New-York daily tribune., 1855-08-21
BANK DEPARTMENT. ALssSY. July IS. 1855.
Aetp91ork daily Gribrlne
A TRIP DOWE THE NLAGAR1 RIVER
Correspondence Of The y. Y. Tribune
NIAGARA RIVER, BELOW LEWISTON,


tario, coming up this broad, smooth river, would
not be able TO believe that only few miles from
here this same stream was the Niagara that
pours over the great falls, and dashes through
the rapids, and boils in the whirlpool till it
looks as though it could not assume this placid
surface without a long, long rest after such tur-
bulence. Yet this is the same water that has
fsl en- more than three hundred feet since it left
Lake Erie. Yesterday that Lake was in COM
motion with wind so strong that it was diff
cult, if not dangerous, TO navigate. 1t was my
design TO take the steamboat that plies bet xeen
Buffalo and Chippewa, and then down the rail-
road that leads to the mouth Of the river, stop
ping over night at the Falls, aud then go Tn
and cross the suspension bridge, AMI take the
railroad down to Lewiston on the American side.
This route gives an almost inconceiyable amount
of intert sting ard exciting scenery, 70 be com
prised in so short space-n0t over thirty miles.
But was disappointed of ths first part, though
have heretofore enjoyed it. When we drove
down 10 the wharf We found the wind blowing
down the lake with a freshness quite familiar to
Buffalo mariners. The waves beating upon the
pier-head, dashed their spray in white showers
twenty feet high. across the wall and over the
deck of the Chippewa boat as she came in, 10 such
degree that the captain thought II very prudent
when he got on the lee side of the wharf 10 hold on
there for callner weather. This was sage cOnclu-
sion; for with such sweeping breeze down
stream, when we should round to, almost in the
suck Of the rapids, 70 run into Chippewa, break
of the machinery might produce slight degree OF
nervousness in the passengers when they thought
that the Horseshoe Fall was only three miles
below
Disappointed in this source ofexcitement, chose
the next one at hand; took the evening train down
and crossed the suspension bridge by starlight,
when there is just light enough to see the outline
of the bridge and the long train-that Of the Great
Western road as it creeps along on the narrow
roof with the white foam of the breakers sweep
ing away down through the dark gorge OF those
precipitOus rocks, that look more steep, high aud
dark than when seen from eny other possible posi-
ton This single ride across this giddy hight with
feelings perfect security, with such exciting pic
ures before the eye, is worth journey across the
wide continent. Ii only needs TO be known tO be-
come fashionable, and once ind0rsed as one of the
sights worth seeing, the passage would be made by
half of the visitors to the 'als. There is another
very pleasant part Of visit here that few enjoy,
and that is walk along the cliffs, like the one
took this morning from the bridge, about mile
and half, up TO the Horseshoe Fall. There is
such constant importantly of Have carriage,
"sir" that man hardly gets chance to walk il
he is in company with ladies, for the cOachmen tell
so many lies about the roads and distances that the
gentleman often accepts the carriage when he
would be far better off without H.
Preparations are making at the Canada end of
the suspension bridge for great railroad station.
There are two steau-dis gers at work now, grading
a spsce for a freight house one thousand feet long
and one hundred and fifty feet wide. This is in ad
diion to the large buildings the Great Western and
Chippewa roads already have there.
The earth TO be removed is compact clay
loam of iust the right mixture of sand for brick OF
a chocolate color fifteen feet thick. The present
contract is for 100 goo cubic yards, at about p
cents ward Each machine can take out an ay-
erace of 500 yards day, with one engineer and
three men, and cars enough TO carry of the dirt as
fast AS thew are loaded. The engine il said TO be
twenty horse power but if so, the power is 10
very small space, as the whole engine and all the
driving machinery are in a room about SIX by ten
feet square, which moves up 10 its WORK on
movable railway and Is carried forward wheneyer
desired by its own power; the attendants simply
shifting section of the rails from the forward
and throwing the driving wheel into gear The
dirt is emptied into ears upon rails that extend 10
the edge If the bluff where il is poured down into
the river. without the least prospect OF stopping
the current or filling the chsnnel though seycral
inquisitiye individuals have been grayey assured
that that was the object One Of that class who
90 about With a pencil and memorandum book 70
take a note of everything" saw this filling-in
operation from the American side, aud not being
tbe TO get satisfactory answer fastened over the
bridge and inquired Of the lnshman in charge
what he was doing that for
"yiakips .ilroad, sure and what else would
We be afteri"
making II. .lroad What, across the river p
Sure: where else would We be making il ?"
But. isn't the one across the bridge enough ,"
"Oh YER honor, that belongs 70 the other com
psDy.' -...-
And where do the fools expect 10 get dirt enough
in these parts to fill up this chasml'
"Cur Of the canawl The same company are
going 10 dig ship csnawl and turn all the water
from above the falls through that, and they have
found that tley can I'll in here great deal cheaper
than the other company built their bridge
well that does look reasonable" And he took
out his percil 10 make note OF il :; probably for
some new book of Travels in America
Whenever the compsDy succeed in stopping the
current BY pouring IN loose earth, VIII make
note Of IT, But would almost as soon under
take this lob as that OF making the present road
from the bridge TO lewist0n-cutung down
through that mass Of rocks right along the very
brink OF the river so as TO get easy grade from
tie INNER 10 the lower level. This Is one CT the
great sights of this region Of wonders, aud ought
10 BE- alone sufficient 10 bring thrcng OF curious
travellers Oy iLis route The other road, that from
Causudsieua by tie Falls 20 Lake OntanO az
YOUNGSTOWN, bears off 10 the right and goes down
the noun tain near the route OF t8esOld hOrse-cn
read. passing Lewiston on the east This part OF
the rosd If not yet finished, and the other COMPANY
have made temporary terminus TO their roai
hall or three iourths Of nile IRON the Lewiston