Another of Chicago's great libraries is the John Crerar, a reference institution chiefly scientific and technical, and con taining 400,000 books, 150,000 pamphlets and an immense number of maps and periodicals. Its collection of works on labor and the American labor question is one of the finest in the country. Its largest section is that of medicine.
The Harper Memorial Library at the University of Chicago includes more than 500,000 books. Other important libraries in the city are the Ryerson at the Art Institute, the Chicago Historical Society, and that of the Field Museum of Natural History.
Chicago has many important musical institutions, including the Grand Opera Association and the Symphony Orchestra, founded by Theodore Thomas. Among other leading musical organizations in the city are the Apollo Musical Club, the Civic Music Association, the Men delssohn Club, the Musicians' Club and the Glee Club of the Chicago Association of Commerce.
Public Buildings.—The total number of churches, chapels and missions in Chicago is 1,200. Its resident church dignitaries include a Roman Catholic archbishop and bishops of the Method ist, Episcopal, and other Protestant de nominations. The Y. M. C. A., the Y. W. C. A., the Salvation Army, the Knights of Columbus, and similar or ganizations play an important part in the city's life. There are divinity schools at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. The city is one of the chief centers of the Christian Science church. There are two Jesuit colleges in the city, St. Ignatius and Loyola. The Jews have many fine synagogues throughout the city.
The terrible conflagration that visited Chicago in 1871 was a blessing in dis guise, for it cleared away the hastily built and inadequate buildings dating from the pioneer period and enabled it to be rebuilt on a scale commensurate with its commercial destiny. Its munic ipal utilities, water works, lighting, transportation, fire protection and sew erage systems are not surpassed by those of any city in the country. It has a magnificent park and boulevard sys tem connecting all parts of the city. A
superb driveway runs north along the Lake shore to Fort Sheridan, twenty five miles distant. The city is noted for the size, height and beauty of its public and business buildings, among which may be noted the Auditorium, the Coliseum, the Blackstone Hotel, the Stock Exchange, the Masonic Temple, the Public Library, while beautiful homes abound in the choice residential sections of the city.
site of Chicago was first visited by Joliet and Marquette, French missionaries and explorers, in 1673. In 1685 a fort was built there commanded by an officer in the Cana dian service and before the end of the 17th century the Jesuits made it a mis sion post. Indian hostilities prevented further occupation till the United States Government established there the fron tier post of Fort Dearborn in 1804, which was destroyed by Indians in the War of 1812, but rebuilt in 1816, when a permanent settlement began. In 1830 the population was only 70 persons, but in 1835 a town was organized, and in 1837 it was incorporated as a city with 4,000 inhabitants and an area of 10 square miles. On Oct. 8 and 9, 1871, occurred the memorable fire which reduced the greater part of the city to ashes, de stroyed its entire business center, and swept over an area of more than three square miles, causing a loss of about $190,000,000. Nearly 20,000 buildings were consumed, 100.000 people were made homeless, and 200 lives were lost. Another disastrous fire broke out in 1874 in the heart of the city, which con sumed 18 blocks and over 600 homes, with a loss of over $4,000,000. Within a very short time after these disasters. Chicago was rebuilt in a much more substantial and elegant manner, and it has since continued its steady march to prosperity. In May, 1886, anarchist riots at the Haymarket resulted in the death of six police officers, the wounding of several others, the conviction of eight rioters, and the execution of four. The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago from May 1 to Oct. 30, 1893.