New-York tribune., 1901-03-25
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
PLANS FOR LAKE FRONT IMPROVEMENT
-ALTGELD's OPPOSITION TO
MAYOR HARRISON.

chicago. March "a (SpeciaD.-B. w snow
cron expert and ststistician. formerly OF the
r,.nartment Of Agriculture and man WHOSE
onnions are sought after by grain speculators
she world over. has come out with mover inc
orv Of what will happen IL there should be a war
be,ween England and Russia. MT. snow nous
,bo, the Gar Of all the Russias would plan
.campaign which would begin and end IN the
Chicago wheat pit and leave the BrltlsheiS
starved and submissive. The cost ~oulo De
something less than SlJ0O000oo, which Woulo
reprssent the purchase price Of about all the
a,silahle wheat I'm this country. In this way
mr snow asserts that the effect Of England 5
powerful navy could be entirely destroyed and
any international question. however important.
settled within a period Of say, eight months at
the outside.
Agitation of the plan Of putting the Crerar
library on the lake front and enlargng the
heme TO make this section Of the city the or
amental feature Of the town has begun. III IL
Get the approval of Montgomery Ward and
pther holders Of abuttng property In Michigan
ave. the plan may eventually go through. Thus
far however. the scheme is entirely on paper
Just cast Of the present public library, but
across Michigan-ave. will he the fire and police
stations To the south, where the temporary
oostof5ce now stands will he the municipal
buildings. extending from near Randolph-st. on
the north 10 Madison-st. the south. Imme-
diafely south Of Madson-st. and east of the
Chicago Athletic Club building will be erected
the Crerar Library. To the south Of this. but
separated by a broad expanse Of green grass
terraces. etc. is the Art Institute. Immediately
east of the Art Institute and connected with IT
by a Bridge of Arts win be stationed school of
art The latter Will be east of the Illinois Cen
tral right of way the tracks of which have been
depressed end viii he entirely out of sight To
the east and north of this viii be the State res
ervation for armories. This viii lie along the
water front. II is held that when the plans are
completed the city will have veritable court
Of honor and one of which the citizens may
well be proud.
Mayor Carter H. Harrison and his friends are
now admitting among themselves that his
chances Of reelection are slipping away and
that at the present rate of defections there will
be a vertable stampede 10 his opponents before
the campaign is over. The conditions prevail
ing Immediately after the nominations OF the
candidates have been completely reversed. At
ter the nomination OF Judge Hanecy there was
some dissatisfaction among the Republicans on
account Of the part which Lorimer played in
the convention. This disaffection proved to be
OF the ordinary after convention sort and has
disappeared. on the other hand, the nOmina-
tion OF Harrison and his reelection were re
Earded as a fOregOne conclusion by the Demo-
Gratis even before the convention They have
since seen a light. Altgeld has come out
openly against Harrison and is bringing under
his banner a large number Of the silver Demo-
Gratis who have never had any particular love
for Harrison since his selection Of gold standard
men for his official cabinet directly after his
elevation 10 the mayoralty four years ago. Alt
geld has always had strong following in this
city, and has opened headquarters and is going
after Harrison's scalp in a thorough and sys-
tematic way. The willy Altgeld seems TO have
irnpreSSed With Nrff oF rim
tive hatred Of everything that promises TO aid
Harrison in his campaign.