^G^ c^*^ ^ ^ ^ >* -iiL.,% ' • ■ **:ii->; ■ ■ ; <^,^s: .^^ b, ^ , X -* .^^ X^, ^ ' '^ .^' "^b, ". '%^^^ .s^^. -. ^^01:^".% cp^oi;;'^^ cp^.^_^^^<^ -^^0^ »* .<^"^ V \ %. '^<^ % ■^^ % "' ■%.o^ -^^4 •^^ THE -OF- I liagara Falls I — WITH— GlVINa HINTS THAT WILL EN- ABLE THg^yiSITO]^^ TO AVOID 2. ..-,., v^ I©K^Rll)GE, ;n t <^'^ ^^^^^ COFYfllG-HT SEOUKEiJ MAKCH, 1884. /jUj ^ai^c'^ yc^^tryro ■si G9f THE HUMBUGS NIAGARA FALLS (^fVL^GARA FALLS has been noted '^nl for its Humbugs as far back as the ^^!!_;' days of " Sam Patch ". For when according to announcement the day hud arrived for him to make his great leap from a scaffold placed at the foot of Goat Island, into the boil- ing waters below the Falls and the expectant crowd had asse nbled they were coolly inlormed that "Sam" had broken his leg and consequent- ly would be unable to jump until the next day. The people forgot their disappointment out of pure sympath}^ for "Sam's" misfortune, and re- mained all night at the hotels aiid boarding houses, and only became conscious of the du- plicity practiced upon them when their bills were presented next morning, too late for mater- ial service. Those who remained and those who arrived the next day were surprised to see **Sam" walking without crutches, and also making his fearful leap into the gorge below. The most miraculous healing of a broken limb on record! At other times flaming announcements are sent out over all the countr}^ that a boat con- 2 taining bears and otiier animals would be sent down the river, and thousands would come to witness the fearful plunge over the Falls, only to behold an old scow lodge in the shallow rap- ids above the Falls, or the broken splinters of the old tub dash through the foaming waters and disappear over the precipice. A ''Buffalo Hunt" is announced, real wild buffaloes from the Western plains are to be turned loose in a large ench sure, and Buffalo Bill, assisted by a company o' plainsmen from the far-west, are to delineate the excitement of a real Buffalo hunt. The crowd assemble to witness a great treat of a most exciting kind only to see a couple of old, decrepit buffaloes from the Museum Gardens lazily feeding on the green pastures of the old Drummondville race course and Buffalo Bill and his braves decked in gay trappings riding about the course. Several attempts are made to excite the buffaloes into a run; but all the flogging, clubbing and prodding fail to devel- op a speed in the monarchs of the prairie above a trot. Finally the "brave hunters" turn their attention to a few Texan steers, which had been secured from a passing train for the occasion, and after a great effort actually succeeded in getting them to run from their pursuers. Thus it has ever been, and in proportion as stately hotels have arisen from the modest log or frame houses of the early days, so humbug- ism has increased. Swindling has become more systematic than in former days, and the public will be surprised when they find who are connected with it. It is graduallj^ driving visitors from the place, and has given Niagara Falls a name wot to be coveted by the poorest 3 hamlet in Christendom. For instance, a gen. tleman arrives at Niagaja Falls and puts up at one of the principal hotels and depends upon his Host for directions in visiting the various points of interest in the vicinity. He naturally expects reliable information, but the chances are he will be deceived. It may be and often is the case, that some one in connection with the hotel is connected with one or more of the points of interest on either or both sides of the river. He goes to the office and asks for infor- mation concerning the points of interest, and there, only such points as are in the interest of the hotel or of those connicted with the hotel, are pointed out to him as points of interest vis- ited by the great multitude, while all other points are represented as not being worth the time go and see. Inmiediately he is put into a hack, the driver mounts his seat, and the individual has really commenced his sight-seeing. The driver who knows his business as well as the pedagogue knows his multiplication table, plies his victim, no, not his victim, but the victim of mine host, with marvellous narrations of the events and occurrences that have taken place at those points which they intend visiting, thus drawing the man's mind away from other points that the driver knows he dare not drive toon p;iin of INSTANT DISMISSAL. Should the gentleman mention any other point, he is promptly dis- couraged, is told that the place is not worth seeine: or that it is not safe to visit, and should he still insist upon going, the driver would be compelled, point blank, to refuse to take him, and should the party yet persist in going he 4 would have to walk or procure another hack. For the purpose of illustrating this fact, we will give a single instance: Some time in Sep- tember, i8h2, there was a Druggists' Conven- tion