Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-11-25

burned over, that more than 100000
persons were left homeless, that 150
lives were lost in the flames, and
that the money value of the property
destroyed was as follows: On build
ings, $52,0OO,000; on business proper.
ty exclusive of buildings, $50, 900 900;
on personal effects, $59,000,OOO, a to.
tai Of $196OO0,OOO. There was a
salvage OF S4,0O0,0O0 on material
used in rebuilding. On the other
hand, the value of real estate was de
preciated sSS,OOO,OOO and the inter
ruption to business caused a loss Of
S1O,0O00O0, making a grand total loss
Of S29O,OOOO0O. In fact nearly one
half Of the whole property value Of
the city was destroyed.
Following the fire things we're done
in a large American way that gives
one thrills. The city pledged its cred.
It. The government in the person Of
General Sheridan declared martial
law and rushed tents and army sup,
| lupplles to the spot as fast as wire
and train could accomplish II. The
whole world put its hand in its pock.
ct and sent more than $7O00,O00 in
money and supplies to stricken Chi
cago. In the meantime, almost be.
fore the fire had burned itself out Chi.
cago was busy at the work Of rebuild
ing. In two years a new city had
arisen from the ruins of the old and
new era in the life Of the city had
begun. The new Chicago was inf
nitely a more attractive city and It's
unequallcd display OF public spirit
and energy brought TO It hundreds OF
thousands Of new citizens from all
parts Of the world. It grew faster
than ever, practically doubling it's
population of $4,000 in the next dec
ade.
Keeping it's hand in by beginning
in 1890 work on the Chicago drainage
canal--a trifing matter OF ten years
work and $S5 1000 ,OO0-Chicago cast
about for something that should real.
lly test her powers. Her chance came
lin the Worlds Columbian exposition.
Chicago bid successfully for the
Worlds Fair, and again astonishej
the world by the beauty OF the White
City and the completeness OF the eX
Ihibiticn itself. The cost OF the fair
exclusive Of the vast sums expended
by exhibitors from all parts OF the
world, was over SsS,OOO 600 and near
lIy as many visitors passed through III
gates. Il was a veritable triumph fol
lChicago. Up 20 that time no one hat
doubted the city's wealth, energy and
ability TO do great things in a mater
lial way. But thenceforth the sneel
that Chicago was little more than al
extended stock yard was heard n'
more.
In a way the Worlds Fair IL Chica
COS climax to date. In the last dec
ade she has kept on growing as usua
In population and wealth. Her citi
zens are busy improving their pri
yate property Business blocks thai
would be considered palatial in many
cities OF some considerable import
ance are now torn down IN Chicago
10 make room for an up-to-date build
, ling Chicago was built In a marsh
she utilized the ruins OF the greal
fire 70 lift herself out Of the mud
Forced by the unstable nature OF hel
foundation 10 depart from ordinary
rules she invented the Chicago con
struction" and gave the sky-serapel
20 the world. She is now rebuilding
the rebuilding that followed the hre
Some day the city itself, as well az
lher citizens will turn its hand % SO
ting It's house In order. Then the ~orl'
will be astonished again.
Statistics are valuable Honestly
! handled figures do not lie, and thel
are the only things that really tel
the whole story. But statistics ar
J dry things IN themselves; moreover
the average man loses his sense o.
J proportion when the figures run ~
10 hundreds Of millions and billions
, So no attempt viii be made here U
! give a long array Of figures. convine
! ing as they are. sun some fact
. NAV be set forth that aFs both con
J vlnclng and interesting Here ar
some pertinent paragraphs
The oldest inhabltant of chlcag'
~. born January g. is22. aBd hal