CHICAGO (pronounced She-kawso), the principal city of Illinois, and seat of Cook co., is situated on the south-western shore of lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Chicago river, lat. 41° 50' 20" n., long. 87° 37' west. The name is of Indian origin, signifying " wild onion," and is first mentioned by Perrot, a Frenchman, by whom it was visited in 1671. In 1803, a stockade fort was built near the mouth of the river, and named fort Dear born. When the war with Great Britain broke out in 1812, the government, apprehen sive that a post among the Indians so far from the frontiers could not be successfully maintained, ordered the commander to abandon it. The Indians destroyed the fort, which was rebuilt in 1816. C. was first settled in 1831, previous to which time it was a mere frontier-post; in 1832, it contained about a dozen families, besides the officers and soldiers in fort Dearborn. The town was organized by the election of a board of trustees, Aug. 10, 1833. On Sept. 26, of the same year, a treaty was made for all their lands with the Pottawatomies, 7,000 of the tribe being present, after which they were removed w. of the Mississippi river. The first charter of the city was passed by the legislature Mar. 4, 1837. The following table exhibits the rapid increase of Chicago. The estimated number of the pop. in 1835 was 1000, and the exact number, according to the census returns, was, in 1840.... 4,470 1852 38,733 1865.... .. 187,446 1845.... 12,080 1853 60,652 1870 298,977 1848 .. 20,035 1855 • 83,509 1872 364,377 1850 28,260 1860 150,000 1875 . 410,000 C., perhaps the most remarkable city in the world for its rapid growth, is built upon a plain sufficiently elevated to prevent inundaiton. Some years ago, the elevation of the principal streets, also the buildings, were raised from 4 to 10 ft., the object of this gigantic undertaking being to admit a thorough system of sewerage. The Chicago river and its branches separate the city into three divisions, connected by large tunnels. The main stream, flowing directly w., is about 100 yards wide, and forms one of the best harbors on the lakes. Vessels ascend the river and its branches a distance of 4 m. from its month, thus affording nearly 18 m. of wharfage. The water for the city is now sup
plied by a tunnel from lake Michigan, which was opened in 1867, and supplies 57,000, 000 gallons daily. There are also about 40 artesian wells. C. possesses a splendid system of public parks, and numerous handsome buildings. More than 30 railways meet here.
The Illinois and Michigan canal, completed in 1848, connects the Chicago and Illinois rivers, thus affording communication between the lakes and Mississippi to the coal-fields of Illinois, and to the vast quarries of so-called Athens marble, regarded as the finest building-material in the country. It is found on,the banks of the canal, about RO m. from C.; and is easily worked when first quarried, like the Caen stone.
The 36 public schools of C.-4--soMe capable of holding 1000 children—afford the means of education, free of charge, to every child in the city. At the head of the system is the high school. Here the sons and daughters of the poorest man may aspire to the highest honors in the classics and modern languages. There are also numerous private schools and seminaries, besides several universities, medical colleges, theological, literary, and scientific institutions, located in Chicago.
Since 1853, pork-packing has been conducted ou an enormous scale. In 1872, cattle to the value of $41,000,000 were received, and 16,080 head were packed as beef. The value of hogs received was $33,500,000, and 1,456,650 were packed as pork. Since 1854, C. has been the largest primary grain depot in the world. In 1872, 88,426,842 bushels of breadstuffs were received, and 83,364,224 shipped. C. is also the most extensive lumber market in the world. There are 80 newspapers and periodicals.
In Oct., 1871, a terrible fire occurred, which burned 18,000 houses, extending over more than 2,000 acres; 200 persons perished, and nearly 100,000 were rendered home less. The property burned was estimated at 200,000,000 dollars. This stupendous calamity awakened the sympathy of the civilized world. Great Britain and other countries subscribed money freely for the sufferers. The city was entirely rebuilt in a style of great magnificence within two years.