The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-09-27
u0rDERs or ANFEIc.4.


a0yDERs or AMERICA
1t is not for Americans to speak of
the antiquity OF their nation, or of the
cities laden with the art and lore Of cen
turies. We cannot point to the grand
accomplishments Of ancestors hundreds
Of years agone we cannot lay finger
on the historic page and say, Thus
did we centuries ago" No; but we
can proudly exhibit our unparalleled
progress, and we can challenge the
countries Of the Old World to produce
the like Of some results which few de-
cades have served to develop upon our
soil We have some wonders, natural,
and the consummation Of our peculiar
energy, which command attention as
the greatest Of their kind on the face of
the earth Among these wonders are
the following:
The Falls Of Niagara, which form the
greatest cataract IN the world A river
three quarters Of a mile in width, fed
by the waters OF three great lakes, is
suddenly contracted in it's course and
plunged over vast rocky cliffs in two
columns, to the depth Of nearly two
hundred feet
There are two other waterfalls on
our soil Which exhibit most striking
characteristics, although far exceeded
by Niagara in the volume of water dis
charged. In the Yosemite Valley there
are several falls, one of which has
total depth, made by three leaps, OF q.
GA feet The Bridal Vail fall, in the
same remarkable valley, has depth of
$40 feet, and the Royal Arch fall, 1900
feet Besides, the Yosemite Valley
affords the finest scenery Of a varied
character, in region of limited extent
known to man. tits only accessible at
the lower end by two trails that alb
ruptly descend 1000 feet. The walls
for six miles are nearly vertical, and in
some places are mile in height, and
are composed of pure white granite
The valley is only a mile and a half
wide at its broadest part, and in some
places is less than half mile. This
adds to the apparent height of the per-
pendicular walls on either side.
The New York Croton Aqueduct, the
largest and finest work OF the kind in
the world. It's length is over forty
miles, and it cost twelve and half mil
lions of dollars. In its course it passes
over a bridge l,4G0 feet long and IA
feet high, which is splendid triumph
Of architectural skill.
The Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, the
largest and most interesting cave in
the world, wherein one may make a
voyage on subterranean lake and
catch fish without eyes.
The Philadelphia City Park, tie most
extensive public garden under the con-
troll OF a municipal government in the
world. Its area comprises twenty
hundred acres.
The largest river in the world is the
Mississippi, four thousand one hundred
miles long, irrigating valley Of the
richest fertility, whose extent is four
hundred thousand square miles.
The Pacific Railroad, over three thou
sand miles in length, ind spanning a
whole continent, from ocean to ocean.
The Iron Mountain Of Missouri, which
is regarded the greatest mass OF solid
iron in the world. 1t is three hundred
and fifty feet high and two miles in cir
cuit
Chicago, the leading grain port Of the
world, and, SO far as we know, the most
rapidly developed city in wealth and
population the world has known. In
| 1881 there were twelve families settled
on its site. In ls40 the census returns
showed a population Of 1880. In 1860,
/ I10,973, and in 1867 the number OF in
habitants exceeded 100000
4 Besides these wonders there are
other interesting features which might
be cited, we're We disposed to compare
our national resources with those Of
other countries; such, for instance, are
the apparently exhaustless deposits Of
gold and silver in California and the
Rocky Mountain territory; Of anthra-
cite aud bitumlnons coal, especially the
former, in Pennsylvania; Of copper in
the Lake Superior region and Of pc.
trolenm 10 many parts Of the Union,
When one calmly reflects upon the
I past history Of our nation, and conteln-
pla es the wonderful progress made
within few brief years, bis imagina.
ton can scarcely span the possible ad-
van cement Of the next hundred years
r. chronological Journal