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 II > Part 2
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Mr. Greeley showed that the Democrats generally were non- committal on the object of the convention, while the Whigs were interested. President Polk had just vetoed the river and harbor bill, so the Democrats had to be cautious. Writing of the letter of General Cass, Mr. Greeley said: "Did mortal man ever before
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see such a letetr from one who is by position and was by profes- sion friendly to the objects of the convention? It was listened to with hardly less astonishment than indignation." Colonel Burton had said of lake harbors that they "harbored nothing but the inter- ests of their owners."
"Business men will not be slow to draw their conclusions in reference to the prospects of Chicago. No one who has studied her unrivaled commercial position and the richness, beauty and extent of the country by which she is surrounded, can doubt for a moment that Chicago at no distant day is destined to become the great central city of the continent. In the center of one of the most extensive and the most fertile agricultural regions of the globe, surrounded by extensive mines of lead, iron, copper and coal, having a water communication with the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and holding the key to a coasting trade of 3,000 miles, with more than a dozen railroads branching off for thousands of miles in all directions, every element of pros- perity and substantial greatness is within her grasp. She fears no rivals. She has to wait for a few short years the sure develop- ment of her 'manifest destiny.'"-(Annual Review of Chicago, 1855.)
"It is difficult to decide in what respect it is most worthy of remark, whether in the number and extent of the additional build- ings and internal improvements of our city, in the extended reach of her unparalleled system of railways, or in the increase of value of the produce and merchandise that have crowded through her channels and fairly gorged their every capacity. We are forcibly reminded of the figure of a young and beautiful damsel, whose ยท rounding form and budding proportions are fast bursting from the limited and straining vestments which sufficed her girlhood and demanding a costume of more flowing dimensions and costly texture. Our city is changing her apparel by pieces and without much regard to transition, appearances or contrasts. The refit is, however, rapidly assuming a completeness and perfection that promises soon to be unrivaled."-(Annual Review of Chicago, January, 1855.)
The Masonic Temple association was incorporated February 14, 1855, the directors being Hiram A. Tucker, Ezra L. Sherman, Buckner S. Morris, Walter S. Gurnee and L. P. Hilliard.
The act of February 7, 1857, incorporated the Chicago Histori- cal society, the incorporators namcd being William H. Brown, William B. Ogden, J. Young Scammon, Mason Brayman, Mark Skinner, George Manierre, John H. Kinzie, J. V. Z. Blaney, E. I. Tinkham, J. D. Webster, W. A. Smallwood, V. H. Higgins, N. S. Davis, Charles H. Ray. S. D. Ward. M. D. Ogden, F. Scammon, E. B. McCagg and William Barry.
The Chicago Relicf and Aid society was incorporated February
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16, 1857, by Edwin C. Larned, Mark Skinner, Edward I. Tink- ham, Joseph D. Webster, Joseph T. Ryerson, Isaac N. Arnold, Norman B. Judd, John H. Dunham, A. H. Mueller, Samuel S. Greele, B. F. Cooke, N. S. Davis, George W. Dole, George M. Higginson, John H. Kinzie, John Woodbridge, Jr., Erastus S. Williams, Philo Carpenter, George W. Gage, S. S. Hayes, Henry Farnam, William H. Brown and Philip J. Wardner.
By act of February 16, 1857, the subdivision for E. K. Hubbard of certain blocks in the school section addition to Chicago was legalized. The subdivision included Blocks 5, 60, 63, 66, 75, 85, 104, 105, 108, 109, 111, 112, 115 of Section 16, Township 39 north, Range 14 east. This subdivision was recorded July 3, 1835.
