INDIAN WIGWAM, Indian Territory.—The red man, the original inhabitant of American soil, is represented here at his hut, with his gun and the reins of his horse in his hands. He has a universal belief in a Supreme Being, though his religious attributes are associated with various manifestations of natural phenomena. He believes in the immortality of the soul, but his conceptions of the future system of reward and punishment are confused. The American Indians are slowly diminishing in number on account of the progress of the white man. Their present population is about 255,000, and the greatest number are gathered upon their reservations in Indian Territory.
CHICAGO, Illinois.—This city, which is now the most important centre of commerce in the Northwestern States, is situated at the mouth of the Chicago River, on Lake Michigan. The first inhabitants known to have been in the locality were the Pollawatomie Indians, and the earliest Europeans were French fur traders, who visited the site in 1654. Fort Dearborn was built in 1804, when the first attempt was made to settle here; but the Indians destroyed and massacred most of the garrison in 1812. In 1816 the place was rebuilt and to-day stands as one of the leading cities of America. The above represents State Street, one of the principal thoroughfares, and the Palmer House, one of its leading hotels.
NIAGARA FALLS, New York.—The above falls constitute perhaps the most striking natural wonder in the world. Above the falls, the river is divided by Goat Island, forming the Horseshoe Falls, with a perpendicular descent of one hundred and fifty-eight feet. The height of the American Falls is one hundred and sixty-seven feet. Below the cataract, the river is very deep and narrow, varying from one hundred to three hundred yards, and flows between perpendicular rocks, two hundred and fifty feet high, into a gorge, which is crossed by several suspension bridges. These falls are world-famed, and are visited by thousands of tourists from different parts of the world.
BUNKER HILL MONUMENT, Boston, Massachusetts.—On an elevation of one hundred and ten feet, in the town of Charlestown, one mile from Boston, towers the above-named monument to commemorate one of the most celebrated battles of the American Revolution, fought here on the 17th of June, 1775. The British remained master of the field after a long and bloody contest, but their victory was dearly bought. The monument, two hundred and twenty-one feet in height, stands in the centre of the ground, included within the redoubts on Breed's Hill.
NEW YORK, N. Y.—The metropolis of the United States, is considered the headquarters of the stock and money market. It is here where the greater number of foreign vessels land and depart, and where the majority of immigrants first step upon our shores. The city is built on Manhattan Island, which is 13 miles long, and from 2 to 4 miles wide. This picture represents Park Row, and the New York Times' Building in the front, and the general Post-Office on the right, which is a large granite structure, and an ornament to the city. New York has a population of nearly two million people, composed of all nationalities. This city gives to the student of human nature an excellent opportunity to observe the life and habits of the different nations.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE, New York.—This bridge, connecting New York with Brooklyn, is by far the largest suspension bridge yet constructed. The work commenced in 1870, and opened for traffic on May 24, 1883. The central span, from tower to tower, measures fifteen hundred and ninety-five and one-half feet. In the centre is a foot-way, fifteen and one-half feet wide, and raised twelve feet above the other passages, affording an open view on both sides. There are tracks on each side for cable cars, worked by a stationary engine on the Brooklyn side, and on the outside are wagon-ways. The entire cost was $15,500,000.
ELEVATED RAILROAD, New York, N. Y.—The steam cars, the street railway and the electric road are the three modern modes of transportation. The motive power of the elevated railroads of New York City is steam, and the quick facilities afforded exceed that of any other country. These elevated railroads are sufficiently high so as not to interfere with street traffic, stations are located every four or five blocks apart, there is little delay, and a passenger can ride from one end of the city to the other in a very short time. It is said that one million people ride daily on the elevated railroads of New York giving the company an income of $50,000 per day. The above photograph represents the railroad at Chatham Square, where it branches off into different directions.
STATUE OF LIBERTY, New York Harbor, N. Y.—This magnificent monument, the work of Bartholdi, was presented by the French Government to the people of the United States as a token of sisterly love and respect, and as a means of still further cementing the good feelings of the two greatest republics on the globe. The statue stands on Bedloe's Island, in New York harbor. The torch of liberty, held in the right hand, is illuminated at night by a huge electric light. The pedestal on which the statue stands was built by voluntary contributions, solicited by the New York World.
CHESTNUT STREET, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.—Philadelphia, the third city of the United States and the metropolis of Pennsylvania, often called the City of Brotherly Love, was founded in 1682 by William Penn. This picture represents Chestnut Street, the principal retail business street and the avenue on which the leading banking institutions are located. The building on the right is Independence Hall, in which was declared the independence of the United States. The liberty bell is still preserved and found at the entrance of the building. The structure in the background is a banking house.
MARKET STREET, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.—Perhaps no street in the world furnishes an avenue for so much business as does Market Street. The street from this point, which terminates at the Delaware River, making a total of fourteen squares, is full of wholesale houses. There are times during the day when it is packed with teams and pedestrians, presenting an interesting sight for a stranger. The building on the right-hand side is considered the largest store of its kind in the world. The cars on Market Street are run by cable, a system introduced a few years ago.