held at Niagara Falls N. Y., the delegates putting up at one of the principal hotels, and during their stay wished to visit the Whirlpool and Whirlpool Rapids on the American side; to their astonishment, when they wished to be driven to those places, the hackmen connected with the hutel refused to take them, and they were compelled to employ other hackmen to drive themvvhere they desired to go. Sometimes a contract is entered into between the manager of some point or points of interest and the proprietor of a hotel, in which he agrees for a certain amount of money to drive as many of the guests of the hotel as possible to the particular point or points, as the case may be. In such a case the driver is in danger of losing his position if he does not go there. A certain driver was reprimanded for not driving into Prospect Park as often as he should have done for the interest of his employer, so when the next man entered his hack and asked where he was going to take him he was answer- ed, "Into Prospect Park, sir." '-But I do not want to go there," said the stranger. "I will Lake you there whether you want to go or not, sir," said the driver, and he did take him there. By this private arrangement other hackmen are not permitted to go on the premises of these hotels to solicit, and the stranger is thus left at the mercy oT a grinding monopoly "The "outside hackmen" as they are called, would give their services for much less, are just as 5 obliging and equally as trustworthy as are those '"ho are supposed to be in connection with the ho el. As to the quf s'lon of safety there is no uirference between an ''outside" and an "inside" hackman; there is the honorable and dishonor- able among both classes. But where imposition is attempted the stranger can obtain sure and speedy redress by following the instructions given in the chapter "How to avoid being hum- bugged.'' 't3^' COMMISSION FRAUDS. W HE commission system of doing busi- ''^J ^ ness is now probably the most <^^ fruitful source of complaint at Niag- ara. The Falls is a place of magnificent distan- ces and strangers are drawn from place to place by obliging and condescending hackmen. These apparently disinterested and self-sacrific- ing individuals are always ready, willing, and waiting to advise new-comers upon any subject pertaining to the locality. It is natural that strangers should fall into their hands. It is their business to deal with strangers in this par- ticular. They pay for the privilege of doing so. They are protected by the by-laws and ordinances of the municipalities on both sides of the river in the plying of their vocation. Strangers un- acquaint /(I with the neighborhood, are compell- ed to ask ftr direction, and nothing can be more natural than they should seek information from those commissioned to give it, and who are most accessible and most willing to comply with their requests. In the very nature of things this must continue to be so whilt the transportation business of the neighborhood is in the hands of the Hack Fraternity. Now, hackmen, Hke other people, work for money, and while they appear to talk in the interest of the stranger applying to them for information they have their principal eye on their own inter- ests and only recommend such movements as will result in turning them an "honest penny." Hackmen look upon strangers only as so much stock in trade, and as soon as thay have piade out of them the last margin of profit they want to see them no more. It is a fact that at near- ly all points of interest about Niagara FalU*, hack;iien get a commission from the keeo^rs of the points for bringing strangers to them. The fraud is in this; A stranger paying 50 cents for the privilege of visiting a point of in- terest, possibly feels that he has received the worth of his money and has no thought that a fraud has been practiced upon him. The frand is perpetrated all the same. The keeper of the point demands the 50 cents ostensibly for the privilege while the fact is, the keeper is demand ing 25 cents for the privilege of seeing the point, and 25 cents to pay the hackman for bringing the victim there. The 50 cents is obtained by falsely pretending that it is wholly for the privilege of viewing the point of inter- est, when the fact is one hall of it is demanded for the hackman and is handed to him as soon as the stranger's back is turned. The following tiiule shows the prices charged for admission to the points of interest about Ni- ao-ara Falls, and the manner in which th- 7 charges collected are divided between the keep- ers of the points and the hackmen: CANADA SIDE. POINTS OF AMOUNT AMOUNT PAID TO INTEREST. CHARGED. HACKMEN. Whirlpool ' $0.50 $0.25 Whirlpool Kapids 50 25 Museum 50 25 Unrler sheet of water at Table Rock 1.00 50 Burning Sprnig 50 25 Crossing Upper Suspen- sion Bridge on foot. . . 25 00 Two horse Carriage .... 