The morning call., 1891-07-12
THREE-FOURTHS OF
A CENTURY AGO.
Extracts From Journals Pub.
lished in 1907.
An Entertaining Letter From the Far
west"-Th Administration Criticized.
Church Lotteries

in Norristown, Pa, in March, 1873 and the
Aurora, published in Philadelphia IN Janu-
airy, 1918.
While seventy-ive or eighty years is not
SO very long in a nations history ii Is pretty
nearly the whole of an individual history
and in this particular case marks period
of the most remarkable strides in every de-
partment OF human activity of any like
period in the worlds history. Journalism
was not unborn eighty years ago, indeed 1t
had reached advanced boyh0od. but the
present facilities for news-gathering were
then an undiscovered science. There were
no railroads, no telegraph, no telephone; in
fact none of the modern appliances for the
annihilation of time and distance. Euro
pean news was always valuable II not more
than year old, and news from different
parts of the United States was acceptable
at any age. A few extracts from these old
publications VIII be read with much interest
at this late day.
FRONTIER SCENES IN 1872.
In the early part OF 1913 the editor of the
Weekly Register took trip into the then
"far west" where he spent several days re-
connoitering the frontier in the region of
Niagara Falls and tbs scene Of war then
bursting in intermittent spells along that
portion Of the nations border. He pub
lished extracts from his diary on his return,
and among them ars found descriptions that
read with unusual interest even now:
The village of Buffalo is situated at the lower
end OF Lake Erie between quarter aud a half
mile back from the margin OF The lake. Tue
British fort, Erie, is nearly opposite and at the
distance of between two and three miles, art OF
which is woods. Immediately below This river
Niagara forms itself. aud very considera Die
rapid continues for about TWO miles. The
opposite shore makes a handsome appearance,
the buildings being all on The bank of the river,
aud the farms appear TO be cleared back about
half a mlle. The batteries are adVantageOuslY
situated the bank very commanding and well
supplied with cannon from 32-pounders down TO
IS and 2'S
The great falls of Niagara are one mile below
Schlusser, half mile above Which The river be-
gins 10 descend with gaat rapidlty, its bottom
very rocky. with sundIy small perpendicular
pitches. The stream Is divided by Goat Island
witch runs down 10 Ihe main pitch. This pitch
is said 10 be 1877 feet perpendicular, and Is in
circular form. On the top OF the fall lie IVer is
about three fourths OF mile In width, but be-
comes considerably narrower Immediately. and
% continues very wild current Of from quarter
to half mile Ia width TO Lewiston, a distance of
seven miles, being confined by perp udlcular
banks OF about 200 feet in height. generally
covered with cedar.
Al the falls Is a small village called Manches-
ter. grist-mill and some other water works
are erected on the bank few rods above the
main piich. InlS promises to be d place Of
much business
On tie hill above Lewiston delightful pros
pect presents itself-a handing view Of The
adjacent country, Lake Ontario, far Niagara, at
distance of seven miles, Newark, Fort George,
Lewiston. etc. From Lewiston The river con-
tiuues al abOnl half a mile wide with a deep, but
moderate current. Fort Niagara Is situated on
delightful plain, Its walls on the very margin
OF The lake and the bank OF the river. Newark
a handsome village, is situated directly opposite
the foIt, Immediately above which stands Fort
George. Queenston, also handsome village is
on the opposite shore from Lewiston. Previous
10 the war il Terry WAS Kept here, and The lnhab-
ltants on each side Of the river were III con-
tlnual habit OF intimacy aud Traffic
Youngstown is one mile above Fort Niagara
on the bank of tbs river, and half mile above
to.t Geo'g-. A large battery Is here erected.
called the Salt Battery, mounted with 49, Is and
= Founders; this bat cry and those Niagara
Fort, owing 10 bend in The river, form cross
IRE on Fort George TO great advantage WHEN
was seventeen times set in flames by our bat
teTies on the 2lst OF November last.
Win respect TO The forces along the lines on
our SIDE II Is not becoming at This lime To
speak. but We are warranted IN saying that they
are amply suitIclent 10 guard, protect and to
commence offensive ope atoms against the
enemy, u orders were given TO that effect. Ii
has been ascertaiued almost 10 a certlluty that
there does not remain more than 300 men on The
Canada side, between Fort Erie aho Fort
George, their forces having been all drawn up to
meet Harrison and Maiden.