"Year by year, since our connection with the press of this city (since 1848), we have essayed to foretell what might reasonably be expected both as to the growth in population and the increase in business, and year by year have we seen our estimates dwarfed into insignificance by the actual facts. Four years ago we entered into an elaborate argument to the effect that within five years from that time the annual receipts of grain at this place would reach 20,000,000 bushels. Our less hopeful friends were astounded beyond measure at our temerity-'extravagant' and 'absurd.' 'Why,' said they, 'the quantity could not be stored in the city, the laborers could not be secured to handle it, the money to produce it, nor the ves- sels to transport it to an ultimate market.' The five years have not yet elapsed and our figures this morning show the amount re- ceived in the fourth year after the prediction to be only a fraction under 25,000,000 bushels, or 25 per cent. over the estimate. The warehouses, the laborers and the money were here. So in regard to the growth of the lumber business. The fact is the country which is commercially tributary to Chicago and which by a decree of nature must remain so for all time to come, is of such extent, of such unlimited resources, and is withal being so rapidly devel- oped under the stimulus of free government, railroads and im- proved labor-saving machinery that the history of the world fur- nishes no parallel to it; and hence all estimates based upon past experience, respecting the results that are here to be worked out, must necessarily fall far short of the actual fact. That is the reason why the wonderful growth of Chicago has so far outstripped all the predictions of the most sanguine of our citizens. This is the reason why the annual commerce of these northwestern lakes has within a quarter of a century risen from a merely nominal value to far exceed that of the total foreign commerce of the whole Union. It is proper to say that every department of trade has shared in the common impulse. As regards the future, we will no longer venture upon specific predictions and estimates-we do not care to try our hand again. However, we are warranted in say-
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ing that the future progress of Chicago will in no respect fall short of its past history."-( Annual Review of Chicago, January, 1857, by William Bross, editor of the Chicago Democratic Press.)
Citizens of Chicago took every means to advertise the city in the East and in Europe.
The act of February 16, 1857, made sweeping changes in Chi- cago municipal affairs. The council was authorized to divide the wards into such precincts as were deemed best; to submit all its acts to appropriate committees, to secure thereto the signature of the mayor before same should take effect; to make no contract nor incur no expense unless upon an appropriation made by the council ; to prohibit any city officer from having an interest in such a con- tract ; to create a treasury department consisting of the treasurer, comptroller and collector, whose duties were set forth in detail; to return the assessment roll to the common council, and the full proceedings of collecting the taxes were prescribed; to require the council to designate two or more justices of the peace who should be styled the "police court," the sessions of which were to be held daily ; to provide for the election of a police clerk, whose duties were fully set forth; to provide for the appointment of a prosecuting at- torney for the police court if deemed necessary ; to require all fees to be paid into the city treasury ; to fix the salary of the mayor at $3,500 per year ; to give the council power to levy and collect an- nually a school tax not exceeding two mills on the dollar; to meet the expenses of buying grounds, erecting buildings and supporting the schools; to provide for the appointment of fifteen school inspectors who should be styled the "board of education" of the city, five to be appointed annually ; to authorize the city of Chicago to purchase, hold and convey tracts of land outside of the city limits, to be used for cemeteries ; to leave in force all laws and regu- lations then in operation and not annulled or abridged by this act ; to conduct all actions in the name of the corporation; to re-create the Fifth ward with the following limits: All that part of the city which lies west of the South branch of the Chicago river and south of a line running east and west along the center of Randolph street and north of the center of Harrison street; to re-create the Tenth ward as follows: All that part of said city which lies west of the South branch of the Chicago river and south of a line in the center of Harrison street; to provide for the election of officers for the new ward; to provide for the appointment by the judge of the Cook County Court of Common Pleas of three freeholders to act as commissioners to lay out a public park in the South division of said city ; to fully empower said commissioners to sur- vey, lay out and appropriate such a park of not less than 100 nor more than 300 acres; to locate said park south of Twelfth street, west of Michigan avenue, east of Stewart avenue and as nearly central as may be between Lake Michigan and the South branch
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of Chicago river; to provide payment for the land thus appropri- ated; to provide for the payment of the Chicago park stock created by this act; to levy a tax on the South division to meet such ex- pense; and to provide for parks in the other divisions of the city.
The act of February 18, 1859, incorporated the "Board of Trade of the City of Chicago," to be composed of the persons at the time constituting said board. The rules, regulations and by-laws of the said existing board of trade were to prevail until others should be adopted. Full provision was made for the admission and expulsion of members, for the adjustment of questions by committees of arbitration, for the appointment of inspectors of weights, measures, flour, grain, provisions, liquors, lumber, etc.
The act of February 19, 1859, incorporated the Chicago South Branch Dock company, with William Green, William S. Sampson, Richard J. Arnold, John F. Hance, Roswell B. Mason, Amos G. Throop and Abraham J. Knisely as incorporators. They were authorized to improve the following tracts in Chicago: The north fractional part of Section 29, Township 39 north, Range 14 east, except the east 16.72 acres; and also any other lands which they should own, by laying the same out into lots, streets, squares, lanes, alleys, etc. They were empowered to make seven or any less canals and to connect the same with the South branch in a way not to impede navigation; to erect on said lands such railroads, wharves, workshops, warehouses, stores, etc., as might be found necessary; but in all cases to obey the ordinances of Chicago. The capital was fixed at $650,000. To carry out the object of the corporation the company was authorized to borrow money, but not in excess of $50,000 at a time, and to issue bonds therefor.
