Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-06-08
A Rapid Growing Western City.
PULLMAN. ILLS. Nav 25. 1882.

Mr. EDIToR:-ThiDking that perhaps
many readers of the CHRONICLE have
not heard of this busy town and what
is being done here, the writer will try
and give them an idea of the push and
go-ahead-ativeness" prevalent here,
which is something new for one Who
has spent most of his days about old
st. C.
Pullman as an industrial center has
no parallel for rapid growth and lavish
expenditure of money, not only in the
erection of substantial buildings, but
also in the work of beautifying the
grounds and making streets, of
which any city might be proud. Situated
on the Illinois Central R. R. and only IA
miles from Chicago, it promises in few
years to be one of the most attractive
suburbs to that city. The principal part
of the town lies between Lake Calumet
and the railroad, the lake is half mile
east OF the railroad. The largest manu-
factory here-being also the largest of
the kind in the United States-is Pull
mans Palace car shops, which cover
several acres of ground and furnish en-
employment to over 1000 men. This
company turns out some of the finest
cars in the world; many of their cars
are being run in Europe. The Allen
Paper Car-wheel works adjoining is a
notable institution. 1t seems incredible
to think of car-wheels being made of pa
per, but such is the case. The machine
ry of these two establishments is driven
by the great Corliss engine that was so
universally admired at the centennial
this engine requires six large boilers to
furnish steam, eight car loads of coal
being burned daily besides all the sha-
wings from the wood machine shops.
The Union Foundry and car-wheel
works is next in size to the car shops,
and employs 500 men.
The brickyard just sonth of town en-
ploys over 800 men; this yard has ca
pacity of moulding 100000 brick per day.
The clay used is taken from Lake
Calumet, and a dredge boat is constantly
used for that purpose. At present the
lake is shallow in many places, and the
dredge boat will be kept at work until
the lake is deep enough for ordinary
vessels. A canal is already made from
Lake Michigan almost to Calumet-thiS
canal will be finished the rest of the way
then the boats can come right through to
Pullman.
The Horseshoe factory is another en-
terprise here which claims to be the
largest in the United States.
The planning mill also employs quite a
number of men, and does all the work
en- the buildings that are going up.
When we consider that two years ago
this was piece of open prairie without
a single house upon it, while now there
is town of over 5000 inhabitants, and
shops employing $500 men, we see that
the growth of the town has not only
been rapid but truly wonderful. Six
houses have been contracted
for, to be built this summer, and they
are all to be brick houses, too,-there is
not frame house in the town. The
for two hundred and fifty
houses are now ready, and it is the in
tention to finish those houses in ninety
days if possible; these houses are to be |
two and three stories high.
A great many of the workingmen here |
are from the city; about 1900 men are at |
work on the buildings; it takes three
trains of nine cars each to carry these |
men to and from the city.
As there is such demand for houses |
rents are high-small cottages of four |
rooms rent at from SIT to $25 per
larger houses rent at from $50 |
to $50 per month, according to location
The Arcade is the center of attraction |
at present as it is nearing completion;
this is large and handsome structure
built at cost of $2O0,O0O Through the
center of the building is an archway, ON
the first floor is 20 or 25 large store
rooms all fronting on the inside; this
street through the center is paved with
Portland cement which makes an excel
lent walk-on the outside is a broad
stone pavement and drive around the
building. On the second floor will be a
reading room and library of $4,000 vol
umes, donated by Mr.. Pullman for the
use of the town. On this floor will also
be very neat 'Opera-house' with a
seating capacity of 1900. In front.of the
Arcade is pretty little park, and
across the street stands the "Hotel Flor
,nce" model of beauty and convent
ence, and built at cost of over $4,000
The two last named buildings and quite
/ number of the dwellings are built af-
,er the Queen Anne" style of architec-
,ure, and are vely tasty as well as un-
que.
Speaking of rents, there was over five
hundred applications for the store-roOms
n the Arcade, which rent for $50 per
there is only about twenty
i've of these rooms four hundred and
twenty-five of these applicants were
A small stone church with parsonage
attached is nearly finished at cost of
$4,000, and $4,000 per year is the rent
isked, but none of the denominations
lere are strong enough yet to pay such
/ rent, and will likely continue their
meetings at Market Hall which does not
cost so much.
Pullman is different from most other
owns, being owned and managed entire
y by stock company. Several English
capitalists have stock in this company;
he duke of Sutherland alone has $4,000
100 invested in the town. This compa-
~ owns large tract of land here, and
will sell none of it; neither will they
ell any of the houses which have been
)uilt- everything is rented.
Few towns at the age of two years
,an boast of gas and water-works. The
vater-works tower is 21O feet high, and
,uilt exactly like a tower in London.
IN thei top of the tower is tank 70 ft.
n diameter and 80 ft. deep; the water is
brought from Lake Michigan seven
niles away, and pumped into this tank.
Zach house in town is supplied with
water and gas, also with heater, so
hat warm and cold water can be used |
n all the bath rooms. All the sewerage
s carried through pipes to Pullman's |
lei. - |