New-York daily tribune., 1842-08-13
Cur Eastern Bounaary-Thc River St.
.Eohu-The Great FaiI-FEada waska, &c.
Correspondence OF Tue Bangor WING.

CUR Eastern BonneEry-The River ST
J0hu-The Great Faft-WadawasKH, &c.
Correspondence OF The Bangor Whig.
The River ST. john takes i.s name from the cir
constance Of being discovered on ST. johns Day
the Indian name being Looshtook, which mean:
long river 1t runs y very circuitous course. wind
ing in an irregular scmcircle, and Is between foul
and five hundred miles in length. IL has con-
siderable resemblance to some parts OF the Con
nectcut and Hudson Rivers in the beauty and ex-
teri of its intervals and in the wildness and sub
lmty OF It's highlands.
IL is, however, longer than either, and surpasse:
them both in the number and magnitude OF its ISL
auGs and tributary streams, and in the magnih'
cence OF It's great waterfall The Grand Falls OF
the St John are 90 miles from It's mouth, ana
about Is miles above the mouth OF the Aroostook,
and form the greatest fall of water in the u states
east of the Mississippi, with the exception OF the
Falls of Niagara Just above the Falls, the course
nl The river flowing seuth is headed by high,
rocky barries, running east and west
After flowing round in spacious eddy, the river
turns eastward, apparently seeking tor passage
10 the scaboard. II soon contracts to about one
half its usual width, and, quickening its current,
it suddenly turns south, when 1t has tremendous
fall over ledge Of slate and limestone of seventy
where tho water whlris around III an cooy Will
rcsis,less force.
Al this place the river is considerably larger
Than the Fcnobscot at Oldtown. The spray rises
FAR above the Falls, and. when the sun shines, Is
painted with the gaudy hucs Of the rainbow.
Below this Fall the river contracts still more,
and tkc water is hurried over succession OF
smaller falls, through deep and rugged channel
with oyerhauging precipees, from fifty to one hum
dred feet in hight. for about half mile, when 1t
is discharged into wide basin below. The de-
scent through this rocky channel is forty-tvc feet,
making the total descent one hundred and nine.
teen feet.
You can approach with perfect safety to the edge
of the falls and look down into the tumultuous
whirl of waters, of feathery whiteness, and when
all sounds are absorbed in the stunning roar of the
water, YOU are rivecd to the spot and to feel
the li,tleness of human nature in the overwhelm-
ing presence of an Almighty and irresistible power.
The view of the lower falls presents scene OF
almost terrific wildness the river rushing through
the rocky and narrow channel, Its snowy whiteness
strongly contrasting with the dark huc OF the over
hanging rocks and the green foliage of the cedar
and pine that crown their SUBMITS, or FIX their
strasg gIins loolhold in the shelving crevices. From
the summit the falls, you see from above, the
placid ST. ] ohm slowly winding its gentle current
along, until it is lost In the boiling abyss beneath
your feet, and below, you have perspective view
OF the long and dark chasm cut deep through the
solid rock, for distance of fifty sixty rods.
"rbrough which, foamed globes il, eddies ride,
Thick as the schemes OF human PRIDE
That down life's current drive olan
As rail, as lrothy, and as vain"
Timber and logs are liable to great injury when
casgt in the eddy under the first ritch--they are
whired around here frequently until ground to
atoms. After the eddy, which will hold abeutl000
tons, is full, logs and timber can then be run with
out mitch difficulty.
An attempt was made many years ago to trans
port timber and logs across the portage by machin-
cry. The plan was, that the descent of one log
from the top of the portage to the basin below the
falls, should draw up another log from the basin
above the falls But the project did not succeed
as the descent of one log only drew up anothel
but carried away all the machinery with it. From
Fredericton the river is naviga'ed with canoe:
aud hatbottom boats from Is 20 20 tons bur,hen
10 this place, when they are taken out and haulec
across the portage. Above the falls, the river i
navigablc to Bakers pond near its source. Th
top of the hill at the portage is 100 feet above tn
basin, above the falls, and as the distance acros
the portage is only $50 yards, it is supposed tha
a tunnel and canal present the most favorable
mode OF overcoming the difficulties of the naviga
ton at this place. The West side OF The river a
the falls is occupied by the British as militar.
posi-, and small village has srowa up.
4 short distance below the falls, there are som,
rips called the Rapide de Femme. 1t took it
naluc from the following circumstances In th
first settlement OF Madawaska about 90 years sine
when the French families were ascending the rive
from ST. Ann, one OF the Frenchmcn after repeat
ed efforts, was unable 10 paddle his canoe owe
these rips and finally fell back, ars told his wit
TO unload The canoe and prepare TO carry by. Hi
wife refused, told him he was not more than hal
man AID She would show him what woma
could do She seized the paddle, and after Wig
orous pull, assembled the rapid, her husband the
threw up his hat and cried out raside dc femme
raridc dc fem,ner and thus gave lasting name L
the place.
The Maaawaska settlement, so called, begins
short distance above the Grsnds and extends abou
sixty miles up the river containing about 1000 in
habtants, and being about equaliy divided on bot
sides OF the ST. John. The settlements are con
fined principally TO the rivcr lots but few inhabil
ants yeaturing any distance back They appea
10 be u very happy and conten'ed people, enloys
the, bountes winch their hands furnish in iabo
from the soil. aud being very much under the in
asenco of their Priests. They manufacture mos
of tleir wooden clothing, raise all their bread stuff
and meats and annually send to market a consid
crabc number OF sheep, horses and neat stock.
They mike about 10000 pounds OF maple susa
annually being sufficient Tor their own consunpis
and considerable surplus for cxporsation. ihei
trade IS carried on down the river to Fred erckion
and across ,c grand portage 10 the ST. Lawrenc,
and thepee TO Quebcc, and also occasionally owe
the IoSlages by tho ST. Francis and Black rivers
Since 'he reads have been opened by the Grant
Falls, aud from lhe Aroostook to Fisher river, Yam
kec pedars begin ,opush into this settlement, anc
IN their way, carry on quite brisk trade IN skins
fttrs and domestic goods. There are ,hlee Catho