The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-02

=ZHIWWN
DEN. PETER BUELL. PORTER.
takes to vessel at ORdensbure. We have SOW
sral cities which are built at the head Of navi-
ga'ion and at the foot Of water power, such as
Richmond. Washington. and Trenton. but the
Niagara River joins the harbor Of primo con-
sequence with natural power uneQualled in
the world. The Canadians and the Americans
have built park around Niagara Falls in time
to ,forsstall the enclosing OF those falls BY
mills. dynamos. and city sewers. At this mo-
ment the tunnel which is to use the rapids
and carry their power around the falls Is In
the hands OF the builders. some OF whom rep
represent Now York city and tho far East.
Three railroad bridges now span the Niagara
River about the falls. and the fourth is to be
commenced at once. while the concentration
Of railroads on that narrow frontier is eauiva-
lent to all tho trunk lines In number In tho
British kingdom: the Lehigh Valley Railroad
Is now going forward rapidly to overhaul the
Eric. the Lackawanns, the Central and West
Shore. the Pennsylvania. the Ontario. and tho
Watertown. Yet. who knows anything about
the proprietary history OF Niagara Falls
We do know that two Presidents have come
out Of Buffalo. and that Seward and several
other important mon came from extreme
western New York. but how many OF US arc
aware that the original owners OF Niagara Falls
dlled high places In the American Govern mont:
that Peter Buell. Porter. who died in Niagara
Falls forty-seven years ago was offered tho
command Of the entirs American army in
1915 was the first soldier to make a specially
OF the volunteers - opposed to the regular
army soldiers. and. having been a protector
Com missioner. and executor OF the Erie Canal
and the sstablisher Of our boundary with Can
ada. became the Secretary OF War under Presi-
dent John Quincy Adams. and one OF the found
ors II the Whig party In Now York. as he had
been among tho most effective spirits Of the
Democratic party IN the war OF 1912? He had
. grandson. Peter Augustus Porter. born about
Niagara Falls In 1927. brilliant a. young man,
AMI graduate OF Harvard. who was killed in
Virgin in 1864. Having refused to leave the
Army to run for Secretary OF State on the Re-
publican tlcket he died on a breastwork at
Gold Harbor Few know also that tho first
cannon balls OF home manufacture used In tho
Revolutionary war were made at Saratoga by
Joshun Porter. father Of the owner Of Niagara
Falls. and Colonel. although a physician. or
that Augustus 9. Porter. the nephew OF Gen.
Peter B. Porter. who also died in Niagara
Falls in 1872. was a United States Senator from
Michigan. do not assert that this family had
greatness. but its numerous hopors. united
with locality. entitle 1t to more than passing
among the public men OF New
York. and therefore felt repaid whom walked
one hot day to the cemetery Of Niagara Falls.
which lies rather nearer Suspension Bridge
shan the ials. and examine ;the almost state
ly tombs of these unique people.
Thoro served in the Legislature of Connect
cut from Salisbury before the Revolutionary
war member named Joshua Porter. For half
o century he was one OF those trusted mon Of
Connecticut who be.ot and disciplined their
sons for New York. A. Salisbury was born
Peter b. Porter year before the Continental
Congress mot at Philadelphia, and he lived
until 1884. when Texas had almost come
into the American Union. Peter b. WAS
graduated at Yale in Wnshngton's term. He
took the course OF the LitchlslL Inv Schoo,
removed to Cnnandaigua. y. y. in 1875. and
Semn.nei there good many years wh,e
surveying and plating large sections OF terri.
tory Of western New York and northern
Ohio. and he finally removed TO Black Rock
In 1910 In time to see and share all tho hazar DIS
OF the war on that border with the British. lie
lived At Black Rock till 1898. when he remove
:" NIAGARA Falls. His brother, Judge Augustus
Porter. 1t Is said. was IN miller man by nature.
TILE PURCHASE OF NIAGARA FALLS.
Tho brothers Joined others in 1906 to blu tho
mile strip above and below Niagara Falls
Thoy bought out thor associates and subse-
ouently added moro land to tho trac', and in
1914 they obtained " float" as it was called
or state warrant. authorizing the bearer to
locnte 200 acres OF any land unsolI or un,p-
propriated belonging to the State. Tho
brothers placed that patent on Goat Island
and tho islands adjacent thereto. Goat Island
got its name 1t is sniI. from goat that had to
wintor on tho island during the Revolution
and died there. When Gen. Porter was Com
missioner to put down the boundary line
he called the island Iris Island. and
the boundary ran through the Can
adian fall. setting all the island. over
on the American side. The people re-
fusei 10 adopt tho name Of Iris. perhaps not
knowing wha. 1t meant, and preferrinG
tho familiar name rs in tho case OF
the beautiful dogwood blossoms and other
plants which received their names from pio-
n-ers. In 1918 Augustus l" rtcr made the first
rond around Goat Island. and found Iams
cut there dating to 1875. Its aren was about
seventy acros, and In the course Of time the
State OF Now York. acquiring fora park the
border OF the falls. veIy properly paid to the
owners what they had improved. made con-
vrnient, and wore deriving very considerable
income from. In 1917 Augustus Porter built
tho first bridge to Goat Island. which was car.
Rod away the next winter. but his Connecticut
pluck ives equal 20 the emergency. and he
choae hotter site. His second bridge stood
until 1856, when an iron bridge was put up.
Tho Indian Chief Red jacket saw tho bridge
willie being constructed by the genius OF Pur-
tee lie saw the bulkhead built in shallow
water next the shore, rollers put On the floor
INK, aud hewn logs. balanced by these rollers
over tho stream, which logs being 10, down
upon Ike taNs. piers were built ound hese
stavrs and the work thus pushed forward over
the dangerous rapid. Red Jacket seeing the
ingenious device. exclaimed: Damned YAM
kss! Damned Yankssr' and walked away
auralv INDIGNANT and nroh.hlv drunk Tho