New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-14
CHICAGO.
RAPID GROWTH-A CONVENTION CITY
RAILROADS-DRAMAT
LRY TRLEHRAPH 10 IKE TRIBUNl

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
CHICAGO, Oct. 13.-The twelfth anniversary of
the great Chicago fire received little attention from
the local newspapers, and none whatever from the
public. There are few vacant lots in the burned
district of the three divisions of the city. and
IL now requires diligent search to find relics Of
the fire. Building continues at rate unpar-
alleled in any other city ofsthe country Per-
mits for the construction of buildings costing not
less than So 900 each were issued during recent
week in various cities as follows: Chicago, 90; New-
York. "a: Boston, 20; Brooklyn, IS; Philadelphia,
10; st. Louis, Ii; Baltimore, IL; aud CINCINNATI
10.
An interesting Aldermanic situation, Illustrative
Of the WAYS of the Chicago City Council, is the fol-
lowing: A local suburban railroad, controlled oy
one of the great railroad corporations, Is seeking
desra BILE entrance into the ctyWhlch IS opposed Dy
another corporation 1t is said that the rug In
control of the Council has agreed TO pass the ordi-
nance desired by the, first mentioned corporation
IN consideration Of $40 OOO but that 1t has entered
into an arrangement at the same time with the
rival corporation in consideration of S6OOOO not 70
mass the ordinance over the Mayors veto, which is
apparently counted upon Thus one transaction IS
made to yield a double profit to the City Fathers
ChicaCo's reputation as convention city has
been sustained the past week by the Rock River
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the
mcstinc of the American Street Railway Assocla~
tiou and the General Railway Time Convention.
Il il said that the action OF the railroad
men in adopting q uniform time system,
divided into three districts, Will deprive
some of the obseryat0res OF the country
of nnch needed revenue, which they have derived
from furnishing correct time to the railroads The
conventions announced for tins week are those Of
fla AlUappamaut a Women.
and the Illinois Social Science Association.
In support of THE TRIBUNEs recent exposure OF
the abuses of the divorce system in this country 10
may DC stated that one day last week there wcre
sixty-six divorce cases on the dockets Of the CHS
cago courts and nearly half hundred were dis
posed of. tbs beevedl that the divorce business
IN this city has outgrown that of any other locality
in the United States.
Investigation has proved that the sensational
story in regard to diseased cattle at the chicago
stock-yards was grossly exaggerated, aud that
there was not a single case of cancer. The report,
however has led to a more stringent system oil IN
spectou under the control of the Health Depart
ment
The return of tax assessments shows that thers
are OPS miles of railroad in tins county, ana thas
the railroad right of way rolling stock ana per-
sOnal property are Talued OnclaIy at Soou'
50 900 900, which meaus-according to the aVerass
ratio of assessments-an actual value oil aoous
1886, 900 900. Considerable Importance ls attaoneo
to an opinion, just givon by the Attorney-dsnera
of the State. that the railroads entering the o'a's
over leased lines must make regular reports TO the
state Railway Commissioner, and otherwise comply
| with the Illinois statutes.
An abuse has sprung up IN tho shape OF cheap
| corporate life insurance companles,t which nS's
been organized under authority Of Ia" passea "