The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-21
NIAGARA FALLS.

FALLS REDEEMINa IrsELF-PRosPEcrs FOR
THE SEASON.
CLIFTON HOUSE, NIAGARA FALLS.
June ~, 1875.
Everything indicates an unusually large num-
Der OF visitors a. Niagara this season. Already
tue arrivals are greatly in excess OF those Sara
toga. Long Branch or Cape May OF course toe
late spring has had an unIayorable effect on our
watering places. but with the advance OF the sun
mer solstice ana the prospect or q counterbalanc-
ing protracted heated term to make up tor the
continuously cool weather OF the past few weeks.
there is fair show OF full hotels and season or
unwonted gayety and brillIancy. One thing,
moreover, that IS going TO help Niagara greatly,
or at least ought 10. is the great Improvement in
the hotels since last season, the putting under
proper curb the host OF avaricious and unscrupu
lous hackmen, who have heretofore made every
one coming here the victim or their merciless ex-
tortions, ana the reduced prices OF the dealers in
curiosiues, whose audacity In the way OF exorbl-
tanE charges has been only second To the bold
enrontery OF the hackmen, and which two classes
together, In their imposittons upon visitors have
given this place reputation, the odous brand or
which it will take long time erace.
TIE OLD, OLD STORY.
Not much can be written OF Niagara Falls that
is new. The deep aapason ofirs laundering roar
still fills the air It's veil OF mist rises ana falls
cal!y so, when lit up with rainbow tlnts under the
MONDAY sun; but commonplace, exceedingly so,
as shirt collar and bosom and wrlstband and the
delicate tracery OF feminine laces and all the other
wonderful paraphernalia or female appareling be-
come limp and lustreless and lugubriously lach-
rymose The earth still tremples before its
mighty power-a trembling that to the highly
wrought, sensitive soul Is grandlY awful, but 80
the tired-ous and nervous, with strong anti-som-
nolent tendencies, fearful nuisance In its inces
SAINT. noisy shaking OF creaking blinds and WIN
dow saspes. but looked at from any point or
view, whether from eyes young and bright and
flashing with youthful enthusiasm or dimmed by
overw ork or age, there Is that overwhelming
sense OF grandeur In the presence OF this mighty
waterial-that feeling or wonder and alteration
that makes the falls an object OF unceasing inter-
est. or course, there are some drawbacks.
While to many there Is almost an irresistible
impulse to cast ones SELF over the mighty
precipice, feeling, indeed, that is acutely pain
ful at times when one reaises that he Ia not yet
quito an angel, endowed with winged power.
Others are quite as equally APT TO forget that they
are mortal, and In allowing themselves to get
drencned to the skin through too long lingering IN
the spray pave the way for lumbago, neuralgia or
rheumatism, the three mighty Ills TO which man.
kind has fallen heir through the untimelY impru-
dence OF Adam In the matter OF clothing. The
feverish unrest OF our American haste leads 70 in
discretion In this matter. The bride in q low
necked dress forgets that her shoulders and neck
need care, and does not guard herself sufficiently
against sowing the seeds ofinsidious consumption.
Visitors, after their tours OF observation, should
be careful TO divest themselves OF their damp cloth
ing. In fact caution in this respect should be
inserted in the guide books, much better, rigid
rule laid down, for somehow wnen people 20 70
watering places and often for the sole purpose or
recuperating their health. they seem to disregard
all its primary laws. Making excuse for this d.
erosion. which really, however Is called for, II IS
proper 10 note some oil the
CHANGES AT THE PALLA
As is well known. tie theory IL that gradually
through the long lapse Of centuries tue tall has Dy
the cnasm several miles below. II this theory
De correct the upward progress OF the
est inhabttant ia able to indicate but
brief cnange in It's formation. Careful observers.
/ nation OF the Horseshoe Fail. The incessant rush
4 OF the mighty cataract has peTceptiDly deepened
\ the indenture near the American SIDE so that its
shape Is quite different from what u was year
\ ago. The great bulk OF the water flows over this
fll and IL is quite natural that the wearing away
\ OF the edge should be more rapid and percepuOle
! here than at other points. The American Fan
does not SHOW as straight line as heretofore,
| proving very clearly that time Is working its
cnanges here also some 90 so far as TO assert
that the Iall will gradually work its way up TO
Buffalo, but the possibility OF sucn an event is not
very Likely TO disturb the equanimlty or the
noiel Keepers or cause any diminution in
the value OF real estate. There is one positive
cnanre that old tourists particularly notice, ana
that Is the absence or the old lighthouse. NO
vestlge OF II remains ana " Is matter o. general
It's summit, that new and more massive and
substantial structure is not erected IN lis place.
or course the necessity OF such tower, as lar IS
sightseeing Is concerned. is obviated 10 some
tent through the elevators enabling visitors to
view the Falls from The Suspension Bridge towers;
but then the poetic eject vastly different Tor ia
the latter case one gets only bird's-eye view OF
the Falls, aud in the former one stood ON the brink
OF the awful chasm ITSELF ana could realize more
fully tts grand ana Overwhelming slohInlty. Bus
the
SPIRIT or UTILIZATION
seems 70 be a paramount IDEA At present. Dur
ing the past winter there mas been erected upon
tne American side 4 hour mill over the narrow
stream, the rail from which was long since chris
tened the BRIDES Veil.n The mill runs day and
night, and there Is never any lack o. water. IL
would not he thing so much to be wondered at
n some enterprlsing Yankee, imbued with
broader and more comprehensive unitarian
turn the whole fall INTO gigantic rGceNay Tor
gigantic mills.
PROSPECT PARK.
The idea has always been pretty broadly preva-
ent that any attempt to debar the pubnc from
rec and unrestricted view OF the Falls nom all
possible points should be firmly resisted. me re-
suit was general anathematIzlng by the mass Of
the scheme OF fencing In portion OF the Falls, ana
expense OF VISITORS The thing, however, mas been
done. and legally done, and the only course 10
pursue IS TO submit TO IL or restrict your view OF
Ihs Falls. And yes after all, considering the war
In which the thing IS managed and the small tax
levied, II Is evidently more public benefit
than otherwise. The PARK Is situated on the
bank OF sue river. between the American
Falls ana the upper Suspension Bridge.
me grounds comprise about nine acres
ana are tasteiuy laid out in grass ploss, inter-
sected by gravel walks, the whole being shaded
by grand old orest trees or primeval growth.
strong parapet wall extends along the brink.
From this point Is obtained splendid view OF the
American Fan In the immediate foreground,
while In the distance can be seen the Horseshoe
FAN. the American rapids and the upper suspen-
sion Bridge the PARK also includes an inclined
railway TO the Jerry, pavilion, concert han ana
a restaurant. Descending the railway the visitor
has a magnificent view OF the great BODY OF bright
green water as II pours over the preciplce nearly
zoo feet above him.
A PARAPET WALL.
Speaking or the parapet wah fronting Prospect
PARK, tine authorities on the Canada side nave
taken steps 10 secure a much needed and very
valuable Improvements. bill has been framed,
aud through the represen tatiye OF the district
presented 10 the Commissioner OF Public WORKS.
stlpulating that a stone wall, TWO feet In height,