St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-09
CHICAGo,s GREAr DAY,

Today Chicago celebrates at the
worlds fair the most notable ami.
versary in her eXistence-that of the
great fire of 1871, which swept over her
business district and more than one
half of her residence territory, leaving
blackneSS and desolation in its pathway.
The 9th OF October. 1871, dawned upon
sea OF flame. extending from the banks
OF the lake on the east far beyond the
river on the west, and from Twelfth
street on the south to the northern
limits of Lincoln park on the north. An
area OF =. l23 acres. equal to three and a
half square miles, was burned over:
nearly $4,000 buildings were destroyed,
and 100000 people were left homeless.
The loss aggregated more than 5000, 000.-
600, but small fraction of which was
recovered from the insurance COM
panies, many of which were driven into
bankruptcy as a consequence Of their
losses.
1t is seldom that great disaster is
made the subject for general rejoicing.
But Chicago has reason to rejoice in
memory of her great fire. for the results
shttG ia . 11OhCu lIOll III liNS bCSil lIlNioI
gratifying. Before the fire she was
practically city Of wooden sheds; to-
day she is city of granite and iron.
Her business blocks are the most massive
in Christendom; her public edifices are
the finest IN architectural design and
elaborateness of finish to be found on
the face OF the earth, and her private
residences are so sumptuous and ele-
giant i'll all their appointments as to be
the envy of princes. Her wealth has in
creased thousand fold, and her COM
merce, then but circumScribed, to-
day reaches to the uttermost parts
Of the globe. All cities. all ma
lions and all climes pour their golden
tribute into her lap. Literature and art
flourish there. Learning has found a
seat within her borders, and she can
boast colleges and universities as high
in character as any within the confines
of civilization. Above all commerce sits
enthroned in the city by the lake. Chi
cago rules the markets of the world by
liking the prices Of grain, and flour, and
provisions. All other marts obey
the beck and call of the Chicago board of
trade. In this domain she is omn j.
potent, and the city that 4 oes not boast
trade relations with Chicago can
scarcely boast a trade at all.
That today's celebration will be a
notable one goes without saying. Chi
cago never does things by halves. All
her banks. her stores, her public and
private offices and her manufactures
and workshops will be closed in honor
of the day. Tens of thousands of peo-
pie will be attracted there from all
parts of the continent to witness the
grand outpouring of the population.
The pageants will be magnificent, the
decorations of the city superb, the en-
thusiasm and rejoicing universal and
effervescent. 1t will be an occasion
without parallel in all history. 1t will
be the SURPRISING day of the worlds ex-
position and of all time.
st. Paul congratulates Chicago on her
magnificent achievements of the past,
and records the hope that the greatness
of her present is but the index of a far
greater prosperity in the future. To-
days celebration needs no apology. 1t
cannot be too eXtravagant or enthusi-
astic, for there is excuse for extravaganza
and cause for enthusiasm.