Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-25
FALLS OF NIAGARA.

CARA is from Ingraham's Manual very ex-
ceent little book, intended for the use OF visit
ers to that region; being an epitome OF larger
and more extended work, relative to that most
stupendous wonder of the world:
Having taken "a brief preliminary view OF the
waters Of the st. Lawrence, and the natuIai
features of the Niagara, We come now 10 the
centre oe all the attractions Of this region OF
many wonders-THE FALLS; for this, par eTcet-
lence. is their appropriate cognomen, there pe
ing no others like them in the world none tlat
can dispute with them the claim TO TINS chaTac-
teristic and appropriate title. They are alone
in their kind. Though WATERFALL this IS not
70 be compared with other waterfalls; In us
majesty. its supremacy, and its influences upon
the sonl of man, its brotherhood is with the hV-
ing ocean and the eternal hills"
"There is nought like thee! THOU art alone"
have already mentioned the position of the
Falls when speaking of the Straits in which
thew are situated. They are about twenty-three
miles from Lake Erie, and fourteen from Onta
rio. by the road, or the winnings OF the river;
and fifteen from Buffalo, and twelve from Lake
Ontario in a straight line. They are situated
in lat. AZ deg 6 min. ~, and long. deg. + min.
W. from w Washington, or 70 deg. min. w. from
Greenwich.
AS has already been mentioned, the river at
the Falls makes very abrupt turn, ana runs al,
most in right angle with its former course; ana
at the same time it is suddenly contracted from
about mile, to one-eight OF a mile IN width
Goat Island is at the verge; and divides the
Falls into two great sections; while smaller
islet called Prospect Island, also on the verge,
divides the smaller of these two sections INTO
two parts So that there are three distinct Falls.
That next to the New York shore, and the most
northerly Of the three, is called the Schlosser
Fall. and is about fitty-siX rods in width, and
nd SiytV
uar descent Prospectslsland, adjoining, Is
about ten yards in width, and the smaller or
Central Fall is also about ten yards Goat ISL
and is about eighty rods in width, at the cage,
and the Great Crescent OF Horseshoe Fan,
which extends from Goat Island to the CANADA
shore, is about a quarter OF a mile IN dlrect
line or about half mile following the lire OF
the curve. This latter has perpendicular de-
scent of about one hundred and iifty-four feet;
but owing TO its being thirteen feet less than the
Schlosser Fall, much greater body OF water
passes over it; and ii is to It's inferior helSht
that its much greater magnitude is owing
The water, when projected over the Fails,
does not descend perpendicularly; but, owing
to the immense velocity which it has acquired,
be fore reaching the edge. ii follows the general
laws Of all projectiles and descends IN parapo-
lie curve. Its color is not the same In every
part, but is beautifully diversified, being snowy
white, timber brown, yellowish, blueish, and
green Of various shades;-and at the central
part of the Crescent Fall, where the water is
deepest its color is d most beautiful emerald
green. &C
The color varies, too, at different times. Af-
ter very heavy rain or high wind, the waters
above the falls become discoOred and dirty,
from the impurities brought into the stream oy
the creeks on its margin but these impurities
add to the beauty of the Falls, unless the water
is so extensively discolored, as TO deprive II OF
its green appearance, which, have sometimes
observed to be the case.
The water falls in so great body, and from
such an immense height that much OF it is con-
yerted into spray, long before it reaches the
bottom; and clouds OF the mist are continually
rising often to very great height.-So high
indeed. that it NAV sometimes be seen at the
distance offilty miles;-and ofcourse may be o.
served at the same time by spectators VINO are
one hundred miles distant from each other!
This great body of water, too, falling with
such prodigious force, is changed at the bottom
into white foam and has the appearance OF
mighty river of cream. 1t is not till it has been
carried some distance down the stream, thatltre-
gains its green color. 1t is exceedingly interest
ing to watch the various phenomena OF TINS
foam and mist; to trace the apparent boiling OF
the immense caldron of milk below, and the as
cending clouds Of vapor above; and the va
rious currents and counter-currents moving
with great impetuosty, in all directions. The
laboring stream seems nwardly convulsed,
heaving and throbbing in dark and bubbling
whirlpools, as if it threatened every moment to
eject some of the mystic terrors of the deep.
This effect is probably produced by the re-ac-
ton of the ascending water. Precipitated in
such great body, and to such an extraordina;
ry depth, by their own prodigious gravity, and
the force Of their impulsion, and involving with
them great quantity Of fixed air, they re-as-
cend to the surface in struggling career, check
ed by the weight of the superintendent water.
The immense depth from which they ascend,
causes the moving of the whole mass of water
in the basin;
"And their earth-shaking roar comes deadened
up
Like subterraneaR thunders."
The quantity Of water precipitated over the
Falls has been estimated by President Dwight,
at lO2, O93 $50 tons and by Darby, at 1872 704,-
600 cubic feet, per hour; and by Picken, at 49,
$4,000 gallons, or 1924 900 cubic feet per mi
mute.