Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-06-13
common assortment BArnum took the little

over its wrist, upon its arm, without apparent
difficulty. The little one seemed in good
health, but it is doubtful if it will survive the
sufocating atmosphere of the crowds who
throng to see it. sss....
My route from New York was by the Erie
railroad to Dutfao- distance, 42S miles
which was made in l5 hours travel Stop
ping in Buffalo over night, went to Niagara
Falls the next morning distance, % miles.
There are comparatively few visitors at the
Falls at this season Of the year, and the
guides and hackmen, who meet the stranger
at every corner, complain of dull times. Un-
less tho visiter is posted he stands fair
| chance of being f1eeced out of from five to ten
dollars by these guides, who insist on show
ing him the sights. Fortunately had been
we'll posted by guide book, which chanced
to have with me, and escaped the impositions
practiced upon some Of my fellow travellers.
The scene at the Falls will not attempt to
portray. 1t has been 50 often described that
every reader Of the JOURNAL must be familiar
withit. was certainly daly Impressed with
its grandeur and magnifcencc. The little
steamer "Ma;d of the Mlst," so long asso-
ciated in descriptions of the Falls, is not now
to be seen there. The dull times have driven
her to more profitable waters, below the Sus,
pension bridge. Tho only chance now to
cross he river below the Falls is in yawls-
ferriage twenty cents for each person. The
charge for going under the curtain Of the
Falls is on dollar. This includes the use of
a rubber dress to prevent the spray from
wetting the person. =. r.,n.
The railroad suspension bridge, two miles |
below the Falls, is as great wonder of art as |
the Falls are of nature. Its span is S22 feet, |
yet an engine tender and passenger car,
loaded with men and weighing aboat ~ tons,
the floor in the center but 81
inches. The bridge, witn a loaded freight
train, covering its whole length and weighing
336 tons. is objected in the middle only ten
inches. Delicate as lace work, and seemingly
light and airy, it hangs there high between
Heaven and the boiling Aood below, more
solid than the earthbeds of the adjacent rail
ways. The conclusions Of fast moving trains
are sensbly felt miles off through, solid,
rocky soil In cities locomotives shake entire
blocks of dwellings,; the waters of the Cayuga
lake trenble under the wheels Of the express
trains, mile from the bridge but freight
train traversing this superstructure at the
speed of Eve miles an hour communicates no
jar to passengers walking upon the carriage
way below. ihs ''suspenders" are estimated
to be capable of sustaining 8,72O tons,
though the weight they have ordinarily to
support is only 1000 tons. So solid is the
bridge in its weight. ito stiffness, and its
stays, that not the slightest motion is CON-
to it by the severest gale. of wind
that blow up through the narrow gorge
over hich it spans. -a LE
At Buffalo found our former townsman,
J. G. Deshler, Esq, enlarging the borders of
MS commission house on Central Wharf,
though did not have the pleasure If meeting
aim. l learned that he has large and profit
lble business. Buffalo has IN extensive
rade, and boasts . population of $4,000.
Ny passage to this place was made on the
propeller Comet, over Lake Erie, 325 miles.
We stopped four hours in Cleveland, and
,ad the satisfaction of a stroll through its
broad. shady streets, which appropriately
i've it the name of the Forest City" There
s a splendid monument of Commodore Perry ,
n the City Park, and near it one of the finest
ountains ! have seen any where. TIE Gus
ON House and Post Office building, situated
N the east side of the park. is noble struc-
ure Of fiesstone. Population of the city
.bout 10000.
Detroit is the Oldest city In the West,
having been laid out by the French in 1910.
1t now contains upwards of $4,000 inhabi-
snts 1t has many costly buildings, and a
arge commerce with the lake. Detroit river
It this point is about ~ wide as the Missis
,lppi, and in many respects resembles our no.
Die river.
The crops throughout Northern New York
md Ohio do not look very favorable. The
,eason has been cold and backward, and in
|. .,me places frost has injured vegetation. Our
Iowa farmers have certainly no more reason
10 complain than those of any part of the
country through which have passed.
/ will perhaps be home and at my post
BY tee time this reaches you. j. u.