Year: 1869

From our EpeclilI NOfEtS p0lQehE-a.


CHICAGO, March 4th.


According to the calendar we have
entered upon the first day of Spring
bat after testing the temperature of
the atmosphere, and studying the in
dications of approaching vegetation,
am forced to the conclusion that real
Spring is still in the future. What a
blessing it is that we firmly believe in
the regular appearance of these sea-
sons, and that preparations are made
for their coming.


In my perambulations about this
city, see that our citizens calculate
to improve the time for the next six
months. Great as was the building
last year, it will be surpassed this year.
The epublicimprOvements already COM
pleted only serve as an incentive to re-
newed eXertiOns.


Before I get away from the subject
of public improvements, / wish to
briefly express an opinion of the bill
known as the Lake Front Bill, :" now
in course of passage through the Illi-
nOis Legislature. The portion of it
relating to the present dry land, is of
minor importance. The part confer
ring the RIPARIAN right upon the Illi-
nOis Central Railroad is of vital inn
pOrtance to the whole country for
which Chicago is q Lake HarbOr.
This bill will give the railroad COM
pany the complete control of all the
lake front not already in the hands Of
private corporations or individuals.
This arrangement would probably be
better for the city, as hOrbOr would
soon be built; but what will the whole
country do in ten or twenty years, If
| this company chooses to charge eXhOr-
/ bitant rates for all trans-shipments in
| this harbOr? How will the men then
| feel who voted away to a corporation
what justly belonged to the people of
the Northwest? ? Our river haTbOr is
now inadequate to the demand. Judg-
ing from the past how very few years
| it will be before the immense trade of
this city will spread along the lake !;
then will it not be proper to have the
lake harbOr as free from monopoly as
possible.


There is a metropolitan feature max
ing its appearance very prominently
in our business locations. There is a
centralizing process going on in the
various leading branches of trade.
/
are all cOngregating on LaSelle street
and Washington, close to the Board
of Trade. The hucksters, produce
and fruit dealers and wholesale grocers
are in or near South Water street. The
various other wholesale houses are
cOngregating on State, the two ave-
enues and Lake where these join it.
The newspapers are gradually coming
together on Dearborn or very near it,
on cross streets. The latest moves are
the banks and lumber yards. The
former are fast taking mp pOsitiOnsOn
Washington, and the latter are very
rapidly removing on the South Branch
to what is known as the New Lumber
District. This process of eentralizing
the various kinds of business does
much to facilitate its transaction and
promote healthy competition.


! Another step towards true metropoI-
itan style is the organization of club
house; the plan to be followed is that
of such institutions in older cities
The society is to consist of not over
two hundred men. A fine house is
furnished in the finest possible style,
with an eye to comfort and amuse-
ment. Dining rooms, lunch rooms,
parlOrs, library, reading rooms. bill
lard rooms, etc, ETC., are to make up
this gentleman's rest.


The subject of life assurance is gen
orally well talked up, both by the
press and agents but word just here
regarding the superior management
and great success of the Globe Mutual
Life of New York, in its western de-
partment, under the control of Messrs.
McKinsly & Lockwood, 124 La Sale
street, will not be out of place. These
gentlemen have represented this com
pany in the west but very few years,
and in the face of the strongest oppO-
sitiOn and jealousy, they have now the
satisfaction of knowing that through
their efforts, ''The GlObeu stands to-
day, both in the city and through
out the whole northwest, as the most
popular and prosperous of the long
list of corporations of its class, who
bid for public patronage. a..


The great cause OF. success is nc
doubt the liberal rates offered as well
as the fair dealing that has always
characterized the actions of these
agents.