Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-14
A Western Journey.
[CoRREsPoNDENCE OF THE DAILY spY.l


bEihCA1J DSpts o lCiIs
Editor Spy: Starting for the west, we left
Worcester Sept 5, in the ten A. NJ. express train,
with through tickets in our pockets and time
tables in our hands, the latter to inform us, and
no questions asked, just what time we should
arrive at important points on the way. Steam
power, however, is no respecter of printed time
tables, and impatient travellers. Berkshire hills
and heavy train dslocated time tables for the
day, and as a result we arrived at Albany be-
hind time. We did not regret this, as the time
lost as printed was our gain, giving us more
time to enjoy the grand scenery while passing
up the grade to the summit.
At Albany the usual confusion land little
more) attended our start for Niagara Falls.
Starting behind time we had charitable feeling
towards this time table in our hands of the New
York Central railroad. This table informed us
in plain figures that we should arrive at Niagara
Falls at 1925 A. NJ, but it was at fault as we
did not arrive at Suspension bridge until 2:15,
nearly two hours late Waiting with commend
able patience nearly one hour at the bridge,
we start for the falls some two miles
distant. We booked our names in
the register of the Cataract house at $3.50 in
the morning, too early for breakfast and rather
late for good square sleep. l came TO the con-
clusion that time tables veracity was an excep-
ton rather than the rule.
Meeting our friend B. after breakfast he
anXiousy Informed us that, from indications,
something was leaking badly. AT first l
thought he had reference to the New York
Times expose, but passing over the beautiful
iron bridge or bridges that ensure to you a safe
crossing over the rapids to Goat Island, we at
once proceeded to Luna Island and found the
leak. Shingles and sand were suggested,
but we concluded to let the leak continue, and
gazed on Niagara's grandeur in silence-the
most sensible thing to do. The new suspension
bridge is seen to good advantage from Luna
island 1t is about one-eighth of a mile below
the American fall, and said to be the longest
suspension bridge in the world, its road way
being 1900 feet in length. 1t spans the chasm
some 100 feet above the water Looking at this
structure from our standpoint on Luna island,
it has the appearance of a gigantic spder-wed
stretched across from Uncle Sam to Johnny, and
perhaps some unfortunate will be caught in It's
meshes some day. Our hackman, in response to
a suggestion that we drive over this structure
to the Canada side, said he did not care to drive
across on windy days, as the bridge swayed so
much. We did not banker after this new de-
parure after Jehu had spoken. Niagara falls
and surroundings are always new and impress
siye-go and see their grandeur as often as you
can. We found on leaving that the only thing
called upon to leak badly was our pocket-book
TnaNipu for atroit of Osd0 d NJ
as usual, "behind time" Detroit is a charming
city of about 81 900 inhabitants. Its streets aud
avenues are wide and beautiful, and laid out
with cOmmendable regularity. No Maple street
extension is demanded here. The city, however,
is like most Others, not quite finished. The new
city hall, now nearly finished, will cost 81 ,000-
900. 1t is built Of light brown stone and its ar
chitectural exterior is pleasing and attractive
Six hundred thousand dollars is being expended
this year in repaving streets with wood
block paving. viii Worcester try wood blocks in
place Of stone2 Water for domestic and me-
chanical use is pumped from the Detroit river
to a distributing reservoir. Seven million gal
Ions Of water each day is diverted from its natu-
raj flow to supply the wants of Detroit people,
Poor place for temperance lecturers.
Visiting one Of the large grain elcvaors-the
Michigan Central-we learned that it had
storage capacity for $50 900 bushels Of grain-sO
bins, each bin holding $500 bushels. At this
time some two hundred car loads Of wheat and
oats arrive daily. We need not cry for bread
neither grumble about taxes and costly high
school buildings, while Detroit is receiving an
abundance of wheat, building public edifce
costing 81 100000, and tearing up better stone
paving than graces most of our streets, replacing
the same with wood, ut a cost of 5000 900 in one
year.
Crossing the river Detroit to the town of
Windsor, Canada town mostly made up of
one-story taverns, we take "buss" for the
Sandwich mineral springs, located some
three miles down the river. Some years
since a party took the oil fever badly,
and commenced boring at this place for oil. AT
depth Of $50 feet they struck, not oil, but sui
phureted hydrogen water, and the water has
been spouting 1000 bbls. per day ever since.
Parties in interest do not claim that the water
Will cure all diseases human flesh is heir to, but
| do claim that it has special curative properties
lor rheumatism and such like ailments, and
think it has, as do not quite believe that dis
ease would long keep company with water, the
odor OF which has such a warning and sugges
tive smell, Full Of sulphur and reflections, we
| left Sandwich mineral springs 10
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