The act of February 20, 1861, authorized Chicago to make an assessment to pay the damages caused by the building of a bridge at Van Buren street in 1858, and to pay certain claims against the city relative thereto.
"Our low, flat position is exceedingly unfavorable to civic com- fort or convenience. Our old residents all remember the time when the whole country around us was a swamp scarcely better than the Calumet of today. The work of redeeming it to a passably dry location has only been accomplished by the tedious operations of street filling, contemporaneous elevations of grade and sinking of ditches. Then the large extent of territory in proportion to the population, which our cosmopolitan avarice has secured, gives us a world of work to do. We have over twenty-four square miles of territory embraced within our city limits, scarcely less than a whole section to each thousand men of proper age to earn money and pay taxes for improvement. But we have accomplished wonders. Our principal thoroughfares have all been lifted from the mud, properly drained, supplied with gas and water, the old rotten planks removed, and in their stead the substantial Nicholson laid. Our
-
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
rivers have been bridged and a tunnel has been talked of. We can now almost walk on dry land in the most central portion of the city, while but a few years since the shooting of water fowl from the steps of the Tremont was a common pastime. During the past twelve months, though burdened with the support of the war, we have steadily labored in the improvement of the city, having done more than in former years.
"Chicago has just claims to be considered the center of the rail- way system of the continent. There is scarcely a respectable railroad in the country that does not seek to effect a connection more or less direct with some one of the great lines which make Chicago an eastern and western terminus. There are those in the city whose residence does not date further back than- 1849, who remember that our railroad system, concerning whose extent and magnitude we now felicitate ourselves so grandly, consisted of a single line extending from Chicago to Elgin, whose track was laid with strap iron and whose rolling stock and appointments were of the most inferior and what would now be considered the most worthless character. Mark the change-a score or so of miles then and thousands now.
"The map of Illinois with its railway lines now looks like a checker board. With two such powerful interests (railway sys- tems and commercial improvement) working each to extend the other and benefit themselves, it is impossible to place a limit to the future greatness of Chicago. This city will increase with every year until she shall fulfill her destiny and become the first inland city on the continent, both in point of population and in the extent of her commercial transactions. Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Min- nesota, the northern half of Missouri and the yet undeveloped re- gion lying west of the Missouri are the source upon which Chicago must depend for her future growth and prosperity. Already Chi- cago is the greatest primary grain market in the world and second to none in respect to her packing interests."-( Annual Reviews, 1862.)
The act of February 13, 1863, empowered Chicago to issue new bonds to satisfy and retire old and maturing bonds. The act of February 20, 1861, exempted from inspection at Chicago all fish that had been duly inspected at Milwaukee and Mackinac. The act of February 22, 1861, provided that the Secretary of State should deliver to the Chicago Historical society fifty copies of each and every public document, book, pamphlet, chart and other publications by the State as the same should be issued from year to year, and so far as practicable of such publications issued previously by the State.
The act of Congress of June 20, 1864, directed the Secretary of the Treasury to dispose of the marine hospital and grounds in Chi- cago by public auction to the highest bidder, and out of the pro-
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ceeds to purchase a new and more eligible site and erect a new hos- pital thereon, but the cost of the new was not to exceed the pro- ceeds of sale of the old. Accordingly, in September, 1864, the property was sold for $132,000 to J. F. Joy, who paid the money and took a deed for the same. . But it was found that the amount thus realized was not sufficient for the purpose. It was then thought that it might be wise to dispense with such a dis- tinctive hospital and to provide for the care of marine patients by contract in municipal or private hospitals, thus obviating the ne- cessity of erecting a new building. In the meantime, for several years, Mr. Joy was denied the possession of his purchase. Upon pressure by the House of Representatives, the supervising archi- tect, A. B. Mullett, purchased a new site of ten acres for $10,000- a tract on the lake shore-in 1866-67. Three courses were open : 1. Not to build a hospital; 2. To build one within the amount of the appropriation, but wholly inadequate to the service; 3. To build one adequate to the service regardless of the appropriation. The third was the only reasonable and acceptable alternative. The first building, under the appropriation of August 3, 1848, cost a total of $55,687.
