[Illustration: LXXI. CHICAGO. SKETCH DIAGRAM OF DOCKS SUGGESTED AT THE MOUTH OF THE CHICAGO RIVER FOR PACKAGE FREIGHT STEAMERS. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO ] A careful analysis of the entire freight traffic of Chicago shows that ninety-five per cent, in and out, is done by the railroads, and only five per cent is done by water. It is the opinion of leading merchants and manufacturers of this city, as well as of traffic managers of both rail and water transportation, that this average percentage of tonnage will not change in the future. This being the case, the location of a great common freight depositing and reloading station for all the roads should be located at a point most economical for them as a whole, at the common center of gravity so to speak. This center of gravity is at or near the location shown on the diagram. Here should be trackage capable of handling in the best manner all freight trains coming into or departing from Chicago, which are intended to do business other than local and suburban. It should be so arranged that individual incoming cars can be promptly placed beside the intended unloading platform or warehouse, where the goods can be handled with dispatch, and as largely as possible by machinery. The car so unloaded should be at once placed at the platform from which it is to take its new load, and then be entrained and started away to its next destination. At this freight center may be the great warehouses of the city, arranged in reference to the tracks and service. These mutual relations must of necessity produce economy of handling goods, and economy of the closest sort. If the car and track service be perfected from the freight train standpoint, Chicago will have an advantage not possessed by any other trade center of the world, and her equipment will be fully equal to her destiny. The principal results would be the quick handling of freight trains by all the roads, their rapid unloading and reloading, and their exemption from passing into or through the crowded city. This would result in an enormous saving every year. Such a scheme can be carried out here, because the entire surrounding country is flat. The relief from the congestion in the city now caused by bringing in and carrying out goods not to be consumed there will result in less crowding in the city, and also in the saving of its pavements, in much less dirt, and finally, in a mitigation of the smoke nuisance, because of the removal of freight engines and manufacturing to the new freight handling locality. [Illustration: LXXII. CHICAGO. SKETCH DIAGRAM OF DOCKS SUGGESTED AT THE MOUTH OF THE CALUMET RIVER FOR BULK FREIGHT STEAMERS; ACCESS TO BE HAD WITHOUT OPENING OF BRIDGES. COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY COMMERCIAL CLUB OF CHICAGO ]