The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-22
CHICAGO.

FREE LANCEs IN PoLITICs-THE REELECTION
OF MAYOR CARTER HARRISON-TBE GREAT
SlENGERFEST IN JUNE-sCME PIGURts ABOUT
THE PORK PACKING BUSINEsS-A SAMPLE OF
CHICAGO POLTRY.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
APRIL Is, 1881.
There is probably no city Of any consid
cradle size in America whose inhabitants
are as changeabIe in regard 10 their political
affiliations as those OF Chicago. We have
among us from six TO eight thousand voters
who care but little for party ties, but vote
for the man who seems To them best fitted
for the position at issue. This fact has been
most evidently shown during the past few
years. Let us review the political history
Of Chicago for the last four years. A.
about that time Monroe Heath, The ncum-
bent OF the mayOraly, in a race for the
same position, defeated Perry II. Smith,
the Democratic nominee, with some
49, 900 votes to spare. Two years later Car
ter ii. Harrison, after serving two terms in
the national House Of Representatives, was
elected Mayor by majority Of over 5000,
thus being the first Democrat who had Oc-
cupied the position since the days Of Mayor
sherman, who served from 1862 TO 1860. In
June OF the same year 1S79) the Democratic
nominees for judges OF the Circuit Court
were elected by maiorIties ranging from
5000 TO $4,000. In the autumn OF 1879 the
Democratic candidates for sheriff and coun-
| ty treasurer were badly defeated, their ad-
yersaries polling 5000 more votes than they.
| In the presidential election last fall Gene
raj Garfield carried Chicago by over
900 majority. This spring the Gar
den City wheels back into line as a
| Democratic city, giving "Our Carter" 5000
mojority, and this in the face Of the most
violent and unscrupulous warfare ever
Waged upon an honorable man in our city.
Since the election the Republican papers
anXiOusy CndeavOr 10 show that the VIC
tory was due not TO Democratic supremacy,
but 10 the personal popularity OF the Mayor
and TO the sympathy created for him by The
foul and malignant abuse Of partisan
press. Therein | differ with the Tribune,
| Journal, and Inter. Ocean. | am in full ac-
cord with ex-senator James X. Do0ilttle,
who says that Chicago, when left to herstt,
untrammeled by United States marshas
and supervisors. with honest judges 10
count the votes cast, is naturally and ever
will he Democratic city.
With regard to the late election, il would
hardly be an exaggeration TO say that ecery
one was satisfied. Republicans and DEM
ocrats alike concur in saying that the last
city administration was most excellent
one; all affirm the opinion that as far as
they can see for the next two years chi
caeo is safe. Mayor Harrison Is prob
ably to-day the most popular Democrat IN
the Northwest. "Our Carter" and his
eagle "a pet name for his OratoTicaI highls)
are familiar words all over this part OF the
country. Day after day dozens OF news
papers pour into the City Hall referring to
| a thn = IN ~
articles are usually headed in something
OF this STYLE: "Bully for Car,er!" "PrOud
Bird ".The Eagles Screech," "Let the
Eagle Scream" &c. The present Dem
ocratic town talk ls to put him in the field
as a candidate for Governor in 1884; but
as Illinois is q hopelessly Republican State,
60 Our Garter" will probably prefer some
thing less exalted but more attainable.
| The Sangerfest which takes place in Chi
caeo during the month Of June promises to
| he a grand success. The male chorus num-
bers 200 voices. To this will be added the
900 persons comprising the mixed chorus,
making a sum total Of 2,2O0 well-tralned
voices. The orchestra, TO be composed OF
15O artists, will be under the direction OF
Hans Balatka, the leader OF the Chicago
orchestra, and one OF the most talented mu-
| sicians in America. The soloists have been
quite recently chosen, and are: Pescbka-
| Leuter. soprano; the gifted Annie Louise
Calv. an universal fayorite in Chicago, con-
tralto; Claudins, tenor; ReWmeltz and the
sunctb Whitney, bassOs. The chorus i
already finely trained, and by the time June
arrives will have reached condition OF
almost absolute perfection. Altogether, our
Sangerfest promises to be a most successful
one. .,
Her pork-packing business Is one OF Chi
cago's boasts. Perhaps the figures IN re-
gard 10 it might interest some OF your read
ere. During the year closing March |,
1881, Chicago packers slaughtered o'l32' III
members of the pOrcine family-an excess
Of 45l, ,4j4 over the preceding year, and but
.7js. .26j less than were slaughtered I'D the
rest Of the entire Northwest. ). Louis,
which stands second to Chicago as packing
centre, handled but SS4, lj9 hogs! Armour
& Co. killed during the last year l,2l0,O92
bops-300. 900 more than St. Louis cared for.
The Anglo American Packing and ProyI'
sion Company formerly known as Fowler
Brothers) killed 1,ll6,377; Tobeg q Booth
handled 800, 293 hogs. Armour's daily
killing capacity is 10 900; the Chicago
Packing Company, $4,000; the AngIo-Ame-
rican. 5000; Higgins, 5000; and some
twelve others from 1900 down TO 1000.
II the Chicago packing business con-
tinues TO grow as ii has done In the iast zen
wears il is not too much TO say that IN 1871
our city will be able 10 annually ship
10 OO0. GOO hogs. The killing capacity OF Tie
packing. houses is fully equal TO such de-
mand. Ten million year would require
killing capacity per diem OF about 10000, ana
100. 900 day can be easily accommodated.
Should not Cincinnati and her inhabitants
blush every time they hear their city called
Pork0pollsY
Yesterday was the first spring-like day
~ the season. TO give you some idea OF
the kind of weather we have been having
~ tate. let me tell you that on Monday last
ve had a two-inch fall OF snow. For the
first time in the year Of 1881 yesterday peo-
ple could go out OF doors without Deing
bundled up like Polar travellers. The con.
sequence was that the streets were crowded
from morning until night with the ldle,
whose only duty seemed TO be to obtain
Whit OF the soft, balmy spring air. l VIII
follow the example Of Edgar l.. Wakeman,
Chicago correspondent OF the Louisyi1e
Courier Journal and end my letter win
"p0me" on "Sprlng":
The meadows wake
And smile and smile;
The suns rays break
Grim Winters vile.
The ihTushes swing
Aud swerty sing.
SO free from guile.
Our breasts expand
When robins come;
We seek tue land,