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 19
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Said the Democrat of October 25: "The receipts of wheat are now large. Yesterday about 30,000 bushels came forward. On Tuesday there was about the same quantity." By November 1 the new Wells street bridge was completed. Mr. N. Martin was the contractor for most of the planking being done on the streets. This year Canal street received more improvement than any other. At this time Chicago had many livery stables and horses were in great demand. It was this year that plate glass windows first made their appearance in the establishments of J. & T. Speer and Charles Fol- lansbee. "Slaughter Houses .- The real estate in the south part of
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the city cannot be greatly enhanced in value by slaughter houses on the South branch. A drive out on State street will make this evident. From the time one passes Jackson or Van Buren street a stream of effluvia is encountered which might be cut with a knife, it is so thick and so powerful."-(Democrat, November 15, 1849.)
The ordinance of 1849 created the office of harbor master. The survey of the Michigan Central railway from New Buffalo to Michi- gan City in December, 1849, indicated its early continuation to Chicago. In 1848 there were 4,665,139 pounds of merchandise, principally dry goods, shipped for the Southwest by canal; in 1849 the quantity shipped was 8,322,677 pounds. In 1848, 32,099 bar- rels of salt were shipped ; in 1849, 56,388 barrels. In 1849, 955,491 pounds of iron and steel were shipped; also 949,319 pounds of agri- cultural implements. During 1849 nearly 6,000 cords of wood came here from points between Chicago and Ottawa.
From March 1, 1849, to January 1, 1850, the total receipts from freight and passengers on the Galena railway amounted to $28,- 554.56. By January 1, 1850, the railway had in operation three double passenger cars, sixty-two freight cars and three locomotives. In January many men were engaged in widening the river. Scores were leaving for California every week or two. The gold excite- ment spread in all directions.
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COOK COUNTY AND CHICAGO 1850-1866
A N important question settled early in 1850 was the com- parative right of the city and county in the public square. The act of January 15, 1831, creating Cook county located the public buildings of the county on the public square as laid off by the canal commissioners. James Thompson, acting for the commissioners, laid out the town and platted it under date of August 4, 1830. This map was accepted by the commissioners and used as a basis of all their transactions. On this plat Blocks 39 and 46 are marked "reserved." When the town was thus laid out the commissioners acted under authority of the act of January 4, 1825, and reserved the above two blocks for public purposes, and by general understanding and usage thereafter Block 39 became the public square. It was a donation by the canal commissioners for that purpose. Thus prior to the creation of Cook county, the two blocks "reserved" belonged to the canal commissioners and not to either city or county. If the county had any interest therein it came through the act creating the county and locating the county buildings on the public square. But the canal commissioners had conceded the right of the city to occupy at least a portion of such reservation; therefore both city and county seemed to have a valid right to build on Block 39, known as the public square. The special committee of the city to report on the question was James Curtis, Peter Page, John C. Dodge and A. S. Sherman. The following action by the Council and by the County Board was taken after this committee had reported :
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"Resolved, That the mayor, with the concurrence of the special committee heretofore appointed in the premises, be, and he hereby is, authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the city with the county authorities, for a union between the city and the county in the erection of a jail and a bridewell."-(Resolution passed, April 8, 1850, after adopting the report of the special committee. ) "Ordered, That a committee of seven be appointed by the chair to confer with the Common Council of the City of Chicago and take other measure to secure the erection of such public buildings as the necessities of the county require."-(Ordered by the Board of Su- pervisors ; see Democrat, May 1, 1850.)
"It is estimated that about 25,000 head of cattle have been slaughtered in this city since the first of September last. Of this number between 16,000 and 18,000 have been put up for European
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and Eastern markets. The number of barrels packed is 50,000, against 30,000 last year. It is estimated that about 15,000 or 16,000 hogs have been packed in this city this winter to date. Last season 26,000 hogs were put up. The falling off has been caused by the country having been drained of corn, the high prices forcing it East."-(Democrat, January 30, 1850.)
