USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 18
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Large numbers of vessels wintered here in 1848-49, 90 sail ves- sels, 4 steamboats, 5 propellers and 57 canalboats. State street around the new market was planked in November, 1848. Many deer were in market-twenty to thirty in one shop. By November Vol. I-12.
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20, 1848, the Galena railway was completed to the Des Plaines river, a distance of ten miles. The locomotive ran out daily con- veying men and materials. "Riding on a rail" soon became a trite expression. On November 20, a number of editors and several stockholders of the railway took a ride out to the Des Plaines river and brought back a farmer's load of wheat-the first to reach Chicago by rail. At the same time Millican Hunt and John Worthington shipped in by rail the first cargo of hogs. At this time the Council decided to plank Canal and Randolph streets. On December 3, the funeral of ex-Mayor Garrett was the largest ever held here up to that date. On December 7, the new State
street market was first opened. When the roads were bad the trade here fell almost to nothing; then was the time all favored plank roads. The following were talked of-Chicago to Blue Is- land; Chicago to Des Plaines, near Spencer's; Chicago, north to- ward Gross Point. "The periodical depression in trade, one of which is now upon us, would by these roads be entirely avoided, and the city would not for four to six months out of the twelve, be completely cut off from the source of all its prosperity and all its wealth."-(Democrat, December 9, 1848.)
In 1848, prior to November 10, the canal yielded about $126,- 000. Three hundred boats were put on, but the start was slow owing to a lack of water. The first year was considered experi- mental, but the following results were accomplished-bringing coal from the center of Illinois to the lake cities; transporting lum- ber and salt from Chicago to St. Louis; transporting the produce of the Illinois river country to Chicago and thence to Eastern markets. In the winter of 1848-49 it was concluded to put on many more boats and to open the Calumet feeder whereby about 5,000 cubic feet of water per minute in addition would be secured. Land sales were rapidly reducing the canal debt. The exportation of ice began in 1848 on an extensive scale. On December 23, snow fell here to the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches- deeper than any fall since 1842, when it was about the same. The fine sleighing brought farmers to market. Think of it-poultry was 3 to 4 cents a pound, venison 3 cents, prairie chickens 15 cents per pair, and quails 12 cents per dozen. "The multiplication of drink- ing shops in the city is alarming the more temperate portion of the community. There are now, we are informed, nearly one hundred and ninety persons selling on license at $50 per annum. How many are selling without we cannot say. This is a heavy business for a city of 20,000 inhabitants."-(Democrat, December 27, 1848.)
About this time-December, 1848-the California gold excite- ment began to stir Chicago; soon the "forty-niners" began to get ready to leave in the spring. Even during the winter Chicagoans went to New York and there took vessel for the Eldorado. Ice
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was cut from Chicago river below the Clark street bridge and used in 1848-49. California gold began to arrive here in December, 1848. A new plank road from Chicago to Elgin was projected at a large meeting held at the house of L. H. Appleby in Blooming- dale, Du Page county, on January 20, 1849. McCormick's reap- ers were beginning to make Chicago famous. The weather was intensely cold for several weeks in January, 1849. "Office Seekers. -The office seekers among the Whigs have come out of their hid- ing places in crowds and are now like a swarm of locusts lighting upon the citizens with petitions, recommendations, etc. The post- office is the great bone over which the quarrel is loudest and for which the most desperate exertions are making. There are as many as from ten to twenty applicants for some offices, and for others their name is legion."-(Democrat.)
The prospect of the early completion of the Michigan Central railroad to Lake Michigan and afterward its early continuation to Chicago greatly stimulated business and improvement here in the spring of 1849. A paper was circulated in January, 1849, request- ing signers "to support no man for election to the City Council, and no present member holding over for re-election, who will not unequivocally pledge himself to a systematic and thorough im- provement of our streets. . "On February 1, 1849, there were here in store 435,000 bushels of wheat. There were but nine feet of water on the bar at the entrance to the harbor on March 30. "The completion of the Central railroad to New Buffalo, with the fast boats on the lake and the new arrangements of the railroad com- panies in New York will enable a person, as the New York Com- mercial remarks, to sup one day in New York, the second in Buf- falo, the third in Detroit, and breakfast in Chicago the next morn- ing. That's going it with a rush." -- (Democrat, April 10, 1849.)
