V M/ ~~ f f \j/ r^OM LAKE TO prospectus f I GENEVA LAKE f SYCAMORE AND I SOUTHERN ELECTRIC I RAILWAY w vt/ LAWRENCE J. GUTTER Collection of Chicogoono THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO The University Library *** Prospectus... GENEVA LAKE, SYCAMORE AND SOUTHERN ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMPANY Incorporated January 1 3, 1 898 GENERAL OFFICES ; SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS ...Officers... HON. JAMES BRANEN, President GEO. B. MORRIS, Secretary GEORGE BROWN, Treasurer == _ ==== _ == JOHN B. WHALEN, Gen'l Manager ...Directors.,. i^^i^^^'rv- ' * HON. A. G. WHITE, )_ H. F. JONES, Hebron fnBB^SSSn' I wr JOHN R. KELLOGG, -Woodstock RAK-KR Sandwich R R r>WM r LOREN WOODARD, \ Marengo EMIL ARNOLD, S ' BAKER I D - S " BROWN, Genoa p w PATR i CK> HON. JAMES BRANEN, ) JOHN B. WHALEN, [ s K GEORGE BROWN, i GEORGE B. MORRIS, EDWARD DELANA, Cortland Illustrated with Sctcntp fioe Reproductions of photographs 3'lTSS Of <. F. Engstrom S (Co. 340-342 ^Dearborn St. Preface.., fllS prOSpCClUS has been prepared for the purpose of giving all persons interested in the construction of the Geneva Lake, Sycamore and Southern Electric Railway a thorough understanding of the towns and country through which the road runs ; the reasons why it should be built ; the character of the country over which it passes ; the manu- facturing and commercial interests of the towns on its line ; the prospects for business and to show in detail the probable cost of operation, leaving the reader to judge of its chances for Copies of this Prospectus will be mailed to any address Price 25 Cents ADDRESS JNO. B. WHALEN Syoamor*...llllneli .LOCATION. DEFERRING to the map shown on another page, you will notice that this road touches towns of an average distance of 60 miles from Chicago, in a radius from southwest to north- west, passing through a country that has no railways running north and south for many miles on either side. Before the advent of electric railways it was considered essential that all steam roads built in this vicinity must lead to Chicago ; with the rapid growth of that city came more roads, until the crowded condition of the yards of each road demanded some better mode of handling the freight ; this condition brought about the building of a belt line within the city limits where freight was transferred from one road to another without being taken into the heart of the city. After a few years this was found inadequate to handle the immense business demanded of it, and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern was constructed at an average distance of 25 miles from the city, its northern terminus being Waukegan on the lake, passing southerly to Joliet, and from there east to Chesterton, Ind., crossing or touching every road entering Chicago, from which freight intended for eastern points is transferred to the proper road without passing through the city ; and in like manner freight coming from the east to points west of Chicago is carried over the same line. The Geneva Lake, Sycamore and Southern is still another step in the direction of a great outer belt line, as it crosses the Rockford and Kenosha division of the Northwestern at Hebron ; the Wisconsin division at Woodstock, and the Freeport division of the Northwestern at Marengo; the Milwaukee and St. Paul and the Wisconsin division of the Illinois Central are crossed at Genoa; the Chicago Great Western at Sycamore; the main line of the Northwestern at Cortland; the Chicago and Iowa at Hinckley; 5 the Chicago, Burlington and Ouincy at Sandwich; the Fox River branch of the C., B. & Q., at Millington; the Rock Island at Morris; and through connections at that point will be able to reach the Santa Fe; Chicago, Alton &. St. Louis; Wabash, and the Illinois Central. It will be seen that 10 lines of road are crossed by the proposed line, nine of which lead to Chicago and one connecting with Milwaukee. The length of this road is about 110 miles, passing through flourishing cities and villages herein more particularly described. The country from one end of the line to the other is made up of the best farms in the State. It would be impossible to lay out a road of this length in any part of the country, other than this, where it could be said that it did not pass a single acre of poor or unproductive land. The strength and character of the soil is fully illustrated by the kind of farm buildings and improve- ments one sees along the line. The surface of the ground is gently undulating, no steep or abrupt grades being encountered, the surveys showing that the greatest grade will not exceed 8j/ per cent, and that no heavy work will be required anywhere along the line. When the great Drainage Canal, from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River, is completed it is expected that additional work will be done to make navigation possible from Chicago to the gulf. The southern terminus of this road will connect with this great waterway. .CONSTRUCTION |T is proposed to construct and equip this road in the most thorough manner. For a large portion of the way it will be built along the highway where the right of way has already been obtained; where distance can be saved private right of way has been secured ; through the country it is expected to use the east side of the country road and through cities and villages the middle of the streets. The road will be thoroughly and carefully graded, a good quality of ties selected, a heavy rail of an approved pattern laid, the whole line ballasted, and the work as completely done as if it were to be used by a steam road running heavy freight trains. Convenient sidings, switches and spurs will be put in as the nature of the work will require. It has not been definitely settled what particular system of electric motive power will be adopted; it can be said that it will be approved by competent engineers of experience in such matters, and everything will be done to make the system complete and substantial and at the same time economical to operate. We propose to adopt cars suitable to the service required of them, having all the convenience of a day coach on a steam line, lighted and heated by the same current of electricity that operates their motors, which will be built to run the cars at a speed of at least 30 miles per hour, as this speed can