The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18

the example OF others that have preceded
them. Capital all along the line is light
ing shy OF this city as manufacturing
center.
OF the reasons cited for wishing another
location. labor troubles constitute the
major part. Strikes in the last four years
have cost Chicago from SSo.vy.rlV to sio,-
GHCu. and nave sent more than one con-
cern into bankruptcy. Whether justified or
not, Chicago has the reputation ct home
and abroad Of being the most violent
Storm center for labor disturbances IN the
United states. Other impelllng reasons Tor
removal are cheaper ground and more of
1t, lower taxes and the desire to have
environments conducive 10 better work
and higher living ON the part Of EN-
ployes.
Not all Of those who have left Chicago
have gone TO distant cities. Pro.Tip,cd by
improved suburban steam railway service
and fast interurban electric lines. many
have located in the suburbs e the city.
These desertions affect the matter of CIT
caEo's population. but do not cause any
reTrogression of the cts business le
cause their interests and places OF business
are still here. Granting there Las Leca
little or 10 diminution II. commercial aC-
tivity. ii still remains that tbc increase
has not been anywhere near what il
should be. In some Incs tfiare has bcen
an actual slump. For this there is dis
position TO hold the railroads responsible
on account Of alleged iircrse Gistr:mina-
ton.
As a grain center Chicago is rot what
It used to be. Much of this business las
been diverted in recent years TO Canadian
and Gulf ports. The loss here i:as teen
SO great and the prospect SO forbddinS
that the Board Of Trade has begged the
railroads 10 come to the rescue Ey making
more attractive freight iates.
Official reports show tnat Chicago has
herself to blame more tn1n she has the
railroads for the slump in grain and other
traffic. For years she has permitted the
river tunnels. through which street cars
city. to obstruct river navigation. II these
tunnels had been lowered long ago, the
Chicago River might still be one OF the
III s:est inland streams in the United
While South Chicago. Duluth. Miiwau-
kee and all other Like Michigan ports
have steadily gained in water traffic, Chi
ca:-o has lost ground rapidly. In the last
twelve months the total tonnage entering
the Chicago River was nearly a million
tons less than IL was ten years ago. 1t
is trific less than i was in 1850. twenty
four years ago. The total receipts and
shipments IN the river IN 1892 were S.tlc,9-2
tons. Last ,-ear they were approximately
$500 Go0 tons.
The slump has been going on uninte-..
ruptedly for more than a decade Federal
Government officials have been sounding
the alarm for Chicago for years. but the
adrnouition has been unheeded.
These tunnels interfere with river traffic
more than they formerly did, because the
small boats Of the old days have nearly
all gone out of commission, and the vessels
of greater tonnage cannot clear III" arches
OF brick and mortar that cross the river
under water at three different points. L
IS not an infrequsnt EIerience for painting
tugs to work for nouIs trying 10 release
loaded boat caught en- q tunnel.
AFTER NEW CHARTER.
Chicago is hot after 4 new charter. hop
ing when her municipal handicaps are
removed that she will regain her nerve
for big things. That her spirit is broken
WAS shown by the disma! failure Of her
centennial celebration q couple OF years
ago. and by the collapse of her proposed
Fourth OF July celebration this year. Eoth
Of tl.SJ- iHSUuS-thoV were moi H!nT THos"
caused more popular chagrin than is
generally supposed beyond the limits o!
the city. Chicago has not had the heart
or energy to do anything noteworthy since
the {. iUrhiIn Exposition. NOBODY ~. w
it better than her own citizens and they
are asking themselves why 1t is So.
1t cannot be said that the city is bank
cial system 1t Is virtually so. Lawrence
Z. Mccain, City Comptroi!er. has informed
the City Council officially that unless Il
half million dcllars of the water :und Il
diverted-a thing never before done-there
will have to be 4 default on salaries of
The Council has voted for such diversion
Of the fund. and the employees are anx-
iously awaiting the decision of the courts
to know IL they can buv Christmas pres
ents for the children. There are outstand-
inG judgments aggTegating $4,000 hang
ing over the city. the result of damage
| suits growing out of defective sidewalks.
In the face OF this appal ent poverty the
city of Chicago has 81. Sl2 0l1 in cash hoard
| ed in bank. divided as follows: