Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-13
A CRYING WRONG.
The Falls of Laughing Water and their
Homogeneous Surroundings.

From the Ns,o York Tribune.
MINNEAPOLIs, October S.-The people
Of Minnesota ought to be grateful to New
York State for the action it has taken
with regard to Niagara Falls; grateful
not merely as all the country ought to be
for the preservation of IA thing OF which
the whole country is proud, but with an
especial and local gratitude for the
example set for Minnesota to
copy. Minnesota, too, has its
Niagara, in the Falls OF Minnehaha; and
Minnehaha is to-day we'll on the road on
which Niagara was travelling before the
latter was bought by the State. The
Laughing Water itself needs no descrip-
ton at this late day. IL is ineXpressibly
lovely; the sheet OF water with its sheer
drop of fifty feet cleaning white against
the dark background of ruddy-colOred
rock, and with its setting of overarching
trees. But the surroundings of the falls
are as loathsome as the falls themselves
are lovely.
Minnehaha is naturally one of first
places which visitor TO either st. Paul
or Minneapolis desires to visit. But If
his visitor be lady, citizen of either
place tnds il difficult to summon courage
enough to take her there. To take "a lady
to visit Minnehaha on a Sunday is impOs-
sible, and it is a dangerous experiment
on any day in the week. The falls are,
roughly, about half way between the two
cities. aud within easy driving
distance Cover charming roads, of
either. But they come under
neither's municipal jurisdiction.
and practices can go on by the Falls.
which would not be tolerated for week
in either city. Close beside the Falls
within 100 yards-a good-sIzed hotel has
been built; but it is not such place as a
/ wise man would take lady to. Women
/ 20 there in plenty, and on Sunday even
/ ing the scene around the Falls and the
hotel, the rioting of drunken men and dis
/ reputable and not too sober women, are
| incomparably worse than anything to be
seen at any of New York's most noisy
pleasure resorts.
The time when a limit will be put TO
this disgraceful condition of affairs, how.
ever, is not, 1t may be hoped, far distant.
At the last session Of the State Leglsla-
ture was passed what is known as the
| Minnehaha Falls State Park bill. That
/ bill authorized the Governor 70 nominate
a committee with power to select not ex-
ceeding 200 acres il extent, including the
falls, and to make valuation of the prop
! erty within the boundaries selected. The
report Of The committee will be presented
TO the next Legislature, which will de.
eide whether the State can afford to
purchase the tract for park purposes
/ The State can well afford 20 make
the investment, and it will be a disgrace
10 the Legislature if IL does not order it 10
be done. For two years longer, then, this
/ PROCLAMATION Of one OF the loveliest spots
( that God has fashioned on earth will con-
tinue, and for two years yet the CHASTITY
/ hebdomadal carnivals will 20 on. But
before the third summer comes the prop
i erty will be, In all probability in the pos
! session Of the State; gentlemen will be
/ able TO take their lady friends 10 see
\ "Longfellow's Falls" without fear of their
| being insulted, and New York's example
/ will have borne its fruit In the far North.
I west