Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-31
DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE.
Letter III.
MONTREAL. Tuesday. August IL. L;


thousand Islands the time allotted by our pro-
gramme, on Sunday morning, the 9th OF August,
We took the Canadian steamer Corsic an for
Montreal, a distance of 40 miles. We were ac-
companied from this point by DR.. j. ID. JAG xsoD,
of Danville, Ky. On this at there was quite a
large number-perhaps $50 or 300-of pxssen-
gers, chiefly from the United States who hal
Deen visiting Niagara, and were extending their
excursion 10 Montreal, Quebec and the White
Mountains, &c. The weather was warm but
the breeze upon the river made it delightful,
and during the day nearly all the passengers
coDgregated upon the decks to view the scenery
and the many islands that we were passing,
pointing out to each other the beauties they
were constantly discovering, and particularly
to be in readiness to enjoy the novel sensation
DRIFTING DOWN THROUGH THE RAPIDS
that are so remarkable q feature of travel on
the st. Lawrence. These rapids form so prom
inent part OF the special attraction to the
tourist upon tlis river that they deserve some
especial mention.
The fret rapid is a few miles below Prescott
IL Is continuous for sbout nine miles, and is
throughout the falls is exceedingly rough, with
rolling, billowy motion that heaves aud losses
the water into q foam, and the boat is rocked
ner, reminding you Of the motion of heavy
sea; but the water being deep, the boat built
specially for this service, the engines strong,
and the pilot familiar with the channel, no con-
siderable danger seems to be apprehended, and
as the boat rushes down with wonderful rapldity
one experiences q sense Of great delight. No
accident has ever occurred to the passenger
boats on these rapids that have involved the loss
OF life. A canal for the accommodation OF
freight boats descending and ascending the
river. as well as for all ascending crafts, has
been built around these falls The fret passage
through these falls by steam was about $50,
and was run under the guidance or an Indian
pilot, 1dToahidhere by name. The canal is nearly
II miles in length, with seven locks, and OF suf-
ncient width to accommodate any vessel trading
on the river The actual descent for the
twelve miles amounts to fOrty-eight feet. AL
though there are eight rapids around which
canals are built, the next one in Importance lie
the Cecar Split Rock Cascade rapids, which is
is also canal, which has nine locks and an
actual descent of eighty-two and half feet.
The last and perhaps most dangerous OF these
rapids 10 navigation is that of the LA Chine"
which is nearly nine miles in length and has a
fall of forty-five feet. A canal il also built
around this, which has I've locks. On APP
preaching the latter rapids the whistle is blown
as signal for
THE INDIAN PILOT BAPrIsrE"
to come aboard for the purpose of steering the
boat through the rapids. He has been plotting
for the last thirty years, and is about fifty year.
OF age, with large and powerful form aud an
intelligent face. It is reported that the in
surance company makes it a condition of their
insurance, that he alone shall pilot boats Gov
cred Ivy their policies through these rapids.
This is, apprehend, a mere fiction, toll for
st. Lawrence from the head Of the Thousand
Islands to Montreal is 23i feet. In passing
down the river the boat landed at a number Of
thriving towns and villsges. Prescott being the
largest on the Canadian side, and Ogdensburg
on The American side; at the latter, however,
we did not land. At some points the river
spreads out into large and very considerable
lakes, OF which Lake st. Francis Is the most
notable. There Is one large and important
island in Ii, known as Nuns Island. % which
rises perhaps seventy five feet above the water
and is beautifully cultivated, and contributes
70 the support of one Of the principal converts
of Montreal.
In passing through Lake st. Francis we catch
the first glimpse of the mountains back of Mon
treal, TO which CHAM ain, the fir,t explo-er
gave the name OF Royal Mountain" AMI from
@hlch the city itself has derived its name.
Casting the eye in a southeastern direction the
"AGrC njsck Mountains" are seen rising hizh
above the horizon, sixty or eighty miles distant
CAIRN.
On small island, about midway of tha lake.
in front OF the village of Lancaster, believe, on
the left bank, stands, think, the only cairn
ever erected in America, except the ones erected
since the rebellion to the confederate dead in
the cemetery at Richmond. This one is a pyra-
mid, judge, OF some 40 feet base and about 50
teet high, OF stone roughly hewn, and laid by
the contributors TO the memory of a popular
Scotchmsn by his admiring friends during the
early part of the century.
The country adjacent to this river is sener-
ally low and heavily wooded, and consequently
number is one OF the chief interests in Canada
The land being fertile is well cultivated, and
has numerous villages along the banks, and oc-
casonaly the eye will rest upon a church splre
many miles inland. Indeed
THE NUMBER OF CHURCHES
9 q noticeable feature throughout Canada, and
their size would seem to be out of all proportion
TO the present population from the appearance
OF the villages in which they are situated.
shortly after passing La Chine rapids We came
into view Of the
VICTORIA BRIDGE,
the famous tubular iron bridge erected by the
Grand Trunk X. r. 1t is mile and a quarter
in length, resting upon "a piers, and at such an
elevation as to create no obstruction to nayiga-
ton. 1t IL said to have cost g. .OOO, 900. the
central span Ia $50 feet in length and 60 feet
above high water. There are IL spans on either
length. The bridge Was opened with much
comp ana ceremony by the Prince OF Wales
when in this country in 1860. 1t is used only
for railroad traffic.
MONTREAL AND NRIsHBoRHooD.
AS we pass under the bridge the city OF Mon
treal comes plainly into view. The city is built
upon long expanse Of comparatively level
though elevated ground, and extending for five
or six miles along the left banks Of the st.
lawrence river gradually sloping upwards to
Mount Royal, which towers abruptly in the
back ground TO the height of some 80 feet
The spectator is struck with the sodity and
extent Of the very fine docks and quays, con-
structed partly of stone at a cost of several mil
lion dollars. There Is a wide street running
along the whole river front which separates the
buildings from the wbaryes, aud gives ample
facilities for shipment and traushipment of
merchandise. The interesting streets that run
directly back afford easy access to the river
The site Of the city was first visited by JACQUES
Cartier In 1885, when he found there an Indian
village. The public buildings and great num-
Der of the stores and private residences are CON.
structed of peculiar blue gray colored lime
stone, OF which an extensive quarry is found
and worked near the side Of Mount Royal with
in mile or so Of the city. A considerable por-
ton Of Mount Royal has recently been pur-
chased by the city to be improved as a public
park. The Catholics and the Protestant each
have . cemetery on the top Of the mountain;
these Will be included with the new park. The
drive around and over the mountain Is one of
the favorite attractions to tourists and residents
alike, and the views Of the adjacent country
from its summit are magnificent.
The PHhamentof Lower Canada, now known
as the Province OF Quebec, formerly met alter
nately at Montreal and Quebec, at both of
which places hDe structures exist which were
erected for the accommodation Of the Canadian
Solons. The Legislative Assembly OF Upper
Canada, now the Province Of Ontario, met AT
Toronto when the existing organization of the
Dominion Of Canada was created. Ia view of
the struggles OF these three cities for the loca-
ton Of the ofices Of the general government,
the Queen OF Great Britain decided to ignore
thA