The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-06
Correspondence Of the Journal at Commerce
GRAND FALLS OF THE ST. JOHN.

Correspondence Of the Journal at Commerce.
GRAND FALLS OF THE ST. JOHN.
GRAND FALLS, N. B., Aug. I8
The pulse beats as quickly at the discovery of
new world in Nature as of new revelations in
Science. The same thrill that electrified Columbus
or De Soto, or him who first gazed upon the tbun
dering. cataract of Niagara is experienced to an
equal degree by all men, when the mightiest mas
terpieces of Creation opened to their view for
the first time, in all their sublimity and grandeur
Our own continent is peculiarly rich in scenery,
Doth grand and picturesque, and most of its objects
OF natural interest have already been unfoded to
view by the pioneer and explorer; vet doubt if
any one point of attraction has received less notice
or is so little known to the tourist as the Grand
Falls OF the st. John. Certainly, few are more
worthy.
The village of Grand Falls receives its name, as
Niagara does, from the great cataract, and is near
the 4Sth parallel of latitude about three miles from
the Northern boundary of Maine The st. John
here makes two majestic bends in its course and at
the second, falls in two great sheets of foam and
| spray over procipce some IS feet in height and
then forces its way in long succession of RAPIDS
through perpendicular walls of rock 200 feet high.
One cannot but be impressed with the similarity
| between these and the Falls of Niagara The for
mer are more extensive and perhaps more grand,
but these are wilder and more primeyal and ro-
mantle The general features are the same-the
same double fall, the ever rising column of mist
the deep terrific gorge, the rush of dark fathom-
less waters below, and the abrupt turn in the chan
mel where the impetuous tide is dashed in one I'M
however.
above the pitch, the river flows smoothly and mir
ror-llke until within few yards of the verge of
the precipice, while the precpious cliffs below are
covered with forest trees which overhang the very
brink, and add wildness and beauty to the pic-
ture which Niagara does not present Here too,
as If to liken the resemblance is wire suspension
bridge, midway between the whirlpool and the falls
spun ike SPIDERS web across chasm I60 feet
wide, and 100 feet above the river beneath
The present structure is merely temporary foot
bridge OF boards laid on wire cables without pro-
lection at the sides, except single wire. To stand
upon it, poised in mid air, and gaze into the surg
ing depths below requires little nerve; but when
upon crossing, it shakes and trembles and undu-
lates at every step, it is like looking death in the
face. The eye becomes blind, and the head grows
glddy and you feel that your clutch on the wire in
your hand is but feeble hold on life. 1t is doubt
less perfectly safe to one of tried nerve but MANY
could not pass it. 1t is thought that the large
bridge now building will be finished this fall The
aoutments are nearly complete, 100 feet high and
are not only line specimens of masonry but are
composed entirely ola beautiful black marble varie-
gated with white veins, quarried from the rocky
cliffs at hand.
The water is now low in the river, by which we
are enabled to examine the ''wells'' at the bottom
of the ravine. These holes worn in the solid
marble by the action of the water, two feet and
more in diameter, and of them thirty feet
Deep Their sides are smoothly polished and the
water within is clear as crystal Here are also M
merous natural caves worn in the cliffs by the
water At this point have more impressive
view OF the Fails than from above. The descent
is difficult and perhaps perious but when accom-
plished, the scenery is grand and wild in the ex
IRENE. Man is small atom down there, looking
up at the blue sky 200 feet above him through that
great rift. He can then feel his own nsignifcance.
The huge impending rocks threaten to crush him:
tall scraggy pines incline threateningly towards
him; the reyerberating thunder of the cataract
deafens him; his breathing becomes difficult: and
the dark seethng torrent rushing By seems about
to annihiate him, or sweep the rocky bed from be-
meath his feet.
The whole earth trembles. Not bird or living
creature is to be Even the heecy clouds above
seem anxious to avoid the place. and scud Quickly
across the guilt. If one would appreciate real soil
tude and an utter feeling of loneliness, let him
| stand there. In the spring, when freshets above
swell the lmpetuous volume of water, the fury of
| the torrent is even more terrific. Pent up within
the narrow gorge, and unable to discharge itself
through the natural passage, it is forced upwards
in immense surging pillows fifty feet above its pre-
sent level, now subsiding partially, then heaving
again, rising, falling, rolling, and seethng like
mighty cauldron. Probably where on earth
not even in mid ocean, when it is dashed by storm
can such conception of the mighty power of wa
tiers IN commotlon be had as at this place. Down
the ST. John, too, at that season, driven all the
logs cut from the forest adjacent to the river hence
to its very source-200 miles or more-and all this
must pass the Falls when in its unquiet mood. II
Is grand sight, and beyond the powers of descrp-
ton, to watch the moving of the ice at Niagara or
| at other large cataracts, when warm weather
breaks it up in the Spring; but the pungine of the
great pine trunks as they leap the Grand Falls is
! grander still.
There is something strangely fearful and weird
like In the eVer-shifng, rushing, pitching leaping
mass, as 1t moves its thousand long black arms up
wards, hither and yon. Now they come in one
great mass, charging in close phalanx as they leap
the brink,-then singly, or two or three together
| Now one strikes its end upon some hidden ledge
and plunges into the abyss with desperate somer-
set. Then comes one great pine veteran some 20
feet IN LENGTH alone, straight as an arrow-clears
the verge at bound; and with gperpendicular
fall, strikes the pool ends lost to sight for one
long moment, then suddenly shoots up from the
gulf like great rocket, forcing its entire length
out OF the water-then falls with a mighty splash,
and mingles with its fellows, tumbling and grind
ing In wild commotion. Such are some of the
striking features of Grand Falls Niagara is not
like it, for it pours its mighty volume of water in
one endless sublime monotony, while here the
features of the cataract are more varied and ever
changing.
REsUMPTIoN.-It will afford general qualification
to perceive that the old and respected firm of John
Fraser Co., of this city, have resumed business
with the connecting firms of Trenholm, Brothers &
Co., OF New FORK, and Fraser, Trenholm & Co., of
Liverpool, as will be perceived by the subjoined
circular:
CHARLESTON, S. c., LIST September, 1s59.-Dear
Sr: We are pleased to be able to announce that
the difficulties in which the branch of our house in
New York lately became involved having been
overcome, our business will henceforw ard be con-
tinued as before
Yours, respectfully,
JOHN FRASER & Co.
John Fraser d Co., Charleston, S. G,
Fraser, Trenholm & Co., Liverpool.
Trenholm, Brothers & Co., New York
Charleston Euening Ne,0s.
The receipts of wheat at Chicago, ILL.,, from the
LIST to the 10th of August, reach 4O5, 900 bushels
against l36,OOO bushels for the entire month of