Telegraph being re-built in Chicago, Tillotson in new quarters

Editorial Correspondence.

A Western Trip. - First Snow Storm of the Season. --

Omaha and its Telegraphers. --

Chicago Telegraphs in Progress of Restoration. --

The Relief for Suffering Telegraphers. --

Prairie and Forest Fires.

Bliss, Tillotson & Company --

"Scorched but not Discouraged," &c., &c.

CHICAGO, ILL., Oct.21.

SINCE our former communication was written we have been West as far as Omaha. Ono week ago today we experienced the first snow storm of the season, and for the first it was by no means a small affair. The snow fell steadily for several hours, and accumulated to a depth of about half an inch. It was the eastern end of a heavy snow storm in the mountains, where it fell to the depth of four or five feet, and for a day or two considerably impeded railroad travel. Sunday morning broke bright and pleasant, and by noon the snow had entirely disappeared, and ever since the air has been mild and the skies bright and beautiful. There is great complaint all through the West of drought, and the skies are nightly illuminated by the prairie fires which are burning in every direction. We shall have more to say of these fires and their damaging effects upon the telegraph lines in another portion of this communication.

Our stay in Omaha was very brief, but we visited the A. and P. and Great Western, and the Western Union Telegraph offices. The former is under the management of that staunch friend of THE TELEGRAPHER, Mr. M. A. McCoy, and we were gratified to learn that it was prospering, and profitable to the company named. It is a commodious and excellently equipped and fitted up office, and is the repeating office for the business going west of the Rocky Mountains. The lines and instruments are constantly occupied, and we should judge the operators' situations to be by no means sinecures.

The Western Union office is also very commodious and comfortable. We had a short interview with Mr. Frank Lehmer, the manager. This office is at all times a busy one, and since the Chicago fire there has been a large increase of the amount of business passing through it. Ordinarily a considerable portion of the Pacific coast business is transmitted through repeaters direct from Chicago, but since the conflagration the arrangements have been temporarily interrupted. By the time these lines are in print they will be mainly restored and business proceeding as formerly. By the unremitting exertion of managers and operators the business has been forwarded, notwithstanding the Chicago difficulties, with nearly the usual promptness.

At a small station about forty miles east of Omaha we found a telegrapher who had, never seen or heard of THE TELEGRAPHER! He was the only one of the profession whom we met on our journey who was not familiar with the organ of the fraternity, and we think such an exceptional case worthy of record in its columns.

We reached this city again on our way east yesterday forenoon. During the few clays which had passed since our visit last week we found that much progress had been made in clearing up the debris of the fire, and extricating things from the confusion and disorder which unavoidably attended the sudden destruction of the entire business portion of the chief city of the west. The rubbish which had encumbered many of the streets in the burned districts is mostly cleared away. The routes of several of the street railroads have been reestablished, and locomotion generally is much improved.

Temporary wooden buildings, usually of one story, are being rapidly constructed under au ordinance of the City Council, allowing their erection within the fire limits for one year, and a number of them are already completed and occupied. The work of rebuilding permanently has also commenced in some localities, and the restoration of Chicago may be said to have been already initiated-and that it will be pushed forward with characteristic energy and rapidity there can be no doubt. As a general thing, the people bear their unprecedented losses with an equanimity, cheerfulness and courage which is surprising. Having built up a great city in so short a time as to make the achievement seem almost like a fairy romance-having seen the most valuable portion of their city vanish in a few brief hours in flame and smoke, they now propose to astonish the world by the rapidity and thoroughness with which it shall be rebuilt in more than its former splendor and value. In their terrible affliction, and in their undaunted courage and energy in surmounting their misfortunes, they have the sympathy and will have the aid of not only their own country but of the civilized world.

We found telegraphic affairs had very much improved during the week which bad elapsed. The Western Union Company's main office has been established at the corner of West Washington and Canal streets, which was being fitted up for the purpose last week. There are now about sixty instruments in operation in this office, and more will be put in as rapidly as possible. This work has been done under the immediate supervision and direction of Col. J. J. S. Wilson, District Superintendent, aided by Mr. C. H. Summers, the able electrician of the company. The operating room presents a busy and animated scene but, under the circumstances, a very orderly one. The discipline of the office must have been excellent, as each employe appears to fall easily and naturally into his or her place, and to work with a view to the best possible discharge of their duty and the advancement of the interests of the company. Among the large number of operators at work we noticed several ladies, who (there being no special room set apart for them, as, in fact, at present would be impossible,) were laboring side by side with their brother operators.