Or Saturday, the 27Ih OF February, The Adju-
tant commanding at Fort George sent a flag
over TO our garrison informing Lieutenant
Colonel Merely that a salute would on tile
following day be fired In consequence OF their
success al OgdensbuIg. The same evening an
express arrived at Buffalo, with an account of
the engagemSnt between The American frlgale
Constitution and the British frigate Java which
eYentuaied In the total destruction OF the latter
and on sunday morning flag was sent over 10
FOTI Erle inform the Brush of the victory
aud that salute would be Tired Oh the coca
sion.
All the Americans who remained at Detroit
alter tile surrender and who refused To take he
oath required have been ION tie approach of
haTrison) ordered to leave tbs territory, and
their piOporty exUOsed TO the mercy OF the saw
ages, contrary 10 the sIlpuiaIiOns In Hulrs capt.
ulaIiOn, bad as 1t was. A gentleman
who had been ordered from Detroit, in conse.
quence Of his refusal TO lake the oath required,
arrived al Lewiston on the 27Ih ut., informed
the editor that the militia OF Oxford, large aud
well-setIled township, above the head OF Like
Ontario, peTemploIily refused TO march agains 81
Geuei al Harrison; aud that numbers IN different
places would pay their lines rather than turn
Out against lie United States.
RATTLING FINE NAVY.
The navy-yard at the town OF Erie begins to
look as II should do. Ii is crowded with TIMBER
and wOrkmen; number of ship carpenters from
Sacretis Harbor, n. Y, have arrived within a
few days past. Three OF the guuboats will soon
be flushed. These boats are 80 feet straight
10 mount 24's aud 32s. The keelS of Two sloops-
ol-war VIII be laid IN a few days, they are 10
carry 20 and % guns, and from the preparations
already made 1t is considered those vessels Will
be ready 10 sail by the Iine Ie ice is ceVerly off
The lake. These vessels, together with those
fitting out at Black Rock, viii be able 10 give a
good account OF the Queen Charlotte, Lady
Mary, brig Hunter, ETC., and Will no doubt in
sure US The navigation OF the lake; the loss Of
which last season has been 50 severely felt as
we'll by The Government as The citizens gruer-
ally.
IAkD1 NEWS FROM CONGRESS.
According to an exceedingly pungent edi-
torial In the Aurora Of January T. 1915 the
country was not kept very well informed of
the proceedings of Congress in 1872. a feN
extracts are given:
In the National Intelligencer OF Monday there
are published one resolution OF both houses OF
Congress and three special laws, which author
lied the Executive OF the United States under
such circumstances as shall be deemed sufficient
indueement, TO enter upon, seize, occupy and
keep possession OF Florida, or any part thereof,
10 remain subject 10 future negotiation Tie
resolution is OF date January 15 1911.
The first law, cores ponding win The rescIu-
ton, is OF the same dat. and conditions the
exercise OF the act OF invasion on previous ar.
rangement with the local authority of Florida, or
on an attempt OF any foreign authority TO occupy
the territory, or any part thereof. This law
makes an appropriation OF 100000 for the
service, and vests the power in the President 10
establish military power FIRST civil power second,
and third, Judiciary power.
The second act is dated Sd OF March, 1911
and declares that these acts shall not be pub
llshed until The end OF this next session of Con
gress, unless The President deem it necessary
The Injunction OF secrecy now appears 10 have
been taken on In order 10 show the authority
upon which tile President acted In organizing
the military force TO march IN The direction OF
Florida.
After expressing pleasure to learn that
President Madison In the execution of these
acts did not act ON his own responsibility
as then supposed, the editorial continues:
We heard Of the authority given by the secret
vote of 1911. but when President Madison
shrunk from the execution Of the authority he
sought aud disayowed the design we could no
have supposed that the laws should thus remain
dormant Tor six years, 10 be acted upon without
apprsing The nation OF Tie existence OF sucl
laws.
The public must now perceive with mortifica
ton that this scheme OF coneealment aud me
nlmsy aud wretched documents lately laid on the
tables OF Congress, are all OF the same misera-
bic double-dealing, duplicate and odous system
OF eXpedenIs, which the late Admin SIT alton mas
left as an entail to the present-and the system
OF diplomatic deceit now appears In all It's ma
kedness; we BOW see tile whole chicanery re
vealed; here we see why II was deemed ueces
ssry 10 write paragraphs at Washington letting
tile world KNOW.
There was reason to believe;
There was reason TO conjecture,
There reason to aDprehend
That negotiation had closed with Spain:
That the British Minister had Interi.red;
That England was TO the purchased territory
That Don Whiskerandos had knitted his eyebrows
That John BulPs representative grinned a ghastiy
smile aud showed his teeth.