be safely maintained over every mile of the road. While ordinary freight cars will be handled and trans- ferred from one steam road to another and delivered from factories to steam roads, a special design will probably be adopted for local freight. It is intended to operate the running of the trains by long-distance telephone, and to construct the line so that a portable telephone set can be connected and used on any half mile on the line. 7 BUSINESS IN SIGHT. MILE it is not the intention of the management to make this an exclusive passenger road, the passenger service will be up to date in every particular. That the road is a neces- sity for conveying passengers no one can doubt. To illustrate the difficulties of getting north or south to the towns along the line, a resident of Hebron, to reach Woodstock, 12 miles distant, by rail, must travel 29 miles, changing cars twice on the route. To reach Woodstock by rail from Marengo, about 13 miles distant, one must go via Elgin, making about 50 miles travel. The same condition exists in DeKalb County; the towns in the southern end of the county can only be reached from the northern end by rail after many miles travel, making numerous changes and several delays waiting for trains. - As three county seats are located on east and west steam roads that the proposed electric line passes through, the necessity of the road is apparent to every one. It is expected that during the summer season a large business aside from the regular passenger traffic will be done in carrying people to and from Geneva Lake, as parties and excursions from the country and towns along the line will be continually passing over the road; in fact, it is expected that a large business of this kind will be done with Chicago people who will take our cars at Woodstock for the Lake; as the season usually lasts four months, a revenue of several thousand dollars per annum will be assured. We anticipate that the line will be largely patronized by commercial travelers, as the cars will be constructed so that a reasonable amount of baggage can be handled. The item of carrying children to and from school on a road of this length will in itself be a large revenue. 8 DAIRY INTERESTS. |HE north 80 miles of this railway passes through a portion of country largely devoted to dairying ; the north 50 miles is almost exclusively a dairy country, hardly a farmer having less than 20 cows and many owning over 100. Milk is always sent to the cream- eries or shipped to Chicago. There are 20 creameries in active operation along the north 80 miles above mentioned which will probably average 7,000 pounds of milk per day each; the steam roads leading to Chicago will take 60,000 pounds, making in the aggregate 200,000 pounds of milk per day handled along the line. Suppose this road will be able to handle only 25 per cent of this, at an average of r l l / 2 cents per 100 pounds, which is 25 per cent less than the usual charges, it will certainly make a nice daily income for the company. These creameries must also have coal for steam purposes; many of them are now hauling their fuel from three to seven miles; then their products must be taken to the market once or twice a week in all kinds of weather. Will not the operators be prompt to patronize an electric railway offering so many conveniences ? For the purpose of handling milk properly special cars will be used, which will run at such times as will be convenient to the patrons. At certain times during the week refrigerator cars will pass over the line to take butter from the creameries to the steam roads. 9 ...EXPRESS. VERY day car or train will carry express packages, delivering not only to the towns but to persons living along the line in the country. It is intended to make this system complete in every detail. The manufacturing towns, viz., Morris, Sandwich, Sycamore, Genoa, Marengo and Woodstock, will furnish considerable business. Sandwich manufactures a large line of agricultural implements, and is continually sending out repairs for the great number of machines already in use; Sycamore manufactures a similar line; the insulated wire factories at Sycamore are daily ship- ping north and south ; Genoa's shoe factory and Marengo's stove factory, foundry and machine shop would use this line largely in shipping. Woodstock manufactories would use it in the same manner, and the breweries and bottling works at Morris and Woodstock would use it to the largest extent. The larger towns having bakeries would ship their goods daily to the smaller towns along the line. Small fruit products from the vicinity of Sandwich and south of that point would find a ready market in the towns north without first paying express charges to Chicago, a commission to the commission merchant and express charges back to the dealer, as is often the case at present. 10 .MAIL SERVICE.. F you will look over the map shown on another page you will notice that mail coming over the Rock Island or Burlington routes from the southwest for towns along the line of this road north of the stations touched on the above lines must all go to Chicago and there be transferred to the roads leading to the towns along the line and carried to the west again to its destination ; this is also true of the other lines crossed on the northern end with mail from the northwest. If the mail is thrown to this road it can be delivered from four to six hours earlier than it now is. The government is never slow to adopt a service where a .prompt delivery of the mails and a saving of time is effected. 11 ....COAL ONSIDERABLE time has been spent in locating this road with a terminus in the coal fields. Its promoters were not only seeking quantity but quality ; they believe that they have found not only the best bituminous coal mined in the State, but a field that will produce for 100 years to come. The vein averages from 24 to 60 inches in thickness, lying 90 to 105 feet below the surface, having a good roof or rock covering; can be easily mined; makes an excellent coal for steam or domestic purposes, as it contains but little sulphur, seldom clinkers and leaves nearly a white ash. This deposit is touched by no other railway, although mines have been operated in some parts of the field in a small way for some years. No better illustration of its quality can be cited than the fact that it is hauled by teams for 25 miles to towns where it is sold for $1.00 per ton more than other soft coal from Illinois fields brings. The coal has a hard, bright appear- ance, will hardly soil the hands, and will lay for weeks exposed to the weather before it slackens or crumbles. 