Niagara Falls 



1799 Williamson, Charles. The Falls of Niagara. 1 799. (Mag. of 

 Williamson Am. hist., July. 1880. 5:54-56; or O'Callaghan, E. B., Doc. hist, of 



the state of New York. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co. 1849. 2: 

 1165-1167.) 



The author was an English land agent in Western New York. His 

 account is especially interesting for the light it throws on travel conditions 

 at the close of 'the eighteenth century, and the difficulties attending a trip to 

 Niagara Falls. 



* 1800 



1800 Maude, John. Visit to the Falls of Niagara in 1800. Lond. : 

 Maude Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green. 1826. Pp. 159-165. 



The Niagara is not navigable higher than Queenstown, con- 

 sequently there is a portage from this place to Chippawa, which 

 employs numerous teams, chiefly oxen ; each cart being drawn by 

 two yoke of oxen, or two horses. I passed great numbers on the 

 road taking up bales and boxes, and bringing down packs of pel- 

 tries. Fourteen teams were at the wharf waiting to be loaded. 

 Here were also three schooners. . . . 



The Whirlpool abounds in fish; never freezes; and has gen- 

 erally its surface covered with logs, trees, ice, and such other float- 

 ing substances as it draws within its vortex. 



Queenstown contains from twenty to thirty houses, whose fronts 

 are E. and W. the worst possible aspect, but which has been 

 regulated by the course of the River, which is from S. by E. to 

 N. by W. very rapid, and full of eddies. 



On the side of the River opposite to Queenstown, the Govern- 

 ment of the United States design to establish a Landing; or 

 rather, renew the old Portage to Fort Schlusser. There are at 

 present only two houses there, one of which is the Ferry-house ; a 

 road being opened from this place to Tannawantee, distant only 

 thirty miles. 



Another scheme of the Anglo-Americans is, to do away the 

 necessity of a Portage, by substituting a Canal in its place: this 

 object can be best explained by a quotation from Captain 



1186 