On February 1, many citizens of Chicago ran out to Elgin to participate in celebrating the advent of the Galena railway into that city. On that date eighty teams waited in line at St. Charles to ship their wheat by rail to this city. A half dozen railways were talked of at this date-among them the Rock Island-La Salle rail- road. A plank road to extend from State street at the city limits to Momence, on the Kankakee, was projected at this time; it became known as the Southern plank road. "City Improvements .- Stand- ing at the corner of State and Jackson streets a few days since, we could count over a dozen buildings in process of erection in that quarter. We doubt not that the number of buildings at present being erected ir this city is over one hundred."-(Democrat, Febru- ary 15, 1850.)
"We have but just now entered upon our life as a city. We have but just reached out our arms to the country around us-in the canal, the railroad, and the plank roads extending from us. Formerly it was a serious undertaking to attempt a journey to Chicago from a distance so near as Fox river. Now it is but a pleasant drive of an hour or so. Formerly the roads leading to the city scarcely deserved the name. Now the people are beginning to appreciate the necessity of good roads." -- (Democrat, February 19, 1850.) Water from the hydrants could not always be depended upon ; often the reservoirs were empty or nearly so; there was much complaint in 1849-50. The Chicago Marine and Fire Insurance company had a savings department, of which J. Y. Scammon was president.
The Democrat of April 12, 1850, said: "One of our merchants left this city for New York on the 2d inst. to purchase goods. The goods were received on the 10th! They are to be found at Francis Clark's. This is the quickest yet." The pipes to convey hydrant water to the West Side were cast at Morse's foundry and were laid across the South branch at Madison street in the spring of 1850. The officers of the Board of Trade in April, 1850, were Charles Walker, president ; John P. Chapin, vice-president; Thomas Hale, treasurer; John C. Dodge, secretary. At a public meeting held in April, 1850, a committee was appointed to take steps to secure a "supply of pure, fresh water." This committee was R. H. Foss, T. M. Moody, A. S. Sherman, Luther Marsh, R. J. Hamilton and William E. Jones. At this date, 1850, the West was experiencing the greatest growth impulses it had ever known. Railroads were projected in every direction, and the money of the East flowed in a golden stream over the fertile prairies. Emigrants by the thou-
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sands poured into every quarter of the Upper Mississippi valley. Farmers and factories were multiplied by ten. Chicago and Cook county received their share of settlers and money.
On April 30, 1850, there were thirty-three prisoners in "the hole which bears the name of jail in this city." Rapid work on the mains and buildings of the gas works was in progress in April and May. Work on the Calumet lighthouse was commenced in May, 1850. By the 20th of this month one tier of oak plank had been laid on the Southern plank road from the Southern hotel on State street to the distance of one mile. Said the Democrat of June 3: "Fat Cattle .- Within the last few days 109 fat cattle have been shipped from this port for Buffalo by the steamers 'Empire State' and 'Em- pire.' This is the first large exportation of live cattle from this state that we recollect of." The Odd Fellows celebrated on June 5, 1850.
"Firemen's Review .- The firemen turned out in force yesterday and looked fine. A number of the companies had entirely new uni- forms, which were gotten up with much taste. The mayor and Common Council inspected the engines and apparatus on State street north of the city hall, after which the companies formed in procession and passed through a few of the principal streets, pre- ceded by a band of music. First came the hose company with their splendid carriage. The dress of this company was white jackets with black pants, with the usual fireman's cap. Next came No. 1; uniform, green frocks with white pants, hats edged with green, gilt lettered. The hose company's dress was the same. No. 2 was dressed in fine taste-red jackets with black pants; head dress, a beautiful velvet cap with gold tassel. Hose company's dress was the same. No. 3's uniform was neat-red coats and white belts, white pants, hats with gilt lettering. The hose company had red jackets and black pants. No. 4 mustered strong. The dress was red jack- ets, white pants, hats edged with red, and gilt lettered. The hose cart was attached to the engine. No. 5 looked remarkably fine. The dress was red coats trimmed with blue velvet, white pants, hats edged with blue, and gilt letters. No. 6-this new company's uni- form is not yet completed. It is red jacket and black pants, hats gilt lettered. The whole company was not in uniform. Bucket company-red jackets, black pants. The cart and buckets were ready for duty, as they always are. The hook and ladder company did not turn out."-(Democrat, May 30, 1850.)
On June 6, 1850, the Industrial convention which assembled here was represented by delegates from Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hamp- shire, Connecticut, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Vir- ginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Michigan. Warren Chase, of Wisconsin, was president of the convention.
