Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/408

400 CHICAGO Pacific; the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy; the Chicago and Alton ; the Michigan Central ; the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern; the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago; the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis; and the Chicago, Danville, and Vincennes. The railroad depots were formerly much scat- tered; but the policy of reconstruction leans toward the concentration of the railroad busi- ness into three grand union depots one on the lake shore, one on the south side near the river, and the third in the West or North divi- sion, with a circular railroad on the outskirts, connecting all the lines that enter the city. Ample facilities for communication between different parts of the city are afforded by three lines of street railroads in the principal thor- oughfares, and numerous lines of omnibuses. Until recently intercourse between the three divisions of the city was effected only by 83 bridges, which span the river at intervals of two squares, and swing on central pivots to admit the passage of vessels. These bridges, however, were a serious impediment to navi- gation as well as to vehicles and pedestrians. To obviate this inconvenience, a tunnel was constructed in 1868 under the South branch at Washington street, by which an uninter- rupted communication was established between the South and West divisions. It is 1,608 ft. long, with a descent of 26 ft., has a double roadway for vehicles and a separate passage for pedestrians, and cost about $400,000. In 1870 another similar tunnel, with a total length of 1,890 ft., including approaches, was con- structed under the main river on the line of La Salle street, connecting the North and South divisions. Its cost was $549,000. Chicago is the great commercial centre of the northwest, and in commercial importance ranks next to New York among the cities of the United States. Formerly there was but half a league of portage for canoes from Chicago river to Illinois river, which is tributary to the Missis- sippi ; and at high water the Indians passed from one to the other without portage. This, and the fact that Chicago river was then the only good harbor near the head of lake navi- gation, suggested it as the terminus of a canal to connect the two great watercourses. Its commercial importance was thus established, and grew rapidly with the development of the country westward. The mercantile trade of the city is very important, as it supplies most of the region from which produce is received. In 1852 the commerce was estimated at $20,- 000,000; in 1856 at $85,000,000; in 1860 at $97,067,617 ; in 1870 at $400,000,000 ; in 1872 at $450,000,000. The following were the leading items for the 12 months succeeding the fire, counting only the cost at first sale : breadstuff's, $49,321,000; live stock, $70,546,000; provi- sions received, $9,455,000 ; wool and hides, $14,- 818,000; tea and tobacco, $16,526,000; lum- ber, &c., $13,166,000 ; other produce, $18,125,- 000; groceries, $59,000,000; dry goods, $40,- 000,000; boots and shoes, $10,500,000; hard- ware, &c., $9,500,000; clothing, hats, &c., $6,000,000; jewelry, $5,750,000; paper, &c., $5,000,000; drugs, &c., $5,000,000 ; millinery, $4,500,000; books and newspapers, $3,500,- 000; crockery, $3,100,000; music and musical instruments, $2,250,000; other sales, $104,000,- 000. The leading articles of commerce are ex- hibited in the following statement of the aggre- gate receipts and shipments for two years : ARTICLES. 1871. 1872. tUcttpte. Shipment*. Rcctlpti. Shipment!. Beef, bbls M.l-9 18,281,452 1.081,472 88,518.202 25,026.084 17.662,798 18,840.101 120,969 I,089.82a875 68.1149 80.150.S99 708,717 20.284.146 647,5!<5,000 27,026,621 89,451 11,049,867 96.K88 71,800,789 22,462,864 61,029.838 6,1)94,751 171,081 641,222,548 149,724 168,118,891 450,183 14.218,989 668.8h5.850 24,861,524 14.512 14,574.7'. 7 1,898.024 88,426,8:2 82.887,995 19.911.797 20,285.685 168,!i91 1,188,659.280 121.028 48,2.",6,615 C06.678 44.755,412 610,824,420 28,181,509 89,911 11,497,587 177,687 88,864,224 28,869,292 86,040,785 10,842,717 169,564 417,827,875 208.664 288,727,484 518,850 22.858.542 486.827,875 27,720,089 Butter. Ibs Coal, tons Grain and flour red Hides. Ibs. Lard, Iba Lead, Ibs. Liquors and hlghw Lumber, feet. . . Pork, bbta. Provisions and cut Salt, bbte meats, Ibs Seeds. Ibs Shingles, number . Wool, Ibs Chicago is a port of entry, and has an ex- tensive commerce with Canada. The total value of domestic produce exported to Canada by lake in 1872 was $5,251,539. By the act of congress of 1870 merchandise from foreign countries may be shipped direct to Chicago by being transported in bond from the port of first entry. This enables direct shipments to be made between Chicago and foreign coun- tries, the transfer between Chicago and the seaports of the United States being made in bonded cars. As early as 1854 it was an- nounced that Chicago was the greatest primary grain depot in the world, collecting more grain from the producers than even the Russian ports. Since then the city has become also the greatest grain market in the world, her produce forming the basis for speculation, as stocks and gold do in New York. The follow- ing tables show the growth and extent of the trade, flour being reduced to its equivalent in wheat in the totals :