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Art. III. — Trade and Growth of Chicago in 1852.

In the number of this Magazine for February, 1848, under the genera title of our series of papers relating to the " COMMERCIAL CITIES AND TOWNS OF THE UNITED STATES," we gave a carefully prepared sketch of the history and growth of Chicago; and in the Merchants' Magazine for April, 1852, we published the annual review of the trade and Commerce of Chicago for the year 1851, as originally furnished to our hands by the editors of the Tribune, of that city. To the same reliable source we are now indebted for the subjoined statements of the Commerce of Chicago during the year 1852. We entirely concur in the opinion of our cotemporaries, that great interest is felt in that city, and that she is talked about, inquired about, and sought after by thousands at the East and South; and we feel quite sure, that the "facts and figures" in the present article are fully entitled to the enduring record we have here given. We trust our efforts to perpetuate the commercial and industrial history of the great centers of trade, North, South, East, and West, will be appreciated, and that the enterprise and intelligence of local Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce, and leading Journals, will lead them hereafter carefully to collect and publish, from year to year, similar statements of the progress of their several localities. The following review is interesting, as exhibiting the growth not only of Chicago, but of Illinois and a large portion of the great West, of which it is a port of import as well as export.

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THE ANNUAL STATEMENT OF THE COMMERCE OF CHICAGO FOR THE YEAR 1852

TRIBUNE OFFICE, CHICAGO, March 19, 1853.

It is a matter of serious regret, that the published statistics of the Commerce of Chicago previous to 1851, have been, to a considerable extent, a matter of conjecture. It has been customary to refer to the books of the Collector of the port for statements of the receipts and shipments by Lake, but owing to the neglect of captains of vessels to report, on arriving and before clearing, a detailed statement of their cargoes, and, in many cases, not reporting at all, these books cannot be relied on. In order to show this, we subjoin a statement of the receipts and shipments of some of the principal articles, as they appear on the Collector's books, and also as they are collated and aggregated from the books of our shipping merchants: —

RECEIPTS

Lumber	feet	Col's. Books.	Act. Rec'pts.
		74,798,000	147,816,282
Shingles	No.	44,318,000	76,080,500
Lath	pieces	11,662,000	19,759,670

SHIPMENTS

Wheat	bushels	503,384	635,196
Corn		2,247,485	2,737,011
Oats		1,521,311	2,030,317
Grass Seed		4,716	19,214
Wool	pounds	546,600	920,113
Butter	kegs and pkgs.	2,868	9,062

The unsatisfactory character of the information so obtained is thus made apparent. There is no uniformity in the discrepancy, and consequently no possibility of judging of the deficiency of one article by other, or several others. To illustrate this matter still more plainly, it is only necessary to state that the Collector's books show an excess of arrivals, at this port, over clearances, of thirty-one propellers, two barks, eighty-two brigs, and five hundred and ninety-two schooners; according to which there should be seven hundred and seven more vessels here at this time than there were last year. There being no excess, however, it shows that over seven hundred cargoes of vessels are not recorded in the Collector's office. To attempt, therefore, to collect the statistics of our commerce from such a source would be to mislead the public judgment much more than it could be done by the off-hand estimates of our intelligent shippers. To obviate this difficulty, and to arrive at all the facts, so as to make up a just statement, the only recourse is to the books of the shippers, where each article received and shipped is noticed in detail. This course was adopted last year, for the first time, in getting up the Annual Review for the Chicago Tribune, and brought out a reliable statement.

The business of the city, during the past year, was one of uncommon activity, and productive of more real prosperity to the commercial interests than that of the three previous years combined. In noticing our exports, the only staple article that shows a material decrease, compared with the previous year, is corn, which is mainly attributable to the almost total suspension of navigation on the Illinois river, by reason of low water through the months of July, August, and September — a period during the year when shipments to this city from that source were large. This deficiency was more than made up, however, by the increased receipts of oats, wheat, rye, and barley, from railroad and teams. Altogether, the exports have increased fully twenty-five per cent on the previous year.

In regard to our imports, the increase has been on a scale even greater than that of our exports. Salt is the only article of importance which shows a falling off, while the amount of lumber, shingles, lath, merchandise, and railroad iron has been largely augmented. Ordinarily, such a state of things would lead

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to pecuniary embarrassment, but owing to the withdrawal of labor from other branches of business, to be employed on the various lines of railroad West and South of this, the extraordinary demand of the home market for our produce, and the large amount of capital expended among us in developing the resources of the country, such an event at this time is not apprehended.

Before entering upon detailed statements of the business of the past year, it may not be deemed out of place, or uninteresting, to briefly glance at the history of Chicago, in the increase of its population during the last twelve years, and the growth of its trade, from 1836 down to 1852.

POPULATION OF CHICAGO.

Until the census of 1840 was taken by the United States, we believe no enumeration of the inhabitants of the city had been made. In the years 1841, 1842, 1844, and 1851, also, the census was not taken. The result in the other years was as follows: —

1840	4,469	1846	14,169	1849	23,047
1843	7,580	1847	16,859	1850	28,269
1845	12,088	1848	20,023	1852	38,734

Since the census was taken last year the increase of population has been greater than at any like period. This is evident from the fact, that notwithstanding hundreds of houses have since been built in various parts of the city, every dwelling is full, hotels and boarding-houses are crowded, and there is ail immediate demand for full five hundred more dwellings. It is not unsafe to suppose the increase has already been over five thousand, and. that by the first day of next October the population of the city will reach 50,000.