By act of February 12, 1849, the Firemen's Benevolent associa- tion of Chicago was incorporated under S. F. Gale, C. E. Peck, C. E. Griswold, A. Gilbert, Cyrus Bradley, A. Rossiter and others. It was 14 degrees below zero on February 15, 1849. There were numerous cases of "knockdowns" and "hold-ups" at this time. The old postoffice was established on Clark street opposite the court- house in 1836, and was still there in 1849. Steam to elevate grain in the warehouses of R. C. Bristol and Mr. Haddock was used at this time. For the fiscal year 1848-49, a satisfactory report was made by the authorities. Many liabilities of former years were discharged. Interest in city bonds to the amount of $1,439.11 was paid to Strachan & Scott and George Smith & Co. Nearly $3,000 was paid to S. F. Gale and W. S. Gurnee on account of hose and hose carriage. On roads leading into the city $454 was spent. Randolph street bridge bonds of $1,000 were redeemed. There was received from the delinquent resources of former years $2,291.40. The total receipts of 1848-49 were $47,711.77, of which
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$6,398.28 came from the wharfing lots, $5,761.83 from the school tax and $13,887.88 from the city tax. The total expenses of the city in 1848-49 were $45,050.54. The fire department cost $4,205 .- 62; dredging to widen the river, $3,509.63; city hospital, $459.94. The total liabilities of the city were $36,333.20, and the total re- sources, $43,637.17. Among the liabilities were bonds of $3,000 for the Clark street bridge; bonds of $10,870 for the State street market; lots for the fire department, $2,413.10; due for cemetery land, $1,818.75.
It should be noted that even as late as 1848-49, Beardstown, a small place well down on the Illinois river, packed more hogs than Chicago; that town packed 48,150 hogs in 1848-49. Various build- ing associations were established in 1849. J. R. Bull & Co. began to issue the Chicago Dollar Newspaper in March, 1849. A party of Chicagoans left for California on March 17, taking their boat by rail to the Des Plaines and then floating to St. Louis. Many wagon-trains bound for California passed through here in the spring of 1849. It was stated at this time that from December 1, 1848, to March 1, 1849, 162 vessels had left the Atlantic cities for California; they carried many Chicagoans. A large train of Ger- mans and Americans left here on March 29 to cross the plains to the Pacific slope.
The "great flood of '49" occurred on Monday, March 12, 1849. The usual spring thaw, accompanied by several days of heavy rain was sufficient to raise the river suddenly high above its banks. Bridges, lumber and vessels above began to give way, were swept down, carrying others with them until in the main river near State street all were at last jammed into a huge dam. Vessels were thrown in every position on the banks, some stranded wholly and wrecked, others partly so, and still others were crushed where they rested. Every bridge was swept away, so that the Council was forced at once to establish four ferries-two across the main river and two across the South branch. The whole city turned out to rescue the vessels from their perilous positions. The greatest losses were to canal boats-between thirty and forty were destroyed.
Major Woodworth in his inaugural message said that the cholera must be overcome ; that proper attention must be given to drainage, sewerage, planking the streets, widening the river, etc .; that the police force should be strengthened to offset the unusual outbreak of crime; that a bridewell should be established; that schools should be sustained; that there should be a hospital physician for the city ; that public officials should be paid in accordance with their pro- ficiency ; that the city and county should come to some equitable agreement conerning the public square; that the encroachment of the lake on Dearborn park should be checked; that the city treasury should be properly guarded; and that something should be done at once by way of relief in the flood emergency.
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In the spring of 1849 the Michigan Central Railway company endeavored to monopolize the traffic of the Great Lakes. It bought sixteen of the best steamboats and propellers for traffic from Buf- falo to Detroit and between New Buffalo (its western terminus on Lake Michigan) and all notable points on that lake. Among the vessels bought were the "Atlantic," "Mayflower," "Empire State," "Empire" and "Canada." The "Lady of the Lake" propeller was chartered for the season for $7,000 to ply principally between New Buffalo and Chicago. Many men were leaving weekly for the gold fields of California. Hundreds passed through here in cara- vans for that Eldorado. So great was the rush to the Randolph street ferry on April 7 that the boat sank when loaded with people; no lives were lost. At this time the Council ordered a loan with which to rebuild the bridges washed away by the "great flood of 1849." By April, 1849, the Galena railroad had reached the Des Plaines river. Widening the river between Clark and Dearborn streets was in progress in April, 1849. "We have just commenced running one of our steam presses upon stereotype plates for the enterprising firm of Griss Bros. & Company of this city. This is the first printing from stereotype plate that has ever been done in our city."-(Democrat, April 17, 1849.) Before this date print- ing from such plates had been done East. Steam printing at Jackson Hall building, the Democrat office at 45 La Salle street was advertised in April, 1849.
