New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-17
SCENES ON THE ST. LAURENCE.
OSWEGO TO MONTREAL.


Correspondence of The N Y. Tribune
ST.. LAWRENCE RIVER, Aug. II, 1855.
There are few routes of travel better calculated
by nature and art to afford what pleasure seeking
traveller is in search of than the one am now
passing over and there is sufficient material, also,
for that small class who take pleasure in all after
years in calling up "reminiscences of all they saw
on such journey. For the benefit Of such will
briefly point out few of the things that may be
seen and enjoyed on trip from Niagara Falls to
Montreal
AS before stated, l chose to take the mail in
preference to the express line, and went on board
the steamer Bay State, Capt. Ledyard, which can
not easily be exceeded in everything that tends to
the comfort of the traveller. The captain, though
a Young man is an old fayorte, and many thousands
who have passed over Lake Ontario under his care
will feel thrill of exquisite pleasure when they
see his name in this letter, and learn that be is
still aording others the same degree of enjoyment
which they had already shared. We found Lake
Ontario as smooth as though its surface had never
been runled by a north wind, that sometimes
sweeps over it terrifcally, and the atmosphere of
lust that degree of GOODNESS that induces sweet
sleep. from which we awOke at O'Clock next
morning in the port Of Oswego, 1852 miles from
Lewistown and 90 miles from Rochester, which we
had passed in the night, 80 miles from the mouth OF
the Niagara.
There is cheerful, lively air about Oswego
that tells of thrift Ii lis great depot Of grain and
lumber, which has an outlet by canal and railroad
to Syracuse, 81 miles southwark, and thence on
ward.
Here. as in Buffalo, the grain is all handled by
steam, elevating it from the upper lake vessels 10
the highest loft of warehouses, whence it runs 10
other lofts or down 70 the canal boats that trans
port it eastward.
Ii would be almost impossible to transact the
large business that is done in this narrow creek
without the aid OF the little steam-tugs that pull
the vessels round here and there, with such ease
and repidity that the large steamers often employ
them 10 pull them about when ready TO go ont, or
10 bring them a load of passengers and baggage
from another steamer across the creek. Ten miles
out on the lake We met couple of the little giants
with each becalmed vessel in tow, that would
thus save day, or perhaps two OF them, for the
little sum paid the tugs that bring them in.
at Sacketts H3rbOr, 45 miles below OswegO,
there is a monument Of governmental folly that
must strike every passenger on this route with
surprise, 70 think il has eniured through all the
changes OF parties for more than forty years. It'll
one Of the wonders Of this curious world OF
waste and official oolishness. During the war of
1872 with Great Britain, our Government under
took to build navy for Lake Ontario, aud com
meDced frgate at Sacketts HarbOr, which peace
rendered il unnecessary 10 finish and therefore it
was housed il under great ship-hOuse such as
those at Brool lyn Navy Yard. Of course this house
has 10 be kept in repair, and that furnishes place
for an officer, whose quarters are in very fine
house close by also Government property, where
lie can overlook the labOrers constantly employed
upon the ship house and for the protection OF Gov
eminent property that has cost a million of dol
lars, which would not sell this day for what il ha,
cost every and each year for almost half century
II an individual were guilty Of the same folly he
would be pronounced insane or imbecile aud
guardian appointed TO take charge of hia property
bnd protect II for bis family against such wastcu
folly. VIII somebody do the same thing for Uncle
khml
There nro aomn other oyidcncrs of Govrrupirnt
mbeoty IN maintaining tho old barracks at this
place which utterly usolrss and 30 arc tho
things called iofts AT tho mouth Of Niagara AMI al
OsargO.
Itom thck ne liafbdf wa ran almost al fight
angles with buf pfayinus roufsa ~ miles {, kinss
ton Tho Fe'sslupol ~ snads that 10, u a multi
tuds 81 iottiisaii"ns entitle 90 60 that appsatan
foi ~ lie surrounded on tho uaio, T,unt with ~hat
re sionls tan Dae b1iss fofts ihsy afo s,nail
,6Yal taseis bbi ~ sigis. iitia large, than
good .ls.1 Nin1 6dii but not 90 high ~ No puab