The increase in the value of real estate and personal property, as shown by the Assessor's books, has been in a ratio equal to that of the population. We subjoin a statement for the last fourteen years: —

1839	$1,829,420	1844	$3,166,945	1849	$7,607,102
1840	1,864,205	1845	3,669,124	1850	8,101,000
1841	1,888,160	1846	5,071,402	1851	9,431,826
1842	2,325,240	1847	6,489,385	1852	12,035,037
1843	2,250,735	1848	9,986,000

The assessment for 1853 will probably foot up over $16,000,000. But the Commerce of the city has increased even more wonderfully than the population or value of property, which shows that the present prosperity we enjoy is not fictitious, but based on a reality: —

	Imports.	Exports.		Imports.	Exports.
1836	$235,203 90	$1,000 64	1843	$971,849 75	$682,210 85
1837	373,677 12	11,665 00	1844	1,686,416 00	785,504 23
1838	579,174 61	16,044 75	1845	2,043,445 73	1,543,519 83
1839	630,970 26	33,843 00	1846	2,027,150 00	1,813,468 00
1840	562,106 20	228,635 74	1847	2,641,852 52	2,296,299 00
1841	564,347 00	348,862 24	1848	8,338,639 86	10,709,333 40
1842	664,347 88	659,305 20

For the year 1848, the estimate was made by a committee of the Chicago Board of Trade, but it is evidently larger than the facts would warrant. On the other hand, the business of 1847 was under-estimated by at least $2,000,000 on each column. Estimates for 1849, '50, '51, and '52, have not been made, but both exports and imports have largely increased on previous years.

It is not our disposition, however, to dwell much on the past of Chicago, but to examine the present, and look to the future, and we now proceed to give our statistical information.

FLOUR.—The amount of flour handled at this port, in 1852, was 124,316 barrels, and the amount in 1851 was 111,983. The sources from which our figures are made up are as follows: —

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Chicago and Galena Railroad	44,316	Eastern Railroads	4,300
Lake	2,875	Manufactured in City	70,979
Canal	1,846
	Total	124,316

The shipments by lake for the last nine years have been as follows: —

1844	bbls.	6,320	1847	bbls.	32,538	1850	bbls.	100,871
1845		13,752	1848		45,200	1851		72,406
1846		28,045	1849		51,309	1852		61,196

The lessened exportation during the last year was mainly attributable to the great demand for home consumption, occasioned by a large increase of the population of our city, and the additional amount required to supply the laborers on several lines of railroad in process of construction. As a consequence, the market was stiff during the year, and prices have maintained a figure considerably above that of the previous year. The market rates, wholesale, for the several months have been as follows: —

January	$2 25 a 4 00	July	$2 25 a 4 00
February	2 25 a 4 00	August	2 25 a 4 00
March	2 50 a 4 25	September	2 50 a 4 00
April	2 25 a 4 00	October	2 75 a 4 75
May	2 25 a 4 00	November	2 75 a 4 75
June	3 00 a 4 25	December	3 25 a 4 75

WHEAT. — Five years ago the amount of this article shipped from here exceeded in value all of the other grains combined, but the better adaptation of our prairies to the growth of Indian corn and oats, and to grazing, has run this staple down, until it has become third in importance. The export appeared to reach its maximum in 1848, when it was 2,160,000 bushels, and its minimum in 1851, when it was only 427,820. This decline has not been owing to any change in the channels of commerce unfavorable to our city, but to a rapid lessening of the production of wheat in the State of Illinois. This is evidenced by the fact that there has also been a steady decline of receipts at St. Louis — the amount falling off since 1847 840,491 bushels. The past year, however, shows an increase at this point, and it is not probable that it will fall off again for many years, if ever. The sources of supply during the past year were, from —

Galena and Chicago R. R. bu.	504,996	Eastern Railroads bu.	13,903
Canal	108,597	From teams	180,749
Lake	129,251
	Total	937,496

This amount was disposed of as follows: —

Shipped by Lake bush.	635,196	Bought by mills bu.	283,493
" Canal	807
Consumed by distillers	13,000	Total bushels	937,496

During the latter part of the year the market was very buoyant, and prices went up gradually to a higher point than was reached during the previous year. The following will show the range for each month: —

January	31 a 42	50 a 64	July	37 a 39	58 a 76
February	37 a 45	50 a 70	August	40 a 43	65 a 70
March	35 a 45	60 a 75	September	44 a 50	69 a 75
April	34 a 40	60 a 70	October	48 a 56	60 a 72
May	34 a 40	62 a 70	November	55 a 60	66 a 75
June	34 a 40	68 a 76	December	56 a 60	70 a 80

The following is a statement of the shipments during each of the last eleven years: —

	Bushels.		Bushels.		Bushels.
1842	586,907	1846	1,459,594	1850	883,644
1843	628,967	1847	1,974,304	1851	427,820
1844	956,860	1848	2,160,000	1852	635,496
1845	956,860	1849	1,936,264

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CORN. — The trade in this staple has grown with a rapidity that has outstripped all calculations. Within six years the shipments have increased over 4,000 per cent — running up from 67,315 bushels, in 1847, to 3,221,317 bushels in 1851. For this we are mainly indebted to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which makes our city the outlet and market for one of the richest corn regions in the world. The receipts of the past year were from the following sources: —

From Canal bush.	1,810,830	From teams	508,220
From Railroad	671,961
	Total amount received	2,991,011

This was disposed of as follows: —

Shipped East bush.	2,737,011	Consumed by distillers	215,000
Shipped to lumber country	29,000
Consumed in city	10,000	Total	2,991,011

But for the suspension of navigation on the Illinois River during three months of the year, this amount would have been swelled up to 3,500,000 bushels.

The superior advantage of this market over that of St. Louis, for corn, is well established; and within the next five years that city will receive very little from any point north of the mouth of the Illinois River. As it is, our exports more than quadruple those of that place, which were only 677,000 bushels last year, and it is not probably that the proportions will over be more unfavorable to Chicago. Four years ago, to have predicted such a change in the direction of this great staple of the West, would have endangered the reputation of the person who might have had the temerity to do so; and no parties apprehended it less than out St. Louis neighbors. Now, however, they admit they have lost this trade. The Republican, of that city, in its annual review of the Commerce of St. Louis in 1852 says: — "It is stated that from a point on the Illinois River, grain can be shipped to Chicago as cheaply and expeditiously as at this point, and that from Chicago to New York the transportation does not exceed the charges from New Orleans to New York. If this be true, Chicago has the advantage of the amount of freights between St. Louis and New Orleans — no inconsiderable item of expense in the transportation of an article of this kind."

