“ PEORIA. An important manufacturing city and railroad centre, the county-seat of Peoria County, Ill., 160 miles southwest of Chicago, on the Illinois River, at the outlet of the expansion called Peoria Lake, and on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Chicago and Alton, the Chicago, Peoria and Saint Louis, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the Iowa Central, the Lake Erie and Western, the Toledo, Peoria and Western, and other railroads (Map: Illinois, C 3) . The city occupies an area of more than 81⁄4 square miles on a plateau, and is surrounded by a fine rolling country. ”

“ The government is vested in a mayor, elected every two years, a council, and in administrative officials who are all, with the exception of the treasurer, city clerk, city attorney, and police magistrate—these being chosen by popular vote—nominated by the executive, subject to the consent of the council. Peoria spends annually in maintenance and operation about $610,000 the principal items being $234,000 for schools, $80,000 for the fire department, $80,000 for the police department, and $37,000 for municipal lighting. ”

“ There are 43 miles of paved streets (principally brick and asphalt) , 50 miles of street railways, 75 miles of sewers, and a well-conducted system of parks and drives, the public park system comprising about 350 acres and including Glen Oak and Bradley parks. A soldiers' monument is among the attractions of the city, as is also a wagon bridge across the Illinois River. The city hall and court-house are handsome buildings. ”