The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-22
CORRESPONDENCE.
sketches Of the Garden city.
Cu1olno. ILL. Aug. 2nth. 1873

10 Tue EuttOf W UtC OufbtOi LEAN
SIR The history of century of the
countries of the Eastern Hemisphere
marks but link In the chain of a Ma
tion's career, but in our beloved country
this span of years sees the infant of
swaddling clothes become the giant of
advancement, improvement and mighty
possibilities. Without any doubt the
most marked growth of any section of
the United States is that Of the city of
Chicago, which the short period of five
decades marks. A half century of pro-
gress unrivaled in the history Of the
world. Fifty short y ears ago city with
a very meagre population was formed
on the shores of Lake Michigan, and
though surroundings and site were of
the most uninviting character, it soon
became indelibly impressed upon the
prosperity of the great West, then near
iy ali one vast wilderness of undiscover-
ed wealth.
The city of Chicago made strides of
prodigious growth, and the small traders
village became a metropolis, and rank
ing second only to the great money CEN
tire, New York. The record is one, not
only of the leading manufactures and
leading mercantile pursuits, but of the
! principal commercial leaders of the day
in the city, noted for their especial
worth as great leading men, making
their marks upon "the sands of time,
and contributing to the material pros
perity of the scenes of their enterprise
and the welfare and comfort OF the peo-
pie around them. If there is one thing
more than another upon which this
country brides itself, it Is the ingenuity
and the successful ploddiDg of those who
have distinguished themselves in domes-
tic manufactures and commerce, for
these are the workers who have wrought
out in great part the Nation s veal, fur
nishIng occupation and lucrative
sphere of industry for thousands who,
thus employed, haYe achieved for them
selves and their families success, or well
realized happier current of life which
they could never have won and enjoyed
save under the guidance and skill of the
more enterprising and far sighted. The
avenues opened by the inventor, the
manufacturer and the merchant have
been strewn with manifold blessings to
all classes Of the people; for, though the
spirit of self aggrandlzement has been
the handspring of their activity and en-
terprise, yet these men have proved
themselves the real philantropists OF the
time, and have borne the standard OF
progress on to its great victories. Chi
cago energy has become proverbial. She
aims to lead, 10 outshine, to out do, all
other cities for the Worlds Fair. And,
Mr.. Editor, your choice may be in the
great city of New York, but | cannot
believe it is there to be located, as this
great city has more attractions Than any
other between the two oceans. Here is
plenty of room on the Lake shore, plenty
of room in the great hotels and still in
creasing in wealth and magnihcence,
Twelve and fifteen story buildings are
in progress of erection. One of these is
the FIRST Merchants Exchange or the old
Board of Trade building, immediately
after the great fire. This building has
been taken down, made new, all of iron
and is now up to the 18th story and still
going up. This is one more great attrac-
ton added to our city by the enterpris-
ing men we have here. Another, Is the
Libby Prison, To give you any descrip
ton of this work done here would take
too much time and space and l will
leave this part out till the great fair in
1892 Then those that staid at home
during the Rebellion can see for them
selves where the poor soldier was con-
fined and most cruelty treated. hope
it was not the misfortune of any of the
noble soldiers of my native State to be
confined in this terrible place. 1t is sur
rounded with a most magnificent high
wall. One very favorable argument for
the fair to be held here in 1899 is rail-
road facilities. No city on either CONT
nent has 80 many roads centering to 1t
as this city Chicago. 1t would be task,
and q great one, to undertake to partic-
ularize the various lines of railway that
concentrate the business of the Great
West at this point. The cattle of Texas,
Colorado, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska
and Iowa, are gathered by thousands,
and the hogs of the Mississippi Valley,
and beyond, by the million, to find their
way over the almost countless iron
tracks TO this great mart. The Illinois
Central Railroad is two thousand and
sixty-six miles in length and runs
Through cars" on its lines between Chi
cago and New Orleans; Chicago and st.
Louis; Chicago and Cincinnati; Chica-
20 and Sioux City; Chicago & st, Paul,
and some five or six more, We are sur
rounded and over.run with railroads,
aud you can jump or at nearly any hour
in the day on almost any road and go
about anywhere you please in a very
short time. What a change in few
short years in railroad enterprise IN this
country When | came West 10 1850,
could not get a railroad to this city. We
are in an age of wonderful improve
ments. Dishonesty and grasping after
more-one million does not suffice, but
the desire to become the most wealthy
in all the land-we have men by the
score in this enterprising city which
have no equal in this respect. One of
these will mention is Marshall Field &
Co., dry goods, wholesale and retail mer
chant princes of the great North West.
These immense establishments take rank
with anything of the kind in America or
Europe. The cloak factory of the firm
is spacious and furnishes constant EN-
ployment for five hundred Operatives.
Stables OF this firm are on Pacific Ave
nue.. Here two hundred horses and fifty
wagons are properly housed and protect
ed. 1t is impossible to give all the par
liculars in this letter or describe the
splendid wholesale and retail establish
ments of this firm. Their stores are
among the most magnificent in the
country. In the wholesale and retail
stores Of this firm there are Q 700 sales
men, assistants, clerks and salesladies
employed. Mr.. Field is put down at
$4,000 900.
will give in my next short history
of some of the leading men of this city
who are millionaires, and most Of these
men have also made their wealth in this
city. What does man want 30 many
millions for ? He can't take one dollar
with him when death takes HIM away.
How much good could be done in evan
gellzing the world if such men would
only give it for that purpose More
anon. W. E, SHELDON.
Calumny Deprecated.