The capacity of the State of Illinois to produce corn is almost illimitable, and it is evident this city must become the market for nearly all the surplus that may be grown hereafter. The widening and deepening of the New York Canal will lessen the cost of transportation between this city and New York, fully four cents per bushel. If our canal trustees were to take a more comprehensive view of the interests of the canal, they would also adopt measures to facilitate and cheapen the cost of transportation on the river, and thus draw to this point, through the canal, all the produce that seeks the Illinois River as its outlet. Six good tug boats to take the canal boats down, and bring them up the river again when loaded, at a rate sufficient to cover expenses, would accomplish this object beyond doubt. By this means, corn and wheat could be brought from the St. Louis levee to Chicago at a cost of not over six cents per bushel, and from Quincy, on the Mississippi, at not over seven. If this were done, the receipts of grain, by canal, would be doubled within the next two years, as we should not only take it from a point as far south as St. Louis, but immensely stimulate production, by the enhancement that would take place in the value of the article by means of cheap transportation. In order to show the advantage of our market over that of St. Louis, we subjoin the rates paid for corn at the two places during the past year: —

	Chicago.	St. Louis.		Chicago.	St. Louis.
January	26 a 28	38 a 41	July	32 a 33	35 a 48
February	31 a 34	30 a 42	August	42 a 43	40 a 45
March	33 a 34	32 a 37	September	50 a 52	40 a 45
April	33 a 34	33 a 36	October	50 a 53	40 a 45
May	33 a 34	30 a 43	November	48 a 50	43 a 50
June	36 a 37	35 a 44	December	56 a 58	41 a 43

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The following statement shows the number of bushels of corn shipped from here during the last six years: —

1847.	1848.	1849.	1850.	1851.	1852.
67,315	550,460	644,848	262,013	3,221,317	2,757,011

The small shipments of 1850 are accounted for from the fact that there was a failure of the crop throughout many of the Southern States, and prices were so high on that account that a large amount was drawn South, even from points on our canal.

OATS. The receipts of this staple in 1852 were nearly four times as large as those of 1851, and thirteen times as large as those of any previous year. They were obtained from canal 838,703 bushels; railroads 674,941; teams 581,297; total receipts 2,089,941 bushels.

Of this amount, the shipments by lake were 2,030,317 bushels. The following will show the exports of this staple during the last seven years: —

1847.	1848.	1849.	1850.	1851.	1852.
38,892	65,280	26,849	158,054	605,827	2,030,317

During the year the price of oats ruled higher than it had or several years pervious, and brought the crop out of the farmers hands pretty generally. We collate the statistics of prices during the year as follows: —

January	16 a 17	July	24 a 25
February	19 a 20	August	27 a 28
March	19 a 20	September	27 a 28
April	18 a 19	October	30 a 32
May	19 a 20	November	28 a 30
June	23 a 24	December	28 a 30

BARLEY. Previous to 1850, barley was not shipped East from Chicago. In 1849 there was shipped south by canal 31,435 bushels; in 1850 21,912; and in 1851 11,460 bushels. Last year the current turned the other way, and the shipments were made to the East.

For the year 1852, the receipts of barley at Chicago were as follows: — from canal 8,785 bushels; from lake 1,687; from railroad 90,243; from teams 21,313; total receipts 127,028.

The following shows the shipments during the last four years: —

1849	(south)	31,452	1851	(south)	11,466
1850	(south)	21,912	1851	(lake)	8,537
1850	(lake)	960	1852	(south)	70,818

RYE. We have no account of the shipment of rye from this port previous to last year, and it is not probable there was any — the mills and distilleries consuming all that was marketed here. Last year, however, the shipments were 17,015 bushels, and the experience of the farmers in cultivating it leads to the expectation of a considerable increase in the shipments of the present year.

We have not inquired fully into the destination of the shipments of grain from Chicago during 1852. it is sufficient to know, however, that other markets beside Buffalo, and other routes beside the Erie Canal, are seeking out produce and freight. The Erie Railroad has drawn some of our flour and provisions, but the greatest competitor is the Ogdensburg and Vermont central roads to Boston. Last season a line of propellers was placed upon the route between Chicago and Ogdensburg, and was successful in drawing away from the old channel a considerable amount of produce and provisions, which found a market in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Boston. The effect of the competition produced between this line and those lines engaged between Chicago and Buffalo, has already been advantageously felt here, and in the future it cannot fail to confer material and constantly increasing benefits. A small part of our corn went to Canada, but the amount was too small to excite observation. Nevertheless, when full reciprocity in trade shall be established — as it soon must be — it is not

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doubted that a large and lucrative trade will spring up between Chicago and the British Provinces.

Having given a detailed account of the grain trade of Chicago during the last six years, the following statement of the aggregate shipment of bushels of grain for each year, may be interesting, as serving to illustrate the growth of the Commerce of Chicago. We include flour reduced to grain.

1847	2,243,201	1849	2,895,956	1851	4,636,991
1848	3,001,740	1850	1,830,938	1852	5,848,861

In the year 1850, it will be remembered, the grain crops of the West were very short, and in many districts almost a total failure.

GRASS SEED. Previous to last year, we have no record of the shipment of timothy seed from Chicago. But the farmers of the East, having had an opportunity of testing the superior qualities of the seed grown on our western prairies, estimate it at nearly double the value of that frown on their own farms, and, during the last year, there was a great demand for the article in this market. The first offers were $1 75 per bushel, but it soon advanced to $2 25, at which it ruled nearly all of the shipping season. We have no means of ascertaining the sources from which we purchased, but is was derived principally from railroad and canal. The shipments by lake, for the year, amounted to 19,214 bushels.