The act of February 13, 1865, incorporated the Union Stock Yards and Transit company with the following men named as in- corporators : John L. Hancock, Virginius A. Turpin, Roselle M. Hough, Sidney A. Kent, Charles M. Culberton, Lyman Blair, David Kreigh, Martin L. Sykes, Jr., Joseph Sherwin, George W. Cass, James F. Jay John F. Tracy, Timothy B. Black- stone, Joseph H. Moore, John S. Barry, Homer E. Sargent, Burton C. Cook, John B. Drake and William D. Judson. They were authorized to locate, construct, and maintain in convenient proximity to the southerly limits of Chicago and west of Wallace street extended the necessary yards, enclosures, buildings, railway switches for the care and safe keeping of live stock, etc .; capital stock, $1,000,000.
The Chicago Stock Exchange was incorporated February 16, 1865, by J. M. Adsit, A. C. Barger, James Boyd, T. J. Bronson, Lyman Blair, E. E. Braisted, Chauncey T. Bowen, Nathan Co- rinth, A. J. Dennison, Asa Dow, A. Echald, J. K. Fisher, N. K. Goodnow, John C. Hilton, B. P. Hutchinson, Ira Holmes, E. H. Haddock, W. F. Coolbaugh, J. D. Jennings, S. A. Kent, Josiah Lombard, T. G. McLawry, Solon McElroy, Hugh McLennan, Ira T. Munn, E. R. McCormick, A. B. Meeker, L. D. Norton, L. A. Ostrom, C. B. Pope, B. W. Phillips, J. O. Rutter, E. D. Richard- son, C. A. Rodgers, Isaac Sherwood, T. H. Seymour, William Spaulding, D. C. Scranton, J. J. Ullman, John Watson, E. G. Wolcott, S. S. Williamson, C. H. Walker, C. T. Wheeler, M. S. Yarwood and D. S. Young. The object was a stock exchange in the city of Chicago where all kinds of stocks and bonds could be bought, sold and exchanged.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
By January, 1865, the horse railways of Chicago were operated by three distinct corporations-one for each division. The Chi- cago City railway had been incorporated February 14, 1859. By April 25 following cars were running to Twelfth street and by June to the city limits. In October a branch was laid on Archer road from State street to Stewart avenue. The company had (January, 1865), 35 cars, 255 horses and mules, and employed 200 men. Samuel M. Nickerson was president of the company. The West Division Railway company owned the West side lines in January, 1865. The Madison street line was built by the City Railway company, also the Randolph street line-the former running by June, 1859, and the latter by August, 1859. In August, 1863, the City Railway company sold these two lines to the West Division company for $300,000. They soon laid a branch on Blue Island avenue and by December 25, 1863, were running to Twelfth street. In 1864 a branch was laid in Milwaukee avenue. J. R. Jones was president and superintendent in January, 1865. On the North side the City Limits line had been constructed in 1859, the Sedgwick and North avenue lines in 1861, the Clybourn and Larrabee lines in 1859, Chicago avenue line in 1859, and the Graceland line in 1864. Steam was being tried on the Graceland line. J. B. Turner was president in 1865.
The act of March 10, 1865, authorized the city of Chicago to borrow upon bond not to exceed $2,000,000 to be used to pay the debt of the city for waterworks; also to borrow not to exceed $1,000,000 to pay the sewerage debt and to increase the works; also to borrow not to exceed $700,000 with which to buy or lease school grounds for schoolhouses; also to borrow $1,000,000 to carry into effect certain other improvements authorized by pre- vious laws; also for $300,000 for specific purposes of improve- ment.
In 1866 deepening the canal was undertaken to relieve the river, under act of Legislature February 16, 1865. This was a sanitary measure. The city was authorized to issue bonds for what it had cost to finish the work and got a lien on the canal and its works for $2,500,000. Taking up this lien was what the State did to aid Chicago after the fire. The improvement was to cut down the canal to a level 81/2 feet below the level of Lake Michigan, through solid rock mostly for twenty-six miles. On July 16 the current of the river was turned the other way. But the north branch was not benefited, so $200,000 was appropriated July, 1873, to connect the river with the lake north of the city limits.
