The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-07-21
ACROSS THE COUNTRY BY RAIL.

In my last l promised to tell you
why | thought Chicago city of great
expectations. Now presume this dec
laration will be no new thing to yoar
readers, for any one at all oonversant
with the history of the place, either
personally or otherwise, or any person
who resides in the city, or in all the
region round about, will tell you that
i'll Chicago they expect every thing.
But it is only fair that We should give
a reason, if possible, for the faith that
is in us.
Aside from the vast territory on
which the city proper is built, there is
an extent of country for perhaps TWEEN
ty miles on every side where it is pos.
sible, from the main part of the city,
and not adjoining 10, but actually a
part aud parcel thereof, which IS laid
out in lots, intersected by wide streets
and avenues, with shade and ornament
al trees in profusiOn. \ city to all in
tents and purposes, except the build
ings. On the G. b. & q. Road, for in-
stance, there is Indiana Avenae, two
miles; Canal Street. three miles Lown-
dale, seve,i miles; Hawthorne, nine
| miles; Clyde, ten miles; Riverside,
| twelve miles; la Grange, fourteen
| miles, and West Lyons, fifteen miles,
| all, with all the contiguous territory,
within the incorporate limits of the
part exist only on paper, and yet the
lots, l am told, are appraised ut high
figures. and the assessment goes to
make up the wealth of the city, and
| pay for the comfort of the citizens
Taxes at the same rate ed ia the city
| THIS is only uny 'i,rrc :1n from the
city, and when we remember that East
and West the same thing OCCURS, we
feel justified in say ing that Chicago is n
city of great expectations. Every in
hahitant of that city expects TO live to
see the day when all this great scope
of country will be built up with stone
front business houses and magnificent
hotels and palatial residences May
be there to see it.
Chicago has undoubtedly much to
boast of. She may not have so large
an organ as Boston, but she has most
magnificent water works. She may
not have so fine a river as the Hudson,
but she has one good deal more filthy.
She may not have Southern Railroad,
as has Cincinnati, but she has Lake
Michigan. She may not have as big
whisky thieves as st. Louis has, but
she has just as many OF them. She
may not have a Henry Ward Beecher,
as brooklyn has, but she has more
wind mills. All in all, Chicago is a
great city, growing city, and nothing
will prevent her from becoming one ol
the greatest cities in the world. Long
may she wave.
But I must leave Chicago, however
much | regret it, and jog along down
the road towards Burlington, on the
other side of the Father OF Waters
In distance of two hundred and sever
miles, over boundless prairie, no tim
Der, except what has been planted by
the hand Of man. We pass through
forty-three towns OF more or less i'm
portance; a town OH an average oi
about five miles For some thirty
miles, at least, out from Chicago. the
land is fiat and very wet; it il of the
kind which | described in my former
letter. Through the central part o.
Illinois the land is rich, and it is most
beautiful country. Corn, fields of corn,
acres of corn, hundreds of acres Of
corn, all around on every hand
Wheat, good; potatoes, good; in faet
J all the crops are good. There is as YET