The National tribune., 1900-07-12

renee River, carrying all of the traffic OF
this great highway between the Lake cit
les and the West and the Seaboard. The
better channel being down the American
side of the river. this shore was denuded
of its primeval forests, the soil in time
developing into excellent farms, both upon
the mainland and the larger islands.
The smaller crags, however, were left
TO nature, many of them being so mac
cessible as to defy even the foot of the
occasional hunter. \ sturdy growth OF
hardwo0ds and underbrush in time con.
cealed the ravaEes of ak and fire. With.
in a generation these uncOnsidered frag
ments of waye-washed territory have be
come one of the principal, if not the chief
,rources of revenue to the people of north.
ern New York.
Soon after the definition of the bound,
airy line by treaty. following the War OF
tine Revolution, all of the islands upon
nominal sum to Elisha Camp, of Sacketts
sHarbor, \. Y. In 1915 they were acquired
by two citizens. named Walton and Par
sons, for $1,000 A few years later the
firm of Cornwall " Walton (names still
prominent at Alexandria Bay became
owners of the group. For more than half
Il century the myriad channels threading
among the islands have been famous for
the plentitude of the black bass, pickerel
and great muscallonge. Enthusiastic ang-
lers came here in bygone days by slow and
tedious routes, heavily burdened with
camping impediments. from distant cities.
The construction of the Utica & Black
River Railroad along the western margin
OF the Adirondack wilderness gave bet
ter means of access, the little village of
Clayton was made a terminus, but as late
as 1872 the only hotel known to anglers
at large as an objective point and haven
of refuge was the small and unpretentious
Ia. 4.
by the late Charles Crossmon in 1913.
About two decades ago the owners of
the neglected islets in the vicinity began
TO realize that these picturesque bits of
nature for which from 81 TO 81 had been
regarded as good price, were worth far
more than even the most sanguine real
estate boomer had ever dared to whisper
Mr.. George NJ. Pullman bought an island
opposite Alexandria Bay and at his cot
fage built thereon, entertained President
Grant, then in the zenith of his power
who came hither, followed by Il notable
group of journalists, whose elaborate de,
scriptiOns of the attendant festivities frs,
attracted widespread public attention to
this lovely portion of our land
Magnificent villas soon displaced the
humble and temporary cabins of the cas-
nal sportsman. The success of Ocean
Grove and Chautauqua stimulated tho
creation Of denominational resorts at va
rious points along the river, and these
though languiShing, generally, under first
auspices, have since become popular and
populous secular resorts.
The traveller of the present season who
leaves New York from the Grand Contra
Station at Z y. M, speeding up the Hud
son River, as he dimes in the fading glow
Of cventidc, arrives in Il vestibuled sleeper
at Clayton. beside the blue tide of the st
Lawrence River, at $50 "A. H., and board
ing handsome steamboat is presently de
posted at some one OF score of hotels
OF received into the waiting arms of eX
pectant cottage-owning friends. If tn,
friends are wealthy probably they hav,
sent their steam-yacht TO meet the gues
at tho terminus. The train boat, cours
ing down the stream, touches in success
sion at Round Island, with its great
Erontenac Hotel and 40 cottages, at Muir
ray Hill. Grennell and Thousand ISLAND
Parks, Fine View, Point Vivian and Cen
trail Park, and, lastly, at Alexandria Bay
10. miles from Clayton. Upon n brigh
dellglt To the stranger. The extent anC
beauty of the modern facilities for tn,
dolce fer niente between June and Novcm
Der apiid the islands begin to dawn upol
his understanding. For 30 miles it is 1t;
Utmost continuous pleasure settlement
Beautiful and costly steam-yachts speed &
and fro. Chartered yachts with trail o
Fishing skiffs dart away through hiddel
channels TO sylvan camps and rapturou
angling. Households ride at anchor il
shady c0yes. Excursion steamers, ga,
with flags and noisy with music ala
whistlcd salutes, are forever cleaying tn
mrrorcd cApanse. For half n dollar upo
one of these roOmy vessels, the visito
may take the '50-mile ramble' or tn
electric searchlight trip" upon any day o
evening. Leaving the gaiety of the popu
lated American islands behind, one ma
pass in half hour by steam or sail int
the domain of Her Majesty, Queen Vic
toria, finding there the contrast of al al
most undisturbed wilderness. Here tn
lichen-crusted cliff. the messy bowder, tn
tangle of underwood and creeping vine
are reflected back in the lucid current o
the contracted channels unmarried bv tn
Touch of human occupation. These Cana
tlian isles and channels are the admiration