About the middle of April lake captains declared it to be hard to bring a vessel drawing seven feet over the bar at the entrance to the harbor in case of a heavy swell. As most vessels then drew from eight to eleven feet there was great danger; in fact, the larger ones remained outside. Dredging was demanded. The extension of the north pier in the form of a semi-circle to the south had made matters worse. The channel at best was very crooked and erratic. It was decided this spring to plank South Water street. The canal traffic in the spring of 1849 was immense; the boats were crowded with freight and passengers. In April the Michigan Central rail- way was finished to New Buffalo and boats from that point ran regularly. The oak planks for Chicago streets were sawed at Stowell's steam sawmill on the South branch; oak logs were brought by canal to the mill, which ran two saws regularly. There arrived here by steamer from Cleveland 546 tons of coal on April 27, showing that the canal did not yet supply the demand from the mines down the Illinois river. Temporary bridges on scows spanned the river and its branches in April. A market house for the West Side was staked out in May, 1849; the canal trustees appropriated land therefor at Des Plaines street. The North Side from Dearborn street to the lake was growing rapidly with resi- dences and trees. Hard and rapid work was done on the bridges during April. The one at Clark street had a draw eighty feet clear
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and cost $2,800, of which $1,500 was paid by the city and the bal- ance by subscription. The temporary bridges were insufficient; in one case over one hundred teams waited while one vessel passed.
"Clark Street Ferry .- There appears to be no order or regularity about it. The boat is more than half the time so filled with water as to render it both unpleasant and dangerous. Yesterday the confusion and disorder at the ferry was disgraceful. The ferry boats for teams at Dearborn street not being running, the rush at Clark street was immense and it was really surprising that some accident did not result. Ladies have but very little chance in the melee that ensues every time the boat lands; it is as much as a full grown man wants to do to elbow his way through the crowds. The boat is not large enough, to say nothing of its being a crazy, leaky concern."-(Democrat, May 4, 1849.)
In May, 1849, the Northwestern plank road was pushed rapidly, starting from the bridge on the North branch and extending up Milwaukee avenue for twelve miles. The first idea of the Council was to raise the lots and lower the streets, so that the gutters of the latter would complete the drainage, but this plan in the end was impracticable owing at all times to the crowded condition of the streets, including even the gutters. "Washington street is known only by the number of churches upon it. Ask where it is and people will show you nearly all the churches in town on a single street. It might as well be called Church street at once."-(Democrat, May 4, 1849.) "City Scavengers .- There is not a city in the United States of the size of Chicago without its scavengers. Here all the slops of the houses and the filth of every kind whatsoever incident to cities are emptied in the gutters and offend the nostrils of every traveler either on the sidewalks or on the streets."-(Dem- ocrat, May 7, 1849.)
About May 7, the new bridge at Madison street was commenced. Large numbers of vessels were in port. There were shipped to Buffalo on May 5, 800 barrels of flour in one cargo-freight 25 cents per barrel. "The Harbor .- Yesterday the harbor and offing presented a fine appearance. A fleet of sixty or eighty vessels of all classes-steamers, propellers and sail craft were in motion."- (Democrat, May 8, 1849.) "Will not the corporation do some- thing to make the Clark street ferry passable? A lady fell from the boat into the water yesterday. There is danger of such acci- dents constantly. Such miserable management was never seen as there is at this ferry."-(Democrat,' May 8, 1849.) "Water Spouts .- Several very large water spouts were seen to form and burst on the lake yesterday. They attracted a great deal of notice and made, as they passed over the water, a magnificent appear- ance."-(Democrat, May 8, 1849.)
On May 9, 1849, it was agreed between the City Council and the County Commissioners that the county should own the public
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square, but should build on the north end of the same a building fronting on Randolph and extending from Clark to La Salle, to be used as a court room and to have office for sheriff, clerk and recorder. The city further agreed to build in the suburbs a jail to cost about $15,000. This was the basis of the famous bride- well. The balance of the public square was to be kept open until needed.
In May, white oak planking from Black river was laid on Ran- dolph street from State westward to the river. Prior to May, 1849, all mail for the Northwest came to Chicago and thence was sent to Milwaukee, Galena, Ottawa, etc .; but at that date it was sent from the East directly to those cities. R. L. Wilson of the Journal became postmaster here, vice Stewart. Pervious to this the storage of wheat cost the owner 2 to 3 cents a bushel, but now the price fell to 1 cent. The power press of the Democrat printed half a dozen other papers; in fact, it was kept going day and night.
