e prison camp for Confederate prisoners, was maintained here.

The Republican national convention, which made "extension of
slavery" the essential plank of the party platform, met at
Chicago on the 26th of May, 1860. At this time William H. Seward
was the most conspicuous Republican in national politics; Salmon
P. Chase also had long been in the forefront of the political
contest against slavery. Both had won greater fame than Lincoln,
and each hoped to be nominated for president. Chase, however, had
little chance, and the contest was virtually between Seward and
Lincoln, who by many was considered more "available" because he
could, and Seward could not, carry the votes of certain doubtful
states. Lincoln's name was presented by Illinois and seconded by
Indiana. At first Seward had the stronger support, but on the
fourth ballot Lincoln was given 334 (233 being necessary) and the
nomination was then made unanimous. The convention was singularly
tumultuous and noisy: large claques were hired by both Lincoln's
and Seward's managers.

[Illustration: Block House at Chicago in 1856]

The great fire in 1871 was the most serious check to the city's
constantly increasing prosperity, but recovery from this disaster was
rapid. The solidity of this prosperity was demonstrated during the
financial panic of 1873, when Chicago banks alone among those of the
large cities of the country continued steadily to pay out current funds.

The precise cause of the great fire is not known, but it is
popularly attributed to Mrs. O'Leary's cow, which according to
tradition "kicked over the lamp" and started the flames. The fire
spread over an area of 3-1/3 Sq. M., and destroyed 1,700
buildings and property valued at $196,000,000. Almost 100,000
people were made homeless, and 250 lost their lives. The relief
contributions from the United States and abroad amounted to
nearly $5,000,000, of which about $500,000 was contributed in
England. The fire at least gave an opportunity to rebuild the old
wooden city with brick and stone.

The later history has been marked on the one hand by serious labor
troubles and on the other by the remarkable achievement of the World's
Columbian Exposition (1893). The labor outbreaks included several
strikes in the packing industry, the Haymarket Riot in 1886, and the
Pullman Strike in 1894.

The Haymarke