Chicago and the great conflagration

Front matter

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AND THB

GREAT CONFLAGRATION.

Part First. Page

Introduction, ... 9

I. Geographical position of Chicago — Meteorology — The river — Com-

mercial importance of the site, .11

II. Aboriginal history — The early French explorers — Origin of the name " Chicago" — The fur-traders, 14

III. Fort Dearborn — The original fort — The first "white man" a negro — John Kinzie — Indian troubles — The fort evacuated — The massacre in 1812, . . . . . . . . .17

IV Re-occupation — The fort rebuilt — Major Long's visit in 1823, . 21

V. The canal — The work advocated in Congress — A company formed

• — The first land-grant by the United States, 23

VI. The town of Chicago — Original survey — Immigration — An uninviting place — County of Cook organized — Indian payment — "Winter experiences — The Blackhawk war — Packing — New-comers — The harbor— A primitive post-office — Churches — Indian council — The town — Commercial relations — A wolf-hunt, - - 25

VII. Inflation — The speculative epoch — Government land-office — Hotel keeping under difficulties — First fire company — Sale of wharfing lots — Work commenced on the canal — Marine statistics, . 39

VIII. The city — Incorporation — Election of officers — Taking the census, 47

IX. The collapse — Crisis of 1837 — Its causes — Five j^ears of depression — Early commerce — Education — Water supply, . - .49

X. Growing again — The Illinois and Michigan Canal constructed — Its effect on business — Land-sales — The "Garden City" — "Miltimore's Folly," 58

XI. The expectant period — Railroad projects — The cholera — Gas — Wharf-building — Formation of the Board of Trade — Grain-elevators, 67

XI T. The railroad era — New departure — A network of iron rails —

Rapid extension, . . . 73

XIII. Commercial growth in the railroad era — Grain trade — Good

resolutions — Cattle-yards, 79

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IV CONTENTS.

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XIV. Manufactures in the railroad era — Establishment of factories — Banking, 82

XV. City improvements in the railroad era — Extension of boundaries — Water supply — Drainage — Bad streets — Public buildings- Schools and churches — Amusements — Newspapers, ' . . .84

XVI. The panic of 1857 — A financial storm — Effects on commerce and the price of real estate — Great depression in business, . 94

XVI I. Lifting up — Filling the streets, and raising to grade — Wooden-block pavement — Growth of population — The produce movement — Manufactures, ......... 97

XVIII. The rebellion — Camp Douglas — A nation in arms — Recruiting for the field — Building the camp — The prisoners — National Democratic Convention, . . . . . . . .101

XIX. Outside Camp Douglas — Purchase of government supplies — Raising recruits — The great conspiracy to burn the city — The draft — Cost of the war — End of the rebellion — Death of President Lincoln, 107

XX. Aiding the soldiers — The "Soldiers' Home" — Sanitary labors — The great fairs — Receiving the returning veterans, . - .111

XXI. Chicago during the war — Twelve millions of dollars swept out of existence — Wonderful growth of commerce and manufactures

— Numerous and extensive city improvements, .... 113

XXII. Peace and prosperity — Temporary depression on the close of the war — Mercantile embarrassments — Speedy recover}- — Tremendous strides onward, 123

XXIII. Commerce of 1870 — Statistics of business — Foreign and domestic trade — The banks and elevators — Railroads, . . .125

XXIV. Manufactures in 1870 — The work of one decade — Comparisons — Incomes of the people, 133

XXV. Property — Real estate — Assessed and actual values of real and personal property — Sales — Extension of business area, . 136

XXVI The parks — A grand system of public parks and boulevards

— Effects on real estate, .139

XXVII. Taxation — City, State, and county taxes — Municipal debt — Special assessments, 144

XXVI II. Building after the war — Number and character of new business structures — Churches, schools, universities, etc. — The big telescope — Hotels — Tunnels under the river — City buildings, . ,145

XXIX. The lake-tunnel — Description of the u big bore," and its capacities — The giant crib — Water supply, 155

XXX. Other public improvements — Sewerage — Street-paving — Sidewalks — Deepening the canal, ....... 160

XXXI. Commercial improvements — Harbor extensions — New dock system along the lake-shore — Calumet— The great union stockyards, . . 163

XXXII. Chicago in 1871 — Statistics of population, area, number of buildings, and valuations of property — Religious and educational — The railroad system — Commerce and manufactures — General plan of the city — Sanitary, educational. 'scientific, literary, artistic, and moral status — The city government, 167

CONTENTS. V

PAG»

XXXI IT. Science of the fire — The conflagrations in Chicago and the lumber regions of the North-west — A startling chapter in the

g world's history — Meteorological and climatic changes involved —

The cause — Extraordinary drought — Sun-spots, .... 188