Until Monday, March 25, 1867, Chicago had very bad water; it had grown worse and worse. On March 17, 1864, the work on the tunnel had been begun at Chicago avenue. On July 25, 1865, the great crib was launched and sunk at the other end of the shaft which was dug from both ends. The crib was forty feet high, with
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
five sides and was ninety-eight and one-half feet in diameter. The inside was one cylinder nine feet in diameter, sunk sixty-one feet below the surface of the water, and thirty-one feet below the bed of the lake. The crib stood twelve feet above the water. From the shore shaft the crib was distant two points north by east two miles. The clear width of the tunnel was five feet; the clear height five feet two inches; it was lined with brick masonry; sloped toward the shore two feet per mile. Under a head of two feet it was designed to deliver 19,000,000 gallons per day; under a head of eight feet, 38,000,000 gallons, and under a head of eighteen feet, 57,- 000,000 gallons.
The Washington street river tunnel was begun in 1865. The first contractors were unsuccessful. The contract was then let on July 19, 1867, to others for $328,000 and the work was completed January 1, 1869, at a cost of about $400,000.
The act of March 5, 1867, made eight hours a legal day's work where there was no agreement to the contrary. The Chicago Stage and Baggage company was incorporated March 7, 1867; George M. Pullman being one of the incorporators.
The act of January 30, 1867, authorized the Chicago Historical society to increase the number of its resident members to any num- ber deemed expedient. The property of the society was exempted from taxation, and the society was empowered to borrow as much as $20,000 on mortgage to complete the building then in progress.
The act of February 16, 1867, provided for the establishment of the Washingtonian Home of Chicago; it was amended June 29, 1883, so that not to exceed $20,000 annually was paid to this home from liquor licenses.
By act of February 21, 1867, the Fine Arts College of Chicago was incorporated by Hiram T. Merrill, Benjamin F. Downing and their associates. The American Art association was incorporated February 28, 1867, by M. J. Green, George P. A. Healy and others.
The act of March 9, 1867, provided for a commissioner of taxes for the city of Chicago; for the division of the city into assessment districts; for changing the dock lines of Chicago river; for the construction of sewers by the council; for increasing the police force; for fixing the salaries of certain city officers; for constitut- ing the board of health, with six persons, of whom besides the mayor three should be physicians; for additional powers to the common council; for the protection of persons injured by defective sidewalks; for adding to Lincoln park all land owned by the city in Section 27, Township 40 north, Range 14 east; for enabling said park to acquire "a strip of land not exceeding three hundred feet in width lying between said land and said park."
In 1867 the Illinois and Indiana Turnpike company were author- ized to occupy Cottage Grove avenue in part.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The act of February 24, 1869, created the "Board of South Park Commissioners" for South Chicago, Hyde Park and Lake. They were directed to secure the following land for park purposes : Commencing at the southwest corner of Fifty-first street and Cot- .tage Grove avenue; running thence south along the west side of Cottage Grove avenue to the south line of Fifty-ninth street ; thence east along the north line of Fifty-ninth street to the east line of Hyde Park avenue; thence north on Hyde Park avenue to Fifty-sixth street ; thence east along the south line of Fifty-sixth street to Lake Michigan; thence southerly along the shore of the Lake to a point due east of the center of Section 24, Township 38 north, Range 14 east ; thence west through the center of said Sec- tion 24 to Hyde Park avenue; thence north on the east line of Hyde Park avenue to the north line of Sixtieth street so called; thence west on the north line of Sixtieth street to Kankakee avenue; thence north on the east line of Kankakee avenue to Fifty-first street; thence east to the place of beginning. Also a piece of land commencing at the southeast corner of Kankakee avenue and Fifty- fifth street; running thence west a strip two hundred feet wide adjoining the north line of Fifty-fifth street, along said Fifty-fifth street to the line between ranges 13 and 14 east; thence north, east of and adjoining said line, a strip two hundred feet wide to the Illinois and Michigan canal. Also a parcel of land beginning at the southwest corner of Douglas place and Kankakee avenue; run- ning thence south a strip of land one hundred and thirty-two feet wide along the west side of said Kankakee avenue to a point one hundred and fifty feet south of the south line of Fifty-first street. Also a strip of land commencing at the intersection of Cottage Grove avenue and fifty-first street, running thence east one hun- dred feet in width on each side of the center line of Drexel avenue. Also a strip of land extending north from the intersection of Fifty- first street with Drexel avenue one hundred feet in width on each side of the center line of said avenue to the north line of Forty- third street; thence northerly a strip of land two hundred feet in width till it meets or intersects with Elm street in Cleaverville ; thence northerly along said Elm street two hundred feet in width west from the east line of said street to its intersection with Oak- wood avenue. The adjacent lands benefited were to be assessed. The subject was to be voted on in the three towns of South Chi- cago, Hyde Park and Lake "For Park" or "Against Park."
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