The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-25

hundreds OF sky piercing Office build
ings, the elevated railways, the count
less enterprises and improvements of
great magnitude and cost are being
carried on with Chicago money. Chi
cago Is no longer d borrower. An ner
Boston mortgages have been lifted. She
has paid her debts, grown rich and now
has more money than she knows what
to do with. A friend of mine, who is
president Of a big trust company, tells
me money is SO plentiful in Chicago it
is fairly drug in the market. Interest
rates are fully as low as in New York,
Boston or Philadelphia. The conundrum
is where to find investment for the sur
plus capital, and Chicago money by the
million Is going into western cities, rail
ways, mines, factories.
1t is a great pleasure to record the
fact that Chicago, having learned how
to acquire. is now learning how to give.
In no other American city is so much
money being spent today in purely pub
lie enterprises, art schools, technical
schools, libraries, universities. Take, for
instance, the Chicago university, already
famous the world over, though now in
its infancy. Four million dollars is the
magnificent endowment which this in
stitution OF learning, destined to be the
greatest on the continent, is to have.
Two or three days ago wealthy citizen
subscribed 100000 to the fund; twenty
four hours later another wealthy citizen
added $3.50, 900, and as write, the $780,
900 required to make up the grand total
is coming in in smaller sums. In addi-
ton to it's great public library, Chicago
is soon to have two of the most richly en-
dowed special libraries III the world. In
city where there is so much wealth, so
much public spirit, it is not difficult to
estimate what the future is to bring
forth.
To my notion the two most interest
ing cities in America today are these two
convention cities of Minneapolis
and Chicago. They are interesting and
prosperous and alike in their rapidity of
growth because their citizens are SINH
larly endowed with genuine public
spirit. Look at the manner in which
they receive and care for their conven-
lion guests. In Minneapolis the hospi-
tality was that Of a town-gushing, SEN
timental, overanxious, eager for display
hospitality which threw open private
homes by the thousand, which caused
hundreds of busy men to leave their vo-
cations and for weeks devote all their
efforts to the common cause.
George Brackets was noteworthy
but typical case. AS chairman of the
executive committee in Minneapolis q
lions share of the work fell to him.
For two weeks he fairly slept in his
clothes. He wore out three pairs of
horses fitting to and fro. He was
ubiquitous, his voice directing, encoun-
aging, his mind planning, suggesting,
everywhere. They say of Bracket
that he is this kind of a man: If
a man is hurt and no doctor near, they
send for Bracket to dress the wounds.
Ii manufacturing concern, which
everybody wants to keep alive, shows
signs of financial distress, Bracket is
called upon to take hold and revive it.
Ii a disaster occur, and strong, cour-
ageous, masterful man is wanted to lead
the rescuing party. or to bring order out
of chaos, or raise relief funds, Bracket
is sure to be the man. With such a
leader it is not surprising the Mime
apolitans surprised the country with
their preparations and their hospitality.
Nor is it difficult to understand, with
Ibis key to his character, how George
Braclzett endeared himself to thousands
upon thousands of Republican men and
women from all parts of the country two
weeks ago.
Since have been up here in the north
west have learned to feel genuine pride
in the cities of this region and the men
who made them-Minneapol st. Paul,
Chicago, Omaha, Sioux City and dozens
of others. It is country and people
for every American to be proud of. Chi
cago, big as she is, rich as she is, accus-
toned to great convention crowds as she
is, has just as much hospitality as Min
neapolis. 1t is, however, of a different
sort. In Minneapolis the Republicans
were received as the master of country
home receives guests, so numerous that
the children must be sent over to the
and beds DO made good hui
on the floor. In Chicago it is
more like the owner of palace opening
his doors and bidding his servants at
tend his visitors. The point / make is
that in both cities the welcome is royal
because of the splendid public spirit that
pervades the communities.
They are typical American cities too.
In each one finds New Englanders, New
Workers and Western Reserve Yam
kees'' forming the core of the public
body, strong, thrifty, ingenious, adapt
able; and, surrounding them and work
ing shoulder to shoulder with them,
sturdy Scandinavians, Germans, Eng
fish, Irish, Scotch and British Ameri-
cans. In Minneapolis it is delight to
note how the Scandinavian blood has
mixed with the American and produced
a race of fair haired, blue eyed men.
light of texture and spirits and yet ear
nest and capable; while the women
mingle American sprightliness aud
figure with Scandinavia's soft, white
skin and golden hair.
These Scandinavians maLa cpland;d