New-York tribune., 1878-07-10
NIAGARA MADE ACCESSIBLE.


-HAcKMEN uSDKR coSTHoL-How TO GAIN GREAT
ENJOYMENT cHENLY-wHAT TO SEE. AND THE
WAY TO sEE 1T.
lrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIbUSEl
BUFFALO, June 29.-In THE WEEKLY TRIB-
UyR OF June go observe inquiry by #. n b. as 10
the facilities offered people OF moderate means for
protracted stay at Niagara Falls As one VINO may
claim be we'll informed in the matter by reason Oh
long residence and intimate acquaintance WIN
that locality, wish to make some statements wnich
perhaps may have direct interest for others than r.
NIB"
In one particular Niagara is an exception 10 other
places OF resort namely in having been for many years
the most unjustly abused wsterngplace In America us
extortions have passed into proverb and have always
been theme for cheap w.t. scatnng satire ana nerce
denuncaton on the part OF travellers and newspaper
correspondents latter at least supposedly trained
to habits Of intelligent observation. ought to nave
known better While there have undenably been some
things deserving Of censurc there has been 10
reason for characterzng the Falls, and everything per-
tanning TO ;hcm grand swinde AS correspond
ent myself am ashamed OF the scnsauonasm the eA-
aggcration, the downright untruthfuness whlch ha'c
made majority of the reports OF my scribbng brethren
and sisters concerning Niagara absolutely unreliable
As TO the travellers tales they make one believe that
Doubtless the pleasure ia as great
In being cheated. as TO cheat
so absurdly have they allowed themselves to be I'M
family to Niagara, calculated on his own superior
sbrewdness TO secure him from extOrtion. He would
not trust the hoelkeepers; they were in league with
the k-drivers brdgeenders etc. he would drive his
own bargains so he did Ignorant OF the locality the
irresponsible and sharp hacknan had him at his mercy
First having secured his load by fair promises ana an
apparent reduction in price per hour then the chase
began The distance around the traditional ROBIN oods
farm was small compared 10 that which any educated
hackman wonld make between any two points nj
Niagara Ingenious detours made three miles OF one.
Complicated bridge crossings put money IN the hahds Oh
gate-tcnders. and percentage to the driver All the
show places remembered the Recommendation re
turning to the GLIB guide in the form OF fixed renuner
ton So the hours passed. and when at the close Of
day the weary pater aghted with his responsibilities
at the hotel door minus twelve fifteen dollars, and
swearing mad. he in mood to remember the pro-
pretor's morning advice with pleasure or 10 taSo the
atters calm told you so, sir" any comfort Mt ALL
but Jumped them all in heap. parts OF stupen-
dous whole-a sublime and unmtigatcd swinde.
Now while want nothing set down In malice, yet
scorn extenuate There have been abuses and exor
ons at Niagara In much smaller degree thereare some
still Yet" N. b." may pack her setchel and shawl
strap and accept the word OF veracious and RESPONSE
bic person that when she alghs at the prettyshaded
Niagara Falls depot she will not find herself among
combination Of botekeepers and hackdriyers thirst
ing for her money leeches for blood. The landlords
of the best houses honorable too thoroughly
their business and too careful OF their
reputation give any just for the charge OF ex
torOn. Their charges are moderate, Their hotels mod
els of elegance. and what Is more-of comfort And 30
far from conniyng at imposition. they are careful TO
warn their guests not to submit to II, and are
always ready to inform them how the Falls and the
scenery around may be best and most economically
viewed. The hackmen have been. In times past an en-
tire and unmitigated nuisance. prosecuting the
unfortunate traveller from the moment he
passed through the depot cataract wards till that
unassailable sanctuary received him on MS
return; doggng his steps-solicng, imploring, occa-
sionay threatening with impertinent opportunities
that spared neither nor sex But they are held In
with strong hand The landlord and owner OF the
Internationa Mr. j. r. Fulton jr Is president of the
village and concert with the proprietors OF the other
rstcass hotels and the best citizens OF the place. has
made and caused TO be enforced municipal regulations
that entirely dispose OF this crying evil that was as OBJ
noxOus TO none as TO the hotekeepers since their bus
mess was fearfuy injured by the stigma brought upon
the town by the conduct of these Irresponsible mpert
nen yermn. Now, they have 10 be regularly licensed
their fares regulated by law, and are moderate
their stands fixed In certain places and they are
allowed to solicit passersby to accept their Services
Unprotected adcs safe from insult or annoyance
in the streets and parks of Niagara by day or night
either IN their peaceful homes. stct police sur
yeiance Is constantly kept and the order and quiet OF
the hackmen since the new departure, wonderful
and delightful to behold
have said that hotel charges reasonable. So they
are but then aware that poorlyp teachers
find impossible pay for any length OF time even the
reduced Of the International, the Cataract the
Spencer and the Clifton. But there are quiet homes
and private boarding where at still more mod
crate rates such find accommodations The pleasant
village OF Suspension Bridge, two miles below Niagara
s much frequenied by tourists and travellers OF limited
means 1t is o pretty place, aboundng In beanliful
views of the river, the gloomy gulf the swift, white
rapids, and the whirlpool below. At a roomy hotel
there-not rsclass but thoroughly respectable, quiet
and comorable-I know teacher who has nice little
room and excellent board for four dollars week, washing
not included Everything Is neat and clean and The fare
Is well cooked and abundant do mol maine te mouse,
not desiring to advertise above another but mention
this instance OF Which have personal knowledge AS
proof that such exist
There is no place in about Niagara Falls that F. N.
b. cannot walk Such rambes entirely sanctioned
both by and proproty and the score Of pleas
ure she will gain more IL she Is good pedestrian than
she would II she rode. She can stay month, and find
new and delightful walk every day. Crossing either
of the suspension bridges has the beautiful Canadian
shore and the fair inland landscape before One where TO
choose Three miles up the shady country road beyond
the sleepy town OF Drummondsve, rise from the height
the towers mark the battle ground of Lnndys Lane
To hunt up the bits OF history pertaining 10 1t. to
wander in old graveyard and read the inscriptions
of its ancient tombs. is worth long journey. To go
down tho river to Lewiston, to visit Queenstown, aud
Brooks Monument grandy crowning the height to wit
ness sone OF the finest scenery In the wordod towns
historic ruins, old grayeyar Old forests and older hills
that shut the river around with beauty that once 10
see forever TO remember, demands few shngs for
car fare and ferriage basket packed with noon-day
luncheon plain Gress for climbing and scramblng and
fair pedesrian abilities. With Niagara Falls for centre,
q radius several mics be swept forming circle,
any part of which there is something OF interest and
beauty 10 see.
Now for tho extOrions and abuses First and greatest
since the suppression OF the hacKmen is Goat Island IL
the island-es there between the two falls proyok-
ingy entrancingy lovely, even by day and OF Summer
moonlight night seems just to have dropped from Par
adise IL my belief that there such wonderful,
beautiful spots elsewhere IN the world may be found
al the foot OF Island upon the stairway descending
to Luna upon the Three Sisters, all OF which, ever