CHICAGO; 
 
 MJbte, 
 
 COMMERCE AID RAILROADS: 
 
 TWO ARTICLES 
 
 PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY DEMOCRATIC I'ltESS. 
 
 C H I C A G- O : 
 
 I'KESS HOOK ANI> JOB STEAM PRINTING ul Kit F 4;> CLi 
 
 1803.
 
 ANNUAL REVIEW 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BUSINESS OF CHICAGO, 
 
 FOR THE YEAE 1852. 
 
 "We lay before our readers to-day our first 
 Annual Review of the business of the city. 
 For a variety of reasons, this has been de- 
 layed much beyond the time when we intend- 
 ed to have issued it The absence of one of 
 the editors, sickness, and the delay incident 
 to the collecting of statistics, are our apol- 
 ogy- 
 
 The past has been, a year of unexampled 
 prosperity, and our city has shared largely in 
 the general progress of the country. In no 
 former year has so much been done to place 
 its business upon a permanent basis, and ex- 
 tend its commerce. By the extension of the 
 Galena Railroad to Rockford, we have drawn 
 to this city the trade of portions of Wiscon- 
 sin, Iowa and Minnesota, that hitherto sought 
 other markets; and when our roads reach the 
 Father of Waters, as two of them will within 
 the present year, we may expect an avalanche 
 of business, for which we fear all our whole- 
 sale houses will not be prepared. 
 
 The opening of the Rock Island Railroad, 
 Oct. 18th to Joliet, Jan. 5th to Morris, Feb. 
 14th to Ottawa, and to La Salle March 10th, 
 has brought customers during the winter from 
 a different direction, and made an unusually 
 4 ' lively winter" for our business men. The 
 extension of this and other roads must tend 
 to add to our activity and permanent pros- 
 perity in an increasing ratio. 
 
 In order that the files of the Democratic 
 Press may be perfect as a source for future re- 
 ference, we avail ourselves of the labors of 
 one of its editors while connected with an- 
 other paper, and republish a statement pre- 
 pared by him, of the business of the city pri- 
 or to the year 1851. 
 
 The press of the city, previous to the year 
 1849 neglected to publish connected state- 
 ments of the business of the city ; but we are 
 nevertheless not without some recorded facts 
 
 of the past, which will serve to show how 
 rapid has been the growth of Chicago, how 
 great the increase of her commerce. In some 
 of the earliest "Directories," we find collected 
 various interesting statistics on this subject, 
 which, although not as full as could be wished, 
 are yet highly satisfactory in the absence of 
 more definite statements. Though the polite- 
 ness of T. HOYNE, Esq., we have been placed 
 in possession of a memorial to Congress, pray- 
 ing for an appropriation for the improvement 
 of the Chicago harbor, embodying statistics 
 from 1836 to 1842, inclusive. We also find in 
 the Report of the late Judge Thomas, made in 
 compliance with a resolution of the River 
 and Harbor convention, which assembled in 
 this city in 1847, the fullest collection of the 
 commercial statistics of Chicago from 1836 
 up to 1848, that, we presume, is extant. 
 From these three sources we compile the fol- 
 lowing facts, which will be read with interest 
 by every one identified with the prosperity 
 of our city. 
 
 Up to the year 1836 provisions, for domes- 
 tic consumption, were imported along with 
 articles of merchandise ; and indeed many ar- 
 ticles of necessary food, continued to be 
 brought in for several years later. In 1836 
 there were exported from the port of Chicago, 
 articles of produce of the value of $1,000.64. 
 We have felt a great curiosity to know what 
 articles constituted this first year's business, 
 but have sought in vain for any other record 
 save that which gives the value. The next 
 year, the exports had increased to $11,065; 
 in 1838 they reached the sum of $16,044 75. 
 In 1839 they more than doubled the year 
 previous, while in 1840 they had increased to 
 what was then doubtless regarded as the very 
 large sum of, $228,635 74! This was progress, 
 ing in a ratio very seldom equalled in the 
 history of cities, and must have caused no lit-
 
 tie exhileration among the business men of 
 Chicago, as well as advanced the views of 
 fortunate holders of water and corner lots. 
 
 We are informed in Judge Thomas' Re- 
 port, that a " small lot of beef was shipped 
 from Chicago as early as 1833, and was fol- 
 lowed each successive year by a small con- 
 signment of this article, and also of pork." 
 Some idea of the extent of the first consign- 
 ment may be formed from the fact that three 
 years after, the total exports of the place 
 were valued at $1,000 64. It was truly a 
 small beginning, and gave but slight promise 
 of the great extent to which, as the sequel 
 will show, this branch of business has grown. 
 The same authority informs us that the first 
 shipment of wheat from this port was made 
 in the year 1839. In 1842 the amount ship- 
 ped reached 586,907 bushels and in 1848, 2,- 
 
 While an analysis of the statement for 1848 y 
 which, by the way, was gotten up hurriedly, 
 under supervision of the Board of Trade, re- 
 veals facts of this character, that of 1847, pre- 
 pared by Judge Thomas, is evidently short of 
 the truth, as he conclusively shows in his 
 pamphlet, owing to the impossibility of ob- 
 taining full reports of several branches of 
 business. This much in explanation of an ap- 
 parent increase, the magnitude of which would 
 be likely to induce distrust as to its entire ac- 
 curacy. 
 
 We have not attempted to estimate the to 
 tal annual amount of our commerce, since the- 
 year 1848, preferring to give, as far as it wa 
 possible to obtain accurate informaton, the 
 amount of each specific article which enter* 
 into it. It is not out of place, however, to 
 state that the increase in vahie, during the 
 
 160,000 bushels were shipped out of the port last four years, has been in a ratio fully equal 
 
 of Chicago. Since that period there has been 
 a material falling off until the past year, in 
 the annual exports of wheat, owing to a par- 
 tial failure of the .crop each succeeding year, 
 
 paying 
 
 to that of any like previous period. 
 
 While speaking of the progress of our city 
 in respect to the extent of her commerce, we 
 desire also to call attention to her rapid, al- 
 most unexampled, increase of population. In 
 
 1837, at the first municipal election, the vote 
 
 and from the fact that farmers are 
 more attention to other products. 
 
 for Mayor stood as follows : 
 
 We subjoin a table of -the value of imports p or w.B Ogden 
 and exports from 1836 to 1848 inclusive. 
 
 Imports. Exports. 
 
 1836 $325,203 90 $1,000 64 
 
 1837 373,677 12 11,665 00 
 
 1838 579.174 61 16.044 75 
 
 1839 630,980 26 33,843 00 
 
 1840 562,106 20 228,635 74 
 
 1841 564,347 88 348,862 24 
 
 1842 664,347 88 659,305 20 
 
 1843 971,849 75 682,210 85 
 
 1844.... 1,686,416 00 785,50423 
 
 1845 2,043,44573 1,543.51985 
 
 1846...,,,..,. 2,027,150 00 1,813,468 00 
 
 1847 2.641,852 52 2,296,299 00 
 
 1848 8,338,639 86 10,709,333 40 
 
 The increase of imports and exports in 1848 
 over those of 1847 was not as great as ap- 
 pears from the above figures. The prices at 
 which various articles for the latter j ear were 
 estimated, are altogether too large. For ex 
 ample : The exports of wheat amounted to 
 2,160,000 bushels, and its value is set down 
 at $2,095,000 almost $1.00 per bushel. A 
 truer average of the value of spring and win- 
 ter wheat, for that year, would have been 
 about 60 or 65c. per bushel. Again: The 
 valuation of machinery turned out by our ' and though building has been constant to the 
 manufacturers that year, is put down at ! full extent of the mechanical force of the city, 
 $1,060,262; that of furniture at $649,326 of ! 1,000 additional dwellings would find good 
 wagons at $302,104. When we take into | tenants almost immediately. Our best in- 
 consideration the increase which has taken : formed citizens corroborate the opinion that 
 place in each of the above branches of tnanu- the present population of Chicago is 
 facture, in our city, since 1848, the conclusion i 5O,OOO. 
 
 must be inevitable that the former were over- 
 rated. 
 
 V. B. Ogden, 470 
 
 J. H. Kinzie, "233 
 
 Total vote in 1837 703 
 
 At the Presidential election in November, 
 1852, the vote stood as follows: 
 
 Gen. Pierce..., ....2,392 
 
 Gen. Scott 1,575 
 
 John P. Hale 496 
 
 Total vote .4,463 
 
 The first census returns of the city which 
 we have been able to procure are for the year 
 1840. In the years 1841, 1842, 1844 and 
 1851, no census was taken. The following are 
 the returns for the other years: 
 
 1840... ,...4,479 1847.... ....1P,359 
 
 1843 7,580 1848 20,02:5 
 
 1845 12,088 1849 23,047 
 
 1846 ,14,169 1850 
 
 Since the last census was taken, the increase 
 of population has been twice as large as it has 
 been at any other period, for the same length 
 of time, for the last sixteen years. Rents or' 
 dwellings have almost doubled in six months, 
 
 Take another view of the progress of the 
 ; city. The following is a statement of the
 
 value of the real and personal property as 
 found on the collector's books ; but it must 
 be remembered that th^se assessments do not 
 represent much if any more than one-fourth 
 of the real value : 
 
 1839 1,829,420 
 
 1840 1,8(54.205 
 
 1841 1.888,1(50 
 
 1842 2,325.240 
 
 1843 2,250,735 
 
 1846 5,071,402 
 
 1847 6,189,385 
 
 1848 9,98t5,000 
 
 1849 7.617,102 
 
 1850 8,101,000 
 
 1844 3,166,945 1851 9,431,826 
 
 1845 3,669.124 1852 12.035,037 
 
 From this slight survey of the past history 
 of our city, the reader will turn with interest 
 to thf details of its commerce for the year 
 185 ', which we now proceed to give: 
 
 The internal commerce of Chicago is con- 
 ducted through twelve Bankers and Dealers 
 in Exchange, one hundred and twenty-two 
 wholesale, forwarding, commission and pro- 
 duce houses, and fifty-two lumber dealers. 
 FLOUR. 
 
 The total amount of Flour handled, during 
 1852, was 124,316 barrels, and was received 
 from the following sources: 
 
 Chicago <fe Galena Railroad 44,316 bbls. 
 
 Lake 2,875 " 
 
 Canal 1,846 " 
 
 Eastern Railroads 4,300 " 
 
 Manufactured in city 70,979 " 
 
 Years. 
 1844 
 
 1845 
 
 Total ............................ 124,316 bbls. 
 
 This amount would have been increased 
 fully 50,000 barrels, but for the long contin- 
 ued drouth during four months of last year, 
 by which over fifty run of stone were sus- 
 pended on the Fox and Rock rivers, and the 
 difficulty of getting a good article of wheat 
 previous to the first of August. 
 
 The shipments from this port, for a series of 
 years, were as follows : 
 
 bbls. 
 6,320 
 13,752 
 28,045 
 1*47 ....................................... 32,538 
 
 1848 ....................................... 45,200 
 
 1849 ....................................... 51,300 
 
 1850 ...................................... 100,871 
 
 1*51 ....................................... 72,406 
 
 1W3 ....................................... 61,196 
 
 In 1850, it will be remembered that in con- 
 sequence of a short crop, south of us, prices 
 of wheat and flour ruled very high in St. Lou- 
 is, arid that a considerable portion of the 
 stock in hands of dealers in this city, on the 
 opening of navigation, was shipped to that 
 destination. Of the shipments of flour in 1850, 
 56,432 bbls. were by lake, and 34,439 bbls. by 
 canal. The falling off this year was 
 owing to the increased consumption of the 
 city, and the large amount, bought in small 
 lots, to supply the laborers on the railroads. 
 
 During the early part of the year, the 
 market was not animated, and prices ruled 
 low. Toward the latter part of the season, 
 however, there was an advance, occasioned 
 
 partly by the large home demand, and the 
 general upward tendency of the Eastern 
 market. 
 
 The following is a comparative statement 
 of the prices in this market on the first of 
 each month for the years 1851 and 1852 the 
 lower figures being for common country 
 spring wheat brands, and the higher for best 
 city. 
 
 1851. 
 
 January $2,75@4,50 $2,1 
 
 February 2,75@4,50 
 
 March 3,005,00 
 
 April 3,00@4,50.... 
 
 May 3,00 4,25 
 
 June 3,00@4,25 
 
 July 3,00@4,25 
 
 August 2.25@4,25 
 
 September 2,25<*4.2o 
 
 October 2,25@3,75 
 
 November 2,25@3,75. 
 
 December , 
 
 WHEAT. 
 
 "We have already stated that in consequence 
 of the partial failure of the wheat crop since 
 1848, and from the fact that our farmers are 
 paying more attention to other products, this 
 branch of produce rapidly fell off from 1848 
 down to and including 1851. Wheat grow- 
 ing has undergone a great change within four 
 years. Previous to that time, there was very 
 little spring wheat grown, the winter variety 
 being a reliable crop, almost without excep- 
 tion. Subsequently, for three years, it was 
 almost invariably a failure, and spring wheat 
 has been substituted, or the cultivation of the 
 crop has been abandoned. Last year, how- 
 ever, all the winter wheat that had been 
 sown the previous fall, turned out bountifully 
 at harvest, and our farmers are somewhat en- 
 couraged to substitute it for spring. Never- 
 theless, so long as the relative values of grain 
 continue as they have have been for the last 
 two years, our fanners will prefer to culti- 
 vate corn and oats, which afford a better com- 
 pensation for the labor bestowed on them, and 
 are, besides, a more certain crop. Neverthe- 
 less, the favorable harvest, last year, was a 
 means of stopping the downward tendency in 
 the production of this staple, and we are con- 
 fident that our tables of receipts and ship- 
 ments each year, hereafter, will show an in- 
 crease even more rapid than the decline. 
 During thisyear,.the almost unrivalled wheat 
 growing State of Iowa will be reached by our 
 railroads at two points, and its productions 
 be turned to this, instead of a southern mar- 
 ket. 
 
 The following are the sources from which 
 the wheat marketed here last year, were se- 
 cured,, and the amount from each, respective- 
 ly:.
 
 Chicago & Galena Railroad 504,996 bushels. 
 
 Canal 108,597 
 
 Lake...- 129,251 
 
 Eastern Railroads 13,903 
 
 Teams 
 
 Total 937,496 
 
 The receipts from the lake were principal- 
 ly obtained at Michigan City, for the use of 
 our city mills. The remainder came from 
 St Joseph, Niles, Soutli Bend, Port Wash- 
 ington and other places. The general sub- 
 stitution of spring for winter wheat, by our 
 Illinois farmers, haa so reduced the supply 
 of the latter quality, that our mills are 
 compelled to buy abroad for a large por- 
 tion of their first brands of flour. 
 
 Tlie receipts here during the year, 1852, 
 were disposed of as follows : 
 
 Shipped by Lake. ... 635,196 bushels. 
 
 " Canal 807 " 
 
 Used by Distillers 13,000 
 
 " byMills.., 000 " nn " 
 
 In the early part of the year, the market here 
 was dull, owing, in a measure, to the inferior 
 quality of the crop of 1851. Subsequent to 
 the harvest last year, which produced a good 
 quality of grain, there was a better demand, 
 and a general advance in the price of both 
 spring and winter qualities. The following 
 is a statement of the ruling market rates at 
 the commencement of each month of the 
 
 year. 
 
 Spring. 
 
 January 31-42 
 
 February 37-45 
 
 March 35-45 
 
 April 34-40 
 
 May 34-40 
 
 June 34-40 
 
 July 37-39 
 
 August 40-43 
 
 September 44-50 
 
 October , 48-56 
 
 November 55-60 
 
 December 56-60 
 
 Winter. 
 50-65 
 50-70 
 60-72 
 60-70 
 62-72 
 68-76 
 68-76 
 65-70 
 69-75 
 60-72 
 66-75 
 70-SO 
 
 The shipments from this port, for a series 
 of years, are as follows: 
 
 1842 586,907 1847 1,974,304 
 
 1843 688,967 1848 2,160,000 
 
 1844 891,894 1849 1,936,264 
 
 1845 056,860 1850 883,1544 
 
 1846 1,459,594 1851 437,660 
 
 1852 635,496 
 
 One thing specially to be marked is our 
 small receipts of wheat from the Illinois riv- 
 er. Of the amount received by Canal 108,- 
 597 bushels, not over 30,000 bushels came 
 from the river. This result is not because 
 there is no surplus grown in the counties 
 bordering on that river, but because our mar- 
 ket has not been able to compete successfully 
 with that of St. Louis, where the milling de- 
 mand is so great, thac prices are usually kept 
 tap several cents above shipping rates. When 
 the canal was completed, it was not doubted 
 that we should receive a large part of our 
 Biipply of this staple from a point south of 
 Peru, but for the last two years, the entire 
 
 amount has not been a twentieth part as 
 great as that received by the Chicago and 
 Salena railroad. Over I,000 r 000 of bushels 
 was shipped from the river to St. Louis, dur- 
 ng the past year, and 964,134 the previous 
 year. In 1849, however, about 500,000 bush- 
 els came through to this market, and this fact 
 shows, lhat grain will go to that city or come 
 through to this, as prices may rule relatively 
 tiigh at the North or South ; and since a sin- 
 gle penny per bushel may be sufficient, when 
 here is nearly an equipoise between the two, 
 bo turn the scale either way, the subject com- 
 mends itself forcibly to those who have the 
 power of regulating the tolls upon the Illi- 
 nois and Michigan Canal. A modification of 
 those tolls we have so frequently urged upon 
 the Trustees, as a measure of wisdom that 
 will enhance the actual revenues of the Ca- 
 nal, that it is not necessary to repeat our sug- 
 gestions and arguments here. However, we 
 cannot but express pleasure at the near ap- 
 proach of the period when the Canal will re- 
 vert to the State's control, according to agree- 
 ment with the Bondholders, for we are con- 
 fident that the energetic and business mind 
 of our Executive, Gov. Matteson, will at once 
 point out measures in reference to this great 
 work that will make it more useful and pro- 
 fitable to the State than it is under its pres- 
 ent management. 
 
