Fio. 532— Bird 



acres laid out in building lots, with sidewalks and streets, and even shade-trees 

 planted in advance of any houses. 



Polk Street Station, where we leave our train, is a fine one, with every 

 accommodation for a large crowd, such as may be anticipated very soon. Here 

 our party of vivacious Frenchmen are ubiquitous, at the parcel-room with 

 grips and rugs innumerable, or at the refreshment room doing full justice to the 

 needs of the body. At this Station you are in the centre of Chicago, but by no 

 means near the fair grounds. Such an immense area is, of course, only to be 

 had outside the city, and Jackson Park is eight miles away. The Cottage Grove 

 cable cars, or the elevated railroad, and the Illinois Central are the best means 

 of reaching it, but these are busy enough carrying exhibitors and workmen. 

 How they will be able to carry the hundreds of thousands is a problem. 

 To be within walking distance will be an advantage, and in recognition of this 

 a great number of enormous temporary hotels are being rapidly pushed forward 

 toward completion, outside the grounds, with single rooms at $i per day without 

 meals. Fortunately for all concerned, an immense railway depot is being com- 

 pleted just inside the grounds, and here railway trains from all lines are expected 

 to land their hundreds of thousands of visitors. 



The writer is fortunate in having a nephew at the University of Chicago, 

 and through his kindness a visit to it was one of the first things on the pro- 

 gramme. This is one of the great Universities of modern times — endowed with 

 7,000,000, largely by Mr. J. 1). Rockfeller, its foundations are being laid broad 

 and deep, and the buildings already open are but a promise of what is to follow. 

 Only one year in operation, it has 700 students, with a promise of double that num- 



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