50 00 One horse Carriage 37^ 00 AMERICAN SIDE. Prospect Park and In- clined Hailwav 50 '3o^ ^ Shadow of the Rock.. . . 1 00 50 Goat Island 5^^ 00 Cave of the Wirds 1.00 50 Whirlpool Rapids 50 25 Whirlpool r.O 25 At nearly all of these points of interest there are fancy goods stores and an army of persist- saleswomen. Of all the money invested m articles there offered for sale the accompanying hackman gets 25 percent as his commission for furnishing the customer. In addition to the commissions paid, keepers of points of interest in many cases subsidize Hack Associations with large bonuses and individual hackmen with ex- travagant presents. In return for the commis- sions, and the subsidies and the presents, the hackmen talk strangers into "taking in" the points from which they derive their commis- sions, subsidies and presents. Some hackmen are subsidized by one point and some by an- other. In all this the stranger is the victim. It is he that furnishes the capital to run Niagara and to run it, too, with all the peculiarities that characterize the place. Now what is the remedy ? I& it possible to avoid the impositions ? When people come to Niagara their object is to see the Falls. They possibly don't know anything about the Devil's Hole or most of the other outlying points of inter est so extent ively extolled by the generous Cabby As soon, however, as they i;et seated in a con- veyance they are driven to the point farthest from the Falls — a point on all occasions where commission is paid. This. seen another is vis- ited, and then another, and last of all the object of the visit, a view of the Falls. On the Canada side this is free consequently commissionless, hence it is quite apparent why the hackmen should take his party last ot all to the point he most desi.ed to visit. One remedy would be for strangers to refuse to be drawn to any point or place where commissions are paid to hack- men. This wo'dd have a tendency to d© away with the commission S3'stem and necessarily render hackmen a degree more disinterested, and possibly a degree more honest in their rep- resentations to strangers. Another course, but somewhat more compli- cated would, in a measure accomplish the desired resu-t. Let the stranger in bargaining with his hackman, arrange before starting upon a round ol siy ht-seeing, that the hackman is to be satisfied v.ith the fee agreed upon alone, for the drive, and that the stranger is to receive all "Commissions" paid at the different points. 9 Take an example, and see how the parties in- terested will stand at the end of the trip. A party of four engage ii hack to go to all the points of interest for $5. The first point visited say, is goat Island. Nowth.^ party visiting pays $2. No commission m paid. Tiie hackman would under ordinary circumstances sj;et nothing and the party according- to the arrangement made gets notliing back. While upon the Island they take in the Cave of the Winds. There they pay§i each, and by the terms of their agreement each gets back 50 cents. They next goto Prospect Park, they pay 5o cents each and each get back 25 cents commission. They next visit the Whirlpool Rapids on the Ameri- can side and pay 50 cents each, receiving back 25 cents each. They then cross the lower bridge, and pay in the shape of bridge toll $1.50 of which nothing is received in retura. They then take in Whirlpool Rapids on the Canadian side and the Whirlpool paying $1 each, for the two, and receive back as commission 50 cents, each. The museum, and the Burning Springs enfcail another dollar outlay, and adds 50 cents to the receipts of each on commission account. They now return to the American side by the upper bridge paying $1.50 for fcivat privilege, out of which they get no return. Let us see now how the account standi. Paid for back hire $!5.00 Paid at (joat Island 2.00 Paid at Cave of the Winds . . 4.00 Eeceived in return $2.00 ...... Paid at Prospect Park 2.00 Received in return 1.00 , Paid at Whirlpool Rapids, (American side) 2.00 10 Keceived in return 1.00 Paid at Lower Bridge 1.50 Paid at Whirlpool Eapids (Canada side) 2.00 Received in return 1.00 Paid at Whirlpool 2.00 Received in return 1.0 ) V Paid at Burning Springs 2.00 Received in return 1.00 Paid at Museum 2.00 Received in return 1.00 Paid for crossing Up. Bridge 1.50 Toll, stone road, Canada side 0.10 ^8.00 ^-26.10 By this arrangement the party has the use of the hack for nothing and 75 cis each to the good; have practically paid half rates for visiting all the points. By this example it will be read- ily seen that the amount paid to hackmen, as hack hire direct, is only a small part of their gains, The driver, in this case, without the special arrangement spoken of, could have well afforded to drive the pariy for nothing, relying upon the commission for nis rejnuneration. The following case came under the observa- ticn of the writer in the summer of 1882, and only illustrates the rule at Niagara Falls. A party of six gentlemen, out for a drive, engaged a hackman for six dollars to take them to the principal points of interest. They took in every- thing recommended by the generous driver, and the trip cost them for tolls Iss-oo out of which the driver pocketed $12.00 as his share of the spoils, thus netting by the transactioi-i $18.00 and was ready for a like trip in the afternoon. When they landed, the young gentlemen not knowing that the driver had pocketed about half the amount they had paid, handed him a n further tip of 25 cents each, in consideration of the good-natured amusement he had aftoided them durino^the engagement. Is there no fraud in this ? Would these young gentlemen have dealt with the driver upon such terms had they been aware of the real facts ? They were paying him as they supposed for his services in the $6. They were not aware that they had paid him twice over that in another way before their journey ended. The hackmen alone could not thus prey upon the travelling public ; but the combination that exists between them and the dealers on every hand, is such that the stranger unassisted is not able to contend with, ^he fol- lowing case also, came within the writer's ob- servation during the summer of 1882. A hack- man got a party of six ladies into his carriage, at the Great Western Railway Station, to be taken to the Falls, for 10 cents each. When he got to the Falls he said to the ladies "you may as well sit still and go on up to the Burning Springs, it won't cost you any more.'' After some solicitation the ladies accepted the hack- man's apparently generous offer, and were driven to the place indicated. All went well un- til they were to lea\e, when they were met with a demand for ^3. 00, and despite all their protes- tations the money had to be paid. Out of this plunder the hackman got ^1.50. This is only a further example of the rule at Niagara Falls.' The travelling public have the remedy in their hands. Will they ever apply it, or will they go on as they have for the last thirty years, submit- ting to the impositions practiced, and leaving the place with anything but pleasant memories? The authorities in the nei-ihborhood of the Falls 12 will never remedy the grievances. They are too much in the power of those who profit by the peculiar system coir plained of. A free park and a street railroad on both sides of the river would do much to bring back to this m\ich per- secuted locality the ^ood name that now seems permantly lost to it. This, like any other re- form at Niagara, must come from without the limits of the area given over to the peculiar commercial morality that characterizes the place. Wiihout the park there is no hope for reformation. With it a new system may be in- augurated and better days dawn upon the neigh- boriiotd. HAOKMEN'S TRICKS. ItWHERE is probably no place in the JJ world where there are so many oppor- my hack and I will take you to the station. You have not a moment to spare— It will cost you three dollars." The stranger not being aware that he was then standing within a few feet of the very train he was enquiring for, and fearful of being late, acted upon the hackman's sugges- tion, who deliberately then drove the stranger away from the train he should have taken, across tlie Suspension Bridge, where he had to pay a further charge of 75 cents bridge toll, to the Erie station on the American side. Could heartless imposition be more flagrant ! A favorite trick of the lower grade of hack- men is to bring their patrons to the train they wish to go by just about the time the tram is to start, and then demand from them probably double the amount agreed upon, threatening the interference of the police if the demand is not satisfied. In nine cases out of ten the stranger pays through fear of being detained. r Another trick is to keep whatever bills may DC handed them under these circumstances, in payment of the fare refusing to hand back the change. They know that in a few minutes the stranger will be gone and there is an end to the contention. Parties to leave by train in this way are call ed in hackmen's vernacular "train parties;" and a hackman has a peculiar knack of finding out what disposition his parrons are about to make 14 of themselves. A hackman seeing a strano:er walking along the bank towards the Falls will drive near him and say "Going up to the Falls? The stranger sa3's "yes.'' The hack- man says "Get in, I'm going right up ; it won't cost yOM anything." The stranger gets in and is driven to the Falls. Here he is entreated by a bevy of guides and runners to i;o under the sheet of water. He consents, and for this disinterested act cS kindness (?) he pays one dollar, fifty cents as commission to a person he never saw before and by whom he hopes never to be recognized again. And should the stranger happen to buy a quantity of fancy goods, or get his picture tak- en, the hackman gets his fee out of that also. Another trick is, if parties wish to