CHICAGO, sld-ka'get. Time county-seat of Cook County, Ill., the second city in population and importance of the 'United States. and the railroad centre and commercial metropolis of the West (Map: E 21. It is situated on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouths of the Chicago and Calumet rivers. in latitude 41° .53' 0" N., longitude 87° 38' I" W.: 2417 miles from the Pacific coast, 911 from New Turk, 811 from Washington, and 915 from New Orleans.
The city, one of the few great metropolises of the world built directly 011 a lake front, extends along the lake for 24 miles, ocen pying. on a remarkably level site, an area of about 191) square miles, at a mean elevation of 25 feet abate the lake and of 5S2 feet above sea vel. \Vithin the municipal limits are several of water, the largest of which—Calunl•t, Hyde. and Wolf lakes—are near the Indiana line, the last one lying partly in that State. Chi cago was originally built on a flat prairie, which was Init :lightly elevated above the lake. and characterized by sand and swamp; but the grade of a large hurt ion has been raised. block after block of buildings being lifted to the required level. street, elevated. and vast of solid masonry substructure laid.
Nature made of the lake-shore a level line of sand. The eity's lake-front is protected south from Twelfth street by the Illinois Central Nail toad, and north from Twelfth Street to Chicago A venue by the 1:overnment Pier. which protects the harbor. North from Chicago Avenue the Lake Shore l)rive and Linvoln Park are secured by a massive sea-wall. Chicago is situated upon both sides of the Chicago River (q.v.), which, at a point little MI we than half a mile from its mouth, is formed by the junction of two streams or branches. one lioNNing from the northwest and the other from the southwest. The river and branches divide the city into three natural parts. legally known as the South. \Vest. and North The south Division all the territory south of the main rivet.. and the North Division the area north of the river; while the West. Divi sion comprises all that part of the city west of the two branches. These sections are connected by GO or more bridge; and several tunnels.
The bridges, of both the swinging and lift types, are operated mostly by steam, though with some of the more recent the motive power is electric ity and eompressed air. Grade crossings of the
steam-railroads are obviated by numerous bridges, viaduets, and by track-elevation—the city con taining more than twice as many miles of ele vated tracks as are to be found in the combined mileage of all other cities in the United States. The street-railroad system, comprising cable, elec tric. and elevated roads, operates over 1000 miles of track. There are four elevated roads, having six terminal stations. There is a loop in the business centre, with stations two blocks apart, around which all trains must pass. These lines connect all parts of the city and suburbs, and are extremely efficient, the system probably being the best in the country. The Various steam rail roads, which over 15110 miles of track within the city limits. offer additional transportation taeilities; and a belt line, encircling the city on three sides, affords intercommunication between the many lines, and serves to unify the entire system.
The business centre is found wholly in the South Division. and extend: from the river south to Twelfth Street. It contains the stations of several railroad:, administration buildings. Maids. banks. commercial houses, Board. of Trade, theatres, the newspapers, and the 'skyscrapers,' which have made of the Chieago odice-buildings an architectural type. State, ('lark. Dearborn, La Salle, Market, and Madison street: and Fifth and Wabash avenues are typical streets. Fifth Avenue and Market Street being centres of the wholesale dry. goods interests. and State Street the centre of the retail trade. In Chic-ago there has been a noteworthy development of the department store, establishments here ranking among the largest and most complete in the United Stat•,. Manu factu•ing establishments are found iu various parts of the city, while the great live-stock and packing industry centre, in the famous union Stoekyards. -175 in extent, some five mile: southwest of the City ]tall. On the waterways, among the objects of particular interest, are the great grain-elevators. of which there are thirty or more. The produce-ma•ket, South Water Street, presents a scene of great animation in the early hours of the day.