New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-25
NiagArn In 80.
Editorial csr>pesscees Of The \. Y. rnss.sl
NIAGARA FALLS. Friday. Nay 81, IS52

tiai olsparagement OF the great Sataract. Andyet,
alas for Earth = must confess that Niagara im-
presses me less profoundly now than it did when
first saw it twenty-five years ago.
That was late in October, when leafless trees
and withered heritage formed fit frame to the
rugged picture, and the moaning Of the Autumn
wind blended aptly with the deep, low thunder Of
the plunging flood. Visitors there were, but few
and silent, and the medtative though far from
voiceess quiet of the adjacent groves was not dis
turbed by the light, ringing laughter Of pleasure
seekers. The cold, congenial, leaf-strewn earth
sympathized with the sullen brooding sky, and
each with the dark green, foam-hecked water
Then joyless Nature spoke to the heart OF moody
Man, and the lonely visitor who flung himself upon
plat of low cedar on the outer verge of Table
Rock and let his eyes fasten upon the dark, deep
water, as it deliberately, hesitstingly, half reluc-
family, nerved itself for the irrevocable plunge,
might lie there dreaming wakefilly for hours,
scarcely conscious of apght but the spectacle fas-
cinating his gaze, lost to time and realizing the
presence of that Eternity whereof the cataract is
no unworthy symbol.
Such was Niagara in October, 1921 it is other
wise in May, 1882
Table Rock is ruin the spot whence | OBJ
tanned my first satisfactory view Of the greater Fall
will never more be crossed by mortal foot. saw
then and there an old Scotch officer, who had been
there fifty years before, and who assured me that
a portion OF Table Rock on which a company of
soldiers might be formed and exercised had mean
While fallen away. | should judge that about as
much had fallen sincs-a good part of it during
the last winter. In falling it has heapcdup mass
ofrock and earth between the remaining rock in
position and the basin under the falls, whereby the
apparent Though not the real hight of the cata-
ract is seriously diminished. On the American
side of the Great Fall, there has likewise been a
very considerable offset since 1871 believe du-
ring the past wintcr-by which the extremity OF
the old ruinous bridge which leads out from Goat
Island by the Observatory toward the heart OF the
Fall has been whelmed in the food below The
Observatory itself may stand the seffty years and
il may not outast the next winter. As | stood
on its summit to-day, looking off INTO the heart Of
the cataract and into the foaming smoking whir-
pool below, | could fancy the keen, high wind
shaking and swaying the rocky pile, preparatory to
topping it into the abyss-which is its ultimate
and certain destination.
think the Great Fall wears narrower (more
wedge shaped) in its center, and is considerably
more irregular and less like horse than when
first saw it. There seems to be less water also
passing between Goat Island and the Observatory
than formerly, though do not remark that there
is less between that Island and the American side,
over what is called the American Fall Nor
does the river seem to have encroached an inch on
its British shore nor receded inch therefrom
A grand Hotel 1.-THE Clifton that side, some half
mile below the Fall, Is poor compensation to
the eve for the dapidation of Table Rock, though
doubt not its eligibility Of site and general ac-
ceptabity in the judgment of its guests.
But the new structures on our side Of the Cat
aract are great eye-sores do not, of course, al
ude here to the Hotels, which, If evils at all, are
necessary evils at place so attractive as this
but the multiplication OF saw and grist-mills, fac
tories. &C., around the American Fall is nui-
sance. which should be speedily and thoroughly
abated The abundance Of water-power and the
facility with which it is turned to account are
temptations no doubt but waterfalls are abundant
elsewhere Nisgaras are not. The owners OF the
property here can realize an abundant income
therefrom without seeking to swell their revenues
by the dubious proceeds of saw and fuIling-mils. |
The way these are clustering about the Yankee
shore, new one being added about every year, |
inclnes me to envy the old Jesuit Missionaries |
who first among White Men, visited and enjoyed |
this magnificent wonder-work, in its proper setting
Of sky and unbroken forest. think the changes
since their day have all tended to diminish its
grandeur and its sublimty.
do not deny the compensations. These spa
cious and sumptuOus Hotels SO replete with
creature comforts may mar the prospect, but
they could not well be spared; yet think the
Aouting of the Clifton in the very face and eyes Of
the grand Cataract an inexcusabIe desecration. |
Ii was dictated by avarce, not taste; and If any |
of its guests are made conscious OF their rheuma-
tsm by the drifting spray from the region OF ram
bows, think the protector should not escape the |
visitation. The American Hotels, on the con-
trary, though very the water, are farly |
screened from observation thereat by the woods of |
Goat Island and the American shore-may their
shadow never be less | back Goat Island against
any other twenty acres or so in the world, and,
though the two shillngs charged for crossing to 1t
i. rather exorbitant, yet whoever pays it gets more
than his moneys worth. Another spot of earth
so fresh, so cool, segregated from the cares OF
everyday life, so quiet, lin spite of the cataracts
thunders, if not by means of them,) do not know
Then it is pleasanter after the first trial. to ride
down to the basin beneath the Fall than to walk
down. and YOU glide down the Railway and are
drawn up again without suspicion oil fatigue,
while the pedestrian descent and ascent oil other
days was really toilesome achievement. The
Suspension Bridge, too being located so tar be-
low the Fall 1.-TWO miles, not to interfere with 10
in the least, is convenience for which We should
be duly thankful and the view from its center OF
the dark green, loamy current which whlris ana
flows two hundred and twenty feet below, gives