go to the Whirlpool, the driver will be sure to drive to the Whirlpool Rapids first, and then, after they have paid their fifty cents, he will tell them that the Whirlpool is farther down the river. Or, if a party has a ticket for a certain point of interest they will *be driven to some other place, which they suppose is the point for which their ticket calls, and are passed right through, but when they return they are compelled to pay fifty cents each. After this fleecing, if they are not too angry, and have time, they can go to the point for which they hold a ticket. Strangers are led to believe, by evasion and deceit on the part of some of the hackmen, that certain points of in- terest are free, when it is well know to the hack- man that a fee is charged. The perpetration of this imposition is facilitated by the mana- ; gers of the points referred to. The matter of | charge is not mentioned as the party passes in, j 15 but the demand is made when they are about to leave. In many cases the party would not have visited the place at all if they had known that a charge would have been made, and par- ticularly if they had known the amount charged. In all such cases the hackman gets his share of the money paid. It is this hope of reward that prompts him to delude and overreach the stranger. Practically the hackmen control all the lines of business peculiar to this locality. Whom they favor will succeed. Whom tluy desire lo crush must come to grief. if in their dreadful might they set their face against a bus- iness man, the grass will grow at his thicshoLl before a season passes. Therefore sirani^cis would du well to goto no point of inttrctt where hackmen get a commission, and mtc> no tancy goods stfre where hackmen, or clerks, or port- ers importune them to go. At all such p'aces the parties importuning get a commission on the amount sold, and the stranger is charged that much extra for what he buys. HACKMEN NOT ALONE BAD HUS we see that the hackmen are not the only ones at Niagara Falls that take advantage of the stranger. No sooner does a stranger appear who caiUH t pro- nounce the local "shibboleth" than all kinds of goods advance to three or four times their usual price. Cigars that cost a cent and a half each are sold for twenty cents. Lager beer goes up to ten cents a glass ; pop the same, and every- thing else in proportion. Ornaments that come from England are sold to the stranger as Table Rock ornaments, and fabulous stories aie tolcl of the difficulty experienced in procuring them. It is a wonder that some of the spokes of the 'bus that went down with Table Rock are not for sale in some of the shops ? We find that there are some hackmen just as honest aud upright in their vocation as other men are in their business. They try to make all they can ; yet they do not deceive their par- ties, but tel. them frankly what is charged at the various points of interest, and endeavor to give them reliable information. It is true that they also receive the commission, but as many of them receive but a few paltry dollars per month as wages, they are compelled to take the commission in order to support themselves and family^ If owners of hacks would pay their drivers reasonable wages for their services very much of the fraud now practiced by ihem would disappear. The ExDerience of JohnLauderbauch. o:c::o ^^(^(^^ELL, Air. Lauderbauch, I hear CJivfilpl that you have been to Niagara v_iN.i^O' p^iis ^T^^ iiad a very good time. Will you please tell us all about it ?" "Veil, mine friendt, it vas youst like dis. Mine frau Petsey, she say to me, Shon, you has vork- ed hard all der summer und der best is for you to shust shtop a leetle und rest mit yourself a vile." "Veil,'' I say to mine Fetsey, "veil, Petsey, vot 17 I shall do mit myself?" "Veil/' says Petsey, " you go one ov dem excursions mit to der Falls und have vone goot dimes, und bring me vone new dress vhen you come back mit yourself." *'So I vent right avay quick, und got me vone of does excursion dickets, und der next morning I got der stheam vagon m, und putty soon der bell he ring, und den der vagon he sthart off und, Shiminy cripes, yo'i ought youst to see how dem vences und dem pig stables, und dem hen houses und such things did fly py. I daut dot efery dings vas alife. Ven ve der Falls am to, und der vagon got out, eferypody vas hollering youst so loud vat he could, und vhen he say •Free buss,' for some davern vot I don't under- sthandt. So, says I myself to, 'Shon, dot is der blace vor you.' So I got der buss in, und ve drove der sthreet drough, und putty quick ve come to der davern ven der bus sthopped, und I got mit myself out und valked der house in und sit down myself. Patty soon a man comes und says dot dinner vas ready, did I vant some? und I say yes. Und den I got up and vent der dable to und sit myself down, und eating com- menced. I dook a cup of coffee und I put dree sphocnsful ov sugar in, because