The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
WARRINGTON OF THE NORTH.
Splendid Public Buildings and Natural
Attractions OF Ottawa.

Attractions OF Ottawa.
When Ottawa-which likes to calls itself
the Washington Of the North-was selected
as the capital Of Canada, a vast pile OF Gov
eminent buildings was begun.
There was no randiose city design Ike
that by which Washington has been lacked
up in spite Of itself to the level Of a great
capital. The street plan Of Ottawa was
drawn, says Golfers, to suit the immediate
needs Of a mall provincial town. But the
Parliament Buildings have stood year after
year a. an example and a stimulus to civic
pride.
Growing the boldest promontory that
juts into the river, the great Gothic tower
Of the Library OF Parliament scars like a
mountain peak into the sparkling Canadian
air. The library IL the dominating feature
Of the Government buildings, which form
three sides OF a quadrangle, its back to the
river and its front on a terraced court facing
the city.
In completeness Of effect Ottawa Ia in
comparably more fortunate than Albany.
The New York State capitol cost at least
six times az much as the whole group Of
Government buildings at Ottawa; yet it il
SO elbowed and jostled by mean houses that
II looks cheap IN comparison.
When The Parliament buildings were de-
signed practical men at Ottawa thought
they were laid out on a scale of wanton
extravaganza but now the Government
has overlooked its accommodations. 1t has
had to build one new block outside Of the
original quadrangle and it ia paying SO
much rent for other quarters tha it Is pre-
pairing to build more, which will double the
extent and impressiveness Of the civic
centre.
At the foot Of Parliament Hill are the locks
Of the Rideau Canal. IL is not often that a
canal is one Of the attractions Of a city;
but the Rideau's long fight Of stone locks.
running up the hill from the river like a
giants stairway, il a decorative feature and
a source Of endless entertainment.
People stand for hours watching the boats
lazily climb the stairs. while the ~skippers'
wives nurse their babies o deck. II lies
between two parks, an attraction for each
and a permanent refutation OF the theory
that business and ugliness mu.t necessarily
60 together.
In 1899 the Dominion established a perma-
nent improvement commission n en-
| dowed it with a standing revenue of 100000
a year-not very much, but enough to make
a showing when judiciously sed.
The Government Drive" along the
| Rideau Canal is the Improvement Commits
sion's greatest exploit as yet. To build it
without neglecting the other works on hand
including the acquisition OF some necessary
land. called for money than the commits
sioners had in a hump, 40 they hit upon the
ingenious idea Of capitalizing their ex-
pectations.
They issued bonds based upon their
promised appropriations, and in that way
raised enough to do at once what other
wise would have had to be spread over a
number Of years.
The glory Of Ottawa is its wonderful
variety and extent Of water frontagee.
The Ottawa, here as wide as the Mississippi,
there as narrow as the Harlem. flows with
! an inf lite complexity Of rugged shore lines
along the whole length Of the city.
TT Rideau encircles the greater part
Of the town, lea ping at Last mo the Otta wa
over a cliff forty feet high. Tn Rideau
Canal parallels at q little distance the
curve Of its river. The Gatineau enters
the Ottawa on the other isde-
At the other end one OF the greatest
natural attractions possessed by any city
in the world has been given over entirely
20 bald commercialism. The Chaudiere
Falls, which for volume OF water and
sublimity of effect rank second only to
Niagara among the cataracts east of the
| Mississippi, remain outside Of all Ottawa's
plans Of civic improvement.
Like the Rideau Falls, which ought TO
be another superb establishment OF the
city, they rave no other present purpose
| OF existence than to run sawmins. or
course that purpose will have to be recog-
nized.
The Chaudiere Falls represent 7O.OOO
Horsepower at low water and 10000 at
! high water. That means too much 10 the
commercial prosperity Of Ottawa to be
thrown away.
At present there is a great volume
OF water which II not used. The falls are
still a magnificent spectacle from the old
bridge, the only point from which they
can be seen to advantage, and there seems
no reason why some attempt should not
be made to beautify their surroundings
without interfering with their commercial
value.
Within a radius OF forty Ave miles Il
has water I'VE that can develop the
energy Of nearly a million horses at low
water and more than three times as much at
high. That il more than will ever be
allowed to be taken from Niagara. To be
a clean, smokeless, electric city, with some
OF natures most glorious spectacles freely
displayed In a crystal atmosphere seems
70 be 0ttawa's fortunate destiny.
Cat wanted 70 Fight Snake.
From the Clay ctr Times.