 CORIY. 
 
 There is no feature of our trade that pre- 
 sents a more gratifying aspect than that of 
 corn. Previous to 1847, the receipts at this 
 point were but little greater than the then 
 small local demand, and not one-half as great 
 as the present consumption of the city dis- 
 tilleries. Our prairies were thought to be un- 
 favorable to the culture of corn, not, howev- 
 er, for want of success in it so far as it had 
 been attempted, but because of the general 
 impression that it was too far north. Our 
 farmers are mainly from New England, where 
 corn is not grown much, and it was difficult 
 for them to overcome a belief in which they 
 had been educated, that it could only be made 
 a profitable crop in a more southerly latitude. 
 Nevertheless, the failure of the wheat crop 
 in 1850 and 1851, and the more profitable 
 business of growing hogs, stimulated the pro- 
 duction of corn, and the misapprehension in 
 relation to its adaptation to our soil and cli- 
 mate is fast giving way to correct views on 
 this subject. As a consequence, the receipts 
 by railroad and teams have largely augmented
 
 5 
 
 during the past year, and the coming one, we 
 doubt not, will show a still further increase. 
 Dtiring the past year the total receipts at this 
 point were 2,991,011 bushels, which were de- 
 rived from the following sources : 
 
 Illinois and Michigan Cadal... ...1,810,830 bushels 
 
 Chicago and Galena Railroad 671,961 
 
 From teams 508,220 
 
 Total 2,991,011 
 
 This shows a large increase by railroad, 
 compared with the previous year, of nearly 
 
 400,000 bushels, and a decrease 
 
 180,000 
 
 bushels by teams, and 540,000 bushels by ca- 
 nal. The decrease of receipts by teams is 
 unquestionably in a measure the result of the 
 extension of the railroad, while the falling off 
 in the receipts by canal is entirely owing to 
 the suspension of navigation on the Illinois 
 river, during over three months of last year. 
 
 There is no doubt that but for this circum- 
 stance, the amount of receipts would have 
 been increased more than 500,000 bushels. 
 The St. Louis market does not compete with 
 this in the corn trade, only at particular 
 seasons, and now that the freights from New 
 Orleans to New York have become exorbitant- 
 ly hfgh, the inevitable effect must be to turn 
 the entire current of the corn trade to our 
 city, from every point on the Illinois river. 
 We believe this is generally admitted by the 
 commercial papers of St. Louis. 
 
 The manner in which the corn received at 
 this place, last year, was disposed of, is as 
 follows : 
 
 Shipped east 2,737,011 bush. 
 
 to lumber country.... 29,000 * 
 
 Consumed in city 10,000 " 
 
 by distillers 195,000 " 
 
 Total 2,991,011 bush. 
 
 During the past year, corn maintained on 
 the average, a very high figure. In the ear- 
 ly part of the year, it was lower than usual, 
 but the market steadily advanced during the 
 season, and in November reached the highest 
 figures paid in this market for fourteen years. 
 We append a statement of the condition of 
 the market on the first day of each month. 
 
 In 1849, the corn crop generally failed 
 the first time for many years throughout 
 the Southern States. In Alabama, Mississip- 
 pi, Arkansas and Tennessee, there was al- 
 most a total failure, and in some localities 
 famine prices were paid during the winter, 
 spring and summer of 1850, until the new 
 crop came in. So high were prices, that no 
 small amount was shipped from points on 
 the canal, but a few miles below the city to 
 the Southern States, and the receipts at St. 
 Louis more than reached those of the previ- 
 ous year. 
 
 OATS. 
 
 The increase of the oats trade for 1852 over 
 1851, was nearly 300 percent, and more than 
 doubly compensated for the falling off in corn. 
 The recaipts were derived as follows: 
 
 From Canal 833,703 bush. 
 
 ' Railroad 674.941 
 
 Teams, , 
 
 Total receipts , 2,089,941 
 
 The shipments for the season, were 2,030,- 
 317 bushels. During the greater part of the 
 year the market advanced steadily, and at the 
 close of navigation was 13 ce"nts above the 
 prices paid in March, previously. The follow- 
 ing will show the state of the market on the 
 first of each month, during the year : 
 
 January 16-17 
 
 February 19-20 
 
 March 19-20 
 
 April 18-19 
 
 May 18-20 
 
 June 23-24 
 
 July 24-25 
 
 August 27-28 
 
 September 27-28 
 
 October 3032 
 
 November 28-30 
 
 December 28-30 
 
 January 26-28 
 
 February 31-34 
 
 March 33-34 
 
 April 33-34 
 
 May 33-34 
 
 June 30-37 
 
 July. 
 
 .32-33 
 
 August 42-43 
 
 September 50-52 
 
 October 50.53 
 
 November 48-50 
 
 December, 56-58 
 
 The above figures are for shelled, 56 Ibs per 
 
 bushel. 
 
 The following 
 
 table will show the ship- 
 
 ments of corn from this port for a series of 
 years : 
 
 1847.... ....67,315 
 
 1848 550.460 
 
 1849 644,848 
 
 1S50 262,013 
 
 1851 3,221 ,317 
 
 1852 2,757,011 
 
 The shipments for the last seven years show 
 an increase almost unequalled in tne history 
 of commerce. They were as follows: 
 
 1847 38,892 1850 158,054 
 
 1848 65,280 1851 , 605,827 
 
 1849 26,849 1852 2,030,317 
 
 The soil and climate of Northern -Illinois is 
 eminently adapted to the growth of oats, and 
 we are confident that our exports, during the 
 ensuing four years will be increased to many 
 millions of bushels. The rapidly increasing 
 consumption over production, of this staple 
 in the Eastern and Middle States, impresses 
 us with the conviction that our market will 
 continue to have many more advantages than 
 any one south of this, and that the bulk of 
 the surplus of the Mississippi valley will seek 
 this channel as the most direct route to the 
 ultimate market. 
 
 RYE. 
 
 We believe this grain never was shipped 
 from this p.ort previous to last year, the small 
 amount cultivated by our farmers, and market- 
 ed here not being beyond the demands for 
 milling and distillation. If there were any 
 shipments in previous years, we have no
 
 6 
 
 record of them. The amount shipped last 
 season, was 17,015 bushels, 
 
 Of this amount 617 bushels were received 
 from canal, and the remainder from teams 
 and railroad. The books kept by the Rail- 
 road Co. do not show the transportation of 
 rye on that thoroughfare. It being small, it 
 was probably put down under the head of 
 sundries or wheat. 
 
 This article 
 
 BARLEY. 
 
 is not cultivated largely in 
 northern Illinois, and previous to 1850 there 
 was not a supply much beyond the wants of 
 our city brewers. In 1849, all of our surplus 
 was sold and shipped to the St. Louis market, 
 which was better than the Eastern. Until 
 1851, the entire shipments by lake did not 
 amount to 1,000 bushels. The following is a 
 statement of the receipts of the last year, 
 and the sources from which it came: 
 
 From Canal 8,785 bushels. 
 
 Railroad 90,243 " 
 
 Teams 21,313 " 
 
 Lake 1,687 " 
 
 Total 
 
 .127,028 
 
 The shipments for the last four years show 
 the following result: 
 
 1840 (South) 31,453 bush. 
 
 18oO (South) 21 912 " 
 
 " (Lake) 'qgO " 
 
 1801 (South) :....;::: tun 
 
 (Lake) 8537 " 
 
 1852 (Lake) \.\\70\SIB " 
 
 A considerable portion of the amount 
 shipped south in 1849, 1850, and 1851, was 
 purchased in Wisconsin, where Barlev is a 
 more important staple than in Illinois. 
 
 "We have thus given, in as brief a space as 
 circumstances would permit, a statement of 
 the receipts and shipments of flour and grain, 
 during the past year, and the figures show a 
 gratifying result. By reducing the flour to 
 grain, the shipmants show a total of 5,800,000 
 bushels. This is a higher figure by over 
 1,200,000 bushels than was ever before reach- 
 ed. In 1850, our total shipments only amount- 
 ed to 1,830,938 bushels. But however grati- 
 fying such a growth of our commerce maybe, 
 it is universally conceded that it is yet in its 
 infancy, and that it is destined to quadruple 
 within the ensuing five or six years. The va- 
 rious lines of railroad which open nearly ev- 
 ery county in the State to this market, and 
 which will cause millions of acres of our fer- 
 tile prairies, now unoccupied, to be brought 
 under cultivation, will soon pour in upon us 
 an amount of produce almost beyond our con- 
 ception. 
 
 GRASS SEEDS. 
 
 Until the past year the shipment of grass 
 
 seed, from this port, we believe, was not 
 known. But the purity of the seed grown 
 on our Western prairies, and its adaptation to 
 the soil of the Eastern States, having become 
 known to Eastern farmers, their agents have 
 been in our market, during the last Fall and 
 Winter, purchasing all they could get. The 
 price opened at $1,76 per bushel, and at one 
 time reached a point as high as $2,37, though 
 $2,25 was the ruling rate during the shipping 
 season. The exports by Lake, for the year 
 were 19,214 bushels. 
 
 HOGS AIVD PORK. 
 
 Since our farmers commenced a more gen- 
 eral cultivation of corn, the Pork-packing 
 business of Chicago has steadily increased, 
 and now promises to grow to an extent sec- 
 ond in importance to no other production. 
 As our city posssesses an enviable notoriety 
 for its beef, so also will it become famous 
 for its pork, for in no other place in the Uni- 
 ted States is the average quality of the hogs 
 so good. In all of the states south of us, no 
 inconsiderable portion of the Hogs are fatted 
 by mast, which gives less firmness to the flesh 
 and lard than corn, and is therefore not es- 
 teemed as valuable as that fatted with this 
 grain. As our hogs, with very few excep- 
 tions, are made ready for the market with 
 corn alone, they make the first quality of 
 pork and lard. 
 
 The hog-packing season commences in No- 
 vember, and runs through the winter. Our 
 Statistics will, therefore, refer to the season, 
 and not to the -ialender year. 
 
 The following is a statement of the number 
 f hogs packed, and by whom. : 
 
 No. Hogs. Av. Wt. 
 G. S. Hubbard 13997 919V 
 
 Total Wt. 
 2.974,362 
 1 OvJl 424 
 
 Felt & Beers 
 
 .. 7,016 
 
 214 
 240 
 210^ 
 190 
 213 
 210 
 245 
 220 
 275 
 180 
 242 
 219 
 220 
 185 
 
 klarsh & Carpenter 
 Reynolds & Hayward.. 
 II. M. Hough & Co.... 
 Geo. Steele . 
 
 3,813 
 3,615 
 . 3,'iOO 
 . 3,168 
 2,800 
 2 640 
 
 .. . '915*120 
 
 760,957 
 684,000 
 
 H. Maher 
 
 588,000 
 
 P. Curtiss & Co. 
 
 S. B. Pomeroy & Co 
 C. Follansbee. . . . 
 
 . 2*300 
 1 000 
 
 ....... .506,000 
 
 F. L. Kent 
 
 1 800 
 
 324,000 
 254,584 
 201,!ilS 
 55 000 
 
 .1. Creswell 
 Thomas Dyer 
 
 .. 1,052 
 
 Nickerson AWeir 
 C.Walker & Son 
 
 .. 250 
 .. 183 
 
 3 000 
 
 
 
 
 48.156 
 
 S11X 
 
 10,192,971 
 
 This does not show the entire amount 
 bought by packers here. About 11,000 were 
 sent forward to the eastern cities, uncut by 
 packers, previous to the close of navigation 
 on Lake Erie. In this manner, 3,100 were 
 forwarded by Walker & Son, 2,000 by Marsh 
 & Carpenter, 1,500 by Felt & Beers, and 4,500 
 by other parties. 
 
 The following statement of the number of
 
 hogs packed, and their average and total 
 weight will give a clear view of the business 
 of the last two years: 
 
 Hogs cut. Av. weight. To. weight. 
 1851-2 ...22,036 238^ 5,247,278 
 
 1852-3! 48,156 211* 10,192,971 
 
 The advantages of the Chicago and Galena 
 Railroad to our city, have been manifest in 
 the pork business during the past season. 
 Pour-fifths of all the hogs sold here, come in 
 on that thoroughfare a large proportion of 
 them from Rock river, and many of them 
 from Iowa. Had the weather been favorable 
 to hauling during the winter, it is thought we 
 would have received from the latter State 
 over '20,000. It is not unfair to suppose that 
 if the farmers ot Iowa can afford to carry 
 their pork, in wagons, from 80 to 150 miles 
 to reach our market, they will send all their 
 surplus here when the railroad shall be com- 
 pleted to the Mississippi river. 
 
 As great as the increase has been during 
 the last year, we think it will be equally as 
 large for each of the two next years, as our 
 city will by that time be brought into com- 
 munication by railroad with some of the most 
 productive corn regions in the "West. Iowa, 
 alone, we doubt not, will furnish a larger 
 amount than our entire receipts the past 
 year, while the counties south and southwest 
 will pour in upon us large numbers. 
 
 The following is a statement of the number 
 of hogs received here during the past season, 
 and the sources from which they came : 
 
 Canal. Teams- Lake. Railroad. Total. 
 413 12,500 900 51,845 65,158 
 
 Which were disposed of as follows: 
 
 Packed... 48,156 
 
 Shipped East, uncut 11,000 
 
 Sold at retail 7,002 
 
 The prices of Mess Pork, Shoulders, and 
 Hams, during the last year, steadily advanced 
 from February to October, when they reached 
 the maximum, and receded. The home de- 
 mand being much larger than was anticipated 
 by packers, the stock of hams and shoulders 
 was exhausted before the first of October. 
 Mess Pork, also, was reduced to but little over 
 100 barrels, and, we think, was entirely ex- 
 hausted when the pork season opened. We 
 subjoin a statement of the price of Mess on 
 the first of each month during the year : 
 
 January.... . . . .*13.00@14.00 
 
 February 12.0013.00 
 
 March... 13.00@13.50 
 
 April 14.00@14.50 
 
 May 14.00@14.50 
 
 June" 14.00@14.50 
 
 July . 16.00@17.00 
 
 August 18.00@19.00 
 
 September 18.00@18.75 
 
 October 20.00 
 
 November 1900 
 
 December 16.0016.50 
 
 The immense fertile prairies that lie to 
 the west and south of Chicago, covered with 
 the most nutritious grasses, where in nu- 
 meral, Le herds of cattle can graze with scarce- 
 ly any expense to the owner, naturally point 
 to Chicago as likely to become distinguished 
 for extensive BEEF PACKING. The packing 
 closes in December. We prepared an article 
 at that time, the main facts of which we 
 republish as appropriate to this review. In 
 the article of BEEF we think it will be con- 
 ceded that Chicago now stands pre-eminent. 
 There is no city in the Union that pretends 
 to compete with us. Not only are we dis- 
 tinguished for the amount of beef packed in 
 this city, but more especially for its excellent 
 quality. CHICAGO MESS will command in 
 eastern markets from one to two dollars per 
 barrel more than any other; and from two 
 to six dollars more than that packed in many 
 other States. 
 
 Owing to the great demand for beef cattle 
 in eastern cities, and the high prices they 
 have borne during the season, large number* 
 have been shipped alive, and, therefore, the 
 increase of this business for the present year 
 is smaller than it otherwise would have 
 been. We have taken pains to procure the 
 exact number of cattle slaughtered by our 
 packers, during the year 1852, and they foot 
 up as follows: 
 
 Thos.Dyer 3,714 
 
 Sylvester Marsh 2,372 
 
 R.M. Hough & Co 5.600 
 
 G. S. Hubbard 4,896 
 
 Reynolds & Hayward '*&& 
 
 P. L. Kent 2,413 
 
 O.H- Tobey 1.794 
 
 Joel Ellis & Co 600 
 
 Total. 
 
 To these add 300 more that two of our 
 houses slaughtered during the month of 
 December, and the total number for the 
 year, will be 24,663. The number was last 
 year 21,806 making the increase for the pre- 
 sent year, only 2,857. Probably the number 
 would have amounted to at least 30,000, had 
 it not been for the large shipments that 
 have been made of live cattle to eastern 
 markets. 
 
 The number of barrels of beef packed as 
 taken from the books of the several estab- 
 lishments, is 46,395. Of this number 43,965 
 barrels have been shipped to Boston, New 
 York and New Bedford. This is the amount 
 reduced to barrels ; but nearly three thou- 
 sand tierces have been packed by Messrs. 
 Dyer and Hough & Co., for the London mar- 
 ket. There were Dec. 12th, in the hands
 
 8 
 
 of the different packers about 1,676 barrels, 
 and they had sold to dealers in this city 
 764 barrels, most of which it is probable 
 found its way to the lumber districts . that 
 draw their supplies from Chicago. 
 