Fearing the cholera, the Board of Health in May began the sys- tematic labor of thoroughly cleaning the city. Every house owner was ordered to clear his premises of filth at once. The slaughter houses were particularly cleansed and purified. Late in April, despite all precautions, that dreaded disease made its appearance here; four died with it on the 12th and four more on the 13th of May. Then it spread rapidly. From a few to ten deaths daily were at first reported, but as many as twenty-one died on August 1. By June 6, 1849, about two thousand persons had been carried on the Galena railway to the Des Plaines river and return. Immense quantities of lumber came here, much of which went west over the canal. In May alone there arrived 2,690,000 feet of lumber, 3,015,000 shingles and 938,000 lath. It was in 1849 that the first planking was laid in the downtown alleys. By June 11 the Galena railway was completed across the "big slough," fourteen or fifteen miles from Chicago; on June 7, the railway brought in 700 bushels of grain and on the 8th 794 bushels more. McCormick, Ogden & Co. sold in 1849 about 1,500 reapers-regarded as a great indus- try. Lake street was being planked in June. To the joy and relief of the inhabitants, the new Madison street bridge was thrown open on June 17 for the first time. Real turtle soup appeared at the St. Charles hotel on June 24. It was intensely hot from June 21 to June 25; the hydraulic cisterns gave out and no water indoors could be had for three days; peddlers hurried to the rescue. The dust was stifling and the streets were sprinkled. In June, 1849, Lieutenant Webster was ordered to commence work on the light- house at Calumet, at the end of the Chicago harbor pier, and on the Marine hospital. "Wheat by Railroad .- Persons have no idea of the great quantity of wheat that comes in by railroad at the present time. From 1,700 to 2,000 bushels come in daily. The wheat buy- ers now divide their attention between Market street and the rail- road depot."-(Democrat, June 15, 1849.)
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"The great mass of the deaths and cholera cases in our own city are clearly attributable to butchering within the city limits. How much longer is this nuisance to be tolerated? There are now two slaughter houses in one of the most public blocks of our city, in the block of the postoffice, the Sherman house and several of the heaviest stores on Lake street. We are for prohibiting butchering within the city limits entirely. What say our citizens? Let them talk with their aldermen."-(Democrat, June 28, 1849.)
The Marine hospital was planned to be built on Michigan avenue near the river and facing west, and was to be 90x128 feet. In June, William Gamble, superintendent of public works, completed a survey of Chicago harbor 1,000 feet in all directions from the end of the north pier and sounded every twenty feet. It was found that a bar had formed at the end of the north pier southward to a dis- tance of 300 feet and that only six feet of water could be depended upon over this bar. Vessels were obliged to pursue a tortuous course to reach the harbor. Dredging on an extensive scale was ordered by the Council. By July 1, 1849, the Galena railway was completed to Cottage Hill, sixteen miles from the city-fare to Des Plaines, 25 cents ; to Cottage Hill, 371/2 cents. From June 1 to July 1, 1849, there were ninety-four deaths from cholera in the city. At this time a canal boat loaded with oats arrived from the Calumet feeder-the first from that source. The new Chicago hospital was first opened June 8, and there the cholera patients were taken and cared for. The city was infested with gamblers, blacklegs, burglars and other desperate criminals.
"The Western Citizen as a distinct paper seems to have been discontinued, its heading being put over the Weekly Tribune, which again is but a modified edition of the Weekly Gem. Several papers in this city have wanted to get out matter to put their head over, but we have looked upon it as a fraud, as it is. If a person should happen to subscribe to the Gem, the Tribune and the Citizen, he pays for all three, when the man who pays but for one gets the same matter."-(Democrat, July 11, 1849.)
On July 14 there were twelve deaths from cholera and on the 15th sixteen. Hundreds if not thousands of citizens deserted the city-fled from the cholera. On July 23 nine died; on the 24th, fourteen; on the 27th, twenty; on the 29th, eighteen. The panic almost completely shut off all business. Prior to July 30, 434 deaths from cholera were registered. W. H. Brown, Thomas Church and Samuel Hoard were health commissioners. "The dif- fusion of gambling shops, the parent of so many other vices, has increased within the last six months beyond the belief of any per- son who has not investigated the matter."-(Democrat, August 7, 1849.)