12 ....ICE. IHE purity of ice from Geneva Lake is never questioned, as all water flowing into the lake comes from springs, and many springs flow into the lake which come to the surface a few feet from the shore. During the ice harvest it is shipped many miles to fill ice houses, and to some extent is stored along the lake front. No good ice is secured along the whole length of this road, all streams crossed being too shallow until Fox River is reached, but the sewage from numerous towns pollutes this stream to such an extent that no ice is stored. The Illinois River, which has formerly furnished much ice, is used no longer, on account of the sewage from Chicago, Joliet, Wilmington and other towns. Under these conditions it is fair to estimate that during the ice harvest the road can handle at least 10,000 tons of ice at a fair profit. 13 .GRAVEL ARGE deposits of an excellent quality of gravel are found in many places along the line of this road, while many parts of the country through which it passes are barren and none can be obtained for miles. It is not unlikely that the construction of this road will, with its facilities for obtaining cheap gravel, solve the problem of good roads for some distance back from the line. An ample supply has been secured not only for the use of the road but for others as it may be needed. 14 WEST END OF GENEVA LAKE FROM SOUTH SHORE .GENEVA LAKE. |HIS most beautiful of all summer resorts, often called the Saratoga of the West, is situated 53 miles southwest from Milwaukee and 70 miles northwest from Chicago, and is only touched by one railway, the Chicago and Northwestern, and is known far and near as the loveliest summer resort in the country. In all ages man has sought rest and recreation on the shores of oceans, lakes and rivers, often traveling days through forests and over mountains in search of an ideal spot. Byron, in Childe Harold, says of Geneva Lake in Switzerland, calling it by the name it was known by in his time. " Clear, placid Leman ! Thy contrasted lake, With the wild world I dwelt in, is a thing Which warns me, with its stillness, to forsake Earth's troubled waters for a purer spring. . This quiet sail is as a noiseless wing To waft me from distraction ; once I loved Torn ocean's roar, but thy soft murmuring Sounds sweet as if a sister's voice reproved, That I with stern delights should e'er have been so moved." In fact there is abundant evidence that this lake was not only a favorite resort of the Indians, but from the numerous mounds found by the earlier settlers some of which can still be seen, that it was the home of that pre-historic race the mound builders, whose fancies caused mounds to be built in peculiar shapes, often representing animals and implements. Where the village of Lake Geneva now stands one of these once existed in the form of a huge turtle with its head towards the lake, and being about 60 feet long. About five miles west of this was one in the form of a drawn bow with arrow pointed toward 16 the lake ; the bow was about 90 feet long. Nu- merous other mounds were found in this vicinity. The first white men came to the lake in 1832, and permanent settlers began to arrive a few years later. The Indians who occupied this country at this time were the Pottawatomies, Chippewas and Ottawas. The village of Big Foot, chief of the Pottawatomies, was at a point on the south shore of the lake near its west end. The village was abandoned by the Indians in 1834, at which time a treaty was made by the government for the land when the Indians went further west. It is reported that Big Foot returned to this spot many years after, died and was buried near; the site of his former village. The shores of this lake are lined with summer residences, hotels, club houses, and thousands of people spend the warm months at this place. Four large steamers make the round of the lake each day, calling at stated hours at the many piers. Beside these are about fifty private steam yachts, sail boats, etc., boat racing being one of the favorite amusements during the season. No lake in the wect has more palatial summer residences than this. Houses costing from $5,000 to $40,000, with everything about them in keeping. The improvements in this direction have cost millions of dollars and the work still goes on. 17 SHERIDAN REGATTA. What few streams there are that flow into the lake come from springs, and numerous springs are found along the shore. The water of some is said to contain medicinal properties. Geneva lake is noted all over the United States as being one of the very few lakes where ciscoes are caught. This delicate fish appears in count- less thousands when the cisco fly arrives, which is usually between the first and tenth of June. They run only about ten days and then entirely ALONG THE SHORE. disappear for a year, or until the fly comes again. One of the peculiarities of this fish is that they are nearly all of uniform size and have a very small and tender mouth, and for this reason it takes an expert to land them ; thousands are caught annu- ally. Bass, pickerel and pike are also taken from this lake, and it is expected since the law has gone into effect prohibiting fishing through the ice, that the fishing will soon be greatly improved. The 'only village on the shores of this lake is CISCO FISHING. 18 WHITE WINGS. known as Lake Geneva, located on the extreme east end; it has a population of 2,800, has six churches, opera house, bank, two weekly newspapers, waterworks, electric light, and telephone ; is the center of a rich farming and dairying district. A small town is being built on the north shore of the lake called Williams Bay. (The great Yerkes Observatory, containing the largest telescope in the world, con- trolled by the University of Chicago, is located near the north shore on the west end of the lake. Had the lake no otlrer attraction, this alone would bring many visitors.) 