 The average weight of the cattle slaught- 
 ered and the number of pounds of beef pack- 
 ed were as follows: 
 
 Reynolds & Haywood,.. averaging SOOfts ..1,487,000 
 J. Ellis & Co., 
 
 O. H. Toby. 
 . L. Kent, 
 . S. Hubbard, 
 . M. Hough & Co., 
 rlvester Marsh, 
 liomas Dyer, 
 
 500 
 
 521 
 
 550 
 
 534>! 
 
 580 
 
 550} 
 
 300,000 
 .. 934,674 
 ..1,327,150 
 ..2.616,912 
 ..3,248,000 
 . .1.305,786 
 
 Total 13,457,207 
 
 The tallow was variously disposed of. A 
 large part was sold in the rough to the differ- 
 ent candle manufactories in the city. The re- 
 mainder was rendered and shipped to New 
 York, Boston and Canada. We have not the 
 precise statement of the amount, but estima- 
 ting 60 Ibs. as the average for each animal, 
 we have 1,461,780 Ibs. 
 
 The hides to a great extent were purchased 
 by Messrs. Gurnee & Yoe of this city. They 
 made large shipments east, and will manufac- 
 ture the remainder into leather at their ex- 
 tensive tanning establishment. Several lots 
 were sold to dealers and leather manufac- 
 turers in Buffalo. The precise weight of the 
 hides we cannot ascertain ; but after com- 
 paring the figures furnished us by the differ- 
 ent packers, we are inclined to think 80 Ibs. 
 rather below the average for each. Allowing 
 this to be correct, it would give us 1,940,040 
 Ibs. 
 
 The barrels used were manufactured in 
 this cit}% Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. 
 They cost from 90 cents to $1 25. During 
 the latter part of the packing season they be- 
 came scarce and commanded the higher fig- 
 ures. The average cost is about $1 00. 
 
 The number of men employed in this busi- 
 ness is between four and five hundred, at an 
 average cost of $1 50 per day. The prices 
 paid for cattle were $3 60a$4 50. The ru- 
 ling average rate was about $4a$4 12. 
 
 We cannot of course make an exact state- 
 ment of the value of the beef packed in this 
 City ; but from the data already before us, 
 we can make an estimate that will be suffi- 
 ciently accurate to give some idea of its im- 
 portance. We have inquired of some of our 
 largest packers, and they think the average 
 value of the beef this season is $9 per barrel. 
 The tallow is worth at least 9 cents. The 
 hides, from the statements before us, are 
 
 worth at a fair average, 4-J- cents per pound ; 
 and the offal from each animal, consisting of 
 horns, heads, <fec., 55 cents. We have there- 
 fore the following summary : 
 
 46,395 bbls. Beef at $9 $417,555 
 
 1,461.780 Ibs. Tallow at 9X 138,869 
 
 1,949,040 " Hid.s " 4%c 80,798 
 
 24,363 Cattle, offal "55c 13,399 
 
 Total $650,621 
 
 Commencing with the packing season, the 
 price of cattle at th<s commencement of each 
 month, until the close of the year, was as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 1851. 1852. 
 
 September $3,00@3,75 *3.50@4,25 
 
 October 8,00@4,00 4,00@4,75 
 
 November 3.00@3'50 4,00@4,75 
 
 December 3,00@3,75 3,75@4,50 
 
 These figures show that prices have ruled 
 at a high figure during the past season. In 
 some instances $5.00a$5. 50 were paid for cat- 
 tle to ship East. Stock growers have eveiy 
 reason to be satisfied with last year's prices. 
 
 The beef-packing business, it must be re- 
 membered, has all grown up within the last 
 six or eight .years. We are not yel able to 
 form a correct judgment as to what effect the 
 opening of our Railroads to the sea board, 
 and, therefore, the greater facilities that we 
 are soon to have to ship live stock to Eastern 
 markets, is to have upon the packing business 
 in our City; but we are entirely certain that 
 our rich prairies have only commenced to 
 yield us their rich treasures. A very few 
 years will increase their production a hun- 
 dred fold ; and if our beef has already re- 
 ceived the highest place in the markets of 
 the civilized world, we may justly anticipate 
 the commercial position that our City will oc- 
 cupy in a very few years, with feelings of 
 honest pride, When contemplating such 
 facts in regard to the growth and prosperity 
 of our City, we always feel like going back to 
 the time when Chicago was ' no where." 
 She is still in her " teens," not having arrived 
 at the full age of even twenty years. Long 
 since that period, every barrel of beef and al- 
 most every other article of food was imported 
 from New York and Ohio. 
 
 LARD. 
 
 The shipments of this article correspond 
 with those of Pork, and the causes which af- 
 fect one equally affect the other. 
 BUTTER. 
 
 The butter trade has increased in a remark- 
 able degree, during the past year, as will be 
 seen by our statements of imports and ex- 
 ports, below. The dairy business has not 
 been carried on to any extent, in Illinois, pre- 
 vious to last year, notwithstanding the adap-
 
 tation of our prairies to the business. But 
 the high prices which ruled during several 
 months, of 1852, appeared to give it an ex- 
 traordinary stimulus, and to call out an 
 amount entirely beyond the supposed ability 
 of the country to produce in so short a pe- 
 riod. 
 
 The following shows the receipts by lake, 
 canal and railroad, during the years 1851 and 
 1852: 
 
 1851 fts 
 
 Lake. 
 
 Canal 
 
 Railroad. Total. 
 334,523 372.216 
 
 958,700 1,327,100 
 
 The shipments, during the same time were : 
 
 Lake. Canal. Total. 
 
 1851 Ibs. 70.824 75,117 145.941 
 
 1852 " . 906,200 9,000 915,200 
 
 WOOL. 
 
 This staple has increased largely within the 
 last 13 years, as shown by our table of ship- 
 ments below. During the past year, howev- 
 er, there appears to have been a small de- 
 cline compared with the previous one. The 
 market opened late, and in a depressed con- 
 dition, resulting from the declared combina- 
 tion of manufacturers not to pay above cer- 
 tain specified rates. Nevertheless, competi- 
 tors appeared, the combination was broken 
 up, and prices advanced rapidly after the first 
 two weeks. The following shows the ruling 
 rates during the season the range being for 
 the lowest to the best qualities ; also for the 
 same months in 1851 : 
 
 1852 1851 
 
 June 18@29 ! 
 
 July ., 25@36 
 
 August 25@37> 
 
 The following is a statement of the ship- 
 ments for eleven years, ending in 1852. 
 
 1842 tts.... 1,500 1848 fts.. 500,000 
 
 1843 "...22.050 1849 "..520,242 
 
 1844 "...96,635 1850 "..913,862 
 
 1845 " ..216,616 1851 "1,088,553 
 
 1846 "..281,222 1852 "..920.113 
 
 1847 "..411.888 
 
 LUMBER. 
 
 LUMBER forms one of the most important 
 elements of our commercial prosperity. The 
 position of Chicago gives her the control of 
 an extensive and lucrative lumber trade. 
 Owing to the rapid settlement of the country 
 to the south and west of us for the past few 
 years, the amount of lumber brought to this 
 market has very rapidly increased, as a com- 
 parative statement of the receipts will show- 
 The impression very generally prevails, that 
 there was a falling off in the receipts for the 
 past year; but the figures show a very differ- 
 ent result. We have carefully preserved all 
 the statements furnished us by our dealers, 
 and the exact footings are given below. The 
 impression above referred to, has undoubted- 
 ly arisen from the greatly increased demand 
 
 in this markel for the past year, and the ina- 
 bility of our merchants to meet it. 
 
 The large number of railroads now center- 
 ing in this city will greatly augment this bus- 
 iness. To the south and west of us there is 
 no pine lumber, and only a limited supply of 
 of oak and other kinds of timber, that can 
 measurably be use 1 in the place of pine. That 
 whole region looks to Chicago for its supply 
 of this important article, and no other city 
 can compete with us for this trade. Within 
 the next three years more than two thousand 
 miles of railroad will be opened to this city, 
 and the people who dwell upon the immense 
 fertile prairies through which they will pass, 
 will all look to Chicago for their building ma- 
 terials. In view of this increase of trade our 
 lumber merchants are making every exertion 
 to meet the demands that will be made upon 
 them. Much larger contracts have been en- 
 tered into for the delivery of lumber within 
 the next six months than were ever to be ful- 
 filed before within the same period. New 
 mills have been put in requisition, and all 
 will be taxed to their utmost capacity. The 
 increase in the trade for the next year is esti- 
 mated by our best informed dealers, at more 
 than a hundred millions. All this will un- 
 doubtedly be required by the increasing pop- 
 ulation of our city and the rich country, whose 
 trade is and will be brought here by the ca- 
 nal and the railroads now built and in pro- 
 gress of construction. 
 
 A comparative statement of the amount of 
 lumber, shingles and lath received at this port 
 for the past six years, gives the following re- 
 sult : 
 
 Lumber. Shingles. Lath. 
 
 1947... ,...32,118,225 12.148,500 5,655,700 
 
 184* 60,009,250 
 
 1849 73,259,553 
 
 1850 100,364,779 
 
 1851 125,056,437 
 
 1852 147,816,232 
 
 20.050,000 10.025,109 
 
 39,057,750 19.281,733 
 
 55,423,750 19,809,700 
 
 60,338,250 27,583,475 
 
 77,080,500 19,759,670 
 
 This shows an increase during the last over 
 the previous year of 22,759,795 ft. lumber, 
 16,742,250 shingles, and a decrease of 7,823,- 
 806 lath. There were on hand on the first of 
 January, 1853 19,759,970 feet of lumber, 
 5,190,750 shingles and 639,950 lath. Of this 
 amount a large part was sold before the close 
 of last season, but low water pre- 
 vented its shipment.. WM have not 
 taken very great pains to inquire outside 
 of our regular lumber dealers, as to the num- 
 ber of posts brought to this market: but they 
 have given us 199,221 as the sum of their im- 
 ports. 
 
 The incidental advantages of the Lumber
 
 10 
 
 business to our city, are varied ana expensive 
 It affords a market for a large amount of our 
 surplus products, at a much better profit than 
 shipments East will afford. Pork, beef, flour, 
 coarse grain of all kinds, groceries and pro- 
 visions of every description, are shipped in 
 large quantities to the lumber regions. The 
 carrying trade furnishes employment to a 
 great many vessels, and business for hundreds 
 and thousands of laboring men. 
 This trade is in the hands of far-seeing, in- 
 telligent merchants, who know its importance 
 to our city, and most of them are reaping a 
 rich reward for their energy and enterprise. 
 The following table shows the amount of 
 shipments and receipts by Lake, Canal and 
 Railroad. 
 SHIPMENTS. 
 Lake. Canal. G. & C. R. Total. 
 
 Nails & Spikes, tons, U 
 
 '374 
 22 
 
 385 
 22 
 2,030,317 
 343 
 9,976 
 640 
 193,709 
 
 1,200 
 17,463 
 20 
 4,308 
 17,315 
 479 
 15,019 
 111,300 
 27 
 426 
 53,964 
 
 ' 10 
 1 
 2 
 
 12,853 
 
 768,871 
 34,559 
 25,349 
 2,200 
 
 55,851,038 
 
 845 
 127 
 59 
 5,017 
 100.001 
 30 
 3,792 
 636,003 
 647 
 920.113 
 170 
 1,597 
 206 
 7,640 
 19 
 
 R. Total. 
 22 
 21,319 
 230 
 72 
 1,189 
 2,46 
 361.200 
 13,271 
 100,715 
 13 
 460 
 147 
 89 
 5,740 
 201,500 
 
 7,827 
 2,482,791 
 60,524 
 240 
 1.820 
 1.025 
 46,233 
 420 
 199.221 
 615 
 
 i 
 
 245 
 41 
 
 2,653 
 594 
 58 
 450 
 
 1 
 
 109 
 
 '"4 
 5,251 
 49,019 
 159,918 
 300 
 11,200 
 63.984 
 4,909 
 
 i&S! 
 
 9,05, 
 
 20.781 
 71 
 
 Oats, bu 2.030 317 
 
 
 Oils, bbls 173 
 
 170 
 
 Pork bbls 9 938 
 
 38 
 
 " tcs '640 
 Powder, Ibs 2,370 
 Potatoes, bu 2,514 
 
 
 191,339 
 386 
 
 78 
 
 Potter's ware, Ibs 
 Posts.No 
 
 1,200 
 16,350 1,113 
 20 
 
 Peas, bu 
 
 
 4308 
 
 Rye, bu 17,015 
 
 300 
 
 Reapers, No 479 
 Rice, Ibs 
 Saleratus,lbs.... 1,360 
 Soap, kegs 20 
 Skins, b'dles 426 
 Salt, bbls 4,259 
 " sacks, 
 Sheep, No 10 
 Shingle Machines, 1 
 Steam Engines, 2 
 Seeds, Ibs 12,853 
 Sugar, " 
 
 15,019 
 110,000 
 
 7 
 
 
 27,457 22,248 
 402,746 
 
 
 
 
 768,871 
 34,559 
 25 349 
 
 Steel. " 
 
 
 Sand " 
 
 2,200 
 
 Starch " 
 
 1,137 
 
 
 747 
 
 Sundries, pkgs,.. 2,078 
 tons 
 
 ""59 
 
 ,920,538 13,930,500 
 
 Shingles, No 41 
 
 Stone, c. yds 
 
 Agricu'l Impl. tons, 274 274 
 Ale, bbls 50 93 143 
 
 Tallow, bbls 871 
 Tobacco, hhds.. 127 
 
 14 
 
 Barley.bu 70,818 508 71,326 
 Beef, bbls 49,856 175 50,031 
 " tcs 1,546 1,546 
 Butter,pkgs 9,062 90 9,152 
 Beeswax, casks 3 
 
 Turpentine, Ibs, 
 Timber, c. ft 
 Vinegar, bbls... 30 
 Varnish, Ibs 
 
 59 
 5.017 
 100,001 
 
 3,792 
 
 Brooms, doz 270 1,040 1,310 
 Brick, No 49,000 194,900 243,900 
 Barrels, No, 136 1,920 , 2,056 
 
 Whiskey 'bbls... 647 
 Wool, Ibs 920.113 
 Water Lime. bbls. 95 
 Woodenware, Ibs 
 
 75 
 1,597 
 206 .... 
 
 Bark Mills, No 3 3 
 Boilers, " 2 2 
 
 White Lead, Ibs 
 
 7,640 
 10 
 
 Bacon, fts 5,357 5,357 
 Bran " . 2,106 2,106 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 Lake. Canal. G & C UR 
 Ashes tons 22 - 
 
 Bark, tons..., 329 329 
 
 Cider bbls 37 37 
 
 Corn, bu 2,737,011 2,737.011 
 
 Candles, boxes 1,300 1,300 
 
 Apples bbls 21 318 
 
 
 Cattle No 77 77 
 
 \le bbls 209 
 
 21 
 
 72 
 
 Castings pcs 41 41 
 
 Agric'l Impl'ts, tons 
 Beef bbls 11 
 
 Corn Meal bbls 350 350 
 
 1 178 
 
 Coffee, tts 197,182 197,182 
 Cheese " 51 238 51 238 
 
 Bark cords ....2,646 
 
 
 Brick, no 361 200 
 
 
 Carpet, work, tons, 53 53 
 
 Butter, pkgs 866 
 
 2,818 9,587 
 8,785 90,248 
 
 Clocks, Ibs 53,286 53 286 
 
 Barley, bu 1,687 
 Beer Bottles hhds 13 
 
 Coal, tons 196 1,245 1,441 
 
 Crackers, Ibs 1,227 1,227 
 Crockery, tons 122 122 
 
 Baskets, No 460 
 
 
 
 Eggs, bbls 723 723 
 
 
 89 
 5 740 
 
 Flour, " 61,196 2,901 62,097 
 
 Buckwheat, bu 
 
 Fish. " 464 3,106 3,570 
 
 201,500 
 
 Flax Seed, bbls 408 . 408 
 
 Beeswax, fts 
 Broom Corn, tons .... 
 
