Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-06-02

| MVuW Dill, mas maze some enemies
MSM and more friends. From al
Sl>Ml over the union protests have
poured in against the fur
Their designation of Niagara's wonder
full beauty for commercial purposes
And due heed has been given to the
protests; Niagara is not to be turned
over to the devastators. 1t is hoped ouI
country may long continue to regard as
one of the noblest Of her many shrines
of natural beauty the wonderland oil
Niagara.
Years ago agitation was employed to-
wards the preservation Of Niagara, but
It is said the honor belongs to a couple
OF Scotchmen of making the first real
suggestion that the place be carefully
protected. After a visit to America,
these words of theirs were published:
Niagara does not belong to Canada or
America. Such q spot should be deemed
the property Of civilized mankind, and
nothing should be allowed to weaken
this efficacy on the tastes, the morals
and enjoyment OF men,"
The Niagara region Is territory OF
no great extent. but famed the world
around for the grandeur of its falls, the
loneliness of the surrounding country.
and its preservation is certainly ques-
ton OF national, If not OF international
concern. And the historical associa-
tons lend added interest to the pres
ervation Of innumerable landmarks
about Niagara. Here 1t was the red
men held their councils. Here, at an
early date, the daring French traders
penetrated. and there Is proof that the
intrepid French missionaries crossed
the Niagara river in the days Of the mis-
sionary zeal OF France. For the four
score years the French had dominion
in America, they considered the Niagara
region a most important portion OF their
domain.
Among the noted names connected
with Frances enterprise in this local
ity is that of Jacques Cartier and in an
account of Carriers second voyage to
the st. Lawrence is presented the first
reference to the Great Lakes country
and the wonderful cataract now known
as Niagara. In Champlain's "Des Saw
ages" published in 1908, mention is
made of waterfall and river, doubtless
Niagara Falls and river; and in his
Voyages" the same explorer tells Of
very high waterfall at the end of Lake
st. Louis (Ontario). where many kinds
of fish are stunned in the descent" 1t
is thought Brule. Champlain's inter-
prefer. may have been the first white
man really to look upon the falls. In
1926. a Franciscan priest Travelled on
the Niagara. river, and IA years later two
Jesuit fathers crossed and recrossed the
stream. In the Jesuit Relations" report
is given of work with the Indian nation
"onguiaahra, having the same name as
the river"
In 1867, the location Of the falls and
lakes was correctly made in Sanson's
map of Canada, the falls being called the |
"Ongiarra Falls" In 1863 La Sale and
Rene Gallinee travelled to the west end
of Lake Ontario. and Gallinee's Journal
gives an account of Niagara as described
to him by the Indians; speaks of the fact |
that the river falls at that place from
a rock higher than the tallest pines.
Father Hennepin saw the wonderful
place for himself, in 1878, and his report
Of its beauty was widely read in Europe,
his books on the new world being trans
lated into many languages. Father
Hennepin was the first to use the pres
emit spelling of Niagara. The word has
been variously Interpreted; thunder
Of the waters" seems very fitting II not
accurate.
Fort Niagara was the last Of the i'm
portant posts held by the French In their
system OF Notifications connecting
louisiana and their possessions in east
srn Canada; and this presently fell un-
ier the grasp of the conquering English.
The English then made pow-wow with
he Indian inhabitants OF the land, had
heir acquisition ratified by the natives;
Sir William johnson. in 1894, at Fort
Niagara assembling 1000 Indian war
'iors of the region, and having ceded to
lin, for his sovereign, strip OF land
our miles wide on each bank Of the
Niagara river. and also acquiring at this
line all the islands in the river. Not
or long, however. did the English con-
inue in possession, for their title to
hings in America was presently weak
med by the American revolution.
Within 20 years after her procuration
4 the territory. England was forced to
i've up one-haf the lands bordering on
he Niagara riyer-counting the islands. |
more than one-half. but 1t was not until {
SIG It was absolutely conceded that {
nost of the islands in the Niagara river {
IeIonged to the United States.
During the war Of 1872 the Niagara I
rontier was IN the heart Of the border I
|arfare. Lewiston, Fort George. New ]