I daught it vould not cost any more ov I put in dree sphoon- fulls as vone. I eat a schmall biece of meat, und some botaters, und ven I vas done I asked der davern-keeper vot it all cost, und he said 'vone tollar.' So tinks I, by Shiminy, dare bees vone tollar gone putty quick. Veil, I says, here bees your tollar, und now I bees going to look aroundt some. Veil, says der man vhat der davern keeps, don't you vant ter ride ? Oh, no, 1 says, I can aroundt valk. O, no, said der man 18 vhat der davern keeps, dot vill never do; you on]}^ go der vorld vonce drous^h, und so may youst so goot ride as valk. Veil, I says, how mooch it cost ven I ride mit der vagon roundt ? O, he say, ve make dot all richt ven you back comes. So I say all richt. So I got der vagon in, und der man vhat sit on der top of der va^on he starts off mit me right avay quick.*' "Veil, der first blace vhat ve sthopped at vas dot long pridge vhat goes der river ofer, und a man comas out und says dot I must give him vone tollar p^fore I goes der pridge over. V^ll, I gives der maa vone tollar, und den we vent on der oder side, und vent der river down dill we comes to a blace vhere a man comes und opens der vagon door und asks ms to get out. So I sjets out und goes der house in vhere every dings looks very nice, und vone man he dikes m: u id sits ve m a vigon mit a box pelow vaich diy full of vater m ike ^ ; und den vhen der box vas fuU of vater avay der ding vent, und der firsht ding dot I knowed I vas down the river pank, vhen a man comes and says dot he musht my bicuure dace. Veil, I said, if he musht he musht, for I could not help it. So in a leedle vhile he .comas und says dot he must h.ive five toUars. Und I say for vhat ? Uad he says for dem bictures. So I gives him fife toUars for dem bictures vhich I hafe not seen ; but der man says it bees all right und he vill send me dem bictures putty soon right avay quick." "So I vent und got in dot vagon again, und a poy he comes und pulls der rope vhat makes der pell ring for der ding to go, und den he vants fifty cents. So I gites dot poy fifty cents, und dinks myself dot de money flies avay putty 19 quick. But vhen I got up to der top a^fain I vas vorser off as efer, for den der vimen day comes und say, puy dis und puy dot for to dake home to mine Petsey. So I pought all I could in my bockets carry, for vhich I pait ten tollars. Den I stharted for der vagon, but von voman she say sthop ; you must fifty cents bay. Und I say vhat for ? Und she say for riding dot railway down vhat mit vater pfoes. So I paid dem fifty cents und got der vagon in. Den dar man vhat sits on top he drife off putty quick, und vhen he sthop again an oder man he opens der vagon door und say 'Vhirlpool.' So I gets out ov der vagon und I valks quite a long vay vhen I comes to a blace vhere der vas some leedle vagons on top of some dmgs vhat looked like a rail vence tied fasht mit some ropes, apout as pig as der lines vat mine Petsey hang her clothes on vhen she vashes. I don't vas like der look of dose dings, und say to dhis man, vat beesh dey ? Vhat vould pecoms ov me ov dem ropes vould preak in two pieces ? Veil, der man he only laff und say, dot depents vat kind ov a m m you bees. Veil, says f, I bees not a very pad man, und so I got dot leedle vagon in und dowa I vent putty quick. Bat I can dold you, mine frient, dot I surely dought I vould go right dot rifer in. So In:>t sthay long, but goes pack to der vagon right avay quick; und ven I comes dare anudder man he say, fifty cents, blease. So I not say anydings but gifes him der fifty cents, und dought to mineself dot if I did not got horns putty quick I vould not hafe monish enough left to buy my Petsey a new dress. So I get der vagon vone once more in, und der man vhat sits on top ov der vagon hs say, ve vill now go und see der 20 dable on der rock, or some dings like dot, urd I say all right. Veil, vhen ve comes dare I could see no dable, noddings but some rock, so dought ve vould go on. But a man he comes und says you musht down mit der stairs go. So 1 say all right. So he made me put on some close vhat looked like some old sturgin skins, und den der man he goes down firsht und I go pehind, und putty quick ve comes to der blace vhere der vater down comss vorser den at old Pill Powers' saw mill. So ve not very long sthay, for I could noddings but vater see any how. Den, ven I back comes d^re vas vone toUar to bay und den der man vat with me vent down he vanted a tollar for der use of dem old sturgm skin close, vhich two tollars make. Und den dere vas some more bictures vanted, but I begins to get mat, so I dolt dem vellers dot dey musht go mitout mine bicture. So I got der vagon once more in, und der man vat sits oa top he drifes on putty fasht, und der firsht ding vhat I know- ed ve comes to a place vhere der vas a leedle fire plazing up, und der man vhat vas dare, he too vanted a half tollar, und I said for vhat ? Vhen he