The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-05-18

A treasure house Of natural wonders
and beauty IL Glen Iris on the upper
Genesee river, in New York state; IN
fact. It might well be called minia-
ture Yellowstone park because OF us
remarkable geological formations, its
three beautiful waterfalls, and its can
Won $50 feet deep. Special attention Is
directed to this natures paradise al
the nnesent time because through the
generosity of its owner, William rryor
Letchworth, it has become pubic
mark and reservation to be maintained
nv the state of New York for the use
of all the people in perpetuity.
The most vivid impression OF the
Wild beauty Of the park is gained from
the railroad. From the plateau the
train passes suddenly to the Portage
bridge, a lace-like structure spanning
a rayine 234 feet above the roaring,
turbulent stream. The bridge, 800 Feet
long. Is on the reservation. the
| neixhboring walls of the canyon rise
a0s feet above the river bed. Three
hundred feet north of the bridge the
traveller sees the first, or Upper fall,
where the river plunges II feet doWn'
ward to q lower level.
A half mile further down the stream
is the second, or Middle fall, l01 leet
high. Overlooking this is the Letcn-
worth homestead. The Middle faii
strongly suggests the American rails
at Niagara on reduced scale. Inc
walls Of the canyon at this point are
$50 feet high, while above the rocky
walls the land rises $50 feet higher.
Thence. through the deep ravine, the
river rushes northeast, then directly
! east. through whirlpool rapids and
: ouiet pools to the third and last cas-
cade. This is q mile and half below
the Middle fall. is 80 feet high, and DS
D far the most picturesque and curious
Of the three cascades. Just below tn
fall the river passes through marrow
. gorge. with the so-called Table Rocl
on the north and the Sugar Loaf OF
s the south. The latter is curious CON
Q Of rock, formed at some distant perio
r, bv the stream washing around an
8 over It and gradually molding 1t to 1t
u spire-like contour.
e, The boundaries of the estate, ate
running around the three falls ana cal
yon. pass to the north to the rive
W lower in its course and after 1t hs
IS passed through curving valley to tn
10y east, north, and west.
y The story of the rocks in the canyc
. Is 80 unusual that the biologists ha'
nlaced them in a class by themselve
Thew are known as THE Portai
Group" In some prehistoric age 81
IT. covered the spot, and on the ancie
h, ocean bed were deposited sand. mu
On and ooze, which now form layer up
Is, LAYER of soft rock, $50 feet deep. FIJI
come masses of soft olive shales, WI
lis thin beds of sandstone and one
more bands of black bituminous shal
It'll running through them. Then col
Tor sandy shales and an abundance
Of sandstones and flagstones. The
he finally give place to thicker layers
Is sandstones and thinner interven'
the strata of shales. The rocks lie Ike
99,- omen. illustrated book of great inter
es; TO the geologist
100 In later prehistoric days, which
sti- reologists call modern" for the 81
re Of comparison, the Genesee RI
In passed through a wide valley to
eastward Of the gorge, This was NJ
with gravel and SAID by some ct
colt cataclysm of Nature, so that the
not ters of the stream were turned o.
ard and formed a lake to the southws
The lake covered approximately
ground which the Genesee Water G
the pany sought for their power DAM
The IA supposed to have covered the va
pro- south Of Portageville and extendin
,anv distance of Is miles to Wiscoy-
Ala river sought new outlet to the v
"a ward, passed over higher ground,
o gradually carved in the soft rocl
t'er' the plateau the canyon and casc'
[eed- Of the Glen Iris estate.
all Mr.. Letchworth has long had
GERS gift of his estate to the commonwe
al to in mind, and has made his imp
,erty nents to it accordingly. There
the miles of walks and drives, sun
houses. rustic arbors, picturesque