An asylum, mainly for the care of children made orphans by the cholera, was projected in July. The name selected was "Orphan
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Benevolent Association." At the head of the movement were William H. Brown, Orrington Lunt, Samuel Hoard and R. K. Swift. The Northwestern plank road was completed to Oak Ridge, eight miles distant, by August 15. At this date the Galena railway had been completed to Babcock's Grove, twenty-one miles from Chicago. The planking of Water street west from State was begun in August. Canal street south from the Galena depot, on the North branch, was being planked at this time. Late in August the cholera began to decline, deserters began to return and business began to resume its former healthy tone. Printers were paid 25 cents per thousand ems for composition in September. An eastern combina- tion, assisted by several business men of Chicago, was formed to control prices in August. "The immense power of an organized association like the present combination can be partly realized when for a little paltry patronage presses may be hired to sound its praises or cover the evil it entails upon the public. The newspapers of the city, with the exception of the Democrat, have come out in favor of the combination." "We learn that, on account of a disagreement between some of the contracting parties after they had given their adhesion to the association, the combination has been postponed until spring, so that during the fall months the lakes will be as free as ever." "As soon as it became known that the combination would not be formed this fall, the Tribune had a long article condemning combinations in general and the lake com- binations in particular, at the same time giving some very good reasons why it should not be formed. What a pity that this com- bination, to which the Tribune looked to destroy a 'ruinous compe- tition,' has gone to its grave without having fulfilled its mission."
"We learn that the combination has failed in consequence of a disappointment as to the division of the contemplated spoils." -- (Democrat, September 1849.)
"The completion of the Michigan Central railroad already makes a change in the character of the business of this city; and should it be extended round the lake, we have no doubt an immense amount of produce could be shipped by railroad to the East. It now costs 60 cents per barrel for flour by way of the Central road to Buffalo and 20 cents by steam round the lakes. We learn that shipments have been made direct to Detroit and Buffalo by this route, ship- pers calculating the saving of time, etc., will pay the additional expense."-(Democrat, September 8, 1849.)
The La Salle street sewer was built in September, 1849. It was planned that by November the branch railroad to St. Charles would be ready. Winter wheat sold at 70 to 80 cents; spring wheat, 50 to 60 cents; oats, 22 to 23 cents; potatoes, 25 to 31 cents; whisky, 20 to 25 cents a gallon; beef, per cwt., $2.50 to $3.25; pork the same; butter, 8 to 10 cents, and eggs 8 to 9 cents. On September 21 thirty buildings at Randolph, Lake and Franklin streets were
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burned. Immediately thereafter the cry arose, "No more frame buildings-no more wooden buildings." At this time Chicago had four new flour mills and another in the process of completion. On October 24 there arrived by rail 7,925 bushels of wheat, besides other products. "Widen the River .- Scarce a steamer or propeller arrives or departs but is detained in the river on account of the number of vessels obstructing the channel. The only way to rem- edy this is to carry out the plan of widening the river immediately. The work now progresses, but very slowly."-(Democrat, October 25, 1849.)
"The croakers who were always anticipating but never realizing a change in the general prosperity have heretofore been signally disappointed. With them the canal was to destroy the retail trade, turn the few large stores into wholesale depots and annihilate the many small ones. The reverse occurred. The railroad was to destroy the forwarding business. On the contrary, it is now in- creasing daily. . In 1836 the value of the imports of Chicago amounted to but $325,203 and the exports to the small sum of $1,000.64. From 1836 to 1840 both imports and exports steadily increased. The last named year they amounted to $562,106.20 as the value of imports, and $228,635.74 as the value of exports. From 1840 to 1848 the increase was rapid. The last named year the imports amounted to $8,338,639.66 and the exports to $10,706,- 333.40. The year 1848 was the first in which the value of exports exceeded that of imports. The population increased during this time from 4,853, the number of inhabitants in 1840, to 19,724, the number in 1848. The population this year (November 15, 1849) is 23,047, being an increase of 1814 per cent in eleven months. This increase, it will be recollected, too, is in the year in which the chol- era has taken off between 600 and 700 citizens, driven a large number from the city, depressed trade and paralyzed its energies. But probably in no year of its existence has Chicago increased so materially and substantially as in the present."-( Democrat, March 15, 1849.) "The Tremont House .- This mammoth hotel has at- tained its fifth story, and towers above the surrounding buildings at a height never before attained by any building in this city."- (Democrat, November 15, 1849.)
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