The tonnage of vessels built here in 1847 was 3,952; in 1848,
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10,489; in 1849, 17,332. "The city hall, although a small portion of the north end has been taken off to enlarge the room for the accommodation of the Council, is still 102 feet long. It is forty wide."-(Democrat, July 4, 1850.) "The Harbor .- Mr. Durfee, the harbor master, states that within ten days a channel about 300 feet in width and ten feet deep will be dredged between the piers where the bars have been obstructing the passage of vessels."- (Democrat, July 17, 1850.)
On July 9 it was 96 degrees in the shade. A large buoy painted red was placed at the entrance of the harbor to mark the location of the sand bar. Upon the death of President Taylor in July, 1850, Abraham Lincoln, who was then in the city arguing an important patent case, was induced to deliver the eulogy. His speech was delivered in the city hall; other commemorative services were held in the churches. The Democrat of July, 1850, said: "Hon. A. Lincoln delivered a very able eulogy on General Taylor yesterday afternoon in the city hall. A large number of our citizens were present to hear it."
The newspapers of 1850 were loud in their praise of the luxuries to be had at the new Tremont house under Mr. Couch, manager. Prior to 1850 the West Side was dependent for its water upon the reservoirs and pipes of the South Side, but after that date the mains for the West Side were extended directly from the hydraulic works on Michigan avenue westward across the river at Madison street. In spite of the efforts of the health board (William H. Brown, Flavel Moseley and Samuel Hoard) the cholera again made its appearance here in June, 1850. By July 17 thirty-three had died.
The first canal steamboat arrived here on July 19, 1850, having come down the Ohio from Pittsburg and up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. It looked like an ordinary canal boat except that it had an upper cabin thirty-two feet long and ten feet wide; the boat itself was 102 feet long and seventeen and a half feet wide and was propelled by two locomotive engines. On July 27 the Galena railway put on for the first time a daily freight train between Chicago and the Junction in Du Page county. A fire on July 30 burned over twenty houses, including the Chicago theatre. It started on Dearborn between Randolph and Washington and swept through to State. The theatre building quickly caught fire, but Mr. Rice succeeded in getting his company and his audience out without accident. The extent of the fire was due to a lack of water in the Dearborn aqueduct. The first post for street gas was set up at Lake and Clark streets on July 30. On July 27 there were eleven deaths from cholera; on the 28th seven, and on the 29th six- teen.
For the year ending July 1, 1850, the following postoffice sta- tistics were reported : Expense for clerk hire, $11,341.61; contin- gent expense, $1,408.93 ; incidental expense, $644.46; rent, $650;
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receipts from box rent, $1,469; postmaster's compensation, $2,000; total expenses, $17,541. The total receipts were $20,970.18, leav- ing the office owing the Government $3,429.18.
"Land Suit .- Since the building of the piers on the north side of the river, some five or six acres of land (sand) have been made. This is claimed by different individuals whose lots come down to the lake shore. Two of the contestants, William Jones of this city and S. Johnson of Cincinnati, have a case in the United States Dis- trict court (now in session in this city) with regard to their right, which is to be tried today. We also learn that the United States sets up a title to the land. The land is valuable and is growing both in extent and worth."-(Democrat, July 27, 1850. )
Again this year, as in 1849, business was largely suspended, hun- dreds leaving to escape danger from the cholera. However, many remained and continued their affairs as usual. The made land cases at the north pier were argued before Judge Drummond on July 31. The late big fire induced the Council to extend the fire limits late in July from the South branch east to State street and from the main river south to the alley between Randolph and Washington streets. The insurance companies having expressed doubts that the fire engines could throw water to the roof of the Tremont house, an exhibition was given them on August 5, and the five engines all threw a stream from twenty to thirty feet above the parapet of that building; this feat satisfied the insurance officials. George W. Wentworth, one of the city aldermen in 1850, and a brother of Hon. John Wentworth, died of cholera on August 4. A public meeting to devise means to protect the lake front shore was held on September 3. The deaths from cholera from June 23 to September 1 were 441; all but 148 were in August.