19 NATURE AND ART. THE YERKES OBSERVATORY ....THE YERKES OBSERVATORY.... JHE most conspicuous feature of the western end of Geneva Lake is the great Yerkes Observ- atory, the gift of Mr. Charles T. Yerkes, the street railway magnate, to the University of Chicago. Situated on an elevation nearly 200 feet above the lake, the building looms above the trees, showing with especial prominence from the south shore of the lake. Founded in 1892, the building was begun in the spring of 1895 and completed two years later. The architect was Henry Ives Cobb, of Chicago, well known for his work on the World's Fair buildings. The main structure is in the form of a cross, 326 feet in length east and west, with the shorter arm 164 feet in length, at the eastern extremity. At the western end is the great dome, 92 feet in diameter and rising to a height of 112 feet above the ground. This dome shelters the famous Yerkes Telescope, which was completed in 1893 and exhibited at the World's Fair. The mounting was built by Warner & Swasey, of Cleveland, who spared no expense or pains to make it the most perfect instrument of the kind in existence. Placed on a massive brick pier, the cast-iron column, in four sec- tions, rises 43 feet and weighs 50 tons, furnishing a perfectly steady support for the movable parts of the telescope, whose tube alone, 60 feet long, weighs six tons. This tube supports the great objective, 40 inches in diameter, the masterpiece and last work of the late Alvin Clark, who as an optician was without a peer in the world. The illumination of the telescope is supplied by electric lights, the quick and slow motion by electric motors, and the circular floor of the dome room rises and falls by the mere pressure of a key by the observer. Thus every requirement for the finest work is anticipated, and the scientific world is awaiting 21 with the greatest interest the reports which are already beginning to come of research in the far-off realms of space. In addition to the great telescope, the Observatory is well equipped with minor instruments, which cannot be enumerated here ; but a characteristic feature is the instrument shop, in which apparatus will be constructed as needed. The staff of the Observatory is worthy of this unrivalled equipment. The director, Prof. Geo. -E. Hale, though a young man, is already world-renowned for his work in solar physics, done at Harvard College and at the Kenwood Observatory in Chicago. He has received the gold medal of the National Academy of France for his spectroscopic work, and as editor-in-chief of the Astrophysical Joiirnal he is recognized as one of the best living authorities in his department. Dr. E. E. Barnard, of the Observatory staff, is famous for his discovery of the fifth moon of Jupiter, and is the recipient of the gold medal of the Royal Society of England, for this and for his work on celestial photography, which is without doubt the finest in existence. His exquiste photographs of the Milky Way have never been equaled. Dr. Barnard is to have a celestial camera, especially made and mounted for his work, placed in a separate building. Prof. F. L. O. Wadsworth, the astro-physicist of the staff, is a scholar of wide experience and is rapidly coming to the front, both in theoretical work and in the skillful designing and constructing of special apparatus. Prof. S. W. Burnham, the famous double-star observer, is also one of the staff, and Dr. G. Willis Ritchie, the optician, is now grinding the mirror for a reflecting telescope 60 inches in diameter, which will be second in power only to the great Yerkes refractor, and in some respects it is expected to surpass even that. Thus in location, buildings, instrumental equipment and personnel, the Yerkes Observatory ranks with the best in the world, and has already become the Mecca of scientific men from all quarters, bidding fair to become as conspicuous in the scientific world as the beautiful buildings are to the shores ofj the fair Geneva Lake. 22 HEBRON. the most and being which, In HE village of Hebron is located in the northern part of McHenry County and is about one and one-half miles south of the Wisconsin line. It lies in one of fertile farming regions in the State, surrounded by a rich rolling prairie, its peculiar relief features, is especially free from floods or droughts. It is es- sentially H. F. JONES, DIRECTOR, HEBRON, ILL. INTERIOR STORE M. W. MERRY, HEBRON, ILL. a farming community, and the present prosperous village owes its existence entirely to the industrious and successful farmers who have tilled the broad acres of the surrounding prairie. The village is an incorporation within the town of Hebron. Its elevation is 955 feet above the sea level. The Kenosha and Rockford Division of the Northwestern Railway passes through the town, which is 70 miles from Chicago. The town was named bv Mrs. Bela H. Tyron, the first white woman who * J ev.er resided in the township, the first settlers coming in 1836. 23 The 1 village has a population of 700 and was started about 1861. It is one of the 'good business centers and trading points of the country. There are three churches, the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist, each having beautiful and commodious edifices of wor- ship. There is one school building which accommo- dates about '200 pupils and requires a force of four teachers. Hebron is quite a shipping point for milk and dairy products, shipping regularly from 75 to 100 cans per day, while a local creamery uses from 18,000 TOWN HALL. Residence DR. E. L. HERRICK. to 25,000 pounds per clay. Six creameries in the immediate vicinity ship their products from this station. Dairying is the principal business of the farmers, nearly every farmer keeping from 20 to 100 cows. The village contains two hardware stores, two drug stores, two. furniture stores and a number of general stores, all of which carry a large stock of goods and conduct a prosperous business. A bank has been, recently started, and communication with 24 the outside world is now established by moans of a long-distance telephone. The people of Hebron are progressive and pride themselves on the neat appear- ance of their residences, the cultivation of their farms, the education of their children, and the elevated moral and spiritual tone oi the community. PUBLIC SCHOOL. HYDE BLOCK. 