BEEF. The reputation of Chicago beef is so good, and so generally known, that we need say but little about it. The fact that it is made the standard in the British Navy, and that it ranks about all others in the New York market, is sufficient as to its character. The grass of our prairies is particularly adapted to the production of good beef, and, what is remarkable, is more highly esteemed than grain for its fattening properties. Last season, owing to the failure of the grass crops in most of the Eastern States, also in parts of New York and Pennsylvania, there was an active demand for live cattle for the New York market. A large number of eastern dealers traversed every county in the State, and bought and shipped off to the East many thousands of cattle that would, under ordinary circumstances, have been slaughtered here. The following is a correct statement of the business of the season, as furnished by the packers named: —

	No. cattle.	Average weight.	Total weight.
R. M. Hough & Co.	5,600	580	3,248,000
G. S. Hubbard	4,896	534 ˝	2,616,912
Thomas Dyer	3,714	602 ˝	2,237,685
Reynolds & Hayward	2,974	500	1,487,000
F. L. Kent	2,413	550	1,327,150
Marsh & Carpenter	2,372	550 ˝	1,305,786
O. H. Tobey	1,794	521	934,674
J. Ellis & Co.	600	500	300,000
	24,363		13,457,207

The number slaughtered and packed at Chicago the previous year was 21,806, which shows a gain of 2,557 in favor of 1852.

The shipments of beef from Chicago during the last five years will show a fair increase. In making our statement tierces are reduced to barrels.

1848	19,793	1850	40,870	1852	49,856
1849	48,436	1851	53,684

The falling off in shipments during the last year, was owing to the lessened receipts of barrel beef from canal, and the much larger amount than usual kept here, to supply the greatly augmented home demand. The total value of the beef, tallow, hides and offal, from the cattle slaughtered here last year was $650,621. the tallow was partly sold to chandlers in the city, and the remainder divided between the Canadian and eastern markets. The hides were mainly taken by parties in this city. The extraordinary demand for beef cattle in the

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eastern market, during the months of September, October, November, and December, created high prices everywhere throughout the West.

PORK. In summing up the pork packing business, we take the statistics of the season, which embraces the last two months of 1852, and the first two of the present year. In no important branch of business has there been a more gratifying increase than pork packing. This is attributed to various causes. Until within the last three years, the raising of hogs was not deemed by the farmers as profitable as wheat-growing. But the adaptation of the climate and soil of Northern Illinois to the culture of Indian corn having been satisfactorily tested, a stimulant was given to corn-growing and hog-raising, most remarkable, as is evinced by the shipments of pork from Chicago during a series of years. Another reason is, the extension of the Chicago and Galena Railroad to Rock River, from the valley of which a large portion of the pork packed here during the past season was received. The extraordinary high prices which ruled during the season, likewise contributed to call out all the hogs that could be prepared for the market, and this accounts for the less average weight of the hogs packed this season, compared with those packed the previous one. The following shows the number of hogs packed here, and by whom packed: —

	No. hogs.	Average weight.	Total weight.
G. S. Hubbard	13,997	212 ˝	2,974,362
Felt & Beers	7,016	214	1,501,424
Marsh & Carpenter	3,813	240	915,120
Reynolds & Hayward	3,615	210 ˝	760,957
R. M. Hough & Co.	3,600	190	684,000
George Steele	3,168	213	674,784
H. Maher	2,800	210	588,000
P. Curtiss & Co.	2,640	245	646,800
S. B. Pomeroy & Co.	2,300	220	506,000
C. Follansbee	1,000	275	275,000
F. L. Kent	1,800	180	324,000
J. Creswell	1,052	242	254,584
Thomas Dyer	922	219	201,918
Nickerson & Wier	250	220	55,000
C. Walker & Son	183	180	32,940
	48,156	211 ⠔	10,192,971

In addition to what was cut up here, there were about 11,900 head shipped without cutting, directly east by railroad, before navigation was closed on Lake Erie. Of these, C. Walker & Son shipped 3,100; Marsh & Carpenter 2,000; Felt & Beers 1,500; G. S. Hubbard 398, and other parties enough to make up the amount stated. The total number of hogs packed here during the season of 1851-2 was 22,036, the average weight of which was 238 ˝ pounds.

The business of the two years is more clearly illustrated by the following statement: —

	Hogs cut.	Av. weight.	tal weight.
1851-2	22,036	238 ˝	5,247,278
1852-3	48,156	211 ⠔	10,192,971

We are confident the ensuing season's business will show as great an increase over that of 1852-53, as the latter did over the previous one. By next November we shall be connected with the Mississippi at three different points, and draw a large number of hogs from the western counties of Illinois and the State of Iowa, — regions where pork is the principal staple and to which St. Louis has heretofore been the natural market. The Chicago and Galena Railroad was the principal source from which the hogs packed here during the past season were obtained. The number from canal and teams was not large. Besides these sources, 900 were brought from Racine, Kenosha, and Waukegan. The following is a statement of the number of dressed hogs marketed here during the season, and the source from which they came: —

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Canal.	Teams.	Lake.	Railroad.	Total.
413	12,500	900	51,845	65,158

During the year 1852 the demand for mess pork, hams, and shoulders, for home consumption, was unusually large, and prices ranged very high. Before the close of September the stock of hams and shoulders was entirely consumed, and very few barrels of mess pork left in the hands of packers and dealers. This great home demand prevented the shipment of a large amount of provisions that had been intended for an Eastern market. It was created by the large influx of population to our city, and to supply several thousand laborers on various lines of railroad under process of construction. For a statement of the amount of receipts and shipments we refer to our table below, under the head of hams and shoulders, provisions and pork. The price of mess pork during the year 1852, on the first of each month, was as follows: —

Jan.	$13 00 a 14 00	July	$16 00 a 17 00
Feb.	12 00 a 13 00	Aug.	18 00 a 19 00
March	13 00 a 13 50	Sept.	18 00 a 18 75
April	14 00 a 14 50	Oct.	20 00 a —
May	14 00 a 14 50	Nov.	19 00 a —
June	14 00 a 14 50	Dec.	16 00 a 16 50

LARD. — This article, like pork, was materially affected by a great home demand, and the receipts and shipments were not large. The market, during a large part of the year, was so little below that of New York that shipments were prevented to the extent that had been expected. The ruling rates for the year were 9 to 11 cents, — opening at the first, and gradually advancing to the last named figure.

