New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
CHICAGO PERSONALITIES.
THE WINDY CITY HAS ITS OWN SHARE
OF FAMOUS MEN AND WOMEN.


Chicago, Dec. 27-There are scores Of in
dividuals in the immense population Of Chicago
whose personality stands out strongly by rea-
of their achievements in business profes-
sional or public life. None. however. is so
remarkable as that of Charles T. Yerkes the
erstwhile Chicago street railway magnate and
hnancier. His career is replete with incidents
of unusual interest Coming here after recoup-
Ing his fortunes IN the Far West subsequent to
his business ard social downfall in PhiIadel-
phia. he plunged into his former vocation Of
speculator and fnancier, and great success fol-
lowed every venture. He became a power in
Chicago money circles. but that was inconse-
quential when compared with his achievement
in the development OF the street railway sys-
TENS of this city. His operations in that time
were marked by unusual boldness Of purpose
and the results have become part OF the progress
OF the Western metropolis. Yerkes made money.
vast wealth, and the people and the press
abused him. but he Indifferent to all this
While he never courted and never enjoyed
popularity here, he close to and cOnsiderate
of his street railway employees. Regarding this
an interesting anecdote is related A CLERK IN
the office was suffering unusual domestic mis-
fortune His wife i'll, OF his children
died and heavy mortgage on his house was
nearly due Mr.. Yerkes noticed the mans d.
meanor and made inquiries An Office chief tod
him of the clerks troubles How much Is the
mcrtgage?" asked Mr. Yerkes. seventeen hun
dred dollars" replied the chief Find out who
holds II and let me know" said Mr.. Yerkes and
me mortgage was paid by Yerkes. who mads
G'e clerk present of the released instrument
Despite his unpopularity, Mr.. Yerkes. by one
of his generous public acts. laid the foundation
for the perpetuation OF his name. This is due
to the gift to the University of Chicago known
the Yerkes Observatory Mr.. Yerkes made
up his mind TO give the University Of Chicago
the biggest telescope in the world AT a meeting
OF university officials the offer was discussed.
And 1t occurred to the educators that it would
cost vast sum OF money to have the biggest
telescope in the world. MIR. Yerkes was COM
municated with regarding this muniicent offer.
Back came this terse reply from the hnancer:
Il want TO give the university the biggest tels-
scope in the world. Have it made and send ME
the bills; I'll pay them"
OF the women in Chicago who have at
tanned prominence outside their local field
none stands out so conspicuousIy as Miss Jane
Adams, the founder of Hull House and de-
veloper of the Social Settlement plan. Her work
in this line has been attended with marked sue
cess. Miss Addams. who is a native of Illinois.
came to Chicago to settle permanently about
| 1883. after several visits to Europe. While
, industrial conditions in East London. 1t was
| then that she became interested in Toynbee
| Hail. an experiment to soften the lot Of the
worlds toilers. She became ambitious TO haz-
ard the London plan in Chicago. and out OF this
resulted the Hull House venture. Miss Adams
has held several public posts. having been gar
| bage inspector in the district in which HUH
| House is located. and of the women COM
missioners to the recent Paris Exposition, While
at present she fills the Office Of postmistress OF
the postal sub-staton in Hull House. Last spring.
when lynching of negroes in the South was
arousing public feeling in the North an indisns-
| ton meeting, called by leaders of the coiofea
| race in Chicago, was held at the Dearborn us
sion. The speakers were prominent white ps.-
| sons. All the other speakers. including Senavs
| Mason. denounced the lynchingS- Mucn 70 th'
| surprise of ALL Miss Adams emphaucalIy ap
proved the violent punishment of the blacks
| These lynchinSs are good thing ror yoa
| black people, she said The deeds or tnpso
negroes in the South merited the punishment.
1 tell you colored people there is only one reineus
against the violence of the Southern whites IoS
| ard your brethren down there-educauon- Eou-
cate you race. uplift yourselves and there wiz
| be no more lynchingj."
Most remarkable to record. the meeting ss'1