25 WOODSTOCK. HE county seat of McHcnry County lies on an elevation 954 feet above the sea level, slightly above the surrounding country, and on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, 51 miles from Chicago. The first building was erected in 1844 and a postoffice Residence E. E. RICHARDS, WOODSTOCK, ILL. A. K. BUNKER. was estab- lished in the same year. The town is well laid out, having a public park in the center filled with beautiful elms and maples. A mineral spring is in this park, over which is built a handsome shelter in the form of a pagoda. The spring water, which contains me- dicinal properties, is much patronized by people living here, and always attracts the attention of strangers who visit the city. Among the public improvements is the large and substantial Court House and County Jail, both built of brick and stone, 26 McHENRY COUNTY COURT HOUSE AND JAIL. with all modern conveniences. This city can be justly proud of its City Hall, which is probably one of the finest buildings of the kind in any city of its size in the whole northwest. It is located on a prominent corner facing the park, and is of modern design, three stories high, and was completed in 1890 and cost about $30,000. On the first floor is located the Council room, free public library and and reading room, police magistrate's office and fire department apparatus. Above, an STUDY HALL, TODD SEMINARY. THE LAWN, TODD'SEMINARY. opera-house, seating 700, with a fine stage well equipped with scenery and stage accessories. The building is heated throughout with steam and lighted with electric lights. This city is supplied with water from an artesian well over 1,000 feet deep, from which water is pumped into a stand-pipe 16 feet in diameter and 80 feet high, which main- tains a pressure on the mains in the business part of town of 60 pounds. A well organized fire department has access 28 iiu?fff iiiis M. D. HOY BLOCK. to 50 hydrants in different parts of the city when their services are needed. The public school building is a large, imposing structure, three stories high, built of stone and brick, heated by steam, well lighted and ventilated and cost nearly $40,000. The school is ably managed by a competent corps of teachers and is thoroughly equipped with apparatus. Todd Seminary for boys was established in 1848, and will celebrate its semi-centennial in June, 1898, they have thirty pupils, which is their limit. Under the present regime Todd Seminary is an ideal home school for good boys. No bad ones need apply, for the institution is not in any sense a reform school. Here all are sur- rounded with home comforts, and kindly but thoroughly disciplined in all matters pertaining to neatness, promptness and general behavior. No boys over fifteen years of age are accepted as pupils. The grounds are spacious, sufficiently retired from the business center to avoid interruptions to study. The regularity of habits insisted upon and the healthfulness of the community in which the school is located, have made possible the somewhat remarkable record that in nearly EMIL ARNOLD, WOODbTOCK. JOHN R. KELLOGG, WOODSTOCK, ILL. 30 THE HOME TODD SEMINARY. GYMNASIUM TODD SEMINARY. STUDY HALL, TODD SEMINARY. THE HOME, TODD SEMINARY. CITY HALL. fifty years of its existence there has not been a death or serious illness among its pupils. Among its industries are the Oliver Typewriter Company's works employing 130 hands, largely skilled artisans. The Woodstock Brewing and Bottling Company have :i large plant in 'the western part of the city, and have been in business at this place since 1861. It manufac- tures an excellent quality of beer and has a capacity of 60,000 barrels. Their output is largely sent out in kegs, but their bottling department is increasing its output annually. They not only bottle beer, but ginger ale, pop mineral water, etc. Woodstock has eight churches, viz : Baptist, Cath- olic, Congregational, Free Methodist, German Lutheran, German Presbyterian, Methodist and Presbyterian. A Young Men's Christian Association, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, Woman's Relief Corps, Sons of Veterans, and the usual secret orders. This town is also the home of Company G, Third Regiment, Illinois National Guards, who have quarters in a fine new armory. 32 The McHenry County Fair holds its annual meetings at this place, and is one of the few successful county fairs held in the northern part of the state, being ably and successfully managed. STREET SOUTH OF PARK 33 V/DTCSTOCK DEWING AND BOTTLING COMPANY'S V.'ORKJ ...MARENGO... |HE City of Marengo is in the southwestern part of McHenry County, on the south side of Kishwaukee River and on the FYeeport Division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 66 1-10 miles west of Chicago. It contains about 2,000 inhabitants. It has two public school buildings, one of which has just been completed, and both of which are of modern construction and equipment. Over 400 pupils attend there. The structures are upon adjacent lots. One principal and eight grade teachers, four male and five female, are employed. The graduates of the high school are eligible to entry in the colleges of the University of Illinois without examination there. This feature is an inducement to outsiders to take advantage of the high school course, of which many avail themselves. There are six religious denominations which maintain regular services. The Baptists have a fine church, built of wood in 1896, and which is eminently modern in every feature and which cost about 35 PATRICK'S OPERA HOUSE, MARENGO $15,000. The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1897 and cost about the same amount. The latter, although quite different in many features from the former, is admirably adapted to the needs of its denomination, having special rooms for the various church classes and societies. Its capacity when the Epworth League room and gallery are in use is about. 