said, for that fire looking at. So I gifes him a half tollar, und delled him dot if he vould come to see me I vould some prush heaps afire make nnd he could see dot for noddings. Den I dells der man vhat on top ov der vagon sits to drife me pack der pridge over quicker as no dime, (or I not vant to see any more of der Falls, But der man he say you must Pros^pect Park see und some oder place vat dey calls Goat Island. But I say it makes me noddings out, I did not vant any more goats for to see tor it cost too many sthamps. Veil, dot bees all right, so 21 he drives me to der davern back, und der mPtU vhat der davern keeps he comes out und sj.ys, veil, you hafe had vone good dimes I guess. O, putty good, says I. Now, vat you vants for der vagon ? Twelve dollars, says der man. But, my Shiminy, how dot makes my eyes stick out. Und I say to der davern man, vat for so much ? Und he say, veil, look here, mine friendt, you see der man vot sits on top of der vagon he dells you how long der bridge vas over, und dot vas vorth vone tollar; den he dells you how high der pridge vas down, und dot vas vorth a tollar; und den he tells you vhere der man falls der pank ofer, und dot vas vone tollar wort ; und he exblained about der Maid dot vent der Misr j down, und dot vas vorch dree tollars; und den der vagon vas vorth six tollars, so dot makes der dwelve tollars. Veil, so I baid dem dvvelve tollars, und den der davern man say, come, my friendt, have a trink mit me. Veil, I says, I don't care if I do. So I dook a trink mit him, und den I say, now hafe a trink mit me. All right, he says, so den ve took anudder trink. Den der davern man he say, now, look here, my friendt, I have to bay for my trinks youst as veil as you do, so now I vill schake der dice mit you to see who shall poth trinks bay for. S3 I say all right, und vhen ve had schook der dice I had poth the trinks to bay for. By dis dime I dought all vhat a man had to do vhen at der Falls vas youst to give derbeble m.mey. So vhen a poy comes up und asks my pjots for to shine I say yes, und I gifes him half a tollar ; und den anudder poy comes for to help him, und he spit on der poots vone or twice, so I gifes him half a tollar. Dan one ov dem pig 22 plack fellers vhat come from der Sout, he comes und sthands and looks at me avhile, und as I hardly knowed if I was in der United States or Canada any more, so I gife him half a tollar too. Und I can dold you py dis dhime my bocket pook looks putty slim, so I dake dot free bus for der stheam vagon house quicker as no dime, und I can dold you dot vhen I got dot stheam vagon vonce more in I feel petter as good. But vhen I gets home I dells Petsey dot I could findt no goot tress for her, und dot she musht vait dill ve dis fall our bigs kill. A TRAVELLEE'S PRAYER. BY JOHN C. SHEA. Oh, worderful Nie^gara, amid thy ceaseless roar The sou? earth loosed and longing, to heaven would li'-ie to soar, But viewiue all thy beauties is satisfied to stay If you'll send your hackmeu and runners all away. Yet it might be best to show them 'mong your other curioua things ; Let us think of that a moment, for the thought some laughter brings. You might catalogue them fully, and regain from day to day - The quarters that from visitor^? these men have taken away. How would it do to place them where the 'Pool' goes round and round. Mid the roar of rushing waters, sure some solace might be found. And very soon the tables would be turned on men of sin. For they, and not the traveller, would then be taken in. But still there is another place their calling seems to suit. Where clamors of their voice however loud would soon be mute. And the visitor secure at rest, that rest be seldom finds. Could smile to see their whips upraised from out the "Cave of Winds." Another place is left for them ! And ever, ever more The wrangling of the hackmen would be hush ad along the shore , Securely bound and numbered, and the place made free from toll- Oh, what a place to jam them in would be the "Devil's Ilole." 25 HOW TO SEE NUaARA. FALLS. Mt€HE first and great object ot the visitor ^\ to Niagara is to get a complete view (^ of the Falls themselves. We shall therefore endeavor, as briefly as possible, to tell our readers how to see them. The Grand Trunk Railway Station at Niagara Falls, Ont., (formerly Clifton,) is about two miles from the Falls on the Canada side. Visi- tors arriving at this station can engage hacks to take them to the Falls, or which is better still, if they have the time, they can take the walk along the beautiful river bank where a pictur- esque scenery is constantly presented to the eye until suddenly the Falls themselves burst upon the view and they are beheld in all their gran- deur, free ol charge. A substantial iron fence along the edge of the bank was erected during the summer of 1883 by the Ontario Government, making this charmmg walk perfectly safe ; also a sidewalk extending the whole distance to