BUTTER. — Until the past season the shipment of butter from this port for the Eastern market has not been large. The extraordinary demand — real and speculative — which sprung up in the East during the past year, gave a stimulant to the dairy business of an extraordinary character. The following shows the increase of shipments for one year: —

		Lake.	Canal.	Total.
1851	lbs.	70,824	75,117	145,941
1852		906,200	9,000	915,200

The receipts during the same time were as follows: —

		Lake.	Canal.	Railroad.	Total.
1851	lbs.		37,693	334,523	372,216
1852		86,600	281,800	958,700	1,327,100

WOOL. — Notwithstanding the high price of wool in this market, during the last season, there appears to have been a slight falling off in shipments, compared with the previous year. Nevertheless, it is a well-ascertained fact that the amount shipped from the whole lake border was somewhat increased. The clip did not commence coming in till June, and the market opened in a depressed condition, owing to a supposed combination among Eastern manufacturers and dealers. Competition soon manifested itself, however, the market became buoyant, and prices advanced rapidly. The following shows its condition during the months of June, July, and August, for 1851 and 1852: —

		1851.	1852.
June	lb.	25 a 40	18 a 29
July		28 a 40	24 a 36
August		28 a 35	25 a 37 ˝

The shipments of wool, from this port, during the last eleven years, were as follows: —

1842	1,500	1846	281,212	1850	913,862
1843	22,050	1847	411,888	1851	1,088,553
1844	96,635	1848	500,000	1852	920,113
1845	216,616	1849	520,242

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HIDES. — The growth of the trade in hides was also very large. The following shows the receipts from the various sources during the years 1851 and 1852:

		Lake.	Canal.	Railroad.	Total.
1851	lbs.		487,806	361,070	848,876
1852		11,000	887,318	396,312	1,294,630

In addition to the above, over 36,000 hides are to be added for those taken from cattle slaughtered in this city, and coming in by teams.

The following shows the shipments by lake for two years: —

1851	No. of hides	31,657
1852		47,875

LUMBER. — We believe there are but two cities in the United States that excel Chicago in the lumber trade. These are Albany and Bangor. We doubt, however, the propriety of giving Albany any precedence, for it is merely a point where an account is taken of all the lumber that passes to tide-water over the Erie Canal from Lake Erie, and the Northern Canal from Canada and Northern New York. But a comparatively small portion of the lumber reported is stopped at Albany, or passes through the hands of dealers in that city, Chicago, however, is a great lumber mart, with more than fifty different dealers, into whose yards nearly all of the lumber has to go that is received here. During the four years preceding 1852 the supply of lumber exceeded the demand. Prices were consequently very low, and manufacturers, in many cases, realized no return from the capital they had invested in pine lands and mills. This state of affairs was mainly produced by the conscious knowledge that the demand for lumber to supply Illinois would become immense in a very few years, and mills were built and put in operation to be ready to take advantage of the greatly increasing consumptive demand. As a consequence, the number of mills augmented rapidly, and at the commencement of 1852 there were saws enough in the pine regions of Michigan and Wisconsin to produce more than 150,000,000 feet beyond the probable demands of the market. This led to a pretty general combination among the owners of the mills, with reference to running their saws but twelve, instead of twenty-four hours, as had been the custom before. Nevertheless, the quantity of lumber made was greater than that of 1851, but it was short of the actual increase in the consumptive demand. There has been a very general impression among our lumber merchants that the imports of 1852 were below those of 1851, but this is proved to be erroneous by our statement below, which may be relied on as strictly accurate. The reasons for that opinion were, doubtless, the knowledge that many of the mills were only running half time, and the somewhat unfavorable character of the winter of 1851-52 for getting out logs. The following is a correct statement of the receipts of lumber, shingles, lath, cedar posts, staves, timber, spokes, and railroad ties, from all sources during the last year: —

		Lake.	Canal.	Railroad.	Total.
Lumber	feet	147,816,232	74,148	759,804	148,652,274
Lath	pcs.	19,759,670	1,000		19,760,670
Shingles	No.	77,080,500			77,080,500
Cedar Posts		199,221			199,221
Staves		1,258,302			1,258,302
Timber	feet	1,603,250			1,603,250
Spokes	No.	24,000			24,000
Spiles		4,322			4,322
Railroad Ties		65,383			65,383

We have no account of the extent of the lumber trade of this city before 1847. Previous to and during that year, the only way of getting lumber from the city was my teams. In 1847 the imports were 32,118,225 feet. But in 1848 the Illinois and Michigan Canal was opened, and the demand for the line of the Canal and the Illinois River gave a powerful stimulant to the business, and the importations nearly doubled those of 1847. The following shows the receipts of lumber, shingles, and lath, by lake for the last six years: —

567

	Lumber, ft.	Shingles, No.	Lath, pcs.
1847	32,118,225	12,148,500	5,655,700
1848	60,009,250	20,000,000	10,025,100
1849	73,259,553	39,057,750	19,281,733
1850	100,364,797	55,423,750	19,890,700
1851	125,056,437	60,338,250	27,583,475
1852	147,816,232	77,080,500	19,759,670

The decrease in the receipts of lath can only be accounted for by the fact, that for a much larger proportion than usual of the lumber used during 1852 was for fencing, and the erection of barns. At present the only outlets for our lumber, shingles, and lath, are the canal and railroad. We have not, at this time, any statement of the amount shipped by railroad previous to 1851; but of the canal we have an accurate statement of each year's business since 1849. The following shows the shipments by canal for four years: —

	Lumber.	Shingles.	Lath.
1849	25,773,000	26,560,000	7,984,000
1850	38,388,313	40,453,250	11,208,170
1851	54,186,745	51,641,000	12,785,285
1852	49,095,181	41,920,538	10,659,245

The falling off in shipments by canal last year was, as stated in the commencement of this Review, attributable to the suspension of navigation on the Illinois River during the months of July, August, and September, for want of water. The effect of such suspension of navigation will be better understood when we state, that in 1851 five-sixths of the lumber, fifteen-sixteenths of the shingles, and nine-tenths of the lath shipped from this city by canal was destined for the Illinois River, — no small part going to St. Louis.