 48 457 
 
 Flax, bdls... 18 . 18 
 
 184 
 7,827 
 671,%1 
 60,524 
 240 
 
 Fruit, fts 36,200 583,070 619,270 
 
 Furs,pkg? 269 269 
 
 Corn, bu 1,810,830 
 
 Grind Stones tons 89 89 
 
 Gunny Bags bales 18 18 
 
 Charcoal, bu 
 Clocks, tts 
 
 Ginseng 4 4 
 
 1,320 
 
 Groceries, pkgs.... 4,076 4,076 
 Highwines, bbls,... 13 374 2,868 . 16242 
 
 Candles, bxs 941 
 
 84 
 3,310 
 
 Hams, No 128 67 . 1% 
 
 Cider bbls 420 
 
 Hams & Shou'ds.cks 5,560 5,560 
 
 Cedar Pests, No.. 199,221 
 
 
 Horses " 17 17 
 
 Chairs, No 615 
 
 
 Hemp, b?les .. 4140 4140 
 
 Chair Stuflfc rolls 497 
 
 
 Hardware, pkr- 9,123 9,123 
 tons.... 79 79 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hay " 578 578 
 
 Castings, pcs 2,653 
 Car Wheels, No 594 
 Do tons 58 
 Car Axle* No 450 
 
 
 
 
 Hogs, No 4,508 4508 
 
 
 Hair, Ibs 53,426 .... 53*426 
 
 
 Hops " 23149 23i4q 
 
 
 
 Iron tons 69 426 1968 2*463 
 
 rio-0 O 
 
 
 ** R. R. tons 9,647 . 9 647 v^*,, KK'IO 
 
 99 
 6,800 
 
 '' tools, Ibs.. .. 1,453 1*453 
 
 Empty Barrels 2,773 
 Engines & Boil's No 4 
 
 Leather, " 99,291 354,386 453677 
 
 
 Fish bbl/ ' 5 249 
 
 2 
 
 Lard, bbls & kegs.. 4,638 4638 
 
 Flour, bbls 2,857 
 Furniture, fts 20,700 
 
 1,846 44,316 
 139,218 
 
 
 Lime bbls 1 605 1 605 
 
 Lumber, feet 49,095,181 21,645.090 70, 740^271 
 
 
 11,200 
 63,984 
 
 Lath, pieces 10,659,245 4,589,200 15,24-8,445 
 
 Fruit.fts 
 
 Mdz. pkgs 4,450 4,450 
 tb-T 14,359,504 34,061,60048420164 
 
 Do bxs 4,909 
 Feathers, tts 
 Furs and Pelts 
 Grindstones, No... 9,051 
 
 80*804 
 
 
 Marble tons ' 277 27" 
 
 
 Mill Atones 'tons 22 . 22 
 
 
 Glass, bxs 20,781 
 Glassware, casks 71 
 
 
 Malt. " 51 .... 21 

 
 11 
 
 Grease, Bs 
 Hogs, live. No 280 
 
 71,396 
 
 
 
 71,396 
 280 
 10,968.310 
 4,796 
 662 
 2,119 
 16,000 
 436,510 
 29 
 200 
 1,294,1530 
 4,223 
 4.878 
 871,028 
 180 
 45,660 
 1,446 
 11.227 
 81,995 
 3,496 
 148,652.274 
 19,859,670 
 16 
 5,457 
 364 
 1,357,327 
 292 
 1,390 
 660 
 121 
 67,793 
 305,696 
 4,650 
 1496 
 1 
 4,250 
 
 ffi 
 
 746,564 
 83,728 
 10,685 
 750 
 978 
 1,508,644 
 189 
 999 
 30.610 
 15,907 
 1,937.237 
 52,000 
 732 
 3,270 
 39,772 
 6,232 
 500 
 617 
 57,830 
 6,089 
 60.223 
 2.374 
 257 
 6,470 
 1,239 
 77,080,500 
 1,258,302 
 24,000 
 
 M 
 
 2,750 
 1.053 
 35,649 
 91,674 
 185 
 198 
 387 
 2,324 
 1,500 
 1450 
 368 
 
 a 
 
 253 
 42 
 600 
 907 
 981 
 151 
 309 
 1,604 
 735 
 184 
 247 
 617 
 127 
 112 
 105 
 19,640 
 491 
 3,7(58 
 9,443 
 74.723 
 1,690,650 
 
 742,844 
 6,532 
 1,125 
 432 
 
 Whisky, bbls.... 1,783 5,658 7,441 
 Wheel Barrows, 865 865 
 Wagon Hubbs 4 286 4 2H6 
 
 Do dressed, Bs 
 Hollow ware, galls. 4,796 
 Do ions,. ,.0f)2 
 
 86,800 
 
 10,881,510 
 
 Wood, cds 22,319 28,322 859 5l'.500 
 Woodenware ps 1 160 1 160 
 
 
 
 Hard ware, pkgs 2.119 
 
 
 
 " tons *23 *23 
 
 Hoops, No 16,000 
 Do Bs 
 
 
 
 Wagons No 46 56 10 
 
 436,510 
 
 
 Wool Bs 525632 244662 7702^4 
 
 Horses, No 29 
 
 
 White Lead. Bs .... 138,712 138,712 
 
 CITY IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 Our time and limits will not permit us to 
 enter into a detailed statement of the im- 
 provements made for the past year. Suffice 
 it to say, that more progress has been made 
 than at any former period. Elegant residen- 
 ces have been built in all parts of the city, 
 splendid blocks of stores have been erected 
 on our principal streets, and the limits of the 
 inhabited part of the city have been greatly 
 extended. 
 On the 20th of Febuary, 1852, the Michi- 
 gan Southern Railroad was opened to this 
 city. The Depot is located near Gurnee's 
 Tannery, on the South Branch. The Rock 
 Island Railroad have built their Depot direct- 
 ly opposite. A year since, there were only 
 a few old buildings in that neighborhood, and 
 it was considered far " out of town." Now 
 nearly the whole of Clark street is built up 
 as far south as the depot, and there has an im- 
 portant addition been made to the city where, 
 a year since, it was open prairie. 
 The Michigan Central Railroad was opened 
 to Chicago on Friday, May 21st. Grounds 
 for the depot were leased a short distance be- 
 low Twelfth street, on the Lake shore. The 
 buildings are temporary, as it is intended to 
 establish the depot for this road and the Illi- 
 nois Central, between the fopt of Randolph 
 street and the south pier. Hence no perma- 
 nent buildings have been put up where the 
 depot now stands, and no very considerable 
 addition has been made to the city in that 
 vicinity. 
 In the summer season, both these lines fur- 
 nish a direct steam communication with the 
 cities on the seaboard. About the 1st of Jan- 
 uary last, all the railroad lines along the 
 south shore of Lake Erie were completed, 
 and these, with the Erie Railroad and the 
 Michigan Southern, give us a direct railrc 
 line to New York. This has formed an era 
 in the history of Chicago, which will always 
 be regarded with interest. Our merchants 
 who, in the depth of winter, were obliged to 
 consume some two weeks in staging through 
 Canada mud "up to the hub," in order to pur- 
 chase their goods for the spring trade, can 
 now go through, and enjoy the luxury of a 
 comfortable railroad car, in two days. In the 
 
 Hf Bushels. No . 200 
 
 
 
 Hides, Bs 11,000 
 Hams, Bs 
 
 887,318 
 4.223 
 4,878 
 871,028 
 180 
 5,100 
 
 390,312 
 
 Hops, Ibs 
 
 Hemp, Bs 
 
 Hay, tons 
 Iron, bdls&brs.... 40,560 
 do tons 1,446 
 
 do RR, tons.... 11,227 
 
 
 
 do do bars.... 81,995 
 do pig, tons 3,495 
 Lumber, ft.... 147,816,232 
 Lath, pcs 19.759.670 
 Locomotives. No 16 
 
 "76,148 
 1,000 
 
 ' 759,894 
 
 
 Lead, kegs 5147 
 
 
 
 do rolls 364 
 
 
 
 do Bs 
 
 642,027 
 232 
 625 
 
 ' 715,366 
 
 Lead Pipe, tons 60 
 
 do pkgs 660 
 
 
 Liquor, casks 121 
 
 
 
 Mdse.pkgs 305,696 
 do tons ..4,446 
 
 67,793 
 
 
 204 
 846 
 
 
 Malt, bu 650 
 
 
 Mills, No 1 
 
 
 Marble, pcs 4.250 
 
 
 
 do tons 374 
 
 
 
 Mahogany, pcs Ill 
 
 
 
 Molasses, Bs 
 Meal B<* 
 
 746,564 
 83,728 
 
 
 
 Nails, kegs 10,685 
 Nuts Ibs 
 
 750 
 140 
 833,703 
 
 
 Oils, bbls . 838 
 
 
 
 674,941 
 
 Powder, tons 189 
 
 Plaster, bbls 999 
 
 
 
 Potatoes, bu 6,772 
 Paper, reams 3100 
 
 17,552 
 
 6,286 
 12,807 
 1,836,084 
 
 Provisions, tts 3.300 
 Pickets, No 52,000 
 
 97,853 
 
 Pumps, No 782 
 
 
 
 Pork bb's %0 
 
 2,310 
 
 
 
 Pails, No 39,772 
 Potters' Ware, fts .... 
 Posts No 
 
 6,232 
 500 
 617 
 57 830 
 
 
 
 Rye bu . . 
 
 
 
 
 Rice fts 
 
 6,089 
 
 
 R. R. Ties, No.... 60,232 
 " Chairs, bdls 2,374 
 " bbls 257 
 " " Bs.. 6.470 
 Rosin, bbls 1,239 
 Shingles, No.. 77,080,500 
 Staves, No 1,258,302 
 Spokes. No 24,000 
 Spiles No f322 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spars No 98 
 
 
 
 Stone, PCS 2,750 
 tons . 1,053 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 35,649 
 
 
 Salt, bbls 91,674 
 " tons 185 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spikes, tons 198 
 Stoves, tons 386 
 " No 2,324 
 Stone Pipe, pea.. 1,500 
 Saleratus, pks... 1,450 
 Stucco bbls 368 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 !!!".!!! 
 
 Skins, 'No 8 
 Soap, Bs 600 
 Sofas No .44 
 
 ' 112,148 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Safes No 42 
 
 
 
 Starch, boxes.,.. 600 
 Sundries, bbls... 907 
 tons 
 Shot tons 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 i4(> 
 
 309 
 1.604 
 
 981 
 
 Seeds, tons 
 
 
 
 
 735 
 
 184 
 222 
 
 
 Spts, not whisky bbls, 
 Tobacco, tons... 27 
 " boxes... 617 
 Tin, pigs 127 
 " tons 112 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " boxes 105 
 Tinware, galls,.. 19640 
 Tar. bbls 491 
 Tubs No ... 3,71)8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trees No 2 ^72 
 
 6,471 
 74,723 
 87,400 
 
 
 TalJow. Bs 
 Lumber, ft.... 1,603,250 
 
 
 
 
 Wheat, bu 129,2:>l 
 Water Lime, bbls 6,532 
 " Pipe, tns.. 1,1?5 
 " " DCS... 432 
 
 108,597 
 
 504,996 
 
 

 
 12 
 
 course of the year, the Canada Railroad, con- 
 necting Detroit with Buffalo, will be finished 
 when we shall have a choice of routes to 
 the east, at all seasons; and within two or 
 three years, the Fort Wayne and Logansport 
 Railroads will open two other routes. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 During the past few months, two extensive 
 car manufacturing establishments have been 
 put in active operation. One is located near 
 the Rock Island Depot, and is owned by two 
 distinct companies. G. W. Sizer & Co. cast 
 the wheels and do all the iron work connect- 
 ed with the manufacture of cars. They have 
 a large establishment and are doing a heavy 
 business. They are now using eight tons of 
 iron per day, brought mostly from Ohio and 
 New York. A. B. Stone & Co. do the wood 
 work and the upholstery and finishing of the 
 cars. The two companies are building ten 
 cars per week, and employ nearly two hun- 
 dred men. The buildings were commenced 
 on the 22d of last September, and in the short 
 space of six months the whole establisnment 
 has been built and put in active operation. 
 
 The AMERICAN CAR COMPANY have erected 
 their works about half a mile north of Myr- 
 ick's on the lake shore, and will have, when 
 completed in all respects, one of the most 
 perfectly appointed manufactories that can 
 be found in the western states. They have 
 in their enclosure thirteen acres. The build- 
 ings now completed have an aggregate length 
 of 1250 by an average width of 60 feet. The 
 capital of the Company is $200,000, and they 
 have already expended some $130,000. Three 
 thousand five hundred tons of pig iron are 
 used per year, in the manufacture of car 
 wheels and the other car castings, and 2,000 
 tons of coal are consumed. The buildings 
 were commenced in August last, and at that 
 time much of the timber used in the build- 
 ings was growing in the forests of Michigan 
 and Illinois. The company have already 
 completed 74 freight, and ten elegant pas- 
 senger cars. When all their arrangements 
 are perfected, they intend to finish three 
 freight cars per day and a passenger carper 
 week. 
 
 The completion of these extensive manu- 
 factories in the short space of a few months 
 is a fair specimen of western enterprise. At 
 the West, whatever we take hold of, "is 
 hound to go ahead" not at an oldfoyy pace, 
 but with railroad speed. 
 
 In addition to these car manufactories, we 
 learn that Messrs. Stevens, of Concord, N H., 
 are about to establish an extensive locomo- 
 tive manufactory. This is much needed, and 
 will do, if properly managed, an immense 
 business. Two factories, if now completed, 
 would have all they could do to fill the orders 
 for railroads now built and in process of con- 
 struction. So far as we can learn, the site 
 for the factory is not definitely determined. 
 
 THE NEW HYDRAULIC WORKS are progressing 
 as fast as circumstances will permit. Nearly 
 nine miles of the main pipes were laid last 
 fall, the well is completed, and we may hope 
 in a few months to have an abundant supply 
 of pure water in all parts of the city. This 
 will add immensely to the health and com- 
 fort of our citizens. The amount expended 
 on the different contracts up to January 3d 
 was $154,061.88. The amount necessary to 
 complete the work according to estimate of 
 the Chief Engineer, W. J. McAlpine, Esq., is 
 $207,162.77. This has all been provided for 
 on terms very favorable to the city. 
 
 REAPERS. 
 
 One of the most extensive establishments 
 in the city is that for the manufacture of Mc- 
 Cormick's Reapers. This factory employs a 
 large number of hands, and in various ways 
 adds to the prosperity of our citizens. Mr. 
 McCormick manufactured during the last 
 year, 1600 reapers, and reapers and mowers 
 combined. The amount realized at an aver- 
 age of $140 each, would be $224,000. 
 
 During the past season, John S. Wright, 
 Esq. has put in operation an extensive factory 
 for the manufacture of Hussey's Reapers, At- 
 kin's Automaton Reapers, and other agricul- 
 tural implements. Mr. Wright has in process 
 of construction 45 Hussey's Reapers, 65 At- 
 kin's Automaton Reapers, 25 seed-drills, 100 
 plows, and several other minor agricultural 
 implements. 
 
 Atkin's Automaton Reaper is a recent in- 
 rention, and promises to be a most valuable, 
 as it certainly is one of the most ingenious 
 agricultural implements. It has recently 
 been brought to notice by Mr. Wright in 
 England. By a recent article in the London 
 Times, we learn that it was commanding the 
 attention of the best informed and most ex- 
 tensive English agriculturists. In this coun 
 try it has also secured the admiration of all 
 who have witnessed its truly wonderful move- 
 ments.
 
 13 
 
 COACH AND WAGON MANUFACTURING. 
 
 Among the various branches of manufac- 
 turing carried on in Chicago, none stands out 
 more prominent than the carriage and wagon 
 making business. And yet but few of our 
 citizens generally are aware of the extent 
 that this branch of trade is being carried on 
 in our midst. 
 
 A business that is em ply ing so many men, 
 and so large an amount of capital as this, 
 must necessarily make some outside show ; 
 and hardly any one can fail to notice the 
 sure manifestations of a wagon shop, by the 
 vehicles which usually stand about the doors 
 of such establishments a sure indication of 
 the industry pervading within. Especially 
 does this apply to Randolph street, which 
 by far eclipses all other streets in the city, 
 in the number of vehicles manufactured, 
 from the costly barouche to a truckman's 
 dray. More than half of the carriage man- 
 ufacturing establishments in the city are on 
 this street, and they comprise nearly all of j 
 the heaviest business firms. 
 
 The total number of these establishments 
 is twenty-five ; of which, fourteen are in , 
 the South Division, and the remainder in the i 
 West Division. The following shows the j 
 number of men employed, the number of ! 
 vehicles manufactured, during the year their j 
 average value, and the capital used in the ! 
 business : 
 
 No. of men 323. 
 
 No. of Vehicles 2625. 
 
 Aggregate value $210,445. 
 
 Capital employed $127,000. 
 
 In the list of vehicles are included, farmers' 
 wagons, buggies, barouches, and coaches. i 
 Of this [number, a very prominent portion ! 
 supplies the demand in our own State ; while , 
 large numbers are being continually sent to i 
 Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Min- 1 
 nesota ; and not a few to St. Louis, to supply j 
 the State of Missouri. Add to this, the num- 
 ber that have been taken to Oregon and Cal- j 
 ifornia, and the reader can form quite an ad- 
 equate ide of the demand for Chicago manu- ; 
 f-ictures. And we are informed by some of ; 
 our most extensive builders, that during the j 
 past season, the demand has been so great 
 that they have for several months sold only 
 to those who had ordered in advance, and 
 frequently have been obliged to turn away 
 customers, being unable to supply them. 
 This state of the trade has induced many to 
 go into the business during the past year, 
 and those who have been long established 
 
 are extending their facilities in order to meet 
 the increasing demand. 
 
 Most of the timber used, conies from our 
 neighboring State, Michigan especially ash, 
 hickory and white wood. The latter is rep- 
 resented to be of a quality superior to that 
 which grows in the Eastern States. Northern 
 Indiana, and in fact, the whole length of the 
 St. Joseph Valley, furnishes also a large 
 supply of the wagon timber used here. 
 Northern Wisconsin, and the vicinity near 
 Sheboygan, also sends her oak ; and even our 
 own Illinois furnishes a share of the material 
 though not in comparison with the before 
 mentioned localities. A small supply of tim- 
 ber for felloes, hubs and shafts, for fine car- 
 riages, is brought from New Jersey ; and one 
 firm has introduced some from Cincinnati; 
 but as a general thing, our own western 
 forests are abundantly capable of supplying 
 all the timber that is requisite for the manu- 
 facture of wagons and carriages in Chicago. 
 
 THE PLOW BUSINESS. 
 
 This is a very important and extensive 
 branch of Chicago manufactures. Plows 
 made in this city have been sent to California 
 and Oregon, and give universal satisfaction. 
 There is an immense extent of country that 
 depends on this city for this essential agri- 
 cultural implement. We have not been able 
 to collect the precise statistics, but the amount 
 of the business done cannot be less than 
 $100,000. 
 
 TANNING BUSINESS. 
 