In this connection it occurs to us whether this arrangement would not be better as a permanent one than shutting the male and female operators up in separate rooms and under separate management. It is a matter worthy of consideration by telegraph managers. For many reasons the present arrangement in large offices is objectionable, and we doubt very much whether it is calculated to secure the highest efficiency.

A branch office is still maintained at the Supply Department, corner of Sixteenth and State streets, at which place, immediately after the fire, the main office was temporarily established.

The general offices of the company (General and District Superintendents, etc.,) are to be for the present established at No. 554 Wabash avenue which has been leased and is now being fitted up for 'the purpose. The branch office, now at the Supply Department, will also be removed to the latter place.

The proprietors of the Sherman House have opened the new hotel on the corner of Madison and Clinton streets; those of the Briggs House, a hotel corner of Madison and Canal streets; and those of the Tremont House, a hotel on the corner of Michigan avenue and Congress streets. At all three of these branch Western Union offices have been established. These three hotels will be kept as first class houses until the hotels which were formerly kept by their proprietors under similar names can be rebuilt, and temporary sojourners in Chicago can in them find comfortable abiding places, which, for the first week or ten days after the fire, were lacking.

Other branch offices will be established as rapidly as possible and as they may be required for the transaction of business.

The management of the affairs of the Western Union Company, during and since the fire, by General Superintendent Stager and District Superintendent Wilson, seems to us to have been most excellent. They and their assistants have labored night and day to maintain telegraphic communication, and it is a fact that the principal interruptions, after the Monday morning succeeding the destruction of the Western Union building, were caused by the burning of poles by the prairie fires east of Chicago. A sufficient number of wires were strung early on Monday morning through the city, notwithstanding the confusion which prevailed, to keep up communication on direct routes, had it not been for the causes before referred to outside of Chicago. Col. Wilson at once concentrated as many linemen and repairers as possible, but the constant destruction of the wires on the routers east necessitated many of them being despatched to restore them as rapidly as possible.

We learn, by private advices from New York, that an attempt was made by the officials of the Western Union Company there to double the usual charge for transmission of messages to Chicago immediately succeeding the fire. That fact has not been known in this city, the chief officials here not having promulgated any such order. To have attempted this would have been the height of folly, and would have created a feeling against the company which could not but have resulted disastrously. On the contrary, notwithstanding the immense rush of business forced upon the overburdened wires, General Stager sent free all messages relating to the fire and the sufferers, where the parties had not the means for paying for the same. This is in decided contrast to the stupidity which attempted at headquarters to turn the misfortunes of the city into profit. The prompt revocation of that order, under the pressure of an indignant public opinion, was the only wise thing about it.

As was stated last week, the most of the apparatus in the main office was placed in the vaults, and is supposed to have been saved in fair condition. The vaults have been opened, but not yet carefully examined, to ascertain their condition; it is known, however, that most of the instruments belonging to the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company, which were in these vaults, were saved. This company had just constructed a system of reporting lines through the burned district, and were about ready to commence their system of financial and commercial reports when the fire occurred. The wires were upon the Western Union poles, and of course shared their fate.

Mr. Summers, the electrician of the division, saved his Siemens galvanometer, Varley galvanometer and Gougain multiplier, but lust his library of electrical and scientific works.

In addition to the destruction of the main office, which bad no equal for the completeness, convenience and beauty of its fittings-up and arrangements in this country, or probably in the world, the Western Union branch offices in all the principal hotels, railroad offices and Board of Trade, with all the instruments and office fixtures, were lost-also the pneumatic tube from the main office to the Chamber of Commerce. The following is a corrected (and correct) statement of the Western Union lines destroyed, more in detail than the one obtained in our former communication: On Franklin street, from Washington to Lake, and thence on Lake street to the Illinois Central Railroad depot; on Michigan avenue, from Water to Harrison streets; on Washington street, from Michigan avenue to the tunnel under the river; on La Salle street, from North Kenzie to Van Buren street-thence on Van Buren to Clark street; on Water street, from Lake to State street; on State street, from Water to Lake street; on Adams street, from State street to the river; on West Canal street, Adams to Taylor street. On these routes most of the poles were very large and handsome, fifty-five feet long and painted, and carried about forty wires each, with Brooks Paraffin Insulators. Besides these there were a large number of lines branching off in different streets that were burned. On the north side of the river, or North Division, as it is termed, the lines on Chicago avenue and Clark street to the river, and on Kenzie street, from State street to the river, and on Franklin street to Oak street were destroyed.

Eighteen of the Western Union employes suffered by the fire; of these about half lost all they had, the others only a portion of their effects and property.

