New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
CB1cAGUs POOR POLICE SERVICE.
THE WkTrR SUPPLY IN A BAD Way
Union LEAGUE CELEBRATION
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRTsUS

Cu,c.co Feb 1.-THE murder Of A. ]. Smell By
burglars last Wednesday morning has served to bring
into prominence the carnival Of crime which has regned
here all winter and the vc~y inefficient police protection
which Chicago has at present The rmafkabic Ire
quency daring character Of the burgarles commit
ted within the past few months has had the effect
Of creating wdes pread feeling OF insecurity and Alarm
and when to these acts OF simple robbery was added
the murder OF Mr. Smell this feeling Intensified
that the West Side in the nelghborhood where the
mur'er was committed there was some talk of organ
izng vigilance committee.
The charge that made in this correspondence
few weeks ago. that the police force is becoming de-
morazed by politics. is being taken up by the local
press 1t said that politics greatly undermined It's
efficiency under Carter Harrison and that the demoral
fzson has increased under the present administration
On the other hand 1t is a fact that Chicago has compar
ativcly of the smallest Police Departments In the
world. In proportion TO the population and area In
square miles to be covered Chicago has smaller police
force than NewYork, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Boston,
San Francisco, Baltimore, and many other cities TAX
Ing simply the number OF actual patrolmen on BEATS
New York has ave:age of policeman to every
534 inhabitants and ninety rine policemen to every
square mile Of territory The total police force Of
Chicago including all officers and patrolmen Is LAO
he number Of actual policemen patrolling beats is
$50 Chicago has average of 1880 Inhabitants
to one policeman. twice the rUmber New York
aas Hs'e there not quite thirteen policemen to
VERY square mile Of tho city bile New York has ninety
nine
Chicago has been In perilous condition this week
owing to the state Of her water supply. Wednesday
Tue Ice ard III had almost entiicly "ckcd the nlets
for water at the crib, which il situated two miles out
In the lake at the end Of the tunnel IL was with
the greatest 1iiculty that lee was finally removed
and the nlets opened The crib itself is also said TO
Be- In very dangerous condition and to rock to and
fro Ia the wind. IL the structure stards TIL sprins
a huge Sleakwater will be built TO protect It. In ad
don 10 the situation at the crib, the encire, al the
North Side pumping works are In a very bad II not
a yer, dangerous condition. Two of the pumps have
been running night and day for nearly two years Two
pumps and engines, with capacity Of - 600 600
gallons put IN last summer to relieve the old
ones But 1t appeart that there has boon relief.
and between tho neglect on tho one hand and tho
cessve use on the other the old machinery has been
getting the worst of IT, and is liable to give out at any
time. 1t Is announced that the entire pumping sys-
tom will have to be remodeled
Tho Union league Club Of Chicago is making great
preparations for its annual celebration and dinner
which Is to be givo' on wasbipgton's Birthday II
viii DO remembered that year ago that club Invited
Mr James Russell Lowell to deliver political addI- 80
OUT at tho last minute Nj Lowell changed bis topic
and read paper on Richard Ill., TO the great dis
appointment Of the club which was expecting speech
That would have some effect politics 1bts year