New-York tribune., 1901-03-04
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVoRERs N POLITICS
MIR YERKEs QUITS THE ELE-
WAITED ROADs-AN EFFORT TO
DEVELOP WATER POWER OF
THE DRAINAGE CANAL.
Chicago. March 3.

Chicago. March ,
The Citizenship Committee Of the thicaSo
C,bristian Endaavor Union has decided that the
organization which il represents shall become a
factor IN making the coming mayoralty contest
,rha, n pleases 10 call white city election.
Tn the March ..blottcr' issued by the committee
:, urges every Christian voter 20 join his pre-
oinct club and take active part in the cam
taign As an incentive TO the fulhimeht OF
civic duty the committee has published statls-
tics intended 10 show the power 81 the saloon
in local politics If the figures are correct they
reveal a remarkable state OF affairs IN chicago
Among the statements made in the "hiotter
is the following: ITO each Of the G,'JoO saloons
in Chicago there are on the average. three en-
ploves. ten loafcrs and dead beats. and fifty
regular patrons This makes a total OF 4ohi'"o
persons OF course these people will vote on
urinary dav-for whom?' As there were only
about 3700U0 votes cast in Chicago at the elec-
tion last November, the question arises. Has the
committee enrolled its constituency with that
Of the saloon, has il greatly overestimated
The influence Of that institution in local poll
tics?
The completion Of the deal 10y which Charles
T. Yerkes transfers to a syndicate of New
York and local capitalists his interest in the
Lake-st Loop and Northwestern Elevated
railroads practically brings 10 an end the local
career Of The most conspicuous figure in the
history Of transportation in Chicago. The deal
which involved the transfer Of stocks valued IN
round figures at S50OoW00. still leaves Mr..
Yerlles a director in the Chicago Union Irac-
ton and Suburban Railway companies. This
win enable him TO give his undivided attention
10 his London underground railway project ana
10 his New-York interests The story OF MI
Yerkes's connection with transportation in Chi
cago has been one Of financiering rather than OF
construction He believed in allowing others
10 make the experiments, and only made such
improvements upon his lines as would result In
certain financial gain TO his interests. He can
he said to have been pioneer in no depart
ment of railway construction. The cable sys-
t.m was adopted for his lines only when il had
been proved pronounced success elsewhere;
in the installation of electricity he followed
more progressive leaders. and the same may
be said of his elevated lines AS a result Mr..
Yerkes leaves Chicago in possession OF an an
tiouated system of transportation. and places
his earnings where they can be successfully
employed in similar money making enterprises
II is hoped that Chicago viii be the gamer by
the change II is thought that the sale OF Mr..
Yerkes's interests was brought about 10 en-
able the street railway companies TO make thelr
fight for renewal OF franchises without the
bitter animosities his personality in the ne
gotiations would arouse.
Has Chicago grown SO great that il may
rightfully aspire TO statehood? Illinois legisla-
tors have asked themselves the question. ana
some OF them have had the temerity 10 answer
il In the affirmative. Several members OF the
House and Senate have expressed themselves
as favorable the proposition TO ask that
Chicago ne admitted to the Union as sovereign
state and it is suggested that such an arrange
ment would ease the wounded civic pride which
is continually forced TO contemplate the exalted
Dosition of a Greater New York. The taking
away from the country districts Of four seats in
the Senate and twelve seats in the House gave
rise 10 the suggestion that il was time for Chi
cago 10 stop being merely city and become
a State In the minds OF the country politicians
who have watched the influence of Chicago in
State affairs grow until II dominates the Legis-
lature the time has come for Chicago to set
up in business for itself. ii is this state OF
affairs that has led To the feeling that Illinois
is not large enough to hold itself and Chicago
at the same time.
The sanitary trustees have applied the
general assembly for permission eNpend
50 100000 TO develop the water power Of the
drainage canal for the use Of Chicago. The
plan includes the construction of power plant
at LOckport. II is thought that the improve
ments which viii place the water power the
disposal o: the city can Ice made in eighteen
months, II is intended To lease the privilege 10
the city for term of ninety-nine years at
rental Of - horse power year.
mayor hafflsnn proposes recourse To the
referendum the only means OF increasing the
city loan and providing for needed Improve
ments and necessities. Chicago has need of
S6OOO0OO or Ss,0oo.0oO for permanent improve
ments and no money can be borrowed under
a law not ratified by popular vote The Legis-
lature viii be appealed 10 TO pass a law an-
thorizing the loan under the condition that the
measure be submitted 10 the people
j. b. Taliaferro and his wife, Of Evanston
have vowed 10 avoid 'rummage' sales here
after Mrs. Taliaferro. who is a charitabl,
lhcllheu person, rummaged" around 10 find
something for sale for the benefit oe the
Evanston Hospital and in her .rnmmagtng'
came upon an old painting which had lain I'm
TIE garret for several years. She busted in
eaIeiuliy ana offered il as her contribution 10
the sale. In the course Of the sale an which
she was assisting, she discovered that her Sl5
NAT was missing. Upon investigation n was
round that the hat had been disposed OF "a q
nNtsalh hunter for the sum OF - cents Mr.
lSAaiefro also took an interest in the sale ana
wien ne returned from Chicago that eyenin.
Inahiested his good VIII by making a purchase
pom ms arrival home he proudly rnwraDnad
ms parcel and displayed to his wife tho nam,
55.s Whlcn she had reclaimed from the garret
IL had cost him $40 ~ e"'e''
bAIcHNAN CHARGED WITH BTRGLtRy