ist, Episcopal, and other Protestant denominations. The Y. M. C. A., the Y. W. C. A., the Salvation Army, the Knights of Columbus, and similar organizations play an important part in the city's life. There are divinity schools at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. The city is one of the chief centers of the Christian Science church. There are two Jesuit colleges in the city, St. Ignatius and Loyola. The Jews have many fine synagogues throughout the city. The terrible conflagration that visited Chicago in 1871 was a blessing in disguise, for it cleared away the hastily built and inadequate buildings dating from the pioneer period and enabled it to be rebuilt on a scale commensurate with its commercial destiny. Its municipal utilities, water works, lighting, transportation, fire protection and sewerage systems are not surpassed by those of any city in the country. It has a magnificent park and boulevard system connecting all parts of the city. A superb driveway runs north along the Lake shore to Fort Sheridan, twenty-five miles distant. The city is noted for the size, height and beauty of its public and business buildings, among which may be noted the Auditorium, the Coliseum, the Blackstone Hotel, the Stock Exchange, the Masonic Temple, the Public Library, while beautiful homes abound in the choice residential sections of the city.
History.—The site of Chicago was first visited by Joliet and Marquette, French missionaries and explorers, in 1673. In 1685 a fort was built there commanded by an officer in the Canadian service and before the end of the 17th century the Jesuits made it a mission post. Indian hostilities prevented further occupation till the United States Government established there the frontier post of Fort Dearborn in 1804, which was destroyed by Indians in the War of 1812, but rebuilt in 1816, when a permanent settlement began. In 1830 the population was only 70 persons, but in 1835 a town was organized, and in 1837 it was incorporated as a city with 4,000 inhabitants and an area of 10 square miles. On Oct. 8 and 9, 1871, occurred the memorable fire which reduced the greater part of the city to ashes, destroyed its entire business center, and swept over an area of more than three square miles, causing a loss of about $190,000,000. Nearly 20,000 buildings were consumed, 100,000 people were made homeless, and 200 lives were lost. Another disastrous fire broke out in 1874 in the heart of the city, which con- sumed 18 blocks and over 600 homes, with a loss of over $4,000,000. Within a very short time after these disasters Chicago was rebuilt in a much more substantial and elegant manner, and it has since continued its steady march to prosperity. In May, 1886, anarchist riots at the Haymarket resulted in the death of six police officers, the wounding of several others, the conviction of eight rioters, and the execution of four. The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago from May 1 to Oct. 30, 1893.
CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL. See Canal.
CHICAGO HEIGHTS, a city of Illinois in Cook co. It is on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, the Elgin, Joliet, and Eastern, and the Michigan Central railroads. The principal industries are the manufacture of iron and steel goods, chemicals, glass, carriages, automobiles, and passenger and freight cars. It has a library and a hospital. Pop. (1910) 14,525; (1920) 19,653.
CHICAGO RIVER, a stream in the city of Chicago, which formerly emptied into Lake Michigan, but which, by the construction of the Chicago Drainage canal, has reversed its direction. The Illinois and Michigan canal connects the Chicago river at Bridgeport with the Illinois river at La Salle, a distance of about 100 miles.
CHICAGO, UNIVERSITY OF, a coeducational (non-sectarian) institution in Chicago, Ill., founded by John D. Rockefeller, dating from Sept. 10, 1890, when the institution was incorporated under the laws of Illinois. A previous institution known as the University of Chicago had gone out of existence, owing to financial difficulties, in 1886. A number of Baptists, which denomination had been interested in the old institution, desired to have a college in Chicago, and succeeded in interesting John D. Rockefeller in the plan. He promised $600,000 toward the establishment of the college if $400,000 more should be raised by June, 1890. This amount was duly raised, and the plan was enlarged in scope so as to include a university, instead of a mere college. Further large gifts were made by Mr. Rockefeller and by others, and the doors were opened for instruction Oct. 1, 1892. The site of the University includes six blocks of land, containing about 35 acres. It lies with a frontage on the Midway Plaisance, between Washington and Jackson Parks. A general architectural plan was adopted at the outset, and to this plan new buildings were successively adapted. The