700 sittings. The Presbyterians have begun the construction of a new church which will be worth about the same as either of those mentioned, when finished. The German Lutherans have lately added extensive galleries to their church, which largely increases its seating capacity. The Free Methodists and the Roman Catholics also have ample church accomodations. The Collins & Burgie stove factory is an exten- sive plant located here. It has a capacity for employ- ing 500 hands. The manufactured product of this establishment challenges comparison with that of any similar factory in the world. Other factories are J. H. Patterson's butter tub and cheese box factory, an iron foundry and machine shop, a planing mill, two feed mills, a wind mill and tank factory, two M. E. CHURCH. MARENGO pickle factories, a cigar factory, a fruit and vegetable packing factory, a steam laundry and a sugar-of-milk factory. The city also owns and operates a power house containing engines and appurtenances for supplying the city with electric lights and for pump- ing and distributing the city water. Marengo has no public library supported by general taxation. There is a library in the public Residence J. M. MARKS, MARENGO Residence DR. F. L. NUTT MARENGO schools which is free to the pupils. There is another under the control of the "Local Union," and two private circulating libraries. The last three are avail- able to all on payment of small fees for the use of the books. There are two newspapers, published weekly, the Marengo Republican and the Marengo News. They both have an extensive circulation. 37 There is an excellent local telephone service, with a switchboard of 100 numbers, about 90 of which are now in use. The appliances are of the most recent manufac- ture and the subscribers enthusiastic in the praise of its service. Marengo is surrounded by a thickly settled farming population, the chief occupation of which is dairying. Pay- LOREN WOODARO. Residence L. WOODARD MARENGO ments for the milk sold by these dairy- men to their local creameries near their farms, are made at the banks here, and a large percentage of these receipts are in turn expended in the city for the supplies needed on the farms. In this feature of 38 Residence N. V. WOLEBEN, MARENGO Residence T. H. GILL MARENGO the dairy business, Marengo controls an unusually large territory for a city of its size. The supplies of coal, fittings and other necessaries are also largely obtained at Marengo for use at the numerous factories in this vicinity. Their product of butter, cheese, sugar-of-milk, etc., is al most wholly shipped from this point. There is also considerable milk shipped to Chicago from this sta- tion. Marengo is widely recognized as an import- ant point of distribution for merchandise suitable for use in this section of the country. It has two banks, the First National Bank of Marengo and the Dairy- mans' State Bank of Marengo. Both of these institutions com- mand a good business patronage, and continue to pay good divi- dends to stockholders and also add to their surplus. The natural advantages comprise, among other features, large 40 P. T. PARKHURST Residence S. 8. GARDNER, MARENGO areas of excellent farming land, and adjoining these, along the Kishwaukee River, great tracts of fertile bottom land, which are unsurpassed for grazing purposes. Opposite the city, on the north side of the river, are numerous groves of heavy, second growth oak, which furnish timber for fuel, posts and other pur- poses, at a reasonable price to consumers. There is another section of tree growth south of the city. Six miles west of the city are quarries of a good quality of lime- stone suitable for foundations of build- ings, in fact, the walls of several of the pub - lie buildings here are composed of the same stone to their eaves. Boulders are also ob- tainable for founda- tions should they be preferred. The water of the Kishwaukee Residence F. W. PATRICK, MARENGO F. W. PATRICK River has been utilized to run a grist mill about a mile northeast of the city; further developments of this power is possible. 41 Marengo has an attractive and well appointed opera house, capable of seating 600 persons. It also has a modern and convenient hotel, much appreciated by the traveling public, whose lot is temporarily cast here, and who know how to esteem rest and good serv- ice. The city has felt for years the lack of a rail line of communica- tion north and Residence H. R. HUSTED, MARENGO Residence IRA R. CURTIS MARENGO south from it, and will hail with delight such outlets when completed. There is no doubt that such would be well patronized as well as approved. 42 .GENOA. S a village in the northern part of DeKalb County, and has a population of 1200. It is situated 59 miles from Chicago, on two trunk lines of railroads ; the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, with its double tracks, and the Illinois Central. The accommodations for travel east and west are good. and There is a stage D. S. BROWN line between Genoa . j Sycamore. *"' " The village is on an elevation somewhat higher than the surrounding coun- try, and much higher than the Kishwaukee River and valley adjoining its western boundry. The first settlers selected and located farms and homes here as early as 1837. The village is in the midst of a farming country that has a rich, fertile soil. Most of the farms are adapted to dairying, they have excellent dairy stock, and in the hands of energetic dairymen are producing a good quality and quantity of milk. A commodious creamery provides a market for much of the milk, and the good facilities furnished by either of the 43 LLOYD BLOCK GENOA railroads for shipping it to Chicago are used by many dairymen. Its mercantile business is fully equal to that of towns of like size. It has stores of dry goods, clothing, drugs, hardware, groceries, with numerous shops and other like industries. There are two lumber yards. The banking business is done by the Exchange Bank. The shoe factory owned and operated by Selz, Residence LOTTIE BROWN, GENOA Schwab & Co., employs over 150 people. It has plenty of orders for goods, and they are shipped to nearly all parts of the country. There is a well equipped school house, with a school containing several grades, including a high school. There are three churches : the Advent Chris- tian, the Methodist Episcopal, and the Lutheran. Each a fine edifice. Residence SUSAN E. OLMSTEAD GENOA 44 Residence A. B. CLIFFORD GENOA " The Genoa Issue" a weekly newspaper pub- lished here is one among the leading papers of DeKalb County. The village is adorned with several new and costly res- idences - probably no village of equal size in the state has more. Its streets are broad and well graded, tially built. Residence DR. A. M. HILL, GENOA Most of the walks are of cement, new and substan- Such, with the many other similar improvements, give the village an attractive appearance. With the Geneva Lake, Sycamore & Southern Electric Railroad built into Genoa, the village will gain needed and valuable