As soon as it was known that so widespread and universal destruction had occurred offers of assistance and sympathy were tendered by the telegraphic fraternity. A car load of provisions was forwarded at once from St. Louis, contributed by the telegraphers of that city for the relief of their suffering brethren, which came in good time and was very acceptable.

From San Francisco $800 was forwarded in money, and promises of more if needed, and from many of the larger cities money was sent in various sums, amounting in all to about $1,500.

Gen. Stager has turned over to Mr. A. L. Baker, of the main office, the entire charge of relief for the operators. Most of the married men lived on the north side, and those who needed assistance have again been started in housekeeping. The money has been judiciously distributed, and it is believed in such a manner as to accomplish the most good. Gen. Stager has also been authorized, by the executive committee of the company, to afford such assistance, as in his judgment is advisable, to the employes who have suffered from the fire.

An official publication will be made as soon as practicable, through THE TELEGRAPHER, of the amounts received for relief and the disposition made of them, in order that the generous contributors may be assured of the proper application of their contributions.

The Pacific and Atlantic Company have leased premises for their main office at No. 454 Wabash avenue, which is already occupied-although, of course, the fitting up has not yet been completed. This Company also continues its offices at 53 and 55 South Canal street, and in the Board of Trade Rooms. The office on Wabash avenue is a pleasant one, and will be the headquarters for the next year or two. We were unable to see Mr. C. H. Haskins, the Supt. of the Company, as he is and has been since the fire very busy reconstructing the lines of the company through the city. We found the operators in this office very busy, the amount of business done being only limited by the capacity of the wires.

The Pacific and Atlantic and Great Western Telegraph Companies have leased premises for a main office at 401 Wabash avenue. Mr. E. D. L. Sweet, General Supt., and Mr. Waite, District Supt. of the A. & P. Co., have been very busily engaged since the fire in reconstructing the lines through the city, and in securing suitable locations for offices. This company also continues its office at the Board of Trade rooms, which are now established in a temporary building on the corner of Washington and Market streets. An office has also been established by these companies at 34 and 36 South Canal street. Other offices will be opened as circumstances may require.

Mr. A. H. Bliss, the Superintendent of the Great Western Telegraph Company, is right in his element extricating his lines and offices from the ruins, and reestablishing them for the future. Plenty of hard work, hard fighting and excitement, are just what suits him, and he has had them to his heart's content since the fire. He is as happy and jolly as could be desired. For the success it has achieved the Great Western Company is largely indebted to his energetic and persistent exertions.

We regretted to learn that a day or two since a little daughter of Mr. Bliss was quite badly scalded on one arm and side through hot water being accidentally spilled upon her. She is not dangerously, though very painfully injured, however.

Mr. A. H. Sibley, clerk in the employ of the Great Western Company, whose nonappearance since the fire was mentioned in our previous communication, has since turned up all right. He was ill on the night of the fire and went to a friend's house, and did not report his whereabouts until some days afterwards, which led to the apprehension that he had fallen a sacrifice to the flames.

The Fire Alarm Telegraph is in operation over that portion of the city yet undestroyed, with such temporary arrangements as the Superintendent, Mr. E. B. Chandler, has been able to collect together, until new instruments, etc., can be obtained from New York. We failed to see Mr. Chandler, also, owing to the limited time at our disposal and his constant occupation in reestablishing his circuits throughout the city.

In addition to the difficulties experienced telegraphically from the Chicago conflagration, even more serious ones have been and are now being encountered from the prairie and forest fires, which are raging with unprecedented violence throughout this whole Western country. Miles upon miles of telegraph line have been entirely destroyed, and great difficulty is experienced in maintaining the circuits in consequence. A protracted drought has made everything so dry that a spark is sufficient to set fires which rage with a violence never before known. While in Iowa, and on the cars at night, the skies were illuminated in every direction by these prairie fires, and unless rain soon comes there is no telling how wide-spread and universal the devastation and loss may be. It needs a week's steady wet weather to avert the misfortunes which are being this year so terribly visited upon the Great West from fire.

We found our friends, Bliss, Tillotson & Co., quite busy and comfortable in their new quarters at 295 W. Randolph street. They saved from the fire a portion of their stock, and have more already ordered and on the way from the east. As the circular which they have issued to their customers and the public states, they are "Scorched but not discouraged!" They are again ready for business, and their losses, though severe, will not prove as large as was at first expected, as their insurance is likely to turn out better than was anticipated. They will, without doubt, receive that encouragement and patronage which their enterprise deserves, and their establishment will soon again rise like the phoenix from its ashes with renewed life and vigor.

A.