Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-11-25
A VISIT TO NIAGARA FALLS.

- - - ~ 49, -
of the SAME may be of interest to our
readers. From Buff tlo 10 the Falls is
about twenty mis- and the trip can
be made BY hat, electric Oh steam
cars. IT, Niagara river, which is a
part of the system by which the water
of the great lakes is carried to the
sea, is thirty-siX miles in length,
twenty-five miles from Lake Erie to
the Falls and fourteen miles from the
Falls to Lake Ontario. It's average
Falls is twenty feet. In the distance
of thirtY-six miles the river falls 1886
feet. In some places its width is over
two miles. The Niagara never freezes
over, but it is said to accumulate more
ice than any river in the world. The
boundary line passes through the CEN
ter of the great lakes and along the
deepest channel of the river. This
places many of the islands near the
falls in the possession of the United
States, The American Falls are 1000
feet across and lie between Prospect
Point and Goat Island. Just above
these falls the rapids descend forty
feet in half a mile. The height of the
American Falls is 1877 feet. The
Horseshoe or Canadian Falls extend
from Goat Island to the Canadian
shores, the contour being about $500
feet, with a height of 158 feet. A trip
oorncc fo tho io1on6c hnf"nnn tho fu0
falls gives one a splendid chance to
view both the American and Canadian
Falls. From Luna Island the trip car
be made to the Cave of the Winds,
which is under the American Falls.
This cave has been formed by the &C.
ton of the water in washing away the
stone. A ride of $50 feet down the
inclined railway brings one to the
rivers edge below the falls where the
steamer, Maid of the Mist, is waiting
to carry passengers up the stream
until it almost seems as if you were
to be caught in the torrent of water
pouring over the falls, This ride is a
very pleasing one and should not be
missed by the visitor at the falls. The
next trip of interest is to board the
cars and ride down beside the
river and view the wonderful rapids.
The average depth of the river
drought the rapids from the falls to the
whirlp Dol is from Is to 200 feet; at the
it is said to be 250 feet deep
and in the whirlpool 400 feet. The
great whirlpool is formed by the river
making a sudden bend and the water
has washed out a large basin in the
bank; into this the water rushes and
is whirled about with terrific force.
Bodies and trees which have come
over the falls will often remain in this
whirlpool for a long time before pass
Jog through the outlet. There are
several large bridges across the river
affording a chance for visitors to see
every point of interest. In the win
ter the view of the Falls is said to be
very beautiful; the spray settles on
the trees and freezes and the sunlight
gives the boughs an appearance of
glittering gems. The ice which is
brought down the river forms i'm
bridges on which the people
can the river. A peculiar cir
is told, which occurred
March 90, 1848, when a strong east
wind drove the water back into Lake
Erie; the heavy ice wedged in the
mouth of the river, the water was
damned up and the river was soon
nearly dry. The rocks under the
rapids we're dry and the people walked
on them. The next morning the ice
was forced out and the falls resumed
their usual appearance.
The water in pouring over the falls
Is continually wearing away the stone
and the contour of the falls changes
constantly because of the huge rocks
above giving away and falling into
the river bed below. The falls are
said to recede several feet each year
and it is only a question of time when
the channel will have been cut through
to Lake Erie, and that lake will be
drained dry. The immense power
by the water of Niagara is
being utilized at present to a certain
extent, a power house having been
erected at Niagara where so, 1000 horse
power is being produced. This plant
is now being enlarged and in a short
time much more power will be GEN.
Grated. This power is being sold to
manufacturers from various sections
of the country, who are establishing
new plants at Niagara, also at Buffalo
and other nearby cities. The power
which may be produced mere is prac-
tically limitless, and the benefits
which NAV be derived in