The Irish standard., 1897-03-27
TIL. FUTURE OF THE WINDY. :"
Prediction rlade That Chicago
Will Become the Paris
OF America.
1t Has all the Elements for Eclips='
ing Other Cities of the
Union.
Advantages That Paris Now Pos
sesseS Over its American
Rival.

sesses Over its American
Rival.
It is probable that in the near future
Chicago will hold in the New World the
unrivaled position now occupied ny
Paris in the old. The city located on the
banks of the Seine is not only the social
but also the intellectual center OF Eu-
rope. It's DEGREES are not merely con-
fined to the world Of fashion-they have
the force of law in the world of letters
as we'll. In art, dramatic literature and
medical science, Paris has today no rival
on the other side of the herring pond.
The prospect, therefore, before Chi
cago is SO brilliant that it's realization
should be the aim and object of all her
patriotic citizens, writes Eugene Davis
in the Western Watchman.
There is at present 9, certain striking
resemblance between both cities Chi
cago has not, OF course, and could not
have, the historic monuments that have
rendered st. Denis and Versailles i'm
mortal; nor could it be expected to be
able to start a ready-made Triumphai
Arch, OF a Notre, Dame Cathedral on the
shores of Lake Michigan. She has, new
ertheless, "a family likeness to her elder
French sister in the magnificent sweep
of bo,llevards within her confines, in the
extent and beauty Of her parks, and in
the cosmopolitan character Of her in
habitants. Chicago's bOulevards can
we'll com pare with the inner or exterior
boulevards of Paris. Unlike Paris, how
ever Chicago has no broad artery of
boulevards-wllich Paris possesses
running through the business portion of
her streets: but that is a defect which
viii probably probably be irea,uedied by future
generation. Chicago nevertheless, has
in another direction an advantage not
possessed by Paris. The latter's site for
the International Exposition of 1889
was not large enough by any means for
that colossal enterprise. The amount Of
ground at Chicago's disposal for the
Worlds Fair was almost double that
covered by the Champ de Mars, and has
proven to be more than adequate for the
purposes of it's patrons.
Chicago has, however, got to do much
in different departments in order to earn
the proud title of the Paris of America.
If her past be a guarantee of her future,
she will accomplish this task with the
utmost success. A city that doubled it's
population in decade might we'll hope
and aspire to be the leading city in the
New World. In the first place, in order
to become one Of the chief international
centers of population or, in other words,
kind of Mecca for the tourist pilgrims
from all quarters of the globe, she must
become as attractive as possible. She
must put aside her old vestments and
don the new The municipal authorities
must look more carefully after the city's
sanitary arrangements. Miasmatic a.
leys and lanes reeking with filth must
give way to open, airy thoroughfares.
Those antique garbage boxes that infest
streets should be much cleaner than they
are When a snowstorm falls on Paris,
the last flake has scarcely time to settle
itself ON the ground before a gang of
thousands of, workmen, provided with
horses and carts, trundle --e snowdrifts
and slush away, and in less than twenty
four hours restore the city to it's normal
condition. In Chicago however, when
ever q snowfall comes their way, the
snow remains on the ground for days
afterwards, except in the business quar-
ter, and instead of being removed, it is
allowed to thaw and produce those will
dernesses of slush and those cesspools
of filth with which all Chicagoans are
unfortunately only too familiar. The
wooden pavements, too, being things of
the past, should go. They are unworthy
of a progressive CITY, If we'll kept, they
might prove comfortable enough; but
very. little care Is taken of them, and
they are, generally speaking, so many
trapsp or pitfalls for the unwary pedes-
trian.. Full of~ruts and cavities, as they
are, they cannot but be decided danger
/ GUS to the average citizen who has got
to, tramp them. Then there are side
walks in Chicago foot and a half high
er than the adjoining street. These, too,
ought to be reduced to a proper level.
Paris has no such draw backs. There
all is cleanliness and neatness, asphalt
and comfort. Among the other evils
which Chicago, must do away with are
the level crossings within the city, and
the grievances she suffers from her pres
ent system Of street cars. Chicago should
take a leaf out Of the book Of Paris, and
not allow any railway company Down