 We have four tanning establishments. The 
 firms, engaged in this business are W. S. Gur- 
 nee & Co., Chas. F. Grey & Co., Osborn and 
 Cobb and C. C. Wallin ct Son. Some of them 
 are doing an immense business. The amount 
 paid for labor and the raw material in these 
 different establishments is as follows: 
 
 Cost of 38, 785 hides and skins, tanned in Chica- 
 go, in the year 1852 $96,^2 
 
 130 hands employed at a cost of 26.58U 
 
 3450 cords of bark consumed in manufacturing 
 the above 19,525 
 
 Cost of Oil. Tallow, &c 6.M 
 
 Total cost of raw material and labor $149,247 
 
 What the value of the manufactured articles 
 would amount to, we have not been able to 
 learn ; but it must be large. The great ad- 
 vantage which this city affords for the suc- 
 cessful prosecution of this business, is the 
 number of hides that our beef packing houses 
 afford, and the wide extent of country that 
 is dependant on this city for its leather. The 
 opening of so many lines of railroads will af-
 
 14 
 
 ford a m\:ek wider field for the enterprise of 
 our leather manufacturers. 
 
 STOVES. 
 
 Raymond, "Ward & Co. are the only firm 
 that have manufactured stoves. The materi- 
 als used and the amount paid for labor, are 
 as follows : 
 
 350 tons Scotch Iron, cost say $25 $8,750 00 
 
 314 " Am. " " 25 7,85000 
 
 60 " Scrap " 20 1,20000 
 
 165 " HardCoal, " 8 1,32000 
 
 204 " Erie & 111. coal" 5 1,02000 
 
 120 " Mould'gSand" 3^ 42000 
 
 1,000 " Bu. charcoal " Sets 8000 
 
 Lumber and other et ceteras 1,00000 
 
 Cash paid for labor 18,000 00 
 
 *39,t>10 00 
 MANUFACTURED. 
 2,126 Cooking Stoves. 
 1,543 Parlor, Box and Office Stores. 
 3,000 Setts Pump Pieels. 
 253% tons McCormick's Reaper Castings. 
 60 tons various other Castings. 
 
 These stoves were shipped to the towns on 
 the Illinois and Upper Mississippi rivers, and 
 had a very extensive sale, The establishment 
 is near McCormick's Reaper factory, and Mr. 
 McC. has purchased it, and intends to use it 
 exclusively in manufacturing castings for hi 
 Reapers. 
 
 THE WATCH AND JEWELRY BUSINESS. 
 
 This is becoming a v<^y important branch 
 of trade. One firm has manufactured nearly 
 twenty thousand dollars worth of these goods, 
 and the business of a number of pur houses 
 ranges from thirty to one hundred thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 CCNCLI7&IOX. 
 
 $2We intended to have obtained the statis- 
 tics of our extensive engine builders >aud ma- 
 chinists on the west side, but time has failed 
 us. We hope to do better next year. 
 Messrs. Gates & McKnight, Scoville & Sons, 
 A. Moses, Messrs. Cobb, Alderman Granger, 
 and a number of others, are doing a very 
 large amount of business. A great variety 
 of other establishments and manufactories 
 ought to be noticed, but time and space will 
 not permit. 
 
 The facts above given, we think, will con- 
 vince the most skeptical, that the inarch ol 
 improvement at the West is omvard. They 
 show an increase in population, wealth and 
 resources, which must prove exceedingly 
 gratifying to all our citizens. They will 
 serve to extend the conviction, now almost 
 universal, that Chicago is destined to be- 
 come the great commercial centre of the 
 Northwest, and among the first, if not the 
 
 first, city in the Mississippi Valley. Her posi- 
 tion at the head of a thousand miles of 
 lake navigation gives her a commanding 
 influence. She has no levee to be inundated 
 causing the destruction of millions of property. 
 Neither is she situated upon a river, whose 
 navigable capacity the clearing up of the 
 country will be liable to affect. She is sub- 
 ject to no floods nor inundations. To the 
 north, west and south, almost boundless prai- 
 ries and groves are inviting the toil of the 
 husbandman to develop their treasures and 
 yield a rich reward to honest industry. In 
 all the elements-of wealth, their resources are 
 exhaustless. The mineral treasures of Lake 
 Superior will soon pay tribute to Chicago; 
 and our railroads in a few months will have 
 reached the lead regions of the Galena dis- 
 trict. The Rock Island and the Illinois Cen- 
 tral Railroads will soon penetrate the most 
 extensive coal field in the United States, and 
 in fact in the world, and our commerce, and 
 more especially our manufactures must in- 
 crease in a ratio far beyond what has hither 
 to been realized. 
 
 Within the next five years the railroads 
 that will be completed and centre in this city 
 will extend more than three thousand miles. 
 If we should add the extensions of these 
 trunk lines to their ultimate limits, their ag- 
 gregate lengths would amount to tens of thou- 
 sands. Within five years we expect to be in 
 railroad connexion with Milwaukee and Mad- 
 ison, Wis., with Dubuque and Council Bluffs, 
 Rock Island, St. Louis, Cairo, New Orleans, 
 Mobile, Savannah, Ga.. Charleston, S. C., Rich- 
 mond, Va., Washington, Baltimore, Phila- 
 delphia, New York, Boston, Portland, and 
 "the rest of mankind." A bright future is 
 therefore before the " GARDEN CITY." Let 
 our merchants and mechanics, our artisans 
 and business men generally, understand the 
 advantages which our commanding commer- 
 cial position affords. Let them with becom- 
 ing prudence, but with far-seeing, intelligent 
 views as to what the spirit of the age and 
 the stirring times in which we live demand, 
 gird themselves for the work of making Chi- 
 cago the great commercial emporium of the 
 Mississippi Valley. The prize is within their 
 grasp ; let thorn show the world that they are 
 worthy, and the rich commerce of the prai- 
 ries and of the lakes will most certainly crown 
 their efforts with success.
 
 RAILROADS 
 
 CENTERING AT CHICAGO 
 
 We have frequently been solicited by persons, both in this city and elsewhere, to 
 
 ive a detailed statement of the number and names of the Railroads, completed, un- 
 er process of construction, and about to be put under contract for finishing, which 
 center in this city. The importance of such a statement, in aiding business men and 
 capitalists, at home and abroad, to properly understand the advantages of our com- 
 mercial position, has been manifest ; but the difficulty of obtaining authentic material, 
 the new projects constantly coming before the public, and, until recently, the unsettled 
 character of several of the most important of the proposed lines of road, have here- 
 tofore rendered such an undertaking very arduous, while its results could not be satis- 
 factory, because of the uncertain condition of things. Change has made the order 
 of each day in Illinois and the North-west, during the last few years. To illustrate 
 this fact : 
 
 Eighteen years ago, there were not five thousand white inhabitants in all the vast 
 region of beautiful country lying between Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean ! 
 Now, the number is over (me million ! 
 
 Twelve years ago, Chicago was esteemed, by capitalists and business men in the 
 east, but little more substantial than a fiction. Now, they admit it is on the eve of 
 becoming the largest inland city in the Union the commercial metropolis of the 
 Mississippi Valley ! 
 
 Ten years ago, six or eight days were occupied in passing from Chicago to New 
 York. Now, it only requires forty-eight hours ! Rival lines will soon reduce the dis- 
 tance several hours more. 
 
 Five years ago, Chicago had not a single foot of railroad in any direction. Now, 
 she has over two hundred miles completed, within the State, and free access, at all 
 times, to every city on the sea-board, from Portland to Savannah ! 
 
 There are no circumstances connected with the history of any nation, that are more 
 calculated to excite astonishment and heartfelt gratification, than these. 
 
 What we have to deal with, however, in this article, is not the past, but the Pres- 
 ent and future of Chicago. These are connected with her commercial position, and 
 the prosecution of those great enterprizes which, when completed, will make her the 
 great store-house of the East and the West, the Central Exchange of the Nation. 
 
 In noticing the railroads of which Chicago is the center, we shall divide them into 
 two classes, the first running directly into our city, and the second being branches 
 and extensions of the first. We shall also notice those that are completed, those only 
 partly so, and those that are either in course of construction, or the immediate con- 
 struction of which is placed beyond a doubt. 
 
 The following is a list of the trunk roads, and also of the extensions and branches, 
 with a statement of the length of each : 
 
 Chicago and Milwaukee, 92 Miles. 
 
 Illinois and Wisconsin to Fonddu Lac, - 175 " 
 
 Chicago and Galena, to Freeport, - 125 " 
 
 Chicago, St. Charles and Mississippi Air Line, - - 135 " 
 
 Chicago and Aurora, to meet Illinois Central, - 86 " 
 
 Chicago and Rock Island, - 180 " 
 
 Chicago and Mississippi, to Alton, - 280 
 
 Illinois Central, Chicago to Cairo, - - 353 "
 
 16 
 
 Chicago and Cincinnati, via Logansport, 281 Miles. 
 
 Chicago and Fort Wayne, - 180 " 
 Michigan Southern, - 243 " 
 
 Michigan Central, to Detroit, - - 280 " 
 
 Total miles of trunk roads, 2410 
 
 BRANCH ROADS. 
 
 Beloit Branch of Galena road, 21 Miles. 
 
 Beloit and Madison, (Extension,) - 53 " 
 
 Dubuque and Galena, to Janesville, 86 " 
 
 " " " to Freeport, - 67 " 
 
 Savanna and Freeport branch, 35 " 
 Galena branch of 111. Central, from Freeport to junction with 
 
 Aurora road, - 60 " 
 
 Mississippi and Rock River Junction, Fulton City to Sycamore 
 
 Branch of the Air Line, - 80 " 
 
 HI. Central, from Clinton county to junction with Aurora road, 195 " 
 Northern Cross and Central Military Tract, from Quincy to 
 
 connection with Aurora road, - 180 " 
 
 St. Charles branch of Galena road, - 7 
 
 Fox River Valley, - - 40 
 
 Mineral Point branch road, - 32 
 
 Janesville to Madison, - 34 
 
 Milwaukee to Fond dti Lac, 60 
 
 Madison, Wisconsin, to Ontonagon on Lake Superior, about 200 
 
 Madison to LaCrosse, - 150 " 
 
 Total miles of Branch roads, - 1300 
 
 Thus we have twelve trunk roads, (we count the Chicago branch of the Illinois 
 Central among this number, because it is nearly 400 miles long, and runs direct into 
 our city from Cairo,) and sixteen branches and extensions. We have not taken into 
 account as branches, the Burlington, Oquawka and Peoria road, which will feed into 
 the Central Military Tract from two points on the Mississippi, and from Peoria on the 
 Illinois river ; nor the New Albany and Salem, which is to run from New Albany, on 
 the Ohio river, and join the Michigan Central at Michigan City, though, it is acknowl- 
 edged they will be very important contributors to the prosperity of our city. Neither 
 have we considered as branches or extensions, the Mobile and Ohio road, which is 
 really a continuation of the line of the Illinois Central to Mobile ; nor the various lines 
 which our Iowa neighbors have determined to connect with our roads, and extend on 
 parallel lines, from their eastern border on the Mississippi to their western frontier on 
 the Missouri, though these will be of eminent importance in estimating the extent of 
 country for which our city will be the natural market. 
 
 Without taking these into consideration, therefore, we have the following statement 
 of the number of miles of railroad soon to center upon our city : 
 
 Trunk roads, - 2410 miles. 
 
 Branches, - 1300 " 
 
 Total number of miks, - 3710 
 
 Some of the branches are more properly extensions, as they are direct continuations 
 of trunk roads, the distinction being only that they are constructed under different 
 corporate names and companies. Of this 'number is the Northern Cross and Central 
 Military Tract road, which runs very direct from Quincy, on the Mississippi river, to 
 the Western termination of the Aurora road, eighteen miles north of La Salle. So, 
 also, is the Savanna branch of the Galena road, as it is a mere continuation of the lat- 
 ter to the nearest point on the Mississippi river. The same may be said of the section 
 of the Illinois Central road, from Freeport to Dubuque. But the reader will see, at a 
 glance, that though called branch roads, they are none the less important on that ac- 
 count.
 
 17 
 
 In order to indicate to the general reader the importance of each of these roads to 
 our city, we propose a brief account of each particular line, with the character of the 
 country for which it is to be an outlet. 
 
 The first among the number is the 
 
 GALENA AND CHICAGO UNION RAILROAD. 
 
 This work was first projected in 1836, but failed with the general prostration of 
 public and private credit in 1837. Subsequently, in 1847, a company was organised 
 WM. B. OGDEN as President, JOHN B. TURNER as Superintendent, and some of our 
 principal citizens and real estate owners as Directors. As it may be considered the 
 Parent of the railroad system subsequently adopted in this State, we will be excused 
 for speaking of it at some length. After the organization of the company the ques- 
 tion as to stock subscriptions was the great trouble. A committee of the Directors 
 went over the whole country on the line between this and Galena, for the purpose of 
 ascertaining the amount of cultivated land that would contribute to the business of the 
 road. After several weeks of careful observation and inquiry, it was estimated that 
 not over two and a half per cent, of the entire country, embracing a strip forty miles 
 in width, was under cultivation. It was also estimated, after careful inquiry, that the 
 number of passengers that would pass over the road, after the completion of the first 
 division, from Chicago to Fox River, would be 1 7,000. On these two estimates, it 
 was settled that the road would pay a fair interest to the stockholders, if strict econo- 
 my were practised. The report of the Engineer, Richard P. Morgan, printed at the 
 time, for the purpose of giving the public information on the subject, and encouraging 
 them to subscribe to the stock of the road, gives the following as the estimated busi- 
 ness of the line, when completed through to Galena. We copy a few of the articles 
 on which estimates were given : 
 
 Corn, Oats, Barley, Potatoes, &c. 5,000 tons, at $2 per ton, $10,000 
 
 Pork and Beef, 4,000 tons, at $2, 8,000 
 
 Live Stock, Wool, Hides, Skins, &c., 1,000 tons, - 3,000 
 
 Cheese, Lard, Butter, &c., 500 tons, 2,000 
 
 Boards, Plank and Joists, 6,000,000 ft. - 12,000 
 
 Shingles, Lath, and other lumber 3;000 
 
 Passengers, East and West, - 150,000 
 
 Many of these estimates were considered extravagant, not only by moneyed men in 
 the East, who, having real estate in the city and on the line of the proposed road, 
 were interested in its success, but by our most intelligent citizens, also ; and when Mr. 
 Ogden canvassed the city for subscriptions among the merchants and mechanics, he 
 was only able to secure $20,000, and this from persons who had in view an advantage 
 to their real estate greater than what they expected to lose by their subscriptions. 
 Many persons subscribed a few hundred dollars, intending to pay some of the first in- 
 stalments and then forfeit their stock. After drumming the city and country for 
 months, subscriptions were obtained to the extent of about $400,000, of which it was 
 supposed two-thirds would be paid up, in full, and the remainder partly paid and for- 
 feited. Great inducements were held out to subscribers to advance their full stock, 
 which was generally done by the Directors. Money was borrowed at exorbitant rates 
 of interest, and in small sums, wherever it could be obtained; and when Messrs. J. B. 
 Turner and B. W. Raymond proceeded East to effect loans, they could get nothing 
 on the credit of the company, but had to pledge their individual names. 
 
 By such means, the road went ahead, slowly, it is true, and when it reached 
 Cottage Hill, fourteen miles from the city, the public were astounded with the an- 
 nouncement that its business exceeded all expectations, and already paid six or eight 
 per cent. Stock, which had gone down to 75 or 80 cents on the dollar, was no longer 
 considered a dead loss, and hopes were entertained that the predictions of the Engi- 
 neer, quoted above, might be verified. 
 
 Steadily the road was pushed forward, under the personal supervision of Mr. Tur- 
 ner and the then new Engineer, Mr. Van Nortwick, and every additional mile that 
 was completed improved the character of the work in the estimation of stockholders 
 2
 
 18 
 
 and capitalists. Finally it reached Fox River ; and that was a great point gained, as 
 the period for demonstrating the character of the road, beyond all cavil, had arrived. 
 The people of the country rejoiced, and many did not care whether their stock paid 
 or not ; but the merchants and mechanics of the city became alarmed lest, in making 
 their stock good, they should lose their country trade. In every part of the city, disas- 
 ter was predicted from the transfer of the retail trade from the city to the country towns 
 along Fox River and the line of the road. And it was doubtless true that the trade 
 of the city had to undergo a change, and that it bore heavily upon some kinds of bus- 
 iness ; but it gave additional life and energy to others, and as soon as our trade had 
 accommodated itself to the new condition of things, complaints in a measure ceased. 
 Farmers commenced producing and selling twice as much as they had been previously 
 doing ; and, of course, they bought twice as much. It called into existence and sus- 
 tained wholesale dealers, and every branch of business was aifected in that way to 
 some extent. Farmers were selling their produce, and buying, building, and improv- 
 ing constantly. Agricultural implements, lumber, shingles, lath, machinery, nails, 
 glass, dry goods, groceries, furniture, and everything necessary to improvement, com- 
 fort and luxury, were bought here in quantities entirely beyond the two-penny char- 
 acter of previous transactions. The road, too, was overrun with business. It could 
 not manufacture cars rapidly enough to accommodate the pressing demand, and had 
 to borrow or buy a large number of second-hand ones from the Michigan Central Rail- 
 road. A large dividend was declared, and stock went up to par. Business still in- 
 creased and the stock went above par and became scarce. Ten, twelve, fifteen and 
 sixteen per cent, in regular half-yearly dividends was successively declared, and al- 
 though the road is completed but little over half way to Galena, the stock has been 
 sold at from thirty to forty per cent, premium, and but little is to be had at that ! 
 To show how greatly the estimates of the first Engineer, Mr. Morgan, which at the 
 time were considered beyond expectation, were below the actual results, let us com- 
 pare a few items : 
 
 Mr. Morgan estimated that, when the road was completed through to Galena, the 
 receipts of Pork, Beef, Cheese, Lard, Butter, Wool, Hides, Skins, Live Stock <fec. <fec., 
 would amount to 5,500 tons. The actual receipts of Pork alone, during the months 
 of November and December of 1852 were a fraction over 6,000 tons! 
 
