History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

100 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS0 AND
city in the State, outside of Chicago, factured at other points. It is not surthat has adopted and carried into effect prising that the situation was thus
an extensive system of underground viewed, because there were little or no
sewerage. This cannot be too highly facilities for manufacturing. It is true
estimated in its effect upon the health there were two important railroads crossand cleanliness of the city; and yet a ing each other here, but coal was shipped
stranger may come and go without from a distance, and ruled steadily at
knowing that it exists, because so little from tweqty-five to thirty-five cents per
of it can be seen, bushel, and that frequently of an inferior
Springfield was the first city in the quality. Water could only be obtained
State, outside of Chicago, to build water from wells, so that a factory requiring
works. And no other city in the State, any considerable quantity could not be
with the above exception, has yet done supplied.
anything that will at all compare with Now, however, all is changed! The
her in that respect. railroad facilities have been doubled, the
And I have not done yet. Springfield splendid water works have been erected,
was the first city in the State, outside of and the immense deposits of coal underChicago, to build a street railroad- lying the city, have been developed at
others have only followed in her wake. the very doors of the citizens, so that
And yet she is spoken of as being desti- nothing is now wanting but the capitaltute of enterprise. The truth is, Spring- ist with his business talents, and the artifield has been entirely too modest with zan with his skill-the two to co-operate
reference to her own advantages. In with each other in using that which naplace of heralding her enterprises as ture has so lavishly bestowed and art has
many others do, she has plodded on in thus far developed.
business, trusting to the good judgment With these resources at command, it
of the public in discerning and apprecia- may be thought strange that manufactorting her advantages. We believe she
ting her advantages. e believe she ies did not at once spring into existence;
will yet be vindicated in this course, but but it is no cause for surprise or discourit will do no harm for her citizens to
agement that the progress has not been
shake off a little of their modesty. greater. The pcople here had not been
The good influence of this stability in accustomed to think of manufacturing as
business, is observed in its effect upon a source of wealth, and they did not
society, which is more refined and eleva- readily, and in fact, do not now fully
ted than is usually found in a town of realize their splendid opportunities.
this kind or any other, except where edAnother cause of hindrance is fou,~d in
ucational institutions are so grouped tothe fact that from the close of the war to
gether as to mould the public tastes.
the present time, a shrinkage of values
In looking over the early history of
has been steadily progressing in all parts
Springfield, and the account of the public has steadily progressing
of the United States, and it has, therebuildings, churches, schools, libraries and of the United States, and it has, thereC' ~.)~..'. fore been an unfavorable time for the bebenevolent institutions, it will readily be
seen that the tendencies have all been to ginning of new enterprises.
make it attractive as a home. In the face of all these obstacles,
Down to the close of the great rebell- Springfield has some energetic men, who
ion, it seems never to have entered the have been unceasing in their efforts to
minds of the people that any other busi- inaugurate new business enterprises, reness could be done here than to buy and quiring capital and labor. In order to
sell and exchange the products of the act more efficiently in advancing the inscil, for all kinds of merchandise manu- terests of the city, the