Travelers' Original Accounts: 1 80/ — / 840 



panied by the tremour which is observable in a building where 1827-28 

 many pairs of millstones are at work. This tremulous effect 

 extends to the distance of several hundred yards from the river; 

 but is most conspicuous on Goat Island, which stands in the centre 

 between the two Falls. 



The noise of the rapids is also loud, but much sharper; and 

 varies a good deal with the situation of the listener. We were 

 walking one day along a path in the woods on the island, at 

 some distance from the great cataract, and there, it struck me, 

 the sound of the rapids resembled not a little the noise caused 

 by a heavy shower of rain on the leaves of a forest, in a calm. 



The scenery in the neighbourhood of Niagara has, in itself, 

 little or no interest, and has been rendered still less attractive by 

 the erection of hotels, paper manufactories, saw-mills, and 

 numerous other raw, staring, wooden edifices. 



It has been said, that there is always something about a bridge 

 which interests, more or less. If it be not picturesque in itself, 

 it may be curious in its structure; or high; or long; or may 

 possess something or other to attract notice. At all events, the 

 bridge which connects the main American shore with Goat Island 

 is one of the most singular pieces of engineering in the world, and 

 shows, not only much skill and ingenuity, but boldness of thought 

 in its projector, the owner of the island. It is between six and 

 seven hundred feet in length, and is thrown across one of the worst 

 parts of the rapids, not more than fifty yards above the crest of 

 the American Fall. It is made of wood, and consists of seven 

 straight portions, resting on wooden piers so contrived as to have 

 perfect stability, although the foundation on which they rest is 

 extremely unequal. The bed of the river at that place is covered 

 with rounded and angular stones, varying from the size of a 

 wheel-barrow to that of a stage-coach, and either lying side by 

 side, or piled in heaps; so that while the tops of some of them 

 reach within a foot or two of the surface, others lie at the depth 

 of twelve or fifteen feet. Along this rugged and steep bottom, 

 the river dashes in a torrent covered with breakers and foam, at 



165 