 He also estimated the amount of Lumber, Shingles and Lath that would go West- 
 ward over the Road, when completed, at 6,000 tons of boards and joists and 1,000 
 tons of shingles, lath and other lumber. The report of the year's business, up to April 
 30th, 1851, when the road was only completed one third of the way to Galena, shows 
 the business to have been 5,900 tons of lumber, 18,152 bunches of lath, 5,882,000 
 shingles, and 771 cords of shingle bolts ! 
 
 Again Mr. Morgan estimated the amount of merchandize, including groceries, hard- 
 ware, crockery, paints, &c. <fec., at 5,000 tons. The amount for the year'ending, April 
 30th, 1851, when the road was only completed to Belvidere, was 6,790 tons. 
 
 These facts and comparisons will give the public something of an idea of the extent 
 of the increase of the general business of the Galena and Chicago Road over the orig- 
 inal estimates. What the increase will be when the road shall be completed to Free- 
 port, and opened to the trade of Iowa and Minnesota by means of the Savanna branch, 
 and the Galena branch of the Illinois Central road, we leave the reader to conjecture. 
 It is not our object to guess, but to state facts, as a basis for the judgment of the pub- 
 lic, in its action upon other roads, not only with reference to investments in their stock, 
 but also their effect upon the destinies of our city its business and real estate ; for, 
 we take it for granted that the history of the Chicago and Galena Railroad, thus far, 
 is a fair criterion for judging of the character of all the roads mentioned in the first 
 part of this article, and more fully treated of below. It is doubtless true that some of 
 these roads will not in the commencement meet with the success of the G. & C., but 
 when the country shall be more fully developed by their instrumentality, and our 
 prairies be covered with active life and almost boundless wealth ; when, in short, the 
 State of Illinois shall become the richest State in the confederacy, in its agricultural 
 and mineral productions, and our city the great commercial and manufacturing me- 
 tropolis of the Mississippi Valley, when these things shall take place, as they surely
 
 19 
 
 will within the life time of men who are now living here, the history of these Rail- 
 roads will be deemed more remarkable than that of the Chicago and Galena at this 
 time, or any other road in the United States. For nowhere in the world can roads 
 be built or operated so cheaply as over our prairies, and nowhere else is the soil so 
 universally productive and unfitted to any other means of transportation and travel. 
 
 CHICAGO AND AURORA RAILROAD. 
 
 This road has been completed to Aurora for two years, a distance of 43 miles, 
 for the first 30 of which the track of the Chicago and Galena road is used. A little 
 over a year ago books were opened for stock to extend it 45 miles further, to a point 
 151-2 miles North of La Salle, where it is to be met by the Illinois Central Railroad 
 from the South, the Galena branch of the same road from the Northwest, and the 
 Northern Cross and Central Military Tract road, from Quincy. All the travel and 
 trade destined for Chicago, from the counties bordering on the line of the Central 
 road South of La Salle, and North of Clinton County ; all from the line of the same 
 road Northwest to Freeport, and from the counties of Bureau, Henry, Stark, Knox, 
 Warren, Fulton, McDonough, Hancock, Schuyler and Adams on the line of the N. 
 C. & C. M. Tract road, will pass over the Chicago and Aurora road. Among all the 
 roads centering upon Chicago, none is destined to prove more lucrative to the stock- 
 holders or beneficial to the city. The rich and populous counties of the Military Tract 
 the Garden of this Garden State have heretofore contributed immensely to the 
 prosperity of St. Louis. On the completion of the Chicago and Aurora and the N. 
 C. & C. M. T. road, their vast productions will be turned in one unceasing stream 
 upon this city, while all of their merchandise and trade will either pass through or be 
 purchased here. The Aurora Road is all under contract, and will be finished by the 
 first day of next August. The Illinois Central connection is also guarantied to be fin- 
 ished at the same time, and it is only necessary to mention that J. W. Brooks, Esq., 
 is President of the N. C. <fe C. M. Tract Road, and that the Michigan Central Railroad 
 has subscribed all the stock that was wanted, to satisfy every citizen that it also will 
 be completed by the time promised, the first day of next September, fhe entire 
 distance from Chicago to Quincy is 266 miles. 
 
 CHICAGO AND ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD. 
 
 This road is to run from Chicago to Rock Island, via Peru, a distance of 180 miles. 
 One hundred miles of the road was completed, and the road was opened to Peru on 
 the 21st of March. This reaches the head of navigation on the Illinois river, and opens 
 to us a direct steam communication with New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. This 
 will bring an immense tide of travel through Chicago, as this will be the quickest and 
 best route between New York and the cities north of Baltimore on the seaboard, and 
 the towns and cities on the Mississippi river. 
 
 The whole road is under contract, and will be finished by the close of this year. 
 Though it ceases, in name, at Rock Island, it is, nevertheless, to be extended, under 
 another name and company, from Rock Island, in a Westward direction, through the 
 very centre of Iowa. It will draw to it all the trade and travel of the counties lying 
 on the Mississippi, from Whiteside to Hancock County, in Illinois, and the central part 
 of Iowa. It is also destined to be an important branch of the great Pacific Railroad, 
 as it is on the direct line from New York and Chicago to the South Pass of the Rocky 
 Mountains. As a stock-paying concern, it cannot fail of exceeding all the expectations 
 of its friends. 
 
 At the last meeting of the Legislature a company was chartered to bridge the Mis- 
 sissippi at Rock Island. When it is known that it is the only point on the whole 
 river where it can be brid ged without interfering with its navigation, and that the 
 company is to be directed by the sagacious judgment and indomitable enterprise of 
 Gov. Matteson, it is a guaranty that within two years the locomotive that leaves Chi- 
 cago in the morning may cross the Mississippi in the afternoon, and bring back to our 
 city, the next day, the productions of Iowa. 
 
 Some corporators of the Rock Island Railroad with other gentlemen interested in
 
 20 
 
 the work, have formed a company to extend the Rock Island road from Davenport, 
 on the opposite side of the Mississippi to Council Bluffs on the Missouri river. Its 
 length will be about three hundred miles. This road is in the hands of men of wealth 
 and unyielding energy, and we look with certainty for its completion within five years. 
 It will be of immense advantage to the commerce of Chicago, as the district in Iowa 
 through which it passes, is one of the richest portions of the Mississippi valley. All 
 the travel from the States east of us, by the overland route, to California and Oregon 
 would pass over this road ; and besides, it would, to say the least, bring us a share of 
 the upper Missouri trade, all of which has hitherto gone to St. Louis. 
 
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD CHICAGO BRANCH. 
 
 The public know so much about this road that we cannot enlighten them more. 
 It is to run direct from Chicago to Cairo, 353 miles, through a country unsurpassed 
 in beauty and fertility, but which has not been much settled on account of its remote- 
 ness from markets. Throughout a large part of the road, rich fields of coal, easy of 
 access, lie in the greatest abundance. It is principally a prairie country, and, within 
 two years after the road is opened, will require from fifty to one hundred millions of 
 our lumber, with a proportionate amount of shingles and lath. It will also produce 
 many millions of dollars worth of Corn, Wheat, Oats, Potatoes, Pork, Beef, Wool, &c., 
 nearly all of which will seeek this city as a legitimate market. This road is to be a 
 part of the great central line from Chicago to Mobile, for which Congress made a lib- 
 eral donation of the public domain. We have before us the report of the Engineer of 
 the southern section, which starts from a point on the river opposite Cairo, and runs 
 to Mobile. It will contribute greatly to the prosperity of the Illinois Central, as it will 
 place the two cities only 48 hours apart. In the winter, our citizens may, within that 
 time, pass from snow and ice to the region of summer, with its fruits and flowers ; and 
 in the summer, the citizens of the Southern States, who are oppressed with heat and 
 miasms, may, in the same length of time, come north, and enjoy the bracing and de- 
 licious atmosphere which is to be found nowhere so pure as in the vicinity of our great 
 Lakes. From Cairo to New Orleans, the river is never obstructed by ice, and is nav- 
 igable at all times for the largest class of boats. Three years hence, the distance be- 
 tween Chicago and New Orleans will be passed over by railroad in two, and by the 
 Mississippi river and Illinois Central road, in five days. It now requires from ten to 
 twelve. 
 
 CHICAGO AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 
 
 The line of this road is 280 miles the termini being Chicago and Alton, and the 
 principal intermediate points, Springfield and Bloomington. The part of it from Alton 
 to Springfield is now finished, and the section from the latter place to Bloomington, in 
 McLean county, is under contract to be completed by the first day of August. At 
 the latter point it will connect temporarily with the Illinois Central, so that passengers 
 may proceed to Alton by the Chicago and Aurora, Illinois Central, Rock Island, and 
 Chicago and Mississippi roads. That portion of the route between Bloomington and 
 this city has been surveyed, and the work is in the hands of a company of eastern 
 capitalists of abundant means to carry it forward to completion. It is to be almost a 
 direct line from Chicago to Alton, and will open to our city the trade of a large num- 
 ber of very rich counties. The importance of the work will be more readily seen by 
 reference to the map of the State of Illinois. 
 
 ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN ROAD. 
 
 This road, which has always been a favorite project with our citizens, is to run in a 
 north-west course via Woodstock, in McHenry county, to Janesville in Wisconsin, and 
 branching there, one branch running to Fond du Lac, a distance of 175 miles from 
 Chicago, with a very probable one to Lake Superior, and another branch to Madison, 
 and thence to St. Paul, in Minnesota. 
 
 Until last year, nothing definite was consummated in regard to it ; but it was then
 
 21 
 
 taken hold of, the means for its construction provided, and the whole line put under 
 contract. But for disappointment in obtaining ties, 25 miles of this end of the line 
 would now be finished and in use. One remarkable feature about it is, that it is on 
 the six foot guage the same as the New York and Erie. It is to pass through one 
 of the most beautiful sections of Illinois, and the very heart of Wisconsin. Recently, 
 it has been determined to build a branch from Janesville to Galena and Dubuque, also 
 on the six foot guage. To carry out this latter project, a large number of the heaviest 
 capitalists of Galena have guaranteed a subscription of $200,000 ; and Dubuque guar- 
 antees $200,000 more, and the surveys are in an advanced state, and there is very 
 little doubt that it will be constructed with two years. The Illinois and Wisconsin, 
 even without the Galena branch, will be an important avenue for Chicago, as it will 
 open to her trade some of the richest and most populous counties of Wisconsin a 
 trade which we have never had yet, and therefore the more important to obtain. 
 
 CHICAGO AND MILWAUKEE ROAD. 
 
 Within the last few weeks, this company has been fully organized, and they are only 
 waiting the action of the people of Wisconsin, to put the road under contract. The 
 company in this State propose to build the road direct to Milwaukee within two years, 
 or to connect with a Wisconsin company at the State line. The road is in the hands 
 of some of our most wealthy and energetic business men, and its construction is ren- 
 dered a "fixed fact." 
 
 The importance of this road to the commerce of our city is not fully appreciated. 
 It will bring Milwaukee, and all the other cities and towns along the lake shore with- 
 in a few hours of Chicago. In the winter, while navigation on the lake is closed, it 
 will bring us a large and profitable trade. 
 
 From Milwaukee the road will be extended north-west, to Fort Winnebago and 
 altho' this extension will be more especially tributary to Milwaukee, yet it must add 
 very considerably to the commerce of Chicago. Every railroad that can be built to 
 the west, north-west, or south-west of us, must, from necessity, increase the prosperity 
 of the Garden City. 
 
 MICHIGAN SOUTHERN ROAD. 
 
 This road runs from this city to Monroe, and also to Toledo. At the latter point, 
 as our readers well know, it connects with all the the roads leading to the seaboard, 
 as well as to Pittsburg and Cincinnati. The roads extending east along the south 
 shore of Lake Erie, were all completed about the first of January. We have now a 
 direct railroad communication between Chicago and Portland, " way down east " in 
 the State of Maine. When the different guages of the lake shore roads are reduced 
 to uniformity, (all of which will be done at an early day,) passengers by this road will 
 pass but one night in the cars in going from Chicago to any of the seaboard cities. At 
 the present time it is the great route of travel from Chicago to the East 
 
 MICHIGAN CENTRAL ROAD. 
 
 This road, connecting Chicago with Detroit, is also so well known to the public, 
 that it needs no extended notice. By the 1st day of next September, it will form a 
 connection with the Canada Road, which will give it a very direct line to the East. 
 When the connection is made, it is intended to carry passengers through from Chicago 
 to New York in thirty-two hours. 
 
 CHICAGO AND FORT WAYNE ROAD. 
 
 This road is to be one of the most important of all that lead to the East from our 
 city. It is to be a continuation of the Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the Baltimore and 
 Ohio Railroads, and will form a more direct line to New York and Philadelphia than 
 any other now completed. The line from Fort Wayne, in Indiana, to this city, has 
 been surveyed, and the interests of both of the great roads above mentioned are united 
 in pushing it forward to completion. It will open to our trade the rich counties of
 
 22 
 
 Lake, Porter, Marshall, Kosciusko, Whitley and Allen, in Indiana counties which 
 are not now in connection, to any extent, with other roads. 
 
 CHICAGO, ST. CHARLES AND MISSISSIPPI AIR LINE R, R. 
 
 This Company has recently been fully organized, and reliable subscriptions have 
 been made for the whole amount of the stock. The board of directors are among the 
 most intelligent men in the northern part of this State. There are now upon the route 
 four companies of engineers, making the necessary explorations, preparatory to the lo- 
 cation of the work. The surveys will be completed by the first of May, and the road 
 will all be put under contract by the first of June, and it is expected that it will be 
 completed within two years. 
 
 This road will pass through the counties of Cook, Kane, De Kalb, Boone, Ogle, Car- 
 roll and Jo Davies, reaching the Mississippi at Savanna. This is said to be the short- 
 est route possible between Lake Michigan and the " Father of Waters." These coun- 
 ties are rich in agricultural resources, their trade alone being nearly sufficient to sus- 
 tain a railroad. That portion of Iowa, whose productions will seek this city as a mar- 
 ket, is exceedingly fertile and will furnish a large amount of commerce and through 
 travel for the road. 
 
 CHICAGO AND CINCINNATI RAILROAD. 
 
 This road has but recently been brought before the public ; but its connections are 
 such that no doubt can exist of its early completion. Its course will be very direct 
 from this city to Logansport on tht Wabash river, and thence to Cincinnati. Its 
 friends contend that it will bring a lucrative trade from the rich fields of the Wabash 
 valley and add very materially to the prosperity of the city. From Cincinnati to Lo- 
 gansport its construction has all been provided for by the capitalists of Cincinnati. 
 The line is under the control of several distinct companies, but these are all to be con- 
 solidated. For a considerable distance the road is now in operation, and it is all un- 
 der contract to Logansport. 
 
 Thus much for the Trunk Railroads that are entering upon Chicago. Do they not 
 present a gratifying array, and open a brilliant prospect to our city ? Now we desire 
 to briefly mention the Branch Roads, which, though but branches, are very important 
 in giving perfection to the system. 
 
 BRANCH ROADS. 
 
 NORTHERN CROSS AND CENTRAL MILITARY TRACT. 
 
 This extends, as heretofore noticed, from Quincy, on the Mississippi, to a point fif- 
 teen miles North of La Salle, where it connects with the Chicago and Aurora. It has 
 a feeder in the Oquawka branch of the Peoria and Burlington Road, which will also 
 give it a connection with the Mississippi at Oquawka, in Henderson county. The iron 
 on the Oquawka feeder is now being laid down, and will soon be finished. The whole 
 Road is to be finished this year. 
 
 ST. CHARLES BRANCH. 
 
 This runs from Geneva to the Junction, on the Galena and Chicago road. It ac- 
 commodates the business of St. Charles and Geneva, both flourishing towns, on Fox 
 river. It has been finished two years. 
 
 BELOIT BRANCH. 
 
 This is to run from Belvidere to Beloit, twenty-one miles, and will be finished this 
 year. The stock is taken, and the road is now in process of construction. It is to be 
 opened next July or August. At Beloit it connects with the 
 
 MADISON TO ONTONAGON. 
 
 Both the Illinois and Wisconsin road and the Beloit Extension will reach Madison 
 within a year or two. The rich mines of the Lake Superior region, will at once cause
 
 23 
 
 one or both of these roads to be further extended, in order to grasp these mineral 
 treasures. The Illinois and Wisconsin Company have always regarded the mouth of 
 the Ontanagon river as one of their termini. The importance of this road to this 
 city has never been properly appreciated. This is the natural point for the meeting of 
 the coal from the great Illinois basin and the Iron and Copper from Lake Superior. 
 The result would be that Chicago would soon become the largest manufacturing city 
 in the Union. 
 
 MADISON AND LA CROSS. 
 
