Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-19
NO. Is.
LETTER FROM NEW YORE.

ROCHESTER, N. ! ;, Jan. IL, 1870.
DEAR JOURNAL Il left Boston at 8, p. NJ.
Tuesday; as cold day as is usually expert
enced there during this month, and arrived
here at 0 A. M. Wednesday. / fnd little
snow and ice here, but what there is is fast
disappearing before dense mist or fog that
comes from Lake Ontario some four miles
distant. The near proximity to the lakes
make Western New York subject to sudden
changes in climate. Not that the mercury
falls very low, but it is chilling cold. 1t
seems different from the cold on the prairie,
as that seems dry; but this is equally piercing
on account of its dampness.
Yesterday, p. NJ, was spent in riding about
the city in the company of my friends, Chase
Bros, who have been engaged here for sew
eral years in the Nursery business.
Few of your Eastern readers who have not
travelled through this section have any idea of
the importance of this city. In 1900 it did not
contain single inhabitant, and now it con-
tains a'population of over 81 900, and contains
some of the finest buildings between New
York city and Chicago.
Powers block just completed is estimated
to cost million and half of money. 1t is
supposed to be absolutely fire proof, warmed
by steam, and an elevator takes you to the
fourth story quicker than I can write it--mak-
ing an Office on the third or fourth floor as
desirable as upon the first floor. The Roch-
ester Savings Bank is splendid building,
built by deposits that have not been called
for for twelve years. The Arcade is reckoned
seems to radiate from it about equally in all
directions for about two miles.
This is accounted for by the country being
SO level.
The Erie Canal crosses the Gennesee River
at this point and here commence the falls, and
at the distance Of 1-2 miles below the city
rise what is called the Lower Falls, where
the water falls so feet perpendicular. The
bed Of the river is red limestone and the falls
are receding rapidly. For some distance be-
low the falls the banks on either side are cut
perpendicularly by the water, and as l stood
upon the bank and looked down 100 feet it
seemed as though it must have been cut by
the hand of man. And here let me say that
there is project started to make this power
available by means of compressed air. 1t
win be forced to the city in large pipe and
then be distributed in smaller ones wherever
wanted.
Every particle of the power of the falls at
this point, is made available by means of
canals each side of the river, SO that there is
no water passing over the falls except the
water is at an unusual height.
There are many other objects of interest
that must pass by for want of time and
space, but must not omit to speak of the
nurseries at this place. There are probably
5000 acres devoted to the propogating Of fruits
and ornamental trees and flowers. One party
has GOO acres of trees and shrubs, and several
others have from one to three hundred acres.
1t would seem as though there was nursery
stock propogated here alone to supply the
whole United States; but the demand keeps
pace with the supply. The West absorbs all
the surplus stock as fast as it is opened up
and probably will continue to for years to come.
There are hundreds of acres of flowers alone,
raised for the seeds, which are sent to all
parts of the country to adorn and beautify
the homes of all classes.
Probably there is not city in the United
States where so much is expended in adorning
the residences with beautiful plants, trees,
and shrubbery as in Rochester, at least not in
my travels. find the people own the places
aIa In, fvtu
them as much as possible; this, to me, seems
to be the true way of adding to the influences
that tend to make home what it should be.
l ought to mention Mt. Hope Cemetery,
that bids fair at some day to vie with Mt.
Auburn. Nature has done more for this rest
ing place of the bodies of those who have
''passed on BEFORE" than it has for Mt. Au-
burn, but art has not as yet accomplished as
much.
1t appears to me that these beautiful resting
places rob death of much of its terrors, take
away much of that fear that we all, in
greater or less degree, carry with us.
There are many residences here that de-
serve passing notice, but it may not be
profitable to your readers at this time. The
residence of Fred Duglass, the colored orator
isan unpretending ediace. two stories in height.
The grounds are filled with trees and shrub
cry and are well kept.
The various Public Building cannot speak,
of at this time as leave for points further
west in the morning. Yours truly,
J. r. SAwrELL.