St. Paul's Episcopal Church is built at Ohio between 5th and 6th Streets.

A large contingent of heathen Chinese" laborers pass through the city on their way out west to perform contract labor for the railroads. This same year, a large group of Indians come through East St. Louis, headed for talks with government leaders in Washington D. C.

Rivalry between two competing police factions breaks out into open warfare resulting in two lawmen being killed and several wounded. Headquarters of the Statecontrolled troopers are stormed by city police in a vain attempt to gain control. The skirmish ends with the arrest of fifteen police officers who are fined $500 each.

Click here for more on the battle over the Metro Police bill

State Supreme Court rules that the bill which created the Metropolitan police is invalid.

The Workingman's Bank, later Southern Illinois National Bank, is established.

Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad builds a new brick roundhouse, big enough to house twenty locomotives near the river front.

Repair work begun on Vaughan Dike (named for Patrick Vaughan, first ward councilman) and the rebuilding of Bowman's dike. The project will be completed in 1876.

The Sharp Shooters Club is organized. Other shooting clubs that will be formed include the Archery Club in 1878, the St. Clair Gun Club in 1980 and the East St. Louis Rifle Club in 19 10.

Population of the city stands at 5,644 inhabitants. By this time, the German and Irish elements are becoming a significant force in society.

New Illinois constitution prohibits private bills which do not benefit the state as a whole. It also prohibits the legislature's ability to forgive debts owed the state. This turns patronage powers over to local and county governments.

St. Louis and Southeastern Railroad, running from East St. Louis through Belleville and Mascoutah to Mount Vernon, then through McLeansboro and Equality to Shawneetown on the Ohio River, is completed. A roundhouse shop and a way station is built at Illinois Ave. and 4th Street. The Mascoutah brick yards provide much business.

Both piers of the Eads Bridge are protruding above the water line. The west pier is 70 feet deep and the cast pier is 110 feet deep. By 1871 the piers will be completed and work will begin on the bridge superstructure.

In response to the threat of a railroad bridge and the example of a small ferry company farther north, the Wiggins Ferry Company installs inclines at Mound Street and Chouteau. in St. Louis. This enables railroad cars to be run onto barges equipped with rails. Within two years, these barges will process about 450 cars a day.