Sewers and planking on La Salle and Clark streets were being placed in August; also planking on State street. On September 4, 1850, the city generally for the first time was lighted by gas; George F. Lee had brought this result about. "Gas in the City Hall .- Six handsome chandeliers, each with six burners, were on Wednesday suspended in the city hall, by which it was brilliantly lighted last evening. Their numerous pendants seemed all aglow with the clear, steady flame which, in its unvarying splendor, raised a little above the burner, suggests to one a gorgeous oriental flower just opened to full bloom. The Common Council room and other offices in the building are also lighted with gas. . . . Handsome glass lamps or lanterns were yesterday morning placed upon the lamp-posts, and the city was lighted up in finished style last evening."-(Democrat, September 6, 1850.)
In September the rails on the Michigan Central were being laid between New Buffalo and Michigan City; this meant the early completion of that road to Chicago. Deaths from cholera in 1849 were as follows: May, fifty-four; June, eighty-nine; July, 320;
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George M. Clarke
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August, 200; September, eighteen; total, 681. In 1850 the deaths from cholera were: June and July, 168; August, 283; September, seven; total, 458. O'Reilly was called the "Napoleon of the Tele- graph in the West." The Chicago & Mobile railway received a big grant of land from Congress at this time; it became the Illions Central. The Tremont house opened with everything new on Sep- tember 30; it faced on Dearborn street and was declared to be the finest hotel in the West. On October 1, 1850, the steamer "Empire State" arrived with the first wheat from the Calumet; that vessel passed through the Calumet feeder and thence up the Calumet river to Hobart, Indiana, where the cargo was obtained; it brought oats, flour and potatoes also.
The New Hope Hose company, with their cart "Philadelphia," was ready for operations in October. George W. Dole became. postmaster at this date. The Chicago Collection district was divided by the Wisconsin line. Sheboygan, Racine, Kenosha and Waukegan were made ports of delivery. The bounty bill for the "Black Hawk Boys" and others became a law in 1850. At this time the third telegraph line (Snow's) was being finished from La Porte to Chi- cago; this meant the connection of Chicago with Detroit, Toledo and all of Canada by wire. Of Engine Company No. 3, with new quarters at the Kinzie house, the Democrat said : "We were equally taken by surprise at the sight of Brussels carpets, beautiful tables with marble tops, unique chairs, richly chased lamps, elegant hang- ings, etc." "Firemen's Festival .- Yesterday, the morning being more pleasant and favorable, the review came off at the appointed hour and was one of the most brilliant spectacles ever exhibited in this city. As early as half past seven the different fire companies, attired in their full dress uniforms and preceded by bands of music, might be seen escorting their guests to the different engine houses and thence to the place of rendezvous. At nine o'clock the line was formed on State street north of the Market house, under the direc- tion of C. P. Bradley, chief engineer, U. P. Harris and James J. Langdon, assistant engineers, and moved through the principal streets. The line of procession reached nearly the entire length of Lake street and was composed of 800 men, 400 of whom were firemen from abroad. The procession was led by the City Council, the city marshal and the chief and assistant engineers, preceded by a brass band, and the entire line was headed by a stalwart 'Son of York,' axe in hand. His name is David Langley, and he was selected by the Chicago department to head the procession. Follow- ing the City Council was a beautiful brass band from Buffalo."- (Democrat, October 12, 1850.) The procession was as follows :
1. Buffalo brass band.
2. Company No. 9 of Buffalo.
3. Brass band.
4. Company No. 4 of Detroit.
Vol. I-13.
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5. Brass Band.
6. Members of five or six companies from Milwaukee, at the head of whom was Mayor D. A. Upham of that city.
7. Racine firemen-several companies.
8. Brass band.
9. Kenosha firemen-several companies.
10. Putnam's brass band, Chicago; Hose Company No. 1, John- son, foreman; Hose Company No. 2, R. Thomas, foreman; Hook and Ladder Company, D. Knight, foreman; Engine Company No. 1, J. M. Donnelly, foreman ; Engine Company No. 2, J. T. Edwards, foreman; Engine Company No. 3, A. H. Burley, foreman ; Engine Company No. 4, J. L. Marsh, foreman; Engine Company No. 5, S. McBride, foreman; Engine Company No. 6, Chas. Norton, fore- man; Engine Company No. 7, Mathew Conley, foreman. The Chi- cago firemen were preceded by ex-chief engineers S. F. Gale, C. E. Peck and Ashley Gilbert. The day ended with a big dinner at the Tremont house. Samuel O. Eames became foreman of Hope Hose Company.
