1909 was a very special year in Chicago history. It was the year that the first comprehensive outline of development for an American city was published – Daniel Burnham’s “1909 Chicago Plan”. Mr. Burnham was quoted as saying “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood…Make big plans, aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.”
From Rand McNally & Co.’s New Street Number Guide and Complete City Railway Directory of Chicago:
Chicago is destined to be the first city of America
Is the greatest hog market in the world.
Is the greatest cattle market in the world.
Is the greatest packing center in the world.
Is the greatest lumber market in the world.
Is the greatest furniture market and manufacturing center in the world.
Is the greatest agricultural implement manufacturing center in the world.
Is the greatest center for the manufacture and distribution of pianos in the world.
Is the greatest grain market in the world.
Is the greatest stove market in the world.
Is the greatest railroad center in the world.
Chicago has the largest stock yards in the world.
Has the finest office buildings in the world.
Has the greatest elevator capacity in the world.
Has the largest mining machine manufactory in the world.
Has the largest mail order houses in the world.
Has the greatest retail dry goods houses in the world.
Has the largest cold storage building in the world.
Has the largest art schools in the world.
Has the busiest street corner in the world (State and Madison).
Has the most traveled bridge in the world (Rush Street).
Has the finest parks and boulevard system in the world.
Has the finest street railway system in the world.
Has the largest library circulation in the United States.
Has the largest percentage of bank reserves in America.
Has the most complete water system in the world.