Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0214Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a large barge being towed in the Chicago River, there is a bridge in the foreground with two horse-drawn carraiges crossing it, there are several large buildings on the river bank. Above the image "T111 (Star)" is printed, below the image "29229 Union Station and Chicago River, Chicago." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company COPYRIGHTED Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
146-(29229)
UNION STATION AND CHICAGO RIVER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Over thirty important railroads come into Chicago, the world's greatest railroad center. All railroads connecting any point due west of Lake Michicigan with any point east or northeast of it must pass around the southern end of this lake. This is one of the reasons why Chicago has become such a great railroad center. In additoin to the lines entering from the East and West, there are others entering Chicago from the South, Southwest, and Souteast. Not one of these railroads pass through Chicago. Think what that means to the people whose work is "handling" the great amount of freight that enters and leaves this city.
The large building in this view is the Union Station, one of the finest passenger stations in the world. Among its many conveniences for travelers are baths, a swimming pool, a barber shop, and a restaurant.
The Chicago River, which you see here, forms one of the two inner harbors of Chicago. A law of our government requires that no bridge shall obstruct the passage of boats on any navigable stream at any time. So all these bridges are made so that they can be opened to let boats pass. The Chicago River once flowed into Lake Michigan. Engineers have changed the slope of its bed so that now it flows away from the lake, its original mouth, into the Chicago Drainage Canal (built to care for the city sewage) and finally into the Illinois-Mississippi River system. It is probably the only stream in the world that flows away from its mouth.
Has this change affected the water level of the Great Lakes? How would a lowered water level in the lakes affect ofther lake cities?
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection