The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-29
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.

CHICAGO, Feb. 70, 1884.
The last official report Of The visible sup
ply of the grain in sight in the United /
States and Canada in round numbers was
6fsy-6ye million bushels OF this vast
amount twenty-three million bushels is in |
the elevators and vessels in Chicago. One |
year ago Chicago had only twelve million |
bushels. What vast amount of wealth Is |
represented in this grain Estimating the |
value at so cents per bushel, which, consider |
ing that three-ffths of it is wheat, is below
the truth, if anything, the country has $44-
100000 invested in grain to-day which is
lying idle in the store-houses; and this makes
no account ofthe grain still in the hands Of
the farmers.
After bitter fight, the saloon element has
been obliged to aequiesce in the Harper high
license law, at least to a partial extent.
The city government refuses to enforce it ON
the ground that it was not legally passed.
The Citizens League prosecuted one Of the
saloon men, the supreme court sustaining
the law, and now the city council has passed
an ordinance fixing licenses at $3.50 for the
sale of malt and $500 for spirituous liquors.
Before the ordinance passed there were
public boasts made by saloon keepers that
they would take out beer license and then
sell whisky So far as the city authorities
are concerned they will no doubt be able
to do so, but unfortunately for them this
same Citizens League proposes to see that the
Law is enforced, and it will be backed by the
better element among the dealers themselves,
who will take out the $500. license and
naturally will object TO others selling whisky
under the low one. While the radical ele-
ment among the temperance people look upon
this fight with indifference, the more moder-
ate ones. moderate III the sense that while
they seek to attain the same end as the
others, are willing to approach it by a Sc
ries of steps, if it cannot be reached at q
single bound, are very jubilant and look
upon the victory as one of the greatest ever
won for the cause in.his hstbed Of infamy.
II The ministers of the city are considering
means Of promoting the observance of the
Sabbath, at least of preventing its desecra-
ton, as by the keeping open of theatres. for
instance. The various denominations ap.
pointed representatives to a general com.
mittee. One meeting has been held, but
nothing definite arrived at, and another will
be called soon. l expect little will be ac-
! complished except in the way of moral sua-
sion. The subject is a serious one All OF
our theatres are open every Sunday. In
one of them religious services are held in
: the morning and q theatrical performance
! in the evening In one of the leading
theatres German company holds forth each
Sabbath night, but most of the troupes now
travelling about the country give regular
performance on Sunday evening when the
, city is reached. Sunday Is favorite day
} for parades by various societies and by
!, workingmen's organizations. Nearly all or
!; CARNATIONS seek to economist time by hold
ing their meetings on that day. If church.
going people are entitled TO respect in wor-
: shipping according to the dictates Of their
consciences, these things should be stopped,
for they do most seriously interfere with
worship as usually conducted religious
service cannot be carried on successfully
with brass bands in full blast on the street.
The scandal about the Custom House is q
regular Banquo's Ghost--it viii not down.
Just now a Government architect is here
making an inspection. He has but just en-
tered upon his work, but says it is clear
there must be special appropriation to put
} the building in proper shape. This white
!, elephant has already cost six and half
millions, and now the problem is TO keep it
from tumbling down. The magnitude of the
structure may be imagined when | tell you
that the hot water pipes by which it is heat
ed, if laid in continuous line, would reach
forty two miles. The cost of the ground on
which it stands was one and a quarter
millions; the balance of the cost went into
stone. iron and the pockets of the contractors.
Referring to public buildings, there is
much i'll feeling among the mechanics of the
city over the prospect of the employment
of convict labor to do the marble and tile
work Of the City Hail. The lowest bid is
that Of a company employing such labor, and
| is $50, 445, and under the law the commits
sioners must give them the job. The next
lowest bid by firm proposing to do The work
with g free" labor, is $54 .450 a meeting
of mechanics is called for next Sunday, with
a view to raising the difference between these
two bids, $2,005, to be turned over to the
county ON condition that the job be given
the I" free" labor men. suspect there will
| be chance for suit for damages if this
plan is carried out. JULIAN.