Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-01-21
Communicated.
CHICAGO, ILL,

January l4th, lSO4.
Nh. Fl. L. SNYDER-DEAR fSIRi:-l
have at last dropped down here in the
arest bi1 smoky city of Chicago. Big
End dirty. and smoky and illimitable.
! cav illimitable, as its limits seem 10 DC
bounded only by the State lines. IL mas
NOT only taken in everything in sight IN
the way OF territory, and that is saying
a great deal, but from the top Oh 'ue
highest tower its confines can not Ug
d1scerned with the strongest glass
had thought to have said from the tUp
of the highest elevation, but that couiu
have been construed as meaning nat
nrsI elevation, and in this country no
such elevation exists, as the ground Is
as fiat as the proverbial pancake, ana
the view only limited by the range OF
vision or interrupted by the IL ROAD
structures and other artificial oostruc'
tons. Alter a cursory look over the
ground | have come to the CONCLUSION
that Brooklyn, n. y, vii! nave 70 take
a back seat as the Getty OF Magnincens
Distances. " Looking over the lake one
could imagine very readily that 1t was
the ocean, al when the wind IS from
the east the Imagination comes very
near the reality, as it feels as though .
wet sponge was plastered up against
ones face, and whether the moisture
IS good for one lungs or not, 1t certain.
ly IS not conducive to dry, harsh skin.
The large business houses seem to be
confined TO about four or five square
blocks, but this must not be construed
as meaning an ordinary square, as like
a great many of the buildings tere the
blocks assume somewhat undue proper
tions. Speaking of buildings, there IS
one here now in process OF completion
tnat will take the cake" in competition
with anything in the country. | am
afraid to mention its dimensions, as
have somewhat conservative reputa-
tou to sustain, but one is not here long
before the information is vouched that
it is larger than anything in n. Y. The
only positive evil that | have atpresent
Just cause to cry out against is the soft
coal smoke nuisance. 1t permeateS
everything, and appears as fog both
by night and by day, although by night
it is less obtrusive, as most Of the fac
tories are then shut down. The win
uOWS are COuSIdullg ' OuuSNi SAN ~
takes continual cleaning TO prevent
them having the appearance OF ground
glass-a very material saving where
such an effect is desired at low cost.
The IL" roads stretch up and down
and around for many miles, and are
operated mostly by the third rail system
which is exceedingly dangerous. \. 1.
is now making an effort TO have II done
away with. The system when out OF
order from any cause affords some very
startling pyrotechnic displays, when
while very appropriate for a 4th OF July
celebration, is as regular phenomenon
rather a jar to the nervous system.
Chicago will, in time, no doubt be
large city, but at present by comparl'
son with cities of an older growth 1t IS
an overgrown town. Since my arrival
here the weather has been exceedingly
mild, and the streets very sloppy, ow-
ing to the continual fall OF wet snow.
hope some day in the not very distant
future to return and again take up my
abode in the classic perlieus OF Shep-
herdstown, if it pleases the great Direo-
tor of all, but where ever am called, l
will ever carry with me only the pleas
ATTEST recollections of the many happy
days spent along the banks OF the
beautiful Cohongorooton ~ in the Val
ley of Virginia.
Sincerely Your Friend,
K. HEYwARD BowLY.