the Falls will be built by the town ready for the summer of 1884, which will complete what will ever after be the most delightful promenade on the continent. Passengers coming from the west by the Michigan Central (Canada Southern) should leave the cars at the Niagara Falls station, where a short walk down to the river will bring them within full view of the mighty cataract. Passengers arriving at Niagara Falls from any point on the American side can see the Falls from either Prospect Park or Goat Island.) ^Admission fee to Goat Island is 50 cents. This 20 fee includes the Three Sister Islands, Biddle Stairs which leads down to the water's edge below the bank, and all the points that can be visited from Goat Island, except Cave of the Winds. The admission to Prospect Park is 25 cents, the inclined railway leading down to the water's edge below the bank is 25 cents more, and the ferry to Canada also 25 cents. But panics wishing to go to Canada this way should pur- chase their ticket at the gate where 50 cts. will procure them a ticket that will admit to the Park and secure the use of the inclined railway, fer- riage to Canada and return. Or they can cross the new Suspension Bridge by paying 25 cents each way and 50 cents car- riage toll. But for those who study economy and wish at the same time to get a perfect and full view of the wonderful Niagara, the best way is to take the street car to Suspension Bridge for which the fare is only five cents, see the new Cantilever Bridge, then buy a return ticket over the Suspension Bridge, which is only 25 cents for those who return the same day, then take the delightful walk along the river bank on the Canada side and view the Falls free of charge. Thus we have shown that for those who wish and are able to walk, the Falls themselves can be seen with little or no expense. Those com- ing on the Canadian lines have a free view; those on the American side for 30 cents. But those who wish to be driven from their station to the Falls must of course pay for the hack. Should they wish to visit the various outlying points of interests in the vicinity, at all 27 of which an admission fee is charged, the bill will necessarily be considerably increased. TAKE MORE TIME AT NIAGARA if you would enjoy your visit and save expense. Most people come in on the train and the mo- ment they leave the cars commence rushing from one point of interest to another without any definite idea of where th?y are going, incur all the expense in a single day that should be distributed over an entire week, and then go \ home swearing about the "extortions" of Niag- ara. Niagara Falls and the various places of interest in the vicinity cannot be seen in a few hours. If you would see all, take lodgings at a hotel where the fare is suitable to your means, and then take time for your sight-seeing. If you can afford ilie luxury of a carriage you can be accommodated at as low a rate as can be ob- tained at any other place on the continent. It your means will not afford a carriage, there is no reason why you should not adopt the English custom and walk. The distance between the various points of interest is not great, the walks from one place to another are pleasant and safe, and the scenery unsurpassed. [See chapters on Distances and Admission Fees.] 28 Distances of the Points of Interest from the Falls. -o- AMERICAN SIDE. OAT Island lies between the Horse- shoe and American Falls. The Three Sister Islands, Luna Island, Bath Island, ^c, all belong to the Goat Island group, and are reached only from Goat Island. Cave of the Winds is behind the Centre Fall and can only be reached from Goat Island. The Rock of Ages is the huge rock lying in front of the Cave of the Winds. Prospect Park occupies all the river front be- tween the upper Suspension Bridge and the Falls. The Shadow of the Rock is behind the sheet of water of the American Fall. It is reached by the Inclined Railway from Prospect Park. The upper Suspension Bridge is about one- eighth of a mile below the American Fall. The new Cantilever Bridge is about two miles below the Falls. The Railway Suspension Bridge is only 380 feet below the Cantilever Bridge, hence two miles below the Falls. The Whirlpool Rapids is about hall a mile below the Railway Suspension Bridge. The Whirlpool is about one mile below the Railway Suspension Bridge, hence about three miles from the Falls. The Devil's Hole is about one mile down the river from the Whirlpool, but at this date is not open for visitors. - I CAKAI A SIDE. The Burning Spnng is about one mile above the Falls, at the upper enr] of Clnrk Hill Islands. Clark 'Hill Islands are five in number, ex- tending from the Falls about one mile up the river, lying between the main land and Rapids. Falls View is a point nearly in front of Loretto Convent on the brow of the hill overlooking the Rapids and the Falls, where the Michigan Cen- tral trains halt for passengers to view the