The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-03-13

his OpfHfon or the Mighty Cat
nracf.


Having an engagement TO lecture
for Teachers Association in West
ern New York on the "Grading OF
Country Schools" left Morgantowr
early in the morning, took dinner in
Fairmont, supper in Wheeling and
lodged at the Monongahela House
Pittsburgh. Early next morning
started, passing ON my way Chau
tauqua and Buffalo. / reached
Rochester, near which the Teachers
Association is held at the State Nor
NAL school. / may here say that
outside of the National Educational
Association it has never before beer
my privilege to address body OF
teachers so mature in age and at
tainments, There is now a move.
ment to introduce graduation into
all the country schools of the EN-
pire State, and the Western counties
of the State taking the lead. In.
deed, the system is being tested in
almost every State, Pennsylvania
and Illinois taking the. front rank
So far as / am aware, West Virginia
is everywhere receiving credit foI
being first to introduce the system
which seems destined to revolution
ize the common schools of the coun-
try.
Bidding goodbye to the Teachers
Association on Saturday, February
9th, ] took the train for Niagara
Falls, the greatest cataract on the
globe. 1t is now Monday morning
| am now waiting for the train that
is to take me towards West Virginia
and feel that | would like to tell
my friends something of what ]
have seen. But the strongest Ian
guage and the finest figures convey
but faint idea of the grandeurs and
beauty of Niagara OF all the sights
/ have ever seen, buildings, pictures
statues, and all wonders of art made
by mems hand, and also all beau.
ties of nature made by the Creator
for the delight and admiration of his
creatures, can name no other one
thing, except the starry heavens, sc
beautiful, so glorious, and so power
full as Niagara Falls and surround
ings.
just below the mighty cataract
which is spanned by beautiful rain
bows, found in the mists which rise
from the raging waters, may be seen
at single glance three great iron
bridges connecting our own country
with Canada. One of these bridges
is for footmen and carriages, anoth-
er is a railroad bridge and the third
is a railroad bridge with a carriage
way just underneath the track. In
company with three other gentlemen
l crossed this bridge in carriage
while long train of cars was pas
sing over our heads. When Ireach-
ed the Canada side and set my feet
upon British soil, with undiminished
love for my native land, / said, God
save the Queen"
The State of New York has pur-
chased the American side of Niagara
Falls and all the principal points of
interest thereto attached and made
them free to all tourists. am inform
ed that there is a movement ON foot
to utilize the entire force of the falls,
by converting the power into electric
ity an transmitting it, upon copper
wires, to the great cities, where it
will take the place Of gas and steam.
Some calculators claim that the force
of Niagara Falls, if utilized in this
way, will be sufficient to move all
the machinery and to light all the
cities of the Middle States.
The word Niagara is of Indian
origin, and is variously interpreted
to mean "The Thunderer of Waters"
or LAUNDERING Waters"
To Father Louis Hennipen, a
Roman Catholic Missionary, who
visited this place in December, 1878,
we are indebted for the first descrip-
ton of the wonderful cataract. The
Falls have receded 76 feet in It's
years, and Table Rock fell in 1850.
/, The first suspension bridge was
built in 1869. 1t is some 300 yards
below the Falls, and is calculated
only for carriage way and foot
walk. The new cantilever bridge is
between the two suspension bridges
and is railroad bridge, on new
plan. These bridges range from
1922 feet to 1858 feet span, and are
about 200 feet above the water.
Many matters of special historic
interest cluster around Niagara,
among which none are more thrilling
than the daring exploit of Captain
Webb, the swimmer, and the steam
err "Maid of the Mist
After seeing the sights and attend
ing religious services, l turn my
face toward home, thankful that as
there is only one Niagara, it is found
in North America.
A. L. WADE.