 One of the above roads will also be extended to La Cross, on the Mississippi and 
 ultimately to St. Paul, Minnesota. The trade of that fine territory naturally belongs 
 to this city, and our merchants are determined to secure the prize. 
 
 BELOIT AND MADISON BRANCH. 
 
 This extends from Beloit to Janesville, and thence to Madison, Wis., a distance of 
 fifty-three miles. The stock is partly taken, and the section, between Beloit and Janes- 
 ville will be finished this year. This road is intended to be part of a great line, even- 
 tually to be extended to Minnesota, and is of much importance to Chicago. 
 
 SAVANNA BRANCH. 
 
 This line thirty-five miles long, and next to the Air Line Road, it is the nearest 
 route to the Mississippi via the Chicago and Galena road. The stock is already sub- 
 scribed four or five of our heaviest capitalists taking some $200,000 of it. The 
 whole line will be put under contract in a short time, and finished this year. 
 
 DUBUQUE AND GALENA BRANCH OF ILLINOIS CENTRAL ROAD. 
 
 This branch will feed the Chicago and Galena Road from Dubuque and Galena, a 
 distance of sixty-seven miles. The Illinois Central Company have contracted to have 
 it finished by the first day of next August, and it will be done. Much of the work is 
 already finished. 
 
 That part of this Branch Road south of Freeport feeds into the Chicago and Aurora 
 road, fifteen and a half miles above La Salle. It is sixty miles long, and Avill be fin- 
 ished in the time agreed upon between the Illinois Central Company and the State. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI AND ROCK MVER JUNCTION. 
 
 This road extends from Fulton on the Mississippi river, to Sycamore in De Kalb Co. 
 where it meets, and will act as a'feeder to the Air Line Road. It passes through a 
 fertile section of the country and will bring a large trade to this city. 
 
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL ROAD. 
 
 The main trunk of this road, north of the point where the Chicago branch leaves 
 it, in Clinton county, to a point fifteen and a half miles north of La Salle, will feed in- 
 to the Chicago and Aurora road. It is all under contract, and will be finished in 
 eighteen months. The entire distance is one hundred and ninety-five miles. That 
 part of the line between Bloomington and the Junction, north of La Salle, will be fin- 
 ished by the first day of next August. 
 
 FOX RIVER BRANCH. 
 
 This line is to extend from Elgin north in the valley of the Fox river to the State 
 line, a distance of forty miles. The surveys have been made, the company organized, 
 and the friends of the work are confident of its success. At the State line it is to be 
 met by the people of Wisconsin w T ith a section running up the valley of the Fox some 
 forty miles farther. It is also proposed by the people of Walworth, Jefferson and Co- 
 lumbia counties, Wisconsin, to extend it from the State line on a direct Northwest 
 course to the Great Bend of the Wisconsin river.
 
 24 
 
 MINERAL POINT BRANCH. 
 
 This is a road intended to leave the Galena branch of the Illinois Central road, 
 some distance west of Freeport, in Stephenson county, and run north to Mineral Point, 
 the very heart of the lead region. David A. Neal, Esq., of Boston, Vice President of 
 the Illinois Central road, has been elected President of this road, and it is understood 
 that it will be finished in 1853. The distance is thirty-two miles, and the country it 
 is intended to open is not only rich in mineral, but is also one of the most valuable 
 agricultural regions in the West. The citizens of Iowa and Lafayette counties sub- 
 scribe largely, and Eastern capital makes up the remainder. The Hon. Moses M. 
 Strong has published a small pamphlet in reference to it, in which he shows, by sta- 
 tistical information, that the work, when completed, will pay a yearly dividend of 16 
 to 20 per cent, on its stock. 
 
 MILWAUKEE TO FOND DU LAC. 
 
 This road will extend from Milwaukee to Fond du Lac, a distance of about sixty 
 miles. It passes through one of the best portions of Wisconsin, and though it will 
 be mainly beneficial to Milwaukee, our city has a large interest in its construction. 
 It will, with the Chicago and Milwaukee road, form a very direct line from this city 
 to Fond du Lac. 
 
 DUBUQUE, GALENA AND WISCONSIN BRANCH. 
 
 This is a road proposed to be constructed, on the six foot guage, from Dubuque to 
 Galena, and thence through the southern tier of counties in Wisconsin to Janesville. 
 It will receive all the assistance that the interests and influence of Dubuque, Galena, 
 Janesville and the Illinois and Wisconsin road can command, and we doubt not it will 
 be built within a few years. At Janesville it will feed into the Illinois and Wisconsin, 
 running from this city to Fond du Lac. 
 
 We are now done with the Branch Roads, also. It is true there are a few roads 
 which will be to some extent feeders to the trunk roads running direct to this city ; 
 but we have confined ourselves to those which seek Chicago as the legitimate market 
 for selling their produce and buying their merchandise and supplies of every descrip- 
 tion. The whole system cannot be fully comprehended, in all of its details, by those 
 who do not understand the geography of our State, without the aid of a map. But 
 with the use of a map, any person can see that all the roads and branches that we 
 have noticed, aim at Chicago. From the East and West, North and South, it is the 
 great centre which they all seek. Let them come ! Our city is capable of almost 
 unlimited extension ; our streets are broad ; our commercial facilities adequate to any 
 demand ; our climate is healthy, and .the enterprise of our citizens is equal to any emer- 
 gency. 
 
 NOTE. Page 12, in the paragraph relating to the American Car Company, the last sentence 
 Hhould read When all their arrangements are completed they intend to finish five freight cars per 
 day, and three passenger cars in two weeks. 
 
 In our table of shipments and receipts, some of the articles are very much too low. This must be 
 attributed to the impossibility of getting at correct figures, and that business men do not report 
 their imports to the collector. As an instance, a single house, of our retail grocers have sold 
 more rice than we report. This is equally true of some other articles. The table, however, is in the 
 main correct, or at least as nearly so as it was possible to make it.
 
 Carte gift 
 
 CJpWe have admitted only those who are among our best houses and most extensive business men. 
 Others would doubtless have been glad to avail themselves of this opportunity, but we have not 
 had time to call upon them. 
 
 FORWARDING and COMMISSION. 
 
 FORWARDING and COMMISSION. 
 
 1853. C. WALKER & SON, 1853. 
 
 FORWARDING AND 
 COMMISSION MERCHANTS, 
 
 DEALERS IN PRODUCE. 
 
 Agents for American Transportation Company 
 
 on Erie Canal and Lakes. 
 
 Proprietors of the Poria and Chicago Line 
 
 on the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Illinois River. 
 
 CASH ADVANCES ON PRODUCE. 
 
 NO. 72 SOUTH WATER STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 
 THOMAS H. BEEBE, Chicago. WM. HEMPSTEAD, Galena. 
 
 THOMAS H. BEEBE & CO. 
 
 FORWARDING HOUSE, 
 And General Commission Merchants, 
 
 For the Purchase and Sale of 
 MERCHANDIZE AND WESTERN PRODUCE, * 
 No. 188 & 190 SOUTH WATKR ST., COR. WELLS, 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 REFER TO 
 
 Wm. M. Morrison & Co St. Louis. 
 
 Doan. King & Co 
 
 Kennett, Dix & Co New Orleans. 
 
 Curling, Robertson & Co Pittsburgh. 
 
 Robert & Williams New York. 
 
 Cha'sH. Rogers & Co 
 
 B. Howard & Son, Boston. 
 
 Fassitt &Co Philadelphia. 
 
 Thompson & Co Buffalo. 
 
 T. W. ALEXANDER, Chicago. Jos. K. BURTIS, St. Louis. 
 
 T. W. ALEXANDER & CO. 
 
 (Successors to J. S. NEWHOUSE,) 
 
 PRODUCE, GENERAL COMMISSION 
 
 Forward in'ij Merchants, 
 
 Central Wliarf, South Water St., Chicago HI. 
 
 N. B. Please be 
 care of T. W. 
 
 particular to mark packages to the 
 ALEXANDER & CO., Chicago, 111. 
 
 ALBERT NEELY. 
 
 SAMUEL HOWE. 
 
 NEELY &, HOWE, 
 
 (Successors to Neely, Lawrence & Co.) 
 
 FORWARDING & COMMISSION MERCHANTS, 
 And Dealers in Salt, Coal, Ac. 
 
 Corner South Water & Franklin Sts., Chicago. 
 
 Advances made on Produce. Mark 
 
 ;. Mark packages 
 Care NEELY & HOWE.' 
 
 W.W.MITCHELL, R. M MITCHELL. 
 
 R!M. MITCHELL & CO., 
 
 FORWARDING AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS. 
 
 Fire Proof Brick Warehouse, 
 Nos. 192 & 194 South Water St., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Cash advances made on Consignments. 
 
 R. P. BURLINGAME. 
 JAMES BUCKINGHAM, '. 
 
 Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 A. BUCKINGHAM & SONS, 
 
 Zanesville, Ohio. 
 
 BUCKINGHAMS & BURLINGAME, 
 
 STORAGE, FORWARDING AND 
 
 North Water St., near G. & C. U. K. R. Depot, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 CASH ADVANCES made on property in store, or con- 
 signed to either of the following correspondents for sale: 
 
 Buckinghams & McCulloh, New York. 
 
 Buckinghams & Guthrie, Buffalo. 
 
 P. Buckingham & Go., Toledo. 
 
 A. G. Farwell & Co., Boston 
 
 Kennedy & Foster, New Orleans. 
 We hope, therefore, by a strict attention to business, 
 in an honorable and upright course, tomeritand receive 
 a share of the increasing business of our flourishing city. 
 
 S. B. POMEROY & C3., 
 
 AND COMMISSION DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF 
 
 PRODUCE, PORK AND FtOUR, 
 
 Nos. 130, 132 & 134 South Water St. 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 Agents for the AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CO. 
 to and from New York and Buffalo, without trans-ship- 
 ment. M. M. Caleb & Co. New York, and Niles & Wheeler, 
 Buffalo, Proprietors!. _ 
 
 Commission orders and Consignments solicited, 
 and Advances made. 
 
 GEO. A. (HBBS & CO., 
 
 COMMISSION & FORWARDING MERCHANTS, 
 
 Warehouses on South and North Water Sts. 
 
 Between Wells and Franklin Streets, 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 GEO. A. GIBBS. 
 
 MICHAEL TIERNAN. 
 
 Wadsworth & Sheldon 29 Wall St., New York. 
 
 B. Howard & Son,.. Central Wharf, Boston. 
 
 Dean Richmond, Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 Tiernan & Co Pittsburgh,. Pa. 
 
 Robert Ewing Philadelphia. 
 
 P. Tiernan & Son Baltimore. 
 
 Hewitt, Roe & Co St. Louis. 
 
 Jas. H. Mulford&Co New Orleans.
 
 26 
 
 FORWARDING and COMMISSION. 
 
 JOHN P. CHAPIN, 
 
 (Successor to Wadsworth, Dyer & Ohapin,) 
 
 FORWARDING AND COMMISSION MERCHANT. 
 
 Agent for the Western Transportation Co. 
 Agent for Mann, Vail & Co.'s White Hall Line, 
 
 AND EAST AND WEST RAILROAD LINES. 
 
 Proprietor of the 
 Union Line Boats, Daily, on the Ills. & Mich. Canal. 
 
 Freight Agent for New York and Erie Railroad. 
 SOUTH WATER STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 All orders and Consignments will receive prompt atten- 
 tion, with liberal Advances made, if required. 
 
 BANKING AND EXCHANGE. 
 
 EXCHANGE BANK. 
 
 H. A. TUCKER & CO. 
 
 uiK iritte in 
 
 CORNER OF CLARK AND LAKE STREET, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 Collections made in all the different cities in the Union. 
 Exchange sold at the lowest current rates. 
 
 COMMERCIAL BANK, 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 Particular attention givea to Collections, and 
 proceeds promptly remitted without charge, ex- 
 cept current exchange. 
 
 A. GILBERT, Cashier. 
 
 I. COOK, Prcst. 
 
 THE UNION BANK OF ILLINOIS, 
 
 FORREST, BRO'S & CO. 
 EXCHANGE AND BANKING OFFICE, 
 
 65 Clark St., Chicago, III. 
 
 Exchange on the East and South. Also, on Great 
 Britain and Ireland. 
 
 The highest current rates paid for Domestic and For- 
 eign Bills of Exchange, aodtrold and Silver Coin. Drafts 
 and Notes collected. Interest allowed on time and cur- 
 rent deposits. 
 
 H. L. FORREST, Ca*hle* 
 
 GEO, SMITH & CO., BANKERS, 
 
 AND DEALERS IN 
 
 FOREIGN AW DOMESTIC EXCHANGE, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 
 
 Collections made on all the principal cities in the United 
 States, on the most favorable terms. 
 
 THE CHICAGO BANK, 
 
 Organized under the General Banking Law of 
 th* State of Illinois, with a deposite of $200,000 
 of State Bonds as securit. 
 
 I. H. BURCU. Cashi MAS 
 
 WILLIAM BUTTS, 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealer in 
 
 LUMBER, LATH, SHINGLES, 
 
 AND SALT, 
 
 Canal Street, next to Scoville & Sons, 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. __ 
 
 THE BOOK TRADE. 
 
 S. C. GRIGGS & GO, 111 LAKE ST., 
 
 Publisher*, Booksellers and Stationer*, 
 WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. 
 
 An immense stock constantly on hand, con- 
 sisting of over 20,000 volumes of School Books; 
 over 6,000 volumes of Music Books; Blank 
 Books, Paper, and Stationery of every descrip- 
 tion; and an extensive assortment of Theological, 
 Medical, Law, Miscellaneous Books, &c. &c. 
 Print Paper all sizes, at Mill prices. 
 
 All new books of value received soon as pub- 
 lished. 
 
 Country Merchants, Booksellers, Teachers, 
 Schools and Academies supplied, Wholesale and 
 Retail, on the most liberal terms with our publi- 
 cations, and those of all other publishers in the 
 country. 
 
 S. C. GRIGGS, Chicago. 
 
 NEWMAN & IVERSON, N. York. 
 
 D. B. COOKE & CO. 
 
 WHOLESALE 
 
 BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS, 
 
 135 Lake Street, Chicago, 111. 
 
 D. B. C. & Co. offer unusual inducements to 
 Western Merchants and Booksellers to lay in 
 their supplies at Chicago, instead of sending East. 
 Constantly on hand, an extensive stock of School, 
 Law, Medical and Miscellaneous Books, and Sta- 
 tionery. 
 
 RING & SMITH, 
 
 (Successors to Thurber & Ring,) 
 NO. 55 CLARK STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 LIFE, FIRE & MARINE IJVSURAMJE, 
 
 FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND 
 
 Refer, by permission, to 
 
 Wm. B. Ogden, Esq., Messrs. H. A. Tucker & Co. 
 
 Sylvester Lind, " " Wm. P. Swift & Co. 
 
 H. W, Bigelow, Esq. 
 
 PAUL B. RING. 
 
 HKXRY SMITE. 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealer in 
 
 Ml ffiSlBM 
 
 DYE-STTJFFS, GLASS, OILS, 
 CHEMICALS, PERFUMERY, &c. &c. 
 
 ALSO, DENTAL <fc DAGUERKEAX MATERIALS, 
 
 No. 124 Lake St., first door east of Clark, 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 GEO. F. FOSTER & CO. 
 
 Q. F. FOSTER. 
 
 G. E. PORINGTON. 
 
 A. R. SCRANTON. 
 
 Manufacturers of Manilla and Tarred Cordage, 
 And General Dealers in 
 
 No. 195 South Water Street, Chicago, 111. 
 SIGN OF THE FLAG.
 
 27 
 
 R. K. SWIFT'S 
 
 Foreign and Domestic Exchange Office. 
 45 Clark st., Chicago., 111. 
 
 Exchange on Cities of the United States 
 and Canada and Europe. 
 
 ON THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 G. S. Bobbins & Son, City of New York. 
 
 C. E. Habicht & Co. do. do. 
 
 Bank of Attica, Buffalo. 
 
 Cayuga County Bank, Auburn. 
 
 ON MASSACHUSETTS. 
 Blake, Ward & Co. Boston. 
 
 ON CONNECTICUT. 
 State Bank, Hartford. 
 
 ON RHODE ISLAND. 
 Blackstone Canal Bank, Providence. 
 
 ON PENNSYLVANIA. 
 W. H. Newbold & Son, Philadelphia. 
 
 ON MARYLAND. 
 Greenway & Co. Baltimore. 
 
 ON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
 Chubb Brothers, Washington. 
 
 ON LOUISIANA. 
 Judson & Co. New Orleans. 
 
 ON OHIO. 
 Ellis & Morton, Cincinnati. 
 
 ON ILLINOIS. 
 
 James Carter & Co. Galena. 
 
 N. B. Curtiss & Co. Peoria. 
 
 William Paul, Peru. 
 
 Heman Baldwin, La Salle. 
 
 M. H. Swift, Ottowa. 
 
 Uri Osgood, Joiiet. 
 
 Clark's Exchange Bank, Springfield. 
 
 C. R. Steele, Waukegan. 
 
 S. M. Dowst, do 
 
 Lorenzo Wood, Dixon. 
 
 Robertson, Coleman & Co. Rockford. 
 
 ON MISSOURI. 
 
 Page & Bacon, S. Louis. 
 
 E.W. Clark & Brothers, do. 
 
 ON IOWA. 
 
 E. W. Clark & Brothers, Burlington. 
 
 David Decker, Dubuque. 
 
 ON WISCONSIN. 
 
 Thos. Wright. Kenosha. 
 
