Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-04
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Pittsburg and Chicago Compared.

Pittsburg and Chicago Compared.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
Minister Lincoln's remarks about Chicago,
in his London speech few days ago, struck
me as being rather queer. He said "Chicago
has never failed in any public undertaking
and never will" For one 1 would like to
know what she has ever done except to build
an exposition building, and Salt Lake City,
town of $4,000, has much better one. In
most things she is away Off of other cities of
half her size.
She without doubt has the poorest drink
ing water. This will also imply to her street
car service. 1t is almost out Of the question
to get seat in any of the cars. Their cars
are very inferior to those used in PittsburR.
1t is q well known fact that she he's never in
vested cent to build railroads or anything
else when Cincinnati, st. Louis and other
cities have invested millions in railroads to
bring trade. Take for instance the Cincin-
natl Southern Railway and the st. Louis
bridges. A person can't help noticing the
difference in the bridges Chicago has They
can't hold candle to ones in other towns,
particularly Pittsburg. The streets of this
windy town are without doubt the poorest
lighted and paved Except about ten streets)
OF any town in the United States. will
warrant there are more electric lights in 20
square miles of any town in the country than
There is not a railroad entering the place
but what came In on the level of the street.
Where is there another town of half her
size that allows it? More people are killed
on the street crossings in that would be city
than any ten Others in America.
AS to smoke, heard IA photographer say a
few weeks ago that he had not seen q day
clear enough of smoke in 20 years to enable
him to take Il photograph of the town. If
they were blessed with one-half the factories
that your village have they would be "out of
sight, in smoke
The sooner the people in the Worlds Fair
town find they are not up to the times 1t will
be better, for then she puts me in mind OF O
school boy who thinks he knows it all,
which, no doubt, helps him when young; but
when he becomes man and has the same
notion people give him the laugh and dis
like him.
1t has always been a mystery to know who
keeps Chicago up. She no doubt does good
jobbing trade. l know of merchants within
100 miles of Chicago who go East and buy di-
rect OF the manufacturers, giving the job
bers in Chicago the cold shoulder. And why
notF He saves the commissions allowed;
also the cost Of handling the goods twice in
Chicago.
They would call her canned goods
meats, have to be shipped in. 1 asked
Chicago friend a few days ago to mention
anything he had in his house that was not
only thing he could think of was soap. His
carpets, glass, pictures, in fact everything
including wearing apparel, came from east
of the Ohio line. Thev must make up and
get to manufacturing If they want to hold
their own. To show how easy they are to
satisfy in many things, Chicago has 17S
square miles, New York As. The latter town
has twice the number OF letter carriers,
therefore must have better service. If a
Chicago man should be asked what kind of
service the postofice in his town gave them,
he would say Best in the world" AS usual
than the town by the lakes. There Is more
good, straight, legitimate business here now
than in Chicago. II Chicago had one-ffth
of the Victories near her that Pittsburg has
her people would become hysterical with
delight. There is nothing in this country
that can compare to the growth of some of
your suburban towns With, for instance,
Jeannette, Braddock, Irwins and hundred
and one other places. If Pittsburg only
keeps good hold of her manufact turing in
terests Chicago will not be in it in Is years.
DRUMMER.
PITTsBURG, August 8.