advan- tages, an increase in prosperity and growth, and furnish a profitable business to the Electric Railway Company. M. E. CHURCH, GENOA 46 BANK, GENOA .SYCAMORE. |HE county seat of DcKalb County is a city of about 4000 inhabitants, and probably con- tains more handsome resi- dences than any country town of its size in the state; its streets are well graded and graveled; it has a fine system of water works with stand-pipe and direct pressure and several miles of water mains with complete hydrants. The city is built on an elevated piece of land considerably higher than the sur- rounding country, making it easy to drain to the Kishwaukee River, which flows along its northern limits. Several large manufacturing industries are located here, among the most prominent being the Sycamore Foundry & Machine Co., manufacturers of agricultural implements, who employ from 50 to 70 hands. The Chicago Insulated Wire Co. has a large factory in the north part of the town, where insulated electrical wire is manufacured 48 ALIDA YOUNG TEMPLE, SYCAMORE Braiders-CHICAGO INSULATED WIRE COMPANY FACTORY in large quantities, both weather-proof and magnet wire. This is the largest plant of its kind in the west and employs from 70 to 90 hands, and is about to be enlarged to accommodate its growing business, and will employ from 100 to 125 people when the new buildings are completed. The Sycamore Preserve Works have a very large plant here for > canning peas, corn, pumpkins, baked beans, apples, etc., and often employ 200 hands during their busy season. This concern makes their own cans by ma- chinery which turn out thirty- five thousand per day ; their goods go all over the world BELLE OF SYCAMORE CIGAR FACTORY Stpre S. W, WINDEBS/SYCAMORE and the "Crescent Brand" is always popular; it is ably managed and one of the substantial institutions of the city. The Illinois Insulated Wire Co. employ from 20 to 30 hands and manufactures insulated weather-proof wire; their plant being located near the Great Western Depot. Among the smaller industries are numbered a feed mill, wagon factor}-, repair shops, etc. 50 WATERMAN HALL BUILDINGS from the rear The schools of Sycamore are excellently managed, and consist of the High school, the First and Third Ward schools. Waterman Hall derives its name from the donor of its lands, buildings and endowments. B}' her will, Mrs. Abbie L. Waterman gave, for the foundation of a school for girls, her family residence at Sycamore, together with a tract of sixty acres of land on which suitable buildings for the institution's purposes have been erected. A well stocked farm of five hundred acres HOTEL WARD, SYCAMORE Residence E. C. CHANDLER, SYCAMORE adjoining the school grounds, Waterman Block in Sycamore, and valuable Chicago property were given by the same donor for the endow- ment of the school. The main part of the building, erected in 1889, is eighty-five feet long and forty feet 52 Residence F. B. TOWNSEND, SYCAMORE wide, with an addition in the rear of thirty-five feet. An additional building, thirty-five by sixty-five feet was opened September 17, 1890. Within these buildings and under one roof are combined chapel, school, music and art rooms, sleep- ing rooms for seventy-five girls and their officers and and teachers ; parlor, library, dining room, gymna- sium, etc. The buildings are built of stone and brick, finished Gymnasium STRANGLER'S SOCIAL CLUB, SYCAMORE Residence HON. JAMES BRANEN, SYCAMORE in hardwood, heated throughout by steam or hot air furnaces, lighted by gas and furnished with pure water from the city water works. The beautiful grounds affords ample space for lawn tennis and other healthful games and amusements. The officers of this institution are the Rt. Rev. Wm. E. McLaren, D.D., D.C.L., Presi- dent; Rev. B. F. Fleetwood, S.T.D., Rector and Principal, and Rev. W. E, Toll, Secretary. 54 The city is well suppled with churches in which all the prominent denominations are represented. Three of the finest church buildings in the county are located here, the Congre- gational, Episcopal and Swedish Luthern, the later being built in 1896. The Methodist, a frame building, is finely finished. Among the other churches are the Baptist, German Lutheran, Universalist (a fine brick building), Weslyan Methodist, Swedish HON. JAMES BRANEN, President Residence DR. C. B BROWN, SYCAMORE Baptist, Free Methodist and Catholic. Two newspapers keep the public posted, viz: The True Republican, a semi-weekly, and the City Weekly. Ward's Opera House is the popular place of amusement, having a seating capacity of about 500, with a good stage and scenery. 55 Among the principal blocks are the Alida Young Temple, built in 1889 by the Masons and Odd Fellows, who occupy the second and third stories, while the ground floor is occu- pied by stores. Central Block, Waterman Block, Georges Block, Wilkins Block and others. Every branch of mercantile business is here represented, Residence GEN. E. f. DUTTON, SYCAMORE GEORGE B. MORRIS, Secretary there being one wholesale grocery, seven retail groceries, four dry goods stores, three hard- ware stores, three cigar manufactories, one wholesale tobacconist, three clothing stores and several others that carry a general stock, two bakeries and four or five restaurants. Its 56 office rooms are filled with attorneys, physicians, dentists, insurance and real estate men. An emergency hospital was established about a year ago and has proved not only a con- venience but a profitable investment. The Stranglers' Athletic and Social Club has a mem- bership of fifty. The gymnasium is com- posed of assembly and billiard rooms, dressing rooms with lockers, wash, shower and bath rooms, with hot and cold water connections. The main hall contains JNO. B. WHALEN, Promoter and General Manager GEORGE BROWN, Treasurer hand ball courts, a padded boxing ring, parallel bars, swinging rings, trapeze, punching bag, fencing foils, bicycle trainer, Indian clubs, quoits, dumb bells, etc. It is lighted throughout with electricity. It is one of the largest and best equipped "gyms" in Northern Illinois. 