"The 'Calumet Trader,' blown up two or three weeks since, has been entirely repaired and started yesterday morning on her regular trip to the Calumet and Deep rivers, where large quantities of freight await her arrival. She will run regularly hereafter until checked by winter. Quite a trade has been opened between the Calumet and this city, of which the "Trader' is the medium. She carries passengers as well as freight. Alderman Granger is now her owner, having purchased her hull, raised and refitted it for service."-(Democrat, October 11, 1850.)
Postoffice boxes under Wilson were at first $1 per year; but he soon increased the charge to $2; in October, 1850, Dole reduced the price to $1. The use of stoves instead of fireplaces immensely in- creased the output of stoves in this city at this date. Very rapid work was being done on the Rock Island railroad in October. In this month the "Calumet Trader" brought from the Calumet river oak planks to be laid on State, Clark and La Salle streets. At this time a second freight train was found necessary on the Galena rail- way. The journeymen shoemakers formed a protective union on October 28. William Stuart, who had previously edited the Chicago American, resided in Binghamton, New York, in October, 1850.
"Slaughter Houses .- The Council adopted an order at their last meeting empowering the judiciary committee, if they thought neces- sary, to prohibit slaughter houses, tallow and lard making estab- lishment, etc., in the city. At present the nuisance caused by these establishments is intolerable. One situated on the West Side has been prosecuted three or four times within the past week or ten days."-(Democrat, October 30, 1850.) "The Calumet .- Were it not for the opening of the Calumet river to the city by the canal, we would this season have been badly off for our usual supply of
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winter fuel. A large portion of that supply has been heretofore received by the way of the lakes; but the late Government seizure of vessels freighted with wood from the public lands has cut off a large portion of the receipts from that quarter, and we are now made dependent upon the canal and the Calumet. From the latter river we are receiving large supplies of fine hickory and oak wood of the best descriptions."-(Democrat, October 29, 1850.) "Lake Shore Protection .- We are glad to see that this work is being car- ried forward with energy and dispatch. The main piles have been driven from Washington to Jackson streets and the intermediate for the length of a block. By some the proposed wall of stone at the landside is considered unnecessary."-(Democrat, November 1, 1850.)
The sewer main was laid on Wells street in October, after which that street was planked. By the 31st Snow's telegraph line to this city had its poles and wires all set and in place. A small blackmail- ing sheet called the Mosquito was issued here in 1850. A lady who did not relish its reference to her gave one of its editors a public horsewhipping. The Galena railway declared an 8 per cent dividend for the six months ending October 31. The Chicago fire- men held a torchlight procession on November 4. Dr. William B. Herrick was government physician in the Marine hospital in Novem- ber. A market for the North Side was projected late in 1850. The lot at the southwest corner of Randolph and State streets-ninety feet on Randolph and eighty-two on State-was sold by W. S. Gurnee to John Gurley for $10,000; an adjoining lot on State street was sold for $3,000.
"Our thanks are due to the operators of Speed's line of telegraph and to the superintendent, Mr. Clarke, who staid up until after mid- night on Tuesday in order to forward all the dispatches they might receive from the East and North. We are also under obligations to Messrs. Gamble and Rainy of the Southern and Western O'Reilly lines for similar favors." . . "Great Thoroughfare .- On Thurs- day last the following persons and teams passed over Wells street bridge in this city: Men and women, 3,605; boys and girls, 565; total, 4,170; teams, 565." . "'The city attorney and city mar- shal have been ordered to commence suit against the slaughter houses in the city forthwith. The river is in a most offensive condi- tion, caused by the blood and filth from these houses all escaping into it and then putrefying."-(Democrat, November 1850.)
In November, 1850, the city borrowed $30,000, payable in ten years; of this amount $8,329 was paid to George Smith & Co. and old outstanding bonds of that amount were retired. This act placed city orders at par; there was a three-fourths of 1 per cent premium on the new loan. On December 5 the Democrat effected a "scoop" on all the other papers by securing and publishing the President's message in advance. Here is what the Democrat said :
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