Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-02

had been received from Chicago's great |
Worlds Fair and, while this was but a
shadow of the ideal, the west is proud OF
its child and is glad to welcome It's dis
tinguished visitors. He referred to the in
innate commercial relations that exist be-
tween the Mississippi and Missouri val
leys. Chicago is the great clearing house
for the immense products OF this fertile ter I
ritory. Its business interests are so closely
connected with the transmssissippi terri
tory that 1t is practically the great heart
OF the west. He spoke OF It's wonderful
growth and transcendent enterprise and
paid high tribute to the progressive spirit
Of its citizens.
Mayor Hnrrison's Response.
In response to these sentiments Mayor
Carter II. Harrison spoke Of Chicago" and
his introduction was followed by gen.
erous ovation. He said that they were here
to return the thanks Of Chicago for the
designation OF this day in honor Of their
city. They represented all nationallties, all
politics and all creeds. They sometimes
differed at home but they were unit in
extending to Omaha their sympathy and
encouragement and their congratulations on
its magnificent achievement. He declared
that this celebration came at a time OF
had learned that the untried volunteers
were Of the stuff Of which heroes are made
and that Sampson, Dewey and Schley are
worthy successors to Farragut and Perry.
We are not only peace loving nation but
we have found that we have the ability to
make our enemies on the battle
Held desire peace rather than war
Referring more particularly to Chicago,
Mayor Harrison said that on most occasions
a Chlcagoan could not tell the truth about
his city without being accused of exaggera-
tion. The truth about Chicago seemed like
an extravagant dream to the citizen Of New
York, or Boston or Philadelphia But Omaha
can understand Chicago. Her people had the
same inherent spirit and the same pluck
and enterprise had made each city what it
is. In conclusion, he declared that not only
on this OCCASION but in every achievement
of its future. Omaha commands all the sym
pathy and encouragement and inspiration
that Chicago has to give.
Chicago and the West.
Chicago and Its Relation to the West
was the subject of an able address by
Charles G. Dawes, ex-congressman and as
sistant comptroller of the currency of the
United States. After an enthusiastic hand
clappng had greeted his introduction, Mr..
Dawes said:
Twenty-seven years ago fifty Of the lead
Ing citizens of Chicago gathered themselves
| In little meeting under most distressing
circumstances. Around them. in smoking
| and somber ruins lay what had been but
| few days before the magnificent city of
| Chicago. Thelr own homes had been burned
| over their heads; their property of all
kinds was in ashes; around them all was
desoation and cheerlessness and the fu-
| larL
of these men rose and spoke OF the city
| as destroyed and lost forever. Its rebuild
| ing seemed to them impossible. To their
minds the great Chicago, the city of their
pride and affection. was numbered among
the things of the past. But from among
| them there rose young man who amidst
depressing surroundings lifted his voice in
remonstrance and in prophecy of the future.
| Chicago will live" said he. "and live TO
| be so mighty and so vast that this great
| fire will be but an incident in its past"
And Chicago will thus live because beyond
her there lies the giant forces, the teem-
ing millions and the imperial area of the
mighty west, which having before created
Chicago as the necessary gateway. to the
east must re-create it under the same ne
cessities.' That speaker, now the secretary
of the treasury of the United States, has
lived to see Chicago re-created by the wes
and his prophecies fulfilled to the utter
most.
/ have thought of no better way than by
the telling of this incident to indicate the
relation of Chicago to the west
Chicago is the child of the west, depend
ent upon her for her prosperity and prog
ress-almost for her very existence-anC
far be it from her to belitte the debt sh'
owes Willingly, freely, she acknowledge
and rejoices In it. Peoped largely by west
ern men, sustained largely by western re
sources, she feels the keenest and mos
vital interest in the west and l believ
the great west takes equal interest in thi
young giant among the cities of the world
Some Hard Boiled Facts.
The details of the social and commercial
relations between the west and Chicago
daily growing more intimate daily growin
more vast-relations which may well chal
lenge the deepest attention of the studen
of economics and Of American history--ca
receive from me today but a passing an
superficial word. From this great sectio
! 125 passenger trains carrying over 1900
people roll daily into the depots of the cit
OF Chicago, and an equal number of train
depart daily from Chicago for the wes
During the last year 10000, 900 bushels c
? western wheat, lie, 900 900 bushels Of wester
corn, 11S,000000 bushels OF western oat
and II 200, 900 bushels Of western rye wen
to or through the great commercial gatewa
of Chicago. OF the $4,000 900 pounds OF sec
ond class printed matter entered for th
t year ending June 80. 1896, at the Chicag
= postofice, the authorities of the Office est
Q mate that from three -eighths to three
fourths went to the west Taking the post
cffice average Of five pieces to the pounC
we find that the total annual circulation
Chicago periodical issues in the west mus
be between 1870, 900 and 172 900 copit
L "a circulation of most surprising and pol
o tentious magnitude. The combined mileaf
= of the railroads east and west OF the Nil
i souri, river, binding and knitting togeth,
a the west and Chicago in ties of common IL
terest, is 1850 miles
But no catalogue of the evidences of Il
intimacy and vastness of the commerci
and sociological relations OF the west
q Chicago can add to our sense of their in
: portance.
Affects the National Life.
The degree of contentment and prosperi
e experienced by the western people und
= these relations of western cities like Ch
a cago and Omaha to the western count
d is so important as affecting our nation
. life and progress that these relations nc
:, command the interest and attention of I
~ entire people of the United States. 1t
y generally realized that when the social pro
J. lens involved in them are solved all &
: internal problems which confront our YOU
70 republic will be solved. These people-t
ID people of Chicago and the west-are n
+ waiting for other peoples or other natio
:, to solve the great problems OF today, b
II L,a-