The shipments by railroad during the past two years sum up as follows: —

	Lumber.	Shingles.	Lath.
1851	13,770,542	8,269,500	2,136,135
1852	21,645,090	13,930,500	4,589,200

It is not doubted that the shipment of lumber, shingles, and lath, by canal and railroad, will be increased during the present year fully fifty per cent over that of the last.

We cannot refrain from dwelling a moment, just at this point, upon the probable extent of the lumber trade of Chicago four years hence, when the vast prairies west and southwest of Chicago will be opened to this city by the Illinois Central, the Chicago and Mississippi, Chicago and Rock Island, Aurora and Central Military Tract, Chicago and St. Charles Air Line, and Chicago and Galena Railroads. The largest and most fertile part of Illinois is yet comparatively, uninhabited, on account of the scarcity of building materials and fuel. These will be obtained, at a moderate cost, as soon as the various lines of railroad mentioned shall be completed, and in return, corn, pork, and beef, will be poured into our city in quantities that will entitle the country to the name of Egypt, by reason of its productive capacity. There is no district of equal size in the United States possessing so rich a soil, or one which can be made to produce abundant crops with so little labor. Millions of acres, as fertile as the riches farms in the State, lie ready for the plow, without any previous preparation. Within two years they will all be opened to market by railroads, and it needs no prescience to see that they will be made to produce a hundred fold more of the staples of trade and commerce than they now do; and, it follows, consume a hundred fold more than they now do of those articles of prime necessity which they do not produce. In looking at the lumber trade of Chicago we are apt to under-estimate its importance, by viewing it merely as a contributor to the wealth of those who own vessels, and such as are engaged in the lumber business. But these are a small part of the benefits that are derived from it by every class of tradesmen. It assists in settling our rich prairies, by affording the means of improving them; brings to us, in return, their productions, makes our

568

city the great factory and warehouse, not only for those who manufacture the lumber, but also those who buy it, and gives employment to a large amount of laborers, who, instead of producing the staples of the farm, factory, and workshop, become important consumers of them. Our trade with the lumber regions in pork, beef, flour, corn, oats, butter, dry goods, groceries, machinery, and productions of our mechanics, already amounts to many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this must necessarily increase in a ratio corresponding with that of the lumber trade. To illustrate this matter in a comprehensive manner, we take the estimate of a person engaged very extensively in the lumber business, as to the amount of breadstuffs and provisions, dry goods, groceries, boots, and shoes, iron, & c. , consumed in the manufacture of every 1,000,000 feet of lumber. It is as follows: —

Pork	bbls.	27	$422
Beef		25	275
Flour		100	450
Corn	bush.	175	70
Oats		240	72
Merchandise, including hardware, iron, boots, shoes, & c.			700
Groceries, including butter, lard, eggs, tallow, fish, cheese, & c.			500
Making a total value of			$2,499

It is also estimated, for the sake of illustration, that every 1,000,000 of shingles and lath is made at half the cost of lumber. This being the case, by counting the 97,000,000 of these as 48,000,000 feet of lumber, we are enabled to arrive at a concise statement of the amount and value of the articles consumed in the manufacture of 248,000,000 feet of lumber and 96,000,000 shingles and laths, the amount manufactured and sold in the market during the last year: —

Pork	bbls.	5,292	$87,318
Beef		4,900	53,900
Flour		19,600	88,200
Corn	bush.	34,300	13,720
Oats		47,040	14,112
Mdze. , including hardware, & c.			137,200
Groceries, including butter, lard, & c.			98,000
Total expend. for mdze. and provisions			$402,450

Besides this outlay there is the cost of labor and transportation, leaving out of view the amount invested in pine, lands, building, and machinery.

RECEIPTS AND SHIPMENTS. — The receipts and shipments by lake, canal, and railroad, during the last year, are annexed. There are several articles of lake commerce of which we give no statistics, because they could not be procured. The most important of these is sugar.

RECEIPTS AT CHICAGO IN 1852

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Ashes	bbls.	105			105
Ashes	tons	11			11
Apples	bbls.	21,319			21,319
Ale		209	21		230
Ag. implements	lbs.		144,031		144,031
Beef	bbls.	11	1,178		1,189
Bark	cords	2,646			2,646
Brick	No.	361,200			361,200
Butter	pkgs.	866	2,818	9,587	13,271
Barley	bu.	1,687	8,785	90,243	100,715
Beer Bottles	hhds.	13			13
Baskets	No.	460			460
Bedsteads		147			147
Buckwheat	bu.		5,740		5,740

