In ten years the population has increased 108 per cent, and property has increased in the same time 656 per cent, the greatest growth in the world." He regarded Jonesville as he would a fly in dog days.

He went right by it.
"As I was saying, we say nothing about Chicago but what we can prove.
Look on the map and you will see for yourself that Chicago is right in the centre of the habitable portion of North America.

Put your thumb down on Chicago, and then sweep round it in an even circle with your middle finger, and you will see that it takes in with that sweep all the settled portion of North America." "Yes," sez Josiah, with a air as if he had proved it with his thumb and finger, time and agin, but he hadn't no such thing.
Sez Mr.Bolster, "We say nothing about our City that we can't prove.

As Chicago is in the very centre of productive North America, so it is the centre of population of the United States.
"It is the centre of the raw materials for manufactures, cotton, wool, metals, coal, gas, oil fields, all sorts of food.

And as it is the centre of supply, so it is of distribution--60 railroads and branches bring freight and carry out manufactured products to every part of the country--to say nothing of the great number of lines of water transportations--connecting with all parts of the world.