Year: 1871

Correspondence of the Republican
LoCKPORT, New York, June %, 1871.


Singular, but fires are comfortable this
morning bleak wind clustering, and no
sign of the sun.


This is indeed an odd city, but still one of
the neatest l have seen. Its foundation is
solid limestone, which has been quarried
extensively, and many of the dwelling
houses are constructed of that material,
forming durable tenements. FIGURING and
woolen mills abound in the strangest of
situations, down in deep gullies and valleys
that at first glance appear quite inaccessi-
BILE. Through the central portion of the
city runs the Erie canal, and it happens
that there is fall of about sixty feet This
necessitates the use of eight ''locks," four
on each side, showing one Of the solidest
pieces of masonry in the country, and is
sight wOrthy'of a visit Railroads have
robbed the canal of its glory, and to-day it
is scarcely a skeleton of what it once was.
The clumsy boats bring grain from Buffalo,
and the many mills quickly convert it into
-four of excellent brands. 1t sounds strange
to my senses that -four should command
greater price here than in New Orleans.


Other branches of manufactures are pur-
sued here on a small scale, paper, glass and
woodenware among the number The Hol-
ley hydraulic headquarters are located
here, and give constant employment TO
more than three hundred mechanics.


To the north of the city toward Lake On
tario, in an immense valley, forming the
country between Lockport and the lake,
distance of about dozen miles. Standing
on the brow of the hill, one can obtain a
view of such bewildering beauty that the
sight will be forever photographed on your
memory. A vast and cultivated plain is
beheld to the right, left and front as far as
can be seen with eye or glass, perfectly
charming. drive through that section
did not dissolve the enchantment, but
rather added to the pleasures. Numerous
small farms are worked up TO their full ex
tent, producing excellent wheat, corn, gar
den vegetables and fine fruit for shipping.


For novelty, / took bath in Lake Onta
rio, in less than a week from the time Of





treme boundaries north and south Of the
United States.


Water-power facilities are so great here
that most manufactures avail themselves
of it. Establishments located mile from
the large mills derive their power to drive
machinery through the medium of wire
ropes, which are stretched through the air
higher than telegraph lines. The presses of
one of the daily papers are thus operated,
at considerable saving. The wire ropes,
connected with a water wheel down in a
ravine, are stretched up seventy or a hun
dred feet and can be used at pleasure. | am
told that this system will be put in opera
ton in mill mile and half from the first
power, and that little of the force is lost
even at that distance. The idea seems
good one, and is as applicable to steam as
to water.


Passing along one of the principal streets,
saw sign: This building lot for sale"
AS l could see nothing from the street, my
curiosity induced me to take a closer view.
The lot consisted of an irregular hole in the
ground, the bottom being barren rocks.
This was quite as ludcrous as another item
near it. A dilapidated dwelling was with
out fencing around it other than pretty
gate, which is regularly used by the inmates
for ingress and egress.


The people here are certainly industrious
and economical, even unto stinginess. |
venture to say that no town in the Union
can or will vie with it in the number of vii 4
famous looking men. Faces that express
the depth of unrelenting wickedness, fea-
lures which convey no idea but the utmost
meanness and depravity are plentiful.
This disagreeable fact is SO prominent that
a stranger is compelled TO make note Of
it, However, there is consolation in know
ing that appearances are deceitful.


Great preparations have been made to.
celebrate the Fourth of July. An old
steamer, the Continental, now near Buffalo,
will be turned loose in Niagara river and be
permitted to make it's last voyage, over the
great falls. By an advertisement in the
Lockport papers, am forcibly reminded
of Mardi Gras-a portion of the display to
consist of mummery. / forward you the
advertisement as curiosity. The COM
mittee will doubtless make more success
full display than does the Mistick Krewe of