CHICAGO (cnte). In 1831, when the first white settlement was made at the mouth of the Chicago river, it seemed an unpromising site for a great city, and for years after wards there probably was not among its inhabitants one who expected that such a city would grow up on that spot. The river mouth was a sluggish bayou; its banks marshy, muddy flats, suggestive of intermittent and congestive fevers. But harbors on the great lakes were not turned out ready made by nature, but had to be constructed to a greater or less extent by human enterprise and skill, and that of Chicago was no exception to the general rule. There was need of a good harbor at that point, and the location was not unfavorable, if the citizens and the government could be persuaded to spend money enough in the effort. The channel could be dredged, the flats filled, and the waves of the lake beaten back by artificial structures of wood or stone. This work, begun upon a small scale, has been rapidly extended to meet the growing wants of commerce, until C. now has a harbor adequate to the demands of a great city. The shore of the lake at this point presents an even line, extending very nearly due north and south. The river extends back from the lake westerly five eighths of a mile, at which point two branches come in, one from the northward, the other from the southward; thus dividing the city into three parts, known as the n., s., and w. divisions. The s. branch of the giver is connected by the Illinois and Michigan canal with the Illinois river at La Salle, thus opening a direct water communication with the Mississippi. In the earlier period of its history, C. suffered much from intermittent and bilious fevers, cholera and other diseases, consequent upon its low, marshy situation; but at length the grade of a large portion of the city was raised from 8 to 10 ft.; block after block of heavy buildings, including some of the largest hotels and stores, being raised to the required level by jack-screws, worked by steam-power. It was one of the most stupendous engineering experiments eve; undertaken, but it was successfully accomplished. The Illinois and Michigan canal was completed, 1848. It is 96 m. in length, and at its highest level was' originally 12 ft. above the lake; but in 1866-70 the city deepened it at a cost of $3,251, 621. It is now 8i- ft. below the ordinary level of the lake. The river channel was also deepened, so that the lake no longer receives its waters, but itself furnishes a clear stream flowing the other way, giving improved navigation and carrying off the sewerage of the city towards the Illinois river at the rate of a mile an hour. The fruits of this engineering enterprise are seen in the suppression of the foul odors so long endured by the inhabitants, and the consequent improvement in the sanitary condition of the city.
The harbor at the mouth of the river is protected by magnificent lines of breakwater, so arranged as to afford space for extensive ship channels and docks. One of the basins thus provided comprises an area of nearly 300 acres, the entrance to which from the lake is 600 ft. wide. The city extends along the lake side about 8 m., and westward 5 m., embracing an area of about 35 sq. miles. Its grade is 14 ft. above the lake on the eastern side, and 28 ft. at the western extremity. The descent towards the lake from the w. is sufficient for drainage. The city is regularly laid out, the principal avenues running parallel with the lake shore. The streets are generally- 80 ft. wide, and some of them are from 3 to 7 In. in length. The scarcity of stone has led to the use of wood, cinders, and gravel for pavements. The streets are lighted with gas, and amply supplied with sewers. The n., s., and w. divisions are connected by numerous bridges across the river and its branches, and by two stone tunnels under the river-bed, of which, one passes under the s. branch, connecting the s. and w. divisions; the other, under the main river, connecting the n. and s. divisions. These tunnels cost nearly $1,000,000. Horse cars traverse the city in every direction. The business portion of the city is mainly in the s. division, and here also are the chief public buildings, hotels, retail stores, etc. The most important public buildings are the U. S. custom-house and post-office, occupying an entire block 342 by 210 ft., and costing upwards of 0,000,000; the chamber of commerce, a spacious and imposing structure, with elaborate interior deco rations; the new city hall and county court-house. occupying a whole block and costing $5,000,000; and the exposition building, a vast edifice of iron and glass, 800 ft. long and 200 ft. wide, and surmounted by a dome GO ft. in diameter and 160 ft, iu height. Some of the 300 churches of the city are fine specimens of various styles of ecclesiastical architecture. C. has 6 public parks, with an aggregate area of nearly 2,000 acres, con nected by boulevards 250 ft. wide, extending around the three sides of the city, with a drive on the lake shore. These afford a continuous driveway of more than 30 miles. Lin coln park, iu the n. division, contains 230 acres fronting upon the lake. A boulevard on the n., 3 m. long, connects this with Humboldt park on the w.; while that by another boulevard is in turn connected with Central park, and that again by still another with Douglas park. From the latter a boulevard runs a distance of 9 m. to a park in the s. division. From the s. end of the northern park a broad avenue extends eastward to another fronting upon the lake. The parks of the s. division are just outside of the city limits.