Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-04-17
NIAGARA FALLS.

with your request of letters of travel,
description of the falls and its bridge
suggested itself as being of some
interest to readers.
The Falls are situated mile and a
half above the suspension and new
Cantilever Bridges, though appearing
much nearer. On arriving at the
Falls most marvellous phenomenon
appears-a great river flowing over a
mountain. To the ordinary mind
nature appears quite tame unless jam
occurs-unless disturbed by storm or
food or earthquake. Local excuses
IN natures forces must occur to call
our attention and to make US realize
the tension of her pent up forces. But
here before US is the mighty cateract,
great billoy waves dashlng. with a
single leap, over precipice of 100
feet ending in loan and spray. Here
physical forces appear in the grandeur
and magnitude Of naked strength and
and to him who loves nature and ma
lures laws it appears most sublime.
One can sit down in front of this
catcract hour after hour and drink in
with increasing interest its greatness
and energy. It's beauty grows upon
you by studying it carefully. The
Falls extend across the river with the
exception of an island between. In
summer man can &C under the falls.
The roar aud the mist of the Falls can
be heard and seen at long distances.
The shape of the Falls on the Cana
dian side is that of horse shoe and
on the American side a straight line.
Below the Falls the river runs in a
deep bed with sIanting banks several
hundred feet high. In places man
can not throw stone from the edge
of the bank tn the water by reason of
the great height and slant OF the banks
much power is apparently wasted.
but it is probable that The time is not
far eff VIXEN this unlimited force will
be utilized both at home and at a dis
lance. In the untold ages that this
Fall of water has been going on the
amount of power lost is almost uncom-
putable.
Tie new Cantilever bridge crossing
the river just below the Falls is
wonderful and unique structure. the
only bridge of its kind completed in
the world. The whole bridge rests on
two piers or towers. The foundation
for the towers was dug down to solid
rock then solid masonry was built so
feet above the waters edge and resting
on these another steel tower $50 feet
high. The principle Of he bridge is
that of a truss beam balanced at or
near its center by the tower as full
crum. This bridge has two cantilever
arms of 395 feet each. The shore
arm is longer and heavier than the
river arm, so that the train will not
tilt it up. There is space of 119
feet left between each river arm and
this is filled by a distinct span arrang-
ed SO that the bridge can contract and
lengthen in cold and heat The
amount Of iron and steel is 5000 tons
every part was tested by skilled men
before it was put in the structure.
The bridge spans distance from bluff
to bluff of 900 feet. It is laid with
double steel track and is made to stand
five times the weight that will ever be
put on it. A few weeks ago the
bridge was opened for use and tested
by putting on 20 locomotives and q
heavily loaded gravel trains at one
time and under this immense weight it
only DETECTED 6 inches. This bridge
is triumph in modern skill and en-
gineering.
The old suspension bridge is within
a stones throw OF this and is support
ed on 4 wire cables Just below the
Falls there is a small foot and wagon
suspension bridge which is also sup
ported on 4 cables.
Yours Respectfully,
T. b. Robinson.
We learn that Dr. John l. Lock