The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-06
DOWN NIAGARA ON A CAR.
Wild Ride Past the Raging Torrent of
the Cataract's Waters.

From the New York World.
There are trolley lines and trolley
lines. but the one that skirts the wild
gorge through which the mighty wa
tiers of Niagara tumble and pour in a
mad, amending race is probably the
most unique. in it's scenic attractions
of any in the world. The road has just
been constructed on the American side
after the Wholesale blasting of the noble
cliffs in order to carve out the road
Ded. The road has its terminus at
Lewiston. in the gorge below the cat
aract.
4 long struggle with nature was
necessary before the grades could be
established. Parts Of the canyon would
NOT be surveyed until the engineers
we're lowered with ropes down the side
OF the precipice and within a few feet
@ 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. The mass
es, sloping rapidly TO the river, are
covered with a luxuriant growth OF
shrubs and trees. At the base of this
heap and i'm some cases carved out OF
the side wall of the canyon lies the
roadbed. With every blast below there
came an avalanche of rocks from
above. This in turn had to be removed;
in some Instances detour was neces-
sary in order to avoid some OF these
enormous masses of limestone.
The road starts from THE steel OBJ
servation tower at the entrance to
Prospect park. passes along the cliff,
entering the gorge just south of the
railroad bridges. down grade of 200
feet in one-fourth of mile to the side
of the whirlpool rapids. 1t Is a mag
nificent sight to watch the rapids at
any time. but no one can form an
idea of the rapidity OF this stream un-
til he takes this remarkable journey
on the trolley-a race between cleo
tricity and gravity, in which the
stream rushes on with the speed of an
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
p right angle. an enterprising under
| taker has painted his business sign
upon the rocks Ii is hard to deter
mine what use one would have for an
undertake. - the car tumbled into the
river at tina point. for 1t Is improbable
| that car or CORPSE would ever be 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, a portion OF Niagara in har-
| ness.
| From the cliffs the appearance of a
| ear at night is very weird as IL fits
| along the rapids like a gigantic will
| o'-the-wisp While much of the scenery
has been mutilated. and while the long
line of trolley wires and poles defaces
| the landscape yet the injury Is not
| irrepara BILE. for the vegetation Will In
| time be partially replaced by another
| growth.
1t seems to be the desire OF some one
to invent new sensation at Niagara
| every year. Usually some part Of this
| picturesque region IS sacrificed 10 ac-
| complish this purpose. A few years
ago the New York Central Railroad
company blasted out a roadbed along
tha side OF the lower gorge TO Lewis
ton for their observation trains
Thousands OF tons of rock were re-
moved and great damage was done q
| the foliage An old suspension br'1Se
| now ruined. hangs across the lower
| end Of the gorge. and IL a blot upor
| the scenery one cantilever and TIVE
| suspension bridges enable passenger,
| 10 enjoy the novel effect OF viewing
the cataract from midair. 200 fee
above the rapids. a half dozen ugl,
| elevators spoil some OF the most pic
turesque points In the gorge. on tn
| Canadian line a trolley line extends
along the river from Chippewa L
Queenston, through the Queen Victori'
park. The waste water and reftis
| from a score II mills pour into tn
canyon. and one concern has its plan
located in 1he gorge Itself. Every
where outside the reservation park
the commercial idea is dominant an
beauty is sacrificed to utility.