The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-08-02
AN INTERESTING TRIP
Continued from Page ~

being 1,O67 feet and that of the Cana
dian Falls 3,01O feet. The average
depth of the water beneath the falls
and the rapids is $50 feet, just about
the same as the heights of the bluffs
from the water. 1t is estimated by
scientists that it has taken from $4,000
to $4,000 years for the water to have
cut away the coraline limestone and
other varieties of stone which are
found in the Gorge, to have brought the
falls to their present location from
Lewiston, seven miles away. 1t is es-
timated now that some 100000 cubic
feet of water passes over both falls per
minute. This would equal cubic mile
per week. After we crossed the bridge
just below the falls we were taken up
close to the Canadian Falls for nearer
view. and although we were some dis
lance from the falls, the mist from the
falling water was as heavy as a good
shower and all who did not carry UNI
brellas got q good soaking. The sun
was shining brightly but the mist
makes a beautiful rainbow extending
across the base of the falls. A little
steamer "Maid of the Mist" carries
passengers right up to the base of the
falls and makes trips to other points of
interest. From the Canadian side there
is also subterranean trip through a
cave down under the falls. The tourists
are provided with rubber coats and
caps, but it is a very wet trip at the
best. Just above the falls is Goat Is
land which comprises 6S acres, but with
the small island adjacent there is a
total of 1O7 acres. 1t is great resort
being located in the midst Of the rapids
above the falls. Much has been writ
ten in regard to the destruction of the
falls by the water power companies who
have constructed big canal to secure
water power, and this is used to run
the big electric plants which carry
power to Buffalo and many other cities.
An effort to stop the work on the Amer
can side simply caused the company to
take out new charter on the Canadian
side and the power is carried across the
river on cables. Scientists claim that
if the taking of water from the falls
continues it will only bea few years
until much of the beauty Of the great
Niagara Fails will be a thing of the
past.
1 Only one person ever made the trip
over the falls and lived to cell the story
and that person was a woman, Mrs.
Anna Edison Taylor, who went over the
Canadian Falls in barrel on October
"a, 1901, being rescued fifteen minutes
later. She was unconscious when taken
out OF the cask, but not seriously in
Jured and is now making an easy living
at Niagara Falls, exhibiting the barre
in which she made the trip and selling
her photograph. Her peniIous trip was
witnessed by many people, none O
whom expected to see her alive again
The barrel had a weight in one end tx
keep It upright and at the top were {
number of air holes which she CLOSED
just before the barrel shot.ever the falls
We were told that the woman was vel
under the influence of Liquor at the tim
she made the trip, as she had bee
making the rounds of number of nc
sorts that day, and was in a frame g
mind Nhen it was immaGerial to he
whether she lived or died.
After viewing the falls we made
return "trip down the Gorge on tn
Canadian side, the electric road run
ming close to the edge of the llutf all tn
way, nearly two hundred feet above tn
water, and from it's elevated position
skirting along the edge of the loft
bluffs, this Canadian route gives dis
tlnct vistas and varying views of tn
marvellous curvings of the maiesti
river, which are obtainable from n
other point. We made an hours sto
at the Brock Monument, which stand
high up on Queenston heights, erecte
to the memory of Sir Isaac Brock, VIII
as the hero of Upper Canada, fills a
important place in Canadian histor,
and rivalling the Nelson Column
London in heighth and nobility. Under
meath, in a massive sarcophagus rest
the dust of Brock and his aide-de-cam)
Mcdonnell, both of who were slain i
the battle of Queenston Heights on DC
ID, 1872, the first real conflict of arms i
the war Of 1S12-1s14. Within fe,
yards of the present monument may b
seen the foundation of the first monr
ment erected in 1924 which was de!
troyed by gunpowder by miscreant
1910. At the base of the heights stand