The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-01
EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD.

south by Twenty-second street, on the |
west by Wood street, on the north by |
North avenue and on the east by the |
lake, except the fraction of section ten |
occupied as a military post.
The corporation was divided into six |
wards, each of which was empowered |
to elect two aldermen.
GROWTH WAS MARVELLOUS.
From this period to the date of the
great fire the marvellous growth of the
city is known. It's increase in popula-
tion, wealth, internal resources, and
improvements are matters of history.
It's wholesale trade i'm 1871 was about
S45000000O. It's progress astonished
the world, and was scarcely credible to
it's own citizens
BY the first city census, taken in 1887,
| its population was 4,170; and in 1871 it
| had grown to 334,270. with a corporate
valuation of $3.50, 764,4 ,470. The first rail-
road out of the city, the Galena 81
Chicago Union, now part of the Chi
cago & Northwestern railway, was
| opened in 1S4S, and the Illinois e.
| Michigan canal was also completed in
| 1S4S. Railroad connection with the east
was not established until 1882 on Feb.
1
train from the east, via the Michigan
Southern railroa6s entered Chicago,
and was greeted with a salvo of artil-
| lery"' Several successive extensions
| of the city limits had taken place in
| the interval. so that i'm 1871 Chicago
| embraced the total area of 35 square
| miles. Then, at the very height of her
| good fortune, and in the midst of her
| onward career came the great Conflag-
ration, which in single night effaced
| all signs of her prosperity, and awoke
| the commiseration and active SYM
pathy of the entire civilized world
1t was on the night of Oct. s, 1871
that Mrs. O'Leary's COW kicked over
the fatal lamp that started the fire
which utterly destroyed the city.
The horrors of that period are too
vividly impressed upon memory to need
description. 1t was the great conflag-
ration that brought out the indomi-
table pluck of early citizens and made
| possible the erection of a new and
wonderful city. Stone structures, edi-
fees of brick and iron, and masses of
architecture rose on every hand as If
| by magic, magnificent parks and beau
tiful boulevards were laid out, lines of
| trading vessels were constructed and
enterprises of worldwide importance
in commerce and finance We're consum-
mated before the ashes had ceased
smOldering Old blood was strength
ened by new, expansion on every hand
took place, and the limit of growth is
many years Off if it ever comes. Chi
cago is the largest inland market in
America. 1t is the peer of all Ameri-
can cities in matters not depending
| anNnnto of n ho
When business oppression paralyzed in
terests elsewhere the healthy tone of
her system withstood the fleets.
Banks We're not affected as in ther
cities. In fact, since the first of the
hard times there has not been q bank
failure in this city attributable to that
cause. Failures due to mismanagement
and misappropriation of funds are not
to be confounded with business.
COMPLETE WATER WORKS.
The water works system Is one of the
best and most complete in existence.
The street lighting system is unsur-
passed by that of any city where any
thing like the same territory is COW
cred. Street car routes are arranged
to furnish transit to and from all points
and superb system of suburban and
elevated trains, with steam and elec-
tricity as motive power, has been built
for residents Of the suburbs.
Chicago contains the longest street
in the world. No other city in ancient,
medieval, or cOntemporaneous history,
ever G..flayed 25 miles of populous
street without break within its limits
With its growth has been a wise dis
tribution of space. Houses are not
crowded, but each has a yard or lawn,
and ample room remains for an in
crease of twice as many places of habi-
tatiOn, without crowding.
| There are no Choked-up streets and
alleys wher, stagnant air menaces life,
and the exclusion of sunshine makes
existence cheerless, as it does in New
York, but wide, broad streets, and open
places, where health-giving breezes
from the lakes and prairies sweep
through and place the boon of pure air
and bright sunlight in the poorest dis
trCts.
Young men gave Chicago its wonder
ful life and young men are keeping
, alive the energy and enterprise that
assures supremacy in every way to the
Garden city.
The police and fire departments have
. more men on their payrolls and a better
equipment than any others in America.
Downtown street-crossing details
alone contain more policemen than the
, entire force of many pretentious cities.
Educational advantages are the finest.
Free public schools, private parochial,
and business schools, colleges, acade-
mics and universities, FOOLS for the
study of art, music and citing, abound
on every hand.
To enumerate the miles of railroad
, , and street car tracks within the cor
porate limits would be to mention a
figure SURPRISING that of the mileage
of many States, and even of entire
countries.
, SHIPMENTS OF GRAIN.
In 1896, 13642,OOO bushels of winter
wheat arrived in ne local market
Spring wheat shipments amounted ia
224SO,OOO bushels, making a total OF
: 36 1220 900 bushels received at Chicago
in 10 months.
Corn to the amount of 109, ,O61 ,O0r
. bushels l06,055000 bushels of oats, g..
23l,Oe7 bushels of rye and 1OS49, so
: bushels of barley were shipped Il
Chicago elevators.
Receipts of live stock for the 1:
. months Were: Cattle, 1908, ,2S4; calves
y | QQ 1A9. bnuc zoe, ZOO g. an