Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-11-16
+As NIAGARA TROLLEY GAR.
VIVA Ride Past the Raging Torrent OF the
Cataraot'S waters.

VIVA ride Past ths Raging Torrent Of the
Catafacts wassts Of,
There are trolley lines and trolley
lines, but the one that skirts tho wild
gorge through which the mighty
waters Of Niagara tumble and pour In
o mad, amending race Is probably the
most unique. In Its scenic attractions,
Of any In tho world. The road has
Just been constructed on the American
side after wholesale blasting Of the
noble cliffs IN order TO carve out the
roadbcd. The road has It's terminus ut
Lewiston, in the gorge below the
cataract
A long struggle with nature was
necessary before the grades could he
established. Parts Of the canyon could
not be surveyed until the engineers
were lowered with ropes down the
side Of the precipice and within few
feet Of the rapids. The cliffs on either
side of the gorge are covered TO great
height with broken rocks, which have
fallen from above as the result OF CEN
turtles Of erosion. Some Of these frag-
ments are OF enormous size. These
masses, sloping rapidly to the river,
are covered with o luxuriant growth
Of shrubs and trees. At the base OF
this heap, and In some cases carved
out Of the side wall of the canyon, lies
the roadbed. With every blast below
there came m avalanche OF rocks from
above. This In turn had TO be re-
moved; in some instances detour was
necessary In order to avoid some OF
these enormous masses OF limestone.
The road starts from the steel obser-
walton tower ut the entrance to Pros
poet park, passes along the cliff, enter.
ing the gorge just south Of tho rail-
road bridges, down grade OF
two hundred feet In one-fourth
Of mile to the side Of the
whirlpool rapids It Is magnifi-
cent sight to watch the rapids at any
time, but no one can form an idea Of
the rapidity Of this stream until he
takes this remarkable journey on tho
trolley-a race between electricity and
gravity, in which the stream rushes on
with the speed Of IN express train.
For five miles the road winds along
the river, often so close to the stream
that the spray dashes against the car.
At the whirlpool, where the pool
makes q right angle, an enterprising
undertaken has painted his business
sign upon the rocks II Is hard to de.
termine what use one would have for
an undertaken II the car tumbled into
the river ut that point, for 1t Is improb-
able that car or corpse would ever DO
seen again. The road is double-tracked
and is provided throughout with guard
rails. The electric power is generated
by water obtained from the Niagara
river. The trolley line represents,
therefore, q portion of Niagara in har-
ness.
1t seems to be the desire Of some one
TO invent new sensation ut Niagara
every year. Uusually some part Of
this picturesque region is sacrificed to
accomplish this purpose. A few years
ago the New York Central Railroad
company blasted out roadbed along
the side OF the lower gorge to Lewis
ton for their observation train"
Thousands OF tons OF rock were re.
moved and great damage was done to
the foliage. An old suspension bridge.
now ruined, hangs across the lower end
Of the gorge, and 1t is blot upon the
scenery. Ono cantilever and two sus-
pension bridges enable passengers to
enjoy tho novel effect Of viewing the
cataract from midair, two hun
dred feet above the rapids. A
half dozen ugly elevators spoil
some OF the most picturesque
points in the gorge. On the Canadian
line trolley line extends along the
river from Chippewa to Queenstown,
through the Queen Victoria park. The
waste water and refusefrom score OF
mills pour into the canyon, and one
concern has its plant located in the
gorge itself Everywhere outside the
reservation parks the commercial idea
Is dominant and beauty Is sacrificed to
utility.-N. Y. World.