Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1904 — CRIME CHECKS GROWTH. [ARTICLE]

CRIME CHECKS GROWTH.

Chicatro Seriously Affected by Its Bad Reputation. ; Many of the business men o£*Chicago are becoming alarmed because of the effect which the city’s reputation far saime is having upon its growth. The increase ip population has been checked and, while there is still a gradual enlargement of the figures renresentimr the population, the people feel that it should bo larger and that what keeps it down are the reports constantly sent out from there, and for which there is ample basis, that crime is rampant and the police do not control it. The Citizens' Alliance has taken the matter in hand and will try to remedy the evil. “By virtue of its geographical and commercial location Chicago should be growing more rapidly than it is, - ’ declared James W. Nye, the new president of the alliance. “The wealthy men from all the central States should naturally gravitate to this city as to a center. They should come hero to live when they have' made their fortunes, and should add to the revenues of the municipality. We should -receive a great summer pilgrimage from the Southern cities. Our summer climate is unrivaled. But the people from the warmer sections of the land, seared away by the reports circulated of Chicago, pass us by and liasteu to the Northern resorts. “No city in the world has better and cheaper fuel. Our transportation facilities excel those of nny other place on the globe. Why, w T e ask, has Chicago’s growth slackened in the last few years? “Labor and capital have been fighting almost constantly. There has been too much of strikes, lockouts, boycotts, of intimidation-, aiul street rioting. Manufacturers fear to come here lest they become involved in the struggle, and many already in the city talk of moving away. The city ordinances are not enforced and the sky is overcast with smoke and the, streets go undefined. Remedy these evils and Chicago will at once take its place in the leadership of American cities.’’