman
ship we have not met in all our pere-
grinations. There are many larger
ones, OF course, over larger rivers;
but this is rivaled only in staunch-
ness by the great iron bridge over
the Mississippi at St Louis, which is
the largest bridge in the world The
taxpayers OF the county have re-
ceived an equivalent fully commen-
surate with the $4,000 paid for it.
As soon as they can stand it, similar
ones should be built to replace the
ones now standing at the jefferson,
Gano and LaPorte street crossings,
also one south Of the p, Fit. w & G.
railroad bridge. However, we antic-
ipate it will be some years before all
are built; but you have begun your
Improvement to last, and it is cheap
er i'm the end to build permanent i'm
provements than "flighty" ones.
Next-your Engine House and city
council room, though built since our
departure, we learn is model of
neatness, built solidly OF brick with
the best foundations. The fire de-
partment is one which we think
should be more fully developed, and
to which the citizens should lend a
more encouraging hand. Some of
these times the wooden row OF build
ings on the east side of Michigan
street, is going up, and when it does,
aside from the loss OF stock, it will be
a good thing for Plymouth. We be-
lieve every property holder on the
line is able to stand the loss, and il
is high time they should be pulled
down one by one and new bricks put
in their places. If a good brisk fire