New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10
PORTAGE FALLS.
A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THAT THE PFO-
POSED GENESEE DAM MAY RUIN.

THE REMARKABLE CANYON AND THE FAMOUS
ERIE RAILROAD BRIDGE-cURloUs
ROCK sTRATIFIcATIoNs
The introduction into the Legislature or Dill
providing for the erection OF great storage
dam across the canyon OF the Genesee River al
Portage has aroused new interest In one OF the
most remarkable natural phenomena IN the
eastern part of the United States. Comparative
Nv few persons even among those living within a
DAYS Journey Of the place. have taken the trou-
BILE to inspect the winding gorge through which
the Genesee rushes toward the lake. Portage
has never had the fame which Niagara mas won
throughout the world, but 1t Is not the fault OF
Portage In grandeur 1t equals, In the opinion
OF MANY the wonders Of that Mecca Of British
explorers, while it possesses the additional charm
OF a natural wildness which the hack drivers the
troley-cars and the bank elevators nave lore'ei
driven from Niagara
The village of Portage Is hfty-six miles south
OF Rochester in the southeast corner OF Wyo-
ming County 1t can be reached either by the
Erie or the Western New-York and Pennsyl-
yania railroad. The former crosses the gorge
on the famous High Bridge" long pointed out
as one Of the triumphs OF engineering Skill The
other runs along the edge OF the gorge Tor three
miles following the natural curvings or the
bank.
The most beautiful portion Of the river is be-
low the Erie bridge. 1t Is best perhaps, nrst 10
take one comprehensive view Of the long stretch
OF canyon toward the north from the windy
dizzy footpath Of the spidery bridge. Below, 234
feet straight down, an irregular, slanting line OF
white marks the brink Of the first falls. Lean
ing directly over them, one can only see the
misty spray rising and falling. From below
comes the still. small voice Of the water Ihe
river looks like little brook as it fills the pit
Of the narrow, gray, tree-frnged SILT IN the
rocks The straight lines OF the qualification
curve and follow the bank like the stripes In
Roman blanket To the right. the little narrow
tracks Of the railroad follow the bank. now hid
den by the trees, now clear around bend.
yellow house nesting among clump Of trees
TO the left belongs to William p. Letchworth,
who owns most Of the canyon. Just to the
right OF the lawn which runs to the edge OF the
bank the river seems to end. Two gray, per-
pendIcular walls, with a row OF ragged trees
along the top jut up beyond this sudden break
hazy cloud rises and falls Just over the edge
of this enc OF things. 1t Is the spray from the
Middle Falls; and the sharp cutting off OF the
river is at the brink Of tn falls. Below them
the water bos and seethes and flows on toward
the lake; but the gulf is deep that 1t hides the
river even from the lofty bridge II 1t had been
drawn into the bowels OF the earth. 1t Is there
that the famous High Banks" begin.
To the south the banks become lower and less
precipitous. They covered with magnih-
cent growth of pines which give sombre,
gloomy tinge to the water and the air. Just
under the bridge. one leans against the frail
railing, but really an eighth OF mile above. are
two noticeable marks in the banks on each side
OF the river. On the left the yellow clay has
been dug away. leaving a golden blotch much
lighter than the surrounding hue: on the right