New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-22
CHLCAGO,S YEARLY sOOT-F4LL.

Once again ChcagOs five million club seems
TO have risen to the occasion, and once more its
press agent has taken his pen In hand. For
time there seemed to be a possibility of the
tropolis of Cook County being forgotten, and 1t
was even feared that 1t might be compelled TO
base its claim for distinction on the fact that 1t
was eighteen hours from New York The re
fected glory which has come to the home city of
"Bathhouse John in other days from the uni
verslty, whose instructors, properly misQuoted
could be made to express themselves entertain
ingly on a large variety of topics, is now no
more for that institution has settled down and
adopted the sedate ways Of It's elder educational
competitors In the East. In fact, since the an
nouncement of the arrival Of the geological shirts
of the aforementioned John, which were to fill
him with inspiration for the work Of a new day
W hen he awoke and saw them hanging over the
foot of the bed in all their figured elegance
there has been nothing to indicate that Chicago
was doing business in the same old way at the
same old stand.
But now. not content with becoming rival Of
the Eastern city from which 1t is eighteen hours
distant, 1t seeks to compete with Engand's capt.
tai for place In the interest Of the AngloSaxon
world. Perhaps 1t with this end in view
that the noble river that flows through several
blocks OF Chicago broadened and deepened
until now It's murky bosom bears the nucleus Of
IL
which passes under the shadow Of Greenwich,
Be this as it may, it now has been discovered
bv a chemist and a geOlOgist that the atmos-
phere of the lakeside city is fouler, more smoke
laden and unhealthful than that Of dear old
London itself
We are told that large block of this semi
Opaque substance known as Chicago air was
sa wed out of the sky at q distance of some four
hundred feet above the level Of the street and
subjected to the various tests known TO those
familiar with the article in question Nor
this experiment made In the factory district, but
from the top of q building in the very heart of
the retail section. facing Michigan avenue
and but long long stones throw from the lake
front itself. After placing in q stone Crusher
the specimen of atmosphere secured, and resolv
ing Ii by chemical process into It's component
pa rts il was announced that the deposit Of dust
and smoke on an acre of ground in the course of
twelve short months would amount TO three and
one-half tons Nor does this take into account
the immense quantity that is daily carried home
TO the residence districts by downtown employees
and shoppers, the enormous weight which Is con
viewed by the suburbanite far out into the coun-
try during the course Of a week, or that which Is
yearly secured by the unwary traveller and, lib
orally mixed with soap and water, distributed
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
With the figures before us and vouched for By
the various experts Of our sister city we must
admit that once more Chicago has the better Of
us But we tremble to think what the condition
of our streets would be they to receive daily
those accessions of dirt which fall as has been
said of the beautiful snow, "all day long, all
night long on the roofs of the living" etc. in
Chicago.