569

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Beans			89		89
Beeswax	lbs.		48,457		48,457
Bacon			201,500		201,500
Broom corn			268,195		368,195
Bran and shorts			7,827	1,078,605	1,086,432
Corn	bu.		1,810,830	671,961	2,482,791
Coffee	lbs.		60,524		60,524
Charcoal	bu.		240		240
Clocks	lbs.		1,320		1,320
Candles			32,026		32,026
Cheese	boxes	941	84		1,025
Coal	tons	42,933	3,310		46,233
Cider	bbls.	420			420
Cranberries		237			237
Cedar posts	No.	199,221			199,221
Chairs		615			615
Churns	doz.	32			32
Chair stuffs	rolls	497			497
Crockery	crates	245			245
Castings	tons	41			41
Castings	pcs.	2,653			2,653
Car wheels	No.	594			594
Car wheels	tons	58			58
Car axles	No.	450			450
Car trunks		23			23
Cars		2			2
Eggs	bbls.	10	99		109
Empty barrels	No.	2,773	6000		8,773
Engines and boilers		4			4
Fish	bbls.	5,249	2		5,251
Flour		2,857	1,846	44,316	49,019
Furniture	lbs.	20,700	139,218		159,918
Flax seed	bu.	300			300
Flax	lbs.		11,200		11,200
Fruits	boxes	4,909			4,909
Fruits	lbs.		63,984		63,984
Feathers			6,424		6,424
Furs and pelts			30,804		30,804
Grindstones	No.	9,051			9,051
Grindstones	tons	64			64
Glass	boxes	20,781			20,781
Glassware	casks	71			71
Grease	lbs.		71,396		71,396
Hogs, live	No.	280			280
Hogs, dressed	lbs.	189,000	86,800	10,881,510	11,157,313
Hol. ware	galls.	4,796			4,796
Hardware	tons	662			662
Hardware	pkgs.	2,119			2,119
Hoops	No.	16,000			16,000
Hoops	lbs.		463,510		463,510
Horses	No.	29			29
Hair	bdls.	44			44
Hair	lbs.		280		280
Half bushels	No.	200			200
Hides	lbs.	1,100	887,318	396,312	1,294,630
Hams			4,223		4,223
Hops			4,878		4,878
Hemp			871,028		871,028
Hay			360,000		360,000
Iron	bdls. & bars	40,560	5,100		45,660
Iron	tons	1,446			4,446
Iron, R. R.	tons	11,227			11,227
Iron	bars	81,995			81,995

570

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Iron, pig	tons	3,495			3,495
Lumber	ft.	147,816,232	76,148	759,894	148,652,274
Lath	pcs.	19,760,670	1,000		19,761,670
Locomotives	No.	16			16
Lead	kegs	5,147			5,147
Lead	rolls	364			364
Lead	lbs.		642,057	715,300	1,357,327
Lead pipe	lbs.	120,000	463,769		583,769
Lime	bbls.	765	625		1,390
Liquor	casks	121			121
Liquor	pkgs.	660			660
Leather	rolls	956			956
Leather	Lbs.		21,256		21,256
Lard			67,256		67,793
Merchandize	pkgs.	305,696	67,793		305,696
Merchandize	tons	4,446			4,650
Malt	bu.	650	204		1,496
Mills	No.	1	846		1
Marble	pcs.	4,250			4,250
Marble	tons	374			374
Mahogany	pcs.	111			111
Molasses	lbs.				746,564
Meal			746,564		83,728
Nails	kegs	10,685	83,728		10,685
Nuts	lbs.				750
Oils	bbls.	838	750		978
Oats	bu.		140		1,508,644
Powder	kegs	6,407	833,703	674,941	6,407
Powder	casks	82			82
Powder	tons	21			21
Plaster	bbls.	999			999
Plaster	tons	37			37
Potatoes	bu.	6,772			30,610
Paper	reams	3,100	17,552	6,286	15,907
Provisions	lbs.	3,300		12,807	1,937,237
Pickets	No.	52,000	97,853	1,836,083	52,000
Pumps		732			732
Pork	bbls.	960			3,270
Pails	No.	39,772	2,310		39,772
Potter's ware	lbs.				6,232
Posts	No.		6,232		500
Rye	bu.		500		617
Rags	lbs.		617		57,830
Rice			57,830		6,089
Railroad ties	No.	30,783	6,089		30,783
Railroad ties	cords	460			460
Railroad chairs	bdls.	2,374			2,374
Railroad chairs	bbls.	257			257
Railroad chairs	lbs.	6,470			6,470
Rosin	bbls.	1,239			1,239
Shingles	No.	77,080,500			77,080,500
Staves		1,258,302			1,258,302
Spokes		24,000			24,000
Spiles		4,322			4,322
Spars		98			98
Stone	pcs.	2,750			2,750
Stone	tons	1,053			1,053
Stone	c. yards		35,649		35,649
Salt	bbls.	91,674			91,674
Salt	sacks	69,444			69,444
Salt	tons	185	180		365
Spikes	tons	198			198
Stoves	lbs.	772,000	1,115		773,115

571

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Stoves	No.	2,324			2,324
Stove pipe	pcs.	1,500			1,500
Saleratus	pkgs.	1,450			1,450
Stucco	bbls.	368			368
Skins	No.	8			8
Soap	lbs.	600	112,148		112,748
Sofas	No.	44			44
Snaths		253			253
Safes		42			42
Starch	boxes	600			600
Sundries	bbls.	907			907
Sundries	lbs.			1,961,251	1,961,251
Shot	bbls.	9,900	291,927		301,827
Seeds	lbs.		618,977		618,977
Sugar			3,207,476		3,207,476
Sand	tons		735		735
Spts. , not whisky	bbls.		184		184
Tobacco	lbs.	54,600	442,941		497,541
Tobacco	boxes	617			617
Tin	pigs	127			127
Tin	tons	112			112
Tin	boxes	105			105
Tinware	galls.	19,640			19,640
Tar	bbls.	491	43		534
Tubs	No.	3,768			3,768
Trees		2,972	6,471		9,443
Tallow	lbs.		74,723		74,723
Timber	ft.	1,603,250	87,400		1,690,650
Vinegar	bbls.	4			4
Wheat	bu.	129,251	108,597	504,996	742,844
Water lime	bbls.	6,532			6,532
Water pipe	tons	1,125			1,125
Water pipe	pcs.	432			432
Whisky	bbls.	1,783		5,658	7,441
Wheelbarrows	No.	865			865
Wagon hubbs		4,286			4,286
Wood	cords	22,319	28,322	859	51,500
Woodenware	pcs.	1,160			1,160
Woodenware	tons	23			23
Wagons	No.	46	56		102
Wool	lbs.		525,632	244,662	770,294
White lead			138,712		138,712

