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December 7, 1928 WILMETTE LIFE · .. No. 6 of a Series on 'MetropoLitan Chicago -showine ~h'Y. Metr~polit4n. Chicago fuu ewry possibility of bumnin& the world's foremost uutropolitAn unter- \n Pc>Pulahon as welt as in trade iml>ort4nu- and that in a day relatively 'U4r. Uadine authoTitiu Predict littun m~Uion population for Metropolitan Chicaeo within a lifetime. · · "WE HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE IT FOR FERTILITY OF THE LAND" said Pere Jacques Marquette, the early explorer, in · speaking. of the territory in this vicinity. ri REAT GLACIERS that once covered the northern portions of the United States played an important 'part in establishing ·Metropolitan Chicago as "The Bread Basket of the Nation". Rich soil rried to the Middle West by these was ·ca. glaciers. And this soil- plus an ideal climate and abundant rainfall- has made this section the most productive agricultural area of its size in the vorld. Agriculture must have a market. And Metropolitan Chicago- with its central location and unequalled transportation facilities - offers that market to all of the Middle West. More than 500 miles to the west of Metropolitan Chicago there comes what is known as the.twenty-inch rainfall deadline, which marks the western margin of profitable agriculture without irrigation .. Metropolitan Chicago is located in the heart of the well-watered eastern half of the country. The territory close to Chicago enjoys an average rain· \._ fall of thirty-four inches - 70 per cent above what is considered the minimum for profitable crop production! The farmer sends his crops to Metropolitan Chicago~ He gets his money from here. Then he spends his money for products that are made here, or sold here either at wholesale or retail. Hence he plays a two-foLd part in the growth and .prosperity of Metropolitan Chicago. Within a night's train ride of Metropolitan Within 4 500-.milnadiw of ChiC4&o 4rt loC4ttd the 'eentm of (l} population, (2} /4rm values, Chicago are produced (3) cerwl PToduction, ( 4) corn Production. (S) whwt jlro.iudio~.and [6) oab PTodudion of nearly one·half of the the United States. (From U. S. Department food-crop values of the of Commerce-Bureau of Census.) entire country. Metro· politan Chicago forms the largest center of n1erchandising advanNo other great metropolitan center is so tage for. this enormous crop production. favorably located as Chicago with respect The food products handled in Metropolito agriculture. Yet agriculture is only tan Chicago within a year represent, in one of several factors contributing to money value, one- fourth of our five- · · Chicago's present greatness and future billion-dollar wholesale trade! advancement - only one of several factors which give Metropolitan Chicago The soil has helped Chicago. The sunevery possibility of becoming the world,s shine has helped Chicago. Even the rain foremost metropolitan center. : has helped Chi.cago. Copw of the /iw adwrtisements which haw already appeared may be obtaimd without charge by addrwin& Public &roiu Company of Northem IllinoU. 72 W. Adams St., Chicago. PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS Supplying Elecbidty and Gas to 6,000 .square miles, includina the Metropolitan Area into which Chicago is growing. ·AI;iroioUta" Chlcaeo lftcludu the City of Chic:aeo aftd the tcnltory within SO to 7S milu of the CMeaao City H4U.