 E. D. Richardson, Geneva. 
 
 Darling, Wright & Co. Fon du Lac. 
 
 Darling, Wright, Kellogg & Co. Oshkosh. 
 
 ON MICHIGAN. 
 
 Peninsular Bank, Detroit. 
 
 R. C. Paine, Niles. 
 
 Ransom & Dodge, Kalamazoo. 
 
 Daniel Ball, Grand Rapids. 
 
 ON INDIANA. 
 Branch of the State Bank, Michigan City. 
 
 ON MINNESOTA TERRITORY. 
 J. Geo. Lcnnon, St. Anthony's Falls. 
 
 ON CALIFORNIA. 
 E. &. R. K. SWIFT, SACRAMENTO. 
 
 ON OREGON TERRITORY. 
 Wm. Howe,, j Lafayette (near Salem) Yam 
 
 I Hill County 
 
 ON CANADA. (Quebec, 
 Bank of British North -j Montreal, 
 
 America, ( Toronto. 
 
 ON ENGLAND. 
 Bank of British North America, St. 
 
 Helen's Place, London. 
 
 Guion & Co. Liverpool. 
 
 ON SCOTLAND. 
 
 NATIONAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 ON IRELAND. 
 
 PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND, DUBLIN. 
 
 ON FRANCE. 
 
 Drafts and Circular Letters of Credit in sums to 
 
 suit on 
 
 ALLIEZ & GRAND, PARIS. 
 
 Chrystie, Heinrich & Co. Havre. 
 
 ON GERMANY. 
 
 I. Langs, Sons, Widon & Co. Bremen, 
 
 I. H. P. Schroder & Co. do. 
 
 Heinrich ft Co., { 
 
 Goll & Co. Amsterdam (Holland,) 
 
 J. Goll & Sons, Frankfort, on-Main. 
 
 Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Hamburg. 
 
 Mendelssohn & Co., Berlin. 
 
 ON AUSTRIA. 
 I. H. Stametz & Co. Vienna. 
 
 ON NORWAY. 
 Jacob Dybwad, Christiana. 
 
 ON SWEDEN. 
 C. D. Arfwedson, Stockholm. 
 
 Circular Drafts on all the principal cities in the 
 United States and Canada, for the use of travel- 
 ers. 
 
 Persons in the Old Country, wishing to remit 
 money to their friends in the United States, can, 
 if they choose, save the risk of remitting Drafts, 
 by depositing their money to the credit of the 
 undersigned, either with the 
 
 BANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA, 
 ST. HELEN'S PLACE, LONDON ; OR WITH THE 
 PROVINCIAL BANK OF IRELAND, DUBLIN, 
 And upon advice from either of said Banks, the 
 undersigned will pay at his office the amount of 
 any such deposit with current rate of exchange 
 to the person in the United States for whose ben- 
 efit the same may be intended. 
 
 Collections made on all parts of Europe. 
 
 The highest current rates paid for Domestic 
 and Foreign Bills of Exchange, and Gold and 
 Silver coin, and Gold Dust. Payments in New 
 York ordered by telegraph. Land Warrants 
 for sale. R. K. SWIFT, Banker. 
 
 Office, 45 Clark street, Chicago, 111. 
 
 JOSEPH T. RYERSON, 
 
 IRON & COMMISSION MERCHANT, 
 
 Nos. 196, 198, 200, 202, South Water St. 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 Iron, Steel, Nails, Glass, Spikes and Heavy Hard- 
 ware. Berea, Ohio and Huron Grind-Stones. 
 
 C. N. HOLDEN, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 GENERAL INSURANCE AGENT, 
 
 AND COMMISSION BROKER, 
 
 Will give his personal attention to any business en- 
 trusted to him, and refers respectively to 
 
 Blanchard, Converse and Co Boston, Mass. 
 
 Benj. F.Stevens, Esq 
 
 R. T. Woodward, Esq New York. 
 
 James K. Place, Esq 
 
 Terbell, Jennings & Co 
 
 Alfred Noxon, Esq., Prest. Far. Bk. Sar. co. 
 
 [. H. Burch, Esq., Cash. Chicago Bank Chicago, III. 
 
 L. D. Boone, Esq., Prest. Merch. & Mech. Bk. 
 E. W. Willard, Esq., Cash. Bank America, 
 R. K. Swift, Esq., Private Banker
 
 28 
 
 J. H. REED & CO. 
 
 Jobbers and Retailers of 
 
 DRUGS, MEDICINES, PERFUMERY, 
 Paints, Oils, Glass, Brushes, Dye-Stuffs, etc. 
 
 A large stock of 
 DENTAL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, 
 
 TEETH, FOIL, ETC. 
 
 No, 144 Lake Street, Chicago, 
 
 JOHN SEARS, JR. 
 
 NO. 113 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO, 
 
 Wholesale Dealer in 
 
 DRUGS, MEDICINES, PAINTS, 
 
 OILS, VARNISHES, DIE-STUFFS, WINDOW GLASS 
 Druggists' Glassware, Brushes, Tobacco, Segars, Ac. 
 
 MANUFACTURER OF IARD OIL <fc CANDLES. 
 
 F. SCAMMON & CO. 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealers in 
 
 DRUGS, MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, 
 Surgical and Dental Instruments, Paints- Oils- 
 
 Dye-Stufih, 
 Druggists' Glassware, Window Glass, Daguerrean 
 
 Apparatus, Plates and Cases, 
 140 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO. 
 
 STANLEY & HUTCHINS, 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealers in 
 
 FOREIGN & DOMESTIC DRY GOODS, 
 
 Millinery and Straw Materials, 
 No. 86 Lake Street, Chicago, 111. 
 
 J. W. STANLEY. SAM'L HUTCHIKS. 
 
 COOLEY, WADSWORTH & CO, 
 
 (Successors to Wadsworth & Phelps,) 
 WHOLESALE DEALERS IN 
 
 /nrtigti irai 
 
 irtf toite, 
 
 205 SOUTH WATER STREET, 
 
 F. B. COOLET, ) 
 
 E. S. WADSWORTH,/- 
 J. V. FARWELL. ) 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL 
 
 BROWN & WILDER, 
 
 Importers and Dealers in 
 
 CHINA, GLASS, EARTHEN WARE, 
 
 Solar Lamps aud Hall Lanterns, 
 
 GIRANDOLES, CUTLERY, BRITANNIA WARE, &c, 
 
 10o LAKE STREET, CHICAGO. 
 
 Looking Glass Manufactory & General Furnishing Store 
 
 S. L, BROWN. N. P. WILDER. 
 
 SCAMMON, JERNEGAN & M'CAGG, 
 
 37 CLARK ST., CHICAGO. 
 
 J. YOUNG SCAMMON, J. L. JKKNEGAN, E. B. M'CAGG 
 
 ANDREW HARVIE, 
 
 ATTOMEY AND COUNSELLOR AT LAW 
 
 No, 42 Clark Street, Chicago, 111. 
 
 T. B. CARTER, 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Dealer in 
 
 STAPLE AND FANCY DRY GOODS, 
 
 No* 118 Lake Street, Chicago. 
 
 H, H. HTTSTED, 
 
 Manufacturer and Dealer in 
 
 Clothing and Furnishing Goods, 
 
 131 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 00. 
 
 IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OF 
 
 DOESKINS, TESTINGS, 
 
 GOODS FOR MEN'S WEAR, 
 187 South Water Street, corner Wells, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 L. D. OLMSTED & CO. 
 
 DEALERS IS 
 
 ani |taple JDni oobs, 
 
 AT 
 142 LAKE STREET, CHICAGO. 
 
 Keep constantly on hand one of the largest and most 
 desirable stocks of Dry Goods to be found west of the city 
 of New York. 
 
 MATHER & TAFT, 
 
 nni Cmnwlte ut 
 
 AND SOLICITORS IN CHANCERY, 
 
 NO. 127 SOUTH WATER STREET, CHICAGO, 
 
 Will attend to the business of their profession, 
 
 and give attention to the collection 
 
 and securing of demands. 
 
 HIRAM F. MATHER. LEVI B. TAFT. 
 
 REFERENCES. 
 Wm. H. Brown, Esq ...................... Chicago; 
 
 H. Wheeler & Co ......................... 
 
 John Steward. Jr. & Co ................... New York; 
 
 Cu mmins, Collins & Seaman, ............. 
 
 Calvin M. How, & Co ..................... 
 
 Bradner & Co .............................. 
 
 Tingley & Burton, ......................... Philadelphia 
 
 E. Corning* Co, .......................... Albany; 
 
 Joshua A. Spencer, Esq ................... Utica: 
 
 Henry Dwight, Esq ....................... Geneva; 
 
 Jas. S. Seymour, Esq, ..................... Auburn; 
 
 Jas. R. Lawrence, Esq, ................... Syracuse; 
 
 Hon. F. P.Backus, ........................ Rochester; 
 
 Dean Richmond, Esq, .................... Buffalo; 
 
 WHOLESALE HARDWARE HOUSE. 
 
 WILLIAM BLAIR & CO. 
 
 Importers and Dealers in 
 AMERICAN, ENGLISH AND GERMAN 
 
 HARDWARE AND CUTLERY, 
 
 Tin Plate, Sheet Iron, Copper, &c. 
 No- 176 Lake St Chicago- 
 
 WILLIAM BLAIR. 
 
 C. B. NELSON. 
 
 PYLVKSTBR MARSH. 
 
 BENJAMIN CARPENTER. 
 
 MARSH & CARPENTER, 
 PACKERS AND PROVISION DEALERS, 
 
 NORTH WATER STREET, 
 
 At the Brick Warehouse, adjoining the Chicago and 
 Galena Railroad Depot, foot of Wolcott Street, 
 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 P. VON SCHNEIDAU, 
 
 Has removed his Establishment to 
 
 142 LAKE STREET, 
 Over L. D. Olmsted & Co's Store, CHICAGO. 
 
 He invites the public to call and examine his exten- 
 sive Gallery of Pictures, an inspection of which he 
 trusts will ensure him the continuance of the patronage 
 of friends, both old and new. 
 
 Mr. Von Schneidau was awarded the Gold Medal for 
 the best Daguerreotype in 1850.
 
 29 
 
 JOHN A. BROSS, 
 ATTORNEY & SOLICITOR, 
 
 OFFICE 127 SOUTH WATER STREET, 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL. 
 
 D. L, JACOBUS & BRO. 
 
 (Successors to D. & A. L. Jacobus,) 
 
 MANUFACTURKRS OF 
 
 FASHIONABLE FURNITURE, 
 
 AND DEALERS IN 
 
 Furniture of Every Description, 
 173 LAKE ST. Masonic Hall Block, CHICAGO. 
 
 BOOK AM) JOB PRLWIftti OFFICE, 
 
 No. 45 CLARKE ST. 
 
 WE are now prepared to execute all orders in 
 the Jobbing Department, with neatness and dis- 
 patch. The office is in charge of an experienced 
 workman, and we have supplied it with the 
 
 LATEST STYLES OF PLAIN AND FANCY TYPE 
 and a great variety of Borders and Ornaments. 
 Our facilities for giving satisfaction are such, that 
 we are quite sure we shall be able to please all 
 who may favor us with orders for any of the fol- 
 lowing descriptions of work. 
 
 BOOKS, SHOW BILLS, 
 
 PAMPHLETS, BILLS OF LADING, 
 
 CIRCULARS, BILL HEADS, 
 
 NOTES, VISITING CARDS, 
 
 BANK CHECKS, BUSINESS CARDS. 
 In short, any kind of plain and ornamental print- 
 ing that may be required, on the most reasona- 
 ble terms. 
 
 5r All orders from the country accompanied 
 with the cash, will be promptly attended to. 
 SCRIPPS & BROSS. 
 
 REAL ESTATE I\VEST>1ENTS Iff CHICAGO 
 
 THE UNDERSIGNED, HAVING BEEN ENGAGED 
 for some years in the purchase of real estate in the 
 cities of the West, and especially in Cincinnati and 
 Chicago, has adopted this as a distinct branch of business 
 in connection with the practice of his profession. Be- 
 lieving that Chicago now offers most certain opportuni- 
 ties for advantageous real estate investments, he has 
 settled here, and he tenders his services to all having 
 funds for such investment, and especially to non-rest- 
 dents, as both by purchases and constant study, he has 
 acquainted himself very tJwroughly with the value of 
 property in this city and vicinity. His purchases, both 
 for himself and others have resulted most advanta0eous- 
 ly. He undertakes, of course, the general supervision 
 of the property, if desired, after purchase. The most 
 thorough examination will be instituted into the title of 
 all property proposed to be purchased, and none will 
 be accepted unless entirely clear and unincumb&red, 
 none upon which even a shadow rests. His mastery of 
 the language of the Germans (haying written the 
 Grammar now used as the text book in their schools,) 
 enables him to deal with this large class of his fellow 
 citizens, and they own a no inconsiderable portion of 
 the real estate in the cities of the West. 
 
 Land warrants will be located also, if desired. Th 
 commission charged for investing funds is five per cent 
 upon the first thousand dollars, and three oer cent upon 
 the balance, or a third interest in tlie p rojits of the pur- 
 chase, after dix per cent interest has b * en allowed on 
 the amount of disbursements, will be received in lieu of 
 all commission both for the purchase and entire man- 
 agement of the property for three years. 
 
 T. B. B. wishes it to be distinctly understood that he 
 does not undertake the business of a regular Real Es- 
 tate Agent, and he declines now, as hitherto, to sell 
 property upon Commission, or to receive any remunera- 
 tion from those having Real Estate for Sale, his Agency 
 being for the Purchasers only. No property in which 
 the undersigned is interested, either directly or indi- 
 rectly, will ever be 9ld to any one for whom he acts as 
 Agent, and all desiring to invest through him, can ob- 
 tain the most unquestionable evidence from those for 
 whom h has already purchased Real Estate, of the un- 
 deviating integrity he observes in his Agency for others 
 THOS. B. BRYAN, Attorney at Law. 
 
 Office, (until the new one shall be completed, at No. 
 117 lark street) on the North-east corner of Clark & 
 Randolph streets, Chicago. 
 
 T. B. B. will furnish references, if desired, in all the 
 principal cities of the Union, and he refers now especi- 
 ally to his late partner, Hon. Sam'l M. Hart, former Pres'd 
 Judge of Cincinnati Court of Common Pleas, and to 
 Bishop Cobbs, of the Episcopal Church of * VtDvoeese 
 of Alabama.

 
 THE DEMOOMTIC 
 
 A Daily and Weekly Journal 
 
 OF 
 
 I ICS ) LIllTURE,SCIElE,COMMERCEAflDNEWS 
 
 EDITED AXD TFBLISHED AT CHICAGO, 
 
 *T7i\Y/S/./A7> T<> XCliSi'L'UiKltX AT I HE //>/,/,</ imv/ 
 
 DAILY, $6,00 per annum, 
 
 WEEKLY, Single Copy, - - $1,50 in advance, 
 
 5 Copies, - $6,00 
 
 10 " $10,00 
 
 Country Merchant^ \\ill find it i;-iv;ttl\ t< (licit advantage to take the Ihtily. 
 The Publishers oiler THE DEMOCRATIC I'KKSS to the people of the North- 
 
 "Ue t, with full confidence thiiT they \\ill be able to make it a \\elcome and profitable visitor 
 
 toallela-seM of read.-i.. iThe Politics of the ' I'ress" \viil he CJKNTINF.LY DEMO- 
 
 CRATIC. Kut it i- not intended to till its cohunns with political di to tlie 
 
 exflusion of other intete; liii" sulijer-.ts. 
 
 ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 
 
 Will rerei\e more or les< attention, and 
 
 THE DII*ARTIWHT OF 3 EWS 
 
 Shall al\va\- lia\e precedence of (verytliin'r else. The J'ulilishc.rs (latter themselves that the) can 
 
 make a paper \\hjrh \\ill be sought afttM- bv thosi^ \\lio diH'er Irom theiri on political siil/j- 
 
 from the litct that the\ will devote large' space to other topic-. The IMPROVEMENTS 
 
 nou i':oing on in the country \\ill recehi- i-p.-cial aUenlion; and, in short, A\liati-\er 
 
 has ;i tendency to develope the resources of our irreal Noui n \\' KST, and im 
 
 prove the ntnnlx and ItnirtmA the people, shall find in the "Press" an 
 
 ardent and persevering advocate. Its 
 
 !H ^ 3FL J3L IIS I 1 IFL 3E3 DF* O XrL T S 
 
 WUl he made up carefully In one of the Tv'iitors. and may always be relied upon BA giving the 
 
 correct state ol' the market. 
 
 in addition to ihe ibu:d Rejtorts of Sale- of all kinds of Country Produce and lending article- ol 
 Mcrchaudi-e, the " Tress" 1 will contain 
 
 A Weekly Review of the Live Stock Market, 
 
 M liu;: all the Sale- of More-, ( 'attic. Ho 1 --, Slice]), etc., tliat haveboen made duriii!'- the week, 
 
 Suci. a paper is greatly needed at the present lime; and the Publishers confident!} anticipate 
 a liberal share of the public patronage while l;ib(rinir to meet this public want. 
 
 Numlfcrs will be sent by mail, wlien requested. 
 ) cm-loseil in a :stroiii:- envelope, maybe sent l\ mail at our risk. 
 
 Office, No. 45 Clark Street, two doors north of the Post Office, 
 
 IMMKIUATH.Y O\ KK ]'. K. SWIKl's (SANK.