orth Side shouldn't have as comfortable
an access to the business heart as those of the West or South Side."

"None in the world," Mr. Haguenin was compelled to admit. "Are you
satisfied, however, that the council and the city should sanction the
gift of a loop of this kind without some form of compensation?"

"I see no reason why they shouldn't," replied Cowperwood, in a somewhat
injured tone. "There has never been any question of compensation where
other improvements have been suggested for the city in the past. The
South Side company has been allowed to turn in a loop around State and
Wabash. The Chicago City Passenger Railway has a loop in Adams and
Washington streets."

"Quite so," said Mr. Haguenin, vaguely. "That is true. But this
tunnel, now--do you think that should fall in the same category of
public beneficences?"

At the same time he could not help thinking, as he looked at the
proposed loop indicated on the map, that the new cable line, with its
string of trailers, would give down-town Chicago a truly metropolitan
air and would provide a splendid outlet for the North Side. The
streets in question were magnificent commercial thoroughfares, crowded
even at this date with structures five, six, seven, and even eight
stories high, and brimming with heavy streams of eager life--young,
fresh, optimistic. Because of the narrow area into which the
commercial life of the city tended to congest itself, this property and
these streets were immensely valuable--among the most valuable in the
whole city. Also he observed that if this loop did come here its cars,
on their return trip along Dearborn Street, would pass by his very
door--the office of the Press--thereby enhancing the value of that
property of which he was the owner.

"I certainly do, Mr. Haguenin," returned Cowperwood, emphatically, in
answer to his query. "Personally, I should think Chicago would be glad
to pay a bonus to get its street-railway service straightened out,
especially where a corporation comes forward with a liberal,
conservative programme such as this. It means millions in growth of
property values on the North Side. It means millions to the business
heart to have this loop system laid down just as I suggest."

He put his finger firmly on the map which he had brought, and Haguenin
agreed with him that the plan was undoubtedly a sound business
proposition. "Personally, I should be the last to complain," he added,
"for the lin