The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-11-25
THE AMERICAN swINDLE.
What Still Happens to People Who Visit
Niagara Falls.

.
what stin Happens to People Who Visit
Niagara Falls.
If YOU will talk with 100 people who
have visited Niagara Falls you will
find ninety of them still mad at the
thought of how they were in some man.
ner swindled, and that the other ten
remember the place with disgust be-
cause of the extortions practiced on
every hand. The swindler and robber
arrived at the Falls about the time the
first hotel was erected. and he has con-
tinued to flourish and grow fat until the
present hour. There was time when
he was in the minority; he now runs
things to suit himself.
When the great State of New York
appropriated $1.500,000 to nuy the
swindlers out and make the Falls free
TO the people the hearts of the masses
were. rejoiced. The purchase took in
Goat Island. Prospect Park, and u strip
of k,nd mile and half long up and
down the river above the falls. This
made free park of Prospect. with II
free bridge to Goat Island. and the fare
across the suspension fOOt-bridge was
reduced TO 10 cents. and the trip down
the inclined railway to 10 cents.
Then the City Council of Niagara
passed such ordinances as were expect
ed to either reform the highway robbers
who drive the hacks or force them to
leave the place. and the people were
called upon to visit free Niagara and
enjoy themselves dropped oft there
for couple of days last month, being
very enthusiastic over the reform, and
ready to credit the Empire State with
any amount of public philanthropy.
To begin with, l will leave it to any
fair minded man if there is hotel at
the place which isn't swindle when it
charges 81 per day? The best rooms
are second-class to those of mountain
and seaside resorts, and the tables no
better than the run of 50 per day
houses. To help crush out the hack
men and accommodate the people the
State leased the privilege of street-car
line from Prospect Park to the canta-
lever bridge. 1t is long ride for a
nickel and at first thought one chuckles
over the way the hackmen have been
euchrcd On the sides of the car is the
sign, ITO all points of interest" AS a
matter of fact, it hits but two points
On the dashboards is painted the sign:
ITO the whirlpool" When l saw it l
reasoned to myself that the car ran from
the park to the whirlpool. Anybody
else would reason the same way. In
company with a couple of young boys l
boarded the car one morning to go
down to the whirlpool. No point of in
terest WAS touched. The terminus was
a walk of five minutes from either rail-
road bridge and three-quarters of a mile
from the whirlpool. When asked the
conductor to explain he replied that
was expected to foot it the rest of the
way. 1t might not be swindle to ad-
vertise a car from Detroit to Buffalo and
stop it at st. Thomas. but some folks
would insist that it was.
We had been down to the end of the
cantalever, and were on our way back
when a hackman drove up and offered
20 take the three of US back to the hotel
for IS cents. AS the distance was a
mile and a half, the charge seemed
reasonable, but he was inclined to do
still better. For the small sum of SO
cents he would take us doaOn 10 see the
whirlpool. l give his words in italic
because they We're a swindle. The last
time l was there the whirlpool was free.
One could get out of Il carriage and
take his view from the bank. This
chap seemed to guarantee just such a
sight, and we bit at the bait. When he
halted, after drive of nearly mile. it
was at the door of a curiosity store on
the bank of the river. Over the door
was the sign: "Admittance to whirl-
pool, 80 cenlsr' We Indignantly back
4 "A T g.,
swindler. telling him that he had de-
''whack" from the keeper of the store.
He made no denials, but Independently
offered to leave us there and forfeit his
so cents. His offer was accepted, and
he drove away. We footed it up to the
bridge. where delegation of ten hack
drivers awaited our coming. The big
Gest chap in the lot got down and de-
manded that half dollar. He was re-
erred to Halifax. Then he proposed to
take it out of our hides" and the nine
9sllows backing him seemed anxious to
help him. Ten Niagara Falls hackmen
ought to get away with one peaceable
individual and two boys. but they didn't
do it Something was said about our
being able to shoot as fast rs they could
pound, and all but one climbed upon
their vehicles and made Off This one
said he'd show us q trick or two worth
remembering. and he went off after a
crowd of his friends. He found several
who came down and looked us over as
we waited for the car, but it wasn't their
day for knocking out. 1t was only the
next day that the City Council sent
complaint to the State Commissioners
that the hack-driyers, in spite of all
In years gone by.
Another swindle is the curiosity
stores. You may say that it is not
obligatory on any one to patronize
them, but at the same time most every
visitor feels like carrying away some
souvenir or present Whatever article
he pays 25 cents for can be bought any
where else for 15 Whatever is war
ranted to him is sure to be swindle.
Whatever he buys for original is base
counterfeit
Why it is that such state of affairs
has always existed at the Falls. and APP
pears determined to exist there in spite
Of everything. is a problem. You can't
find the equal of it anywhere else in
America. The same system, if prac-
siced to half the extent at any mount
ain or sea-shore resort, would kill the
place in two seasons. There is but one
way for visitor to Niagara to protect
himself. Go there with a lunch-basket
and bottle of cold tea. Buy nothing
whatever. go to all points on foot, and
get out of the place before sundown.
You may have your pocket picked, but
you will have the satisfaction of be-
heying that the money went to some
stranger like yourself.-M. Quad, IN
Detroit Free Press.