Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-07
NO. 2.


OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, Dec.
30, 1S79.-Perhaps nowhere on the
American continent is there a city Of
such location as Ottawa, which in its
robes of-snow stands out clear and we'll
defined in spire, tower and dome
against the pure sky. The city is
situated on a bluff overlooking the
Ottawa river, into which the Rideau
and the Gatineau flow. On a grand
plateau more than one hundred
and fifty feet above the Ottawa
river are located the parliament
buildings. The view from this point
is not only beautiful, it is almost
grand. Away ten or twelve miles rise
the blue mountains, contrasting well
with the snowy plains and evergreen
forests. The Ottawa river now is
frozen and steamers are hard held in
the ice. The river is about half a mile
wide, the ice now forming a consecu-
tive roadway from shore to shore.
The Rideau canal by a series of locks
connects with the Ottawa river, and is
one Of the great outlets for the lum-
Der laden craft of the Dominion. The
canal is spanned by several handsome
bridges, under which not only the
mule-towed boat, but the steam pro-
peller may be seen, for the Rideau
canal is something Of a great highway.
In connection with the Rideau and
Ottawa rivers, it serves to carry off
the lumber for which this city is
noted. The piles Oh lumber in the
suburbs Of Ottawa cover square after
square, and look like wooden build
ings at a distance. The space covered
by these piles Of lumber is as large as
the entire area of Chelsea. This may
give a faint idea Of the lumber inter-
est Of Ottawa. There are many saw
mills here, as well as other mechanical
industries, including a well known
match fae.e=y. TThhe river banks are
crowned with ssWmills, at whose
base the Whirling waters Of
the Ottawa sweep in I'M
tanned strength and resistless fury.
The Chodiere falls which are seer
from the parliament buildings
are picturesque. The water in
its fall Of forty feet or more
is spread over half a mile Of Uneven
rocks, forming countless cascades.
What is more picturesque than the
drapery of i%ciles, snow, and frozen
spray? The silvery mist, as it arises
slowly up, half %conceals the falls.
whose roar breaks on the stiffness Of
night, and is heard even amid the din
Of bus. day.
THE RAILWAY FACILITIES
Of the city are excellent and increas.
ing. The principal line is the Quebec.
Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental.
which is better known here as the
North Shore railway. 1t runs from
Quebec along the north shore of the
st. Lawrence to Montreal, the com
mercial metropolis Of the Dominion;
thence westward on the north shore Of
the Ottawa river, to Aylmer, 100 miles
and is connected with the capital by
a bridge across the Ottawa river al
Hull City. The line is about tire,
hundred miles in length anC
lying as it does between h,
Lawrentian Hills and the grea
rivers, passes through the mos
charming scenery in the romantic pro
Taace CT Quebec. The line belongs I,
the Quebec government and is one O
the most complete, both in solidity q
construction and comfort and @elepanc
OF Its cars, on the continent. 1t is on
Of the few railroads that have pai
from the first. 1t is the only lin
north Of the s.. Lawrence, and it ba.
therefore, a monopoly of the ~extensiy
freight business of a vast territor.
The shipments of lumber from th
city and the villages between here an
Quebec are enormous. The phospha
industry Of the Lawrentian hills all
contributes largely to its traffic. The
are several mines in operation ne,
this city from which more or le
phosphate Of lime is shipped to MOI
treal every day. The industry
growing in importance continually.