New-York tribune., 1901-12-02
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
4 GREAT CATTLEMEN'S GATHERING
GREAT BUILDING BOOM NOW
UNDER WAY.
tpY TELEGaArH TO THE rRIBUSE-l

thy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEl
Chicago, Dec. If the people of England
snd the Continent who still frame mental pict-
-ures of Chicago as the wild and woolly West"
We're TO drop suddenly into the city this next
week without d guide newspaper informa-
1ien and if they were to stroll down to the
South Side of the city, every dream of Western
wildness they ever had would be set before their
eyes. This thing does not happen often in chi
rago, but the settings Just right for the
picture
This Is cattlemen's week Dignified conyen-
tion crowds. swelldom at the horse show. the
well dressed crowds in State-st., have faded into
fnsignificance before the hundreds of ranchmen,
with broad sornbreros and high top boots. who
have invaded the city. From off the plains
they have come. cowboys and cowmen. The
men whose homes where they hang their
hats and whose seats are in the saddle are here
So also are those who have grown rich, who
great tracts OF land, herds of countless
cattle, and whose wealth counts up to millions.
but who still proud of their big hats. their
great fur lined coats ana heavy boots.
Similar crowds have been IN this city before,
but never in numbers anywhere near the pres
ent invasion. Incidentally the gathering serves
90 emphasize the fact that Chicago is the great
cattle centre Of the world. that here is the great
financial and shipping heart of the industry
which keeps millions of people alive year after
year. Not all of the cowboys and ranch owners
lave figured this cut specifically, and yet there
is not one among the visitors who does not lift
his head high and strut through the streets as
If he knew his full importance and expected the
homage due him and his kind.
The unique situation has developed because
two great live stock interests-natiCnai and IN
ternatienal-are holding their annual conciaVes
sn Chicago siFnult ultaneeusly. The one takes the
form of the Joint International Live Stock EX-
position the other the convention Of the Ma
tional Live Stock Association. Delegates and
visitors and friends had begur TO enter the city
from the West and South five days ago. Now
they are here SO thick that they have perneated
the downtown district. besides running over the
section known as the stockyards district. So
daily they have made great plans for high
times and local stock men have added to these
arrangements until the schedule assumes large
proportions.
Down in TIE big exposition buildings speci-
n1ens of the finest cattle, hogs horses and kim
dred animals are at their best They are striv-
ing fer honors and prizes, and for the lions
share of attention from the gaping crowds of
city folk. and men who. by their dress would
seem to be in need Of the price for food or
drink will step up to the auction stool and bid
$1,000 and more for q single bullock then dig
down in their boots or generous pockets and
produce a bank roll which can spare the thou
sands without losing its size.
The exposition is declared to be the largest
and finest of its kind in the history Of the live
stock industry. Neither in this country nor
abroad. in Chicago or Texas or Kansas City has
there ever been anything like its equal. Great
fat stock shows have been held in the big cities
Of the Southwest, and stockmen have gathered
there year after year. But here is the COM
plete focus now Of the entire stock business
Of the world Because Of this fact and the
number and variety OF the visitors, the spec
lfacle presented will stand as historic
Mayor Harrison has surprised his friends and
enemies by coming out in the open to declare
ct am the boss not Burke Censure Of the
Mayors Civil Service Commission by the County
Democracy first and by the City Council later
caused Mr.. Harrison at last to speak The
Civil Service Commissioners did their duty AND
I did not interfere" said his honor "Colleran
has been discharged from the police force, and l
consider that that closes the incident. 1 don't
see what their committees going TO fnvesti-
gate
It is regarded generally that Harrison and his
Cad lieutenant, Burke, have severed their friend
,y relations. This question has now arisen: Has
Garter H Harrison abandoned the local field
cut loose from his old allies, intending and hop
ing TO rise out Of present entanglements ana
launch into the national political seas instead?
III the face OF isolated strikes, in1unetons and
prosecutions for assaults and murders comes the
statement that the greatest building boom in
Chfcego's history is in full swing. 1t is
even declared that building ventures stand un-
completed or not begun because the supply Of
competent laborers is not equal to the demand
The six thousand members Of the Hod Carriers
and Building Laborers' Union all at work
On the Marshall Field Building alone five hum
dred men are busy, and few other struct-
ures combined three hundred more hod car
riers mortar mixers and helpers are engaged.
Not even in Worlds Fair days was such activity
tu this particular line recorded.
"IDEaLS RULE THE WORLD"