57 IHOTEL WILLIAMS, SYCAMORE The railroad facilities of the town are good; the city is located on the main line of the Great West- ern and is connected with De Kalb by a branch of the same line. The Northern Illinois passes through the town, the southern terminus of said road being Spring Valley, where large quantities of coal is mined, and the northern terminus at Belvidere, about twenty- two miles north. Connection is also made with the main line of the Northwestern over the Sycamore & Residence W. H. ROGERS. SYCAMORE Residence CAPITA. F. PARKE, SYCAMORE Cortland, and by way of De Kalb over the North- ern Illinois. Six passengers trains per day each way are run over the Great Western and the same number over the Northwestern. The farming land in all directions from the town are occupied by rich and prosperous farmers. Sycamore is one of the largest sheep feeding stations in the state, three or four firms being en- gaged in this business. It is not unusual to have as many as 30,000 sheep in the sheds located here at one time. 59 The Sycamore Electric Light Company is one of the best equipped electric light companies in Northern Illinois, besides furnishing light for all public and business places, a large portion of the residences use the electric light. The company also furnishes steam from its plant for heating purposes, using the Holly system. They have in operation Residence CHARLES O. BOYNTON, SYCAMORE Residence F. LANGLOIS, SYCAMORE several hundred feet of mains laid through the streets for the purpose of conducting steam with which they furnish the consumers; the exhaust steam being used. Although the steam was introduced but two years ago, many of the stores offices and hotels are now using the heat. It is giving such general satisfaction that the mains will eventually be extended to the resi- dence portion of the town and to the churches and public buildings. 60 Sycamore is well provided with good hotels. The Ward Hotel, located on the A RELIC OF THE PAST, SYCAMORE corner of State and California Streets, is a commodious three story and basement brick building, heated with steam and lighted with electric lights. The Hotel Williams, cor- ner California and Elm Streets, is a new three story frame building with all modern improvements, being also heated with steam and lighted with electric lights. The Johnson House, on the corner of Main and Elm Streets, is a two- story brick building with all modern improvements. Among the other hotels are the Wier House and City Hotel. Residence GEO. M. SIVWRIGHT, SYCAMORE 61 Residence JUDGE CHARLtS A. B.SHOP, SYCAMOHE Residence J. B. WHALEN, SYCAMORE .CORTLAND. JHIS village of about 400 inhabitants is situated on the main line of the Chicago & North Western Railway, about 55 miles from Chicago, is sur- rounded by a rich farming country, has two churches, one Methodist and one of the Latter Day Saints. It also possesses a fine public school building. The town has a long distance telephone system, connected with the Central Union lines. The Cortland creamery receives on an average of 7000 Ibs. of milk per day and is one of the important industries, There is also a well equipped feed mill. A hotel and the usual number of mercan- tile establishments, while coal and lumber yards are well represented at this place. E. DELANA 63 .HlNCKLEY. S on the Chicago & Iowa Railroad (a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system) and is 55 miles west from Chicago, and 18 miles west from Aurora. It has an elevation of 672 feet above the sea level and is surrounded by a fine farming and dairying country and is the center of a large grain producing district. Hinckley was the first place to be settled in the county. In September, 1834, Wm. Sebree, with his family, camped among the Indians and built a small log house at the approach of winter. At this time he and his family were the only white inhabitants in this section of the country. The first white child born in the county was John Miller, a relative of Sebree. In 1838 a log school house was built. The town was platted in 1873 by Francis E. Hinckley, who owned the lands where the present town is built. The village has a pop- ulation of 800, one graded school house, Metho- dist, Baptist and German Lutheran Churches. Among the manufactures of this place is a large brick and tile factory with a capacity of 20,000 brick and 10,000 tile per day; with the plant is connected a feed mill, used during the winter season, with a capacity for handling 10,000 bushels per month. Residence J. B. POGUE 64 The village has an excellent system of water works, consisting of a reservoir of large capacity, elevated 65 feet. The water supply comes from a well 300 feet deep, the water being of an excellent quality and is generally used for domestic as well as fire purposes. Water mains are laid through all the principal streets, with 17 hydrants in different parts of the village, making it a practical and complete system. It also has a well equipped fire department consisting of hose, and hook and ladder companies, with about 1,000 feet of hose. Some of the largest grain elevators in the northern part of the state are located here, one built in 1897 has a capacity of over 90,000 bushels and the other equipped with all modern improve- ments has a storage ca- pacity of 125,000 bu. A circulating library is one of the recently added conveniences. Hinckley has a cream- ery to which is delivered on an average of about 15,000 Ibs. of milk per day, the most of which is used for the manufac- ture of butter and a por- tion of the cream is shipped to the Chicago PATTEN BROTHERS' BRICK AND TILE FACTORY, HINCKLEY market. 65 .SANDWICH. |HE city of Sandwich is located on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R., about 60 miles from Chicago. It has an elevation of 680 feet above the sea level; is located in a CITY HALL, SANDWICH fine farming country. Sandwich boasts of her public improvements, and well she may; her streets are well graded and are lighted by an electric light system owned by the city. She also has a fine system of water works. The city building is of modern design, heated with steam and lighted with electric light throughout; the first floor^contains the City Council WALLACE & SON'S BLOCK SANDWICH Store J. L. WARNER, SANDWICH room, Police Magistrate's office, City Jail, Fire Depart- ment apparatus and club room of the fire department; in the upper story is located the Opera House, which seats 800 people, equipped with a fine stage, scenery and accessories; many conveniences being found on the stage that are not usually provided in a town of its size. The city water supply comes from a vein 67 KEHL