SHIPMENTS AT CHICAGO IN 1852

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Ashes	tons	3	141		144
Ag. implements	bu.		274		274
Ale	bbls.	50	93		143
Barley		70,818	508		71,326
Beef	bbls.	49,856	175		50,031
Beef	tcs.	1,546			1,546
Butter	pkgs.	9,062	90		9152
Beeswax	casks	3			3
Broom corn	bales	855			855
Brooms	doz.	270	1,040		1,310
Brick	No.	49,000	194,900		243,900
Barrels		136	1,920		2,056
Bones	casks	56			56
Buffalo robes	bales	78			78
Bark Mills	No.	3			3
Boilers		2			2
Bacon	lbs.		5,357		5,357
Bran			2,106		2,106
Bark	tons		329		329

572

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Cider	bbls.		37		37
Corn	bu.	2,737,011			2,737,011
Candles	bxs.	1,300			1,300
Cattle	No.	77			77
Castings	pcs.	41			41
Corn meal	bbls.	350			350
Coffee	lbs.		197,182		197,182
Cheese			51,238		51,238
Carpenters work	tons		53		53
Clocks	lbs.		53,286		53,286
Coal	tons		196	1,245	1,441
Crackers	lbs.		1,227		1,227
Crockery	tons		122		122
Eggs	bbls.	723			723
Flour		61,196	2,901		62,097
Fish		464	3,106		3,570
Flax seed		408			408
Flax	bdls.	18			18
Fruit	lbs.	36,200	586,070		619,270
Furs	pkgs.	269			269
Grindstones	tons		89		89
Gunny bags	bales	18			18
Ginseng		4			4
Groceries	pkgs.	4,076			4,076
Highwines	bbls.	13,374	2,868		16,242
Hams	No.	128	67		195
Hams & shoulders	casks	5,560			5,560
Hides	No.	47,875	40		47,925
Horses		17			17
Hemp	bales	4,140			4,140
Hardware	pkgs.	9,123			9,123
Hardware	tons	79			79
Hay		578			578
Horns	casks	117			117
Hogs	No.	4,508			4,508
Hair	lbs.		53,426		53,426
Hops			23,149		23,149
Hoops			31,135		31,135
Iron	tons	69	426	1,968	2,463
Iron, R. R.			9,647		9,647
Iron tools	lbs.		1,453		1,453
Leather		99,291	354,386		453,677
Lead	tons	1,018	1		1,019
Lard	bbls. & kegs	4,638			4,638
Liquor	casks	5			5
Lime	bbls.	1,605			1,605
Lumber	ft.		49,095,181	21,645,090	70,740,271
Lath	pcs.		10,659,245	4,589,200	15,248,445
Merchandise	pkgs.	4,450			4,450
Merchandise	lbs.		14,359,564	34,061,600	48,420,164
Molasses			254,615		254,605
Marble	tons		277		277
Millstones			22		22
Machinery			276		276
Malt			21		21
Machinists tools	lbs.		2,264		2,264
Nails and spikes	kegs	218	7,480		7,698
Nuts	tons		22		22
Oats	bu.	2,303,317			2,030,317
Oils	bbls.	176	170		343
Pork		9,938	38		9,976
Pork	tcs.	640			640
Powder	lbs.	2,370	191,339		193,709

573

		Lake.	Canal.	G. & C. R. R.	Total.
Potatoes	bu.	2,514	386		2,900
Potters ware	lbs.		1,200		1,200
Pumps			155,474		155,474
Posts	No.		16,350	1,113	17,463
Peas	bu.		20		20
Paper	reams			4,308	4,308
Rye	bu.	17,015	300		17,315
Reapers	No.		479		479
Rice	lbs.		15,019		15,019
Saleratus	boxes	1,300	190,000		111,300
Soap	kegs	20	7		27
Skins	bdls.	426			426
Salt	bbls.	4,259	27,457	22,248	53,964
Salt, sacks	lbs.		402,746		402,746
Sheep	No.	10			10
Shingle machines		1			1
Steam engines		2			2
Shot	lbs.	200	1,675		1,875
Seeds			12,853		12,853
Sugar			768,871		768,871
Steel			34,559		34,559
Staves			25,349		25,349
Sand			2,200		2,200
Starch			1,137		1,137
Stoves			1,494,275		1,494,275
Sundries	pkgs.	2,078			2,078
Sundries	lbs.		118,028		118,028
Shingles	No.		41,920,538	13,039,580	55,851,038
Stone	c. yds.		24		24
Tallow	bbls.	871	14		885
Tobacco	hhds.	127			127
Tobacco	lbs.		118,288		118,288
Turpentine			5,017		5,017
Timber	c. ft.		100,001		100,001
Vinegar	bbls.	30			30
Varnish	lbs.		3,792		3,792
Wheat	bu.	635,196	807		636,003
Whisky	bbls.	647			647
Wool	lbs.	920,113			920,113
Water lime	bbls.	95	75		170
Woodenware	lbs.	1,597			1,579
Wagons		412,993			412,993
White Lead			7,640		7,640
Wood	cords		19		19

Table showing the number of arrivals of vessels at this port during each month of the year:

	Strs.	Prop.	Barks.	Brigs.	Schrs.
February	1				2
March	17				13
April	44	6			104
May	62	25	2	7	177
June	43	24	5	37	149
July	63	26	5	35	193
August	52	27	2	47	145
September	54	27	2	30	140
October	18	23	1	37	137
November	12	22	1	31	91
December		1	2	25	21
	366	181	20	257	1,172
Tonnage arrived					545,491

574

This statement is taken from the Collector's books, and is fully thirty per cent less than the actual arrivals. During October and November not one-third of the steamboat arrivals were reported, and lumber vessels running to and from ports in this collection district are not compelled to file or take out manifests on arriving or before clearing. The enforcement of the law would give us more correct information in this respect.

nts

Notes.

1. Merchants' Magazine, Vol. xviii. pp. 164-172.

2. Ibid. , Vol. xxvi. pp. 424-443.