from which Thomas Cole painted the picture of the gorge and 

 falls which was presented to Governor Seward. A mile farther 

 down are the Lower Falls, with Table Rock, Cathedral Rock 

 and other interesting features. 



Letchworth Park offers many attractions to students of nat- 

 ural phenomena. As an example of a gorge eroded by stream 

 action, and following a post-glacial channel different from its 

 pre-glacial channel, it is as interesting and typical as the Ni 

 agara gorge. The rock exposures have been studied by "Dr. 

 James Hall, Dr. John M. Clarke, Prof. Henry L. Fairchild, Dr. 

 Amadeus W. Grabau, and other scientists- who have made valu- 

 able contributions to geological knowledge. The great variety 

 of birds and wild flowers in the park is equally attractive to 

 ornithologists and botanists. The great diversity of the topo- 

 graphy of the estate thus acquired has made it the habitat of 

 a remarkable variety of flora and fauna. Beginning with the 

 earliest anemones and bloodroots, and, as the season advances, 

 running on through the houstonias, violets, columbines, trinity 

 flower, mandrakes, azaleas, laurel, golden rods and countless 

 others, the flowers of Glen Iris range through a spectrum of col- 

 ors that rivals the rainbow which gave the glen its name. Tho 

 Hon. George W. Clinton, formerly President of the Society of 

 Natural Sciences of Buffalo, who spent much time at Portage, 

 says that a greater variety of plant life can be found there than 

 in any other locality of which he has knowledge. And Mr. 

 Eldredge E. Fish, the author and naturalist, says: " In many 

 respects this charming retreat surpasses any other in its attrac- 

 tions for the naturalist. The flora is more abundant and varied, 

 while the song-birds are here in greater numbers than in any 

 other locality in the state. ' ' 



Proposed Developments 



Before Dr. Letchworth gave the park to the state he admitted 

 the public to share its beauties, but there were necessary limita 

 tions to the public enjoyment while it was still private prop- 

 erty. Since it has become the property of the people, however, 

 it has been thronged with visitors in constantly increasing num- 

 bers; and the experience of fifteen years since Dr. Letchworth 

 gave it to the state, and of twelve years since his death, has 

 shown the need for certain additional facilities in order ade- 

 quately to meet public requirements. These facilities are of 

 three main classes — ^buildings, roads and bridges. 



In the first place, there is an increasing demand for the ac- 

 commodation of visitors who desire to spend more than half a 

 day in the park. At present, the Glen Iris Mansion is used as 

 an inn from May until October, but with its limited accommoda- 

 tions it can lodge only about 1,600 persons and serve about 8,000 

 meals a season; and it is now necessary to deny the Isrge num- 



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