New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-06
NIAGARA FALLS.


[FROa AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE PRIBUNE
NIAGARA FALLS July 29.-To be in active syInpa-
thy with the mood Of Niagara Falls to-day, one
should come hither rs capitalist with million IN
his pocket the purchase price OF Prospect ParK ana
the gigantic water-power of the American rails
For the sentmentalis the Old-tlme loyerof Niagara
is ruiely jostled by the sanguine crowd. who IN
full view Of the angry rapids eagerly discuss inc
great future of Niagara as O manufacturing centre
and point out the exact site where the buildings are
to be erected to contain the ponderous machinery
which is to generate electricity enough to hight all
the cities and towns between Boston and Chicago
"What is the prospect for the international
Park ~ asked native.
at Is dead The moment when Dufern's
Utopian scheme might have been cOnsummated is
past for the property are now fully aroused
to their own interests. Within year or two their
ideas have expanded like those vaporous drops that
are rising rainbow tinted below"
Indeed no one can fail to note the subtle change
that has come over the residents. They no longer
whine and sigh for the palmy days just before the
war; when the beauty ard chivalry of the South
made the pazzas OF the Cataract and Clifton to
blossom like Long Branch Saratoga to-day.
Even the ubiquitous hackman assured me that
last summer was the first that had prohted nm
since ~ but he smiled through his tears in view
OF the good time coming.
1t goes without saying that to utilize the water
power Of Niagara Falls for mechanical purposes
would hOpalessly desecrate its scenery, already
terribly marred. and make every self-respectlng
American henceforth ashamed to face Eurt pean,
thousands of whom visit this country only to vie"
Niagara But the drift is sure and steady toward
this end the State is dormant, and mention OF the
International Park brings an amused smile TO the
faces of these practical POrters and astute Town.
sends and Whitneys.
Goat Island is to-day the only spot about Niagara
Fails that retains its primeval loneliness. Not
carbon point is permitted to illuminate its classic
shades but in consequence its receipts-50 cents
admission is charged, 81 for the season-steadlly
dwindle, while its rival neighbor Prospect at %
cents gate fec gives an income of % per cent three
fourths of which is annually devoted to permanent
improvements; for Prospect Park avails itself of
every modern discovery for the amelioration OF pic
nickors and its 6J-cent electrlcight excursions ITS
gaudy pavilions and general aspect of a perpetual
Fourth Of July draw hther thousands of enrap-
tnred visitors, who hang in breathless wonderment
over the stone parapet while an imp, stationed
somewhere up aoft in the tree-tops. turns PINK or
blue or sckly green light on the Falls. The effect
of the yari-coored lights on the fountains IN the
mark Is suggestive of taryland but TO turn red
light Oh Niagara is an insult to nature. One might
as well turn white light on Jumbo. Two ladies'
of the Porter family, who have resided IN Europe
for the past seven years, and who would scarcely
recognize Niagara in Its present progressive aspect
practically control the Goat Island property, and
they steadily refuse to sell or to expend any Oh ltS
modest revenue on improvements -so-called. In
two years however, when the youngest heir comes
of age he and his half-brother, Mr.. Peter A. Porter
nd Gentleman,
two wears president of the village will control the
affairs of the island It is unreasonable to expect
that these two Young men, sons of a distinguished
sire will allow sentiment to compensate for the
loss of n million or So Thus, unless the State
comes to the rescue the guardian angel OF
Niagara, in about five years the beauty oil tran
ouillity will have departed from its last ABIDING
place at tho Falls, and Goat Island VIII become
noisy enough to suit the linen-dustered horde,
with perhaps an electric railway encompassing it
round about and the canal foreshadowed In the
report of the Commissioners actually cutting the
island in twain and bordered on both sides by pulp
mills and paper factories-Or something worse.
The peculiarly isolated and romantic situation of
little Goat Island has always made it shining
mark for spectators. "Jim" Fisk offered
$3.50 900 for it, and proposed to make 1t the site of
Grand summer hotel Private parties. with a
race-track or a rife-range IN view, have bid higher
for It than the State probably would, but though
constantly approached the subject, the Porter
heirs have never manifested any inclination to part
with IL except TO the State. 1t is even now sug
pested that at the end Of the probationary two
years the State might buy it as nucleus for the
larger International Park scheme. In any event
the restoration OF famous old Terrapn Tower would
lmmeasurably enhance its picturesqueness. Al
though the tower was blown up in 1873, visitors,
and particularly Europeans. still inquire for 1t.
Its restoration would be merely a matter of money,
for the rock in the river-bed on which 1t stood eX-
perts have pronounced to be firm, and 1t IS even
limited in some quarters that the removal OF the old
tower was a sacrifices suspicion borne out by the
fact that many days and eight kegs of gnnpowder
were required TO destroy 1t.
II it were act for the erection within few years
of the three pretty little suspension bridges which
span the rapids and connect tina three Sister lsals
with Goat Island, one would suppose that the
Porters unlike the rest of mankind, were not only
above improving their property, but independent of
the almighty dollar. Mention of these bridges re-
minds NE of "Tom" CorIOy's daring rescue of the
psiuter who n year or two since while at work upon
some of the lower trestes became dizzy and fell
into the rapids. Lodging on rock he chung to it
desperately tor six hours until COnroy, with rope
tied about his waist swan out and brought him in.
The painter, hale and hearty old fellow, is still
plying his brushes while COnroy, for fifteen years
the famous guide to Table Rock,-and n perfect
water-rat on generous pattern,-is now engaged
by the Prospect Park Company to conduct parties
behind Tho Shadow Of the Rock This is now the
most popular expedition at Niagara with adventure
some visitors Comroy had some disagreement with
the Table Rock management several years ago and
severed his connection with them. Then sheer
revenge and with his brother Jacks" assistance,
he made the passage behind the American Falls
available for tourists. by means OF Il continuous
series fplank walks and stairways leading through
the wet and up and down the rocks AT he foot
of the Inclined Railway in Prospect Park, up TO
1, IL o nni