The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-16
CORRESPONDENCE.
chicago From 1887 to 1851.

Chicago FROM 1887 10 1857
To the Editor of the Banner :-DEAF
SIR IL promised in my last letter &c
Ayour paper would give your readers
Nmething of the history of Chicago. A
at many have not seen the wonders
he West, and especially the great
OF Chicago. The early growth OF
eago was not phenomenal. The first
tied State census of this city was
ten in 1910 which showed a population
Z IL, 0SS, not quite trebling in five years.
From that time on, in spite of all disad-
vantages, the city continued to grow.
Another half decade showed an equal
increase, the census in 1850 disclosing a
population of 20, 1853. In the meantime
the canal had been completed, and for
about two years there had been pouring
into Chicago grdnerieS the wealth of the
Illinois Valley farms; lake commerce
had attained to fair proportions and reg
ular lines upper lake steamers" unload
ed immense cargoes of merchandise and
passengers, and reloaded with equally
rich cargoes of grain and provisions for
the Eastern market.
The wonderful railroad system that
has since contributed to the expansion
of Chicago's commercial greatness, was
then In embryo. l will mention here
that in the fall of 1850 the writer Left
Vermont for Wisconsin, took the
railroad at Comestock's Landing for
Troy, and so on to the city of Buffalo.
There was no railroad from that city
West, till l reached Detroit, which ter
minated at New Buffalo, on the shore of
Lake Michigan. From there l travelled
by boat to Chicago.
only mention this to show what won
derful improvements have been made
since that time. The country from the
East to the West has become checkered
with great thoroughfares. There is now
more railroads centering into this city
than any city in this, or the old country.
The census of 1850 gave the population
of this city 100 ,202. There was a COM
-parative standstill in the years before
the enumeration of 1860 in the increase
of Chicago, as the country had passed
through the financial crisis of 1857 and
business was everywhere at its lowest
ebb. The financial condition during
this year was IN a terrible condition.
The bank bills of our Western States
were at large discount in the Eastern
States, for well recolect an expert
ense had with our money going home
from Chicago to Vermont. Not think
ing what was doing, when arrived at
Buffalo l had occasion to use some
money. They charged me 26 per cent.
discount. On my arrival at Granville,
Washington County, N. Y, l found a |
friend going direct to Chicago, 80 l hap
PLY made an exchange. We had money
in circulation in the West of banks of |
IF hn OF in fhas
were not worth the printed paper, still |
they were good in general business.
But notwithstanding all these dis
couragements this city was by no means
idle. The boom impaired to the growth |
of the city by the completion of several
important lines of railway during the |
fEst-half of the de ,ade had no counter
part in the latter half. During these
last years there may be mentioned the
raising of the grade of the city from six
to ten feet, necesstated the lifting of
entire blocks, hotels and residences, as
well as business buildings. The improve
ments of tunneling under the river or
LaSalle and Washington streets, and
also under the lake some two miles out,
to give the city a full supply of pure
water, these were the most wonderful
of any yet accomplished. And today
we have street railways to take one In
almost any direction, and distance for
the small sum of five cent?. We have a
good many miles of cable on the North
and South sides, and more building on
Madison street; also, elevated roads are
being agitated, which is only a matter
of time before we will have this sort Of
conveyance.
Various improvements are still in pro-
gress in building larger and wider
bridges which are turned by steam.
The census gave the city in the year
1865 population of 20S,977. During
most of that time this country WAS en-
gagged in a deadly civil struggle for its
National integrity, if not for it's National
existence. The city census gave the
city BOG, sos difference from the Unitec
States census of nearly 5000, which was
more correct.
The wholesale trade of the city in the
year 1871 reached an aggregate of $780,
900, 900. The progress of commerce al
ready began to astonish the world, and
its own citizens stood almost appalled, at
the doings of their own hands.
Chicago was becoming great, prosper
GUS and happy, but the memorable night
in the month of October 1871 came
which Is yet fresh in the minds of the
people of the whole earth. Its horrors,
lis restitution are not to be told by
tongue or pen. This was the first bar to
its progress, and to tell of th terrible
destruction in one letter would take too
much time and space. If desired and
practicable l will, with the consent of
the Sdnctum SanctOrWm of the BANNER
office, endeavOr to give some idea of
this great fire, Suffice it to say at this
writing, that it did not stop the city's
progress. 1t has arisen from its ashes TO
be miracle to not only its own citizens
but the world over. Business men from
different parts of tine country for the
first time visiting this city are astonIsh-
ed with it's growth and prosperity. Life,
animation, activity are seen here upon
every street not to be seen in any other
OF its size on the continent. It's name
aAd fame is worldwide and people from
an Nations are focking to us, so that the
American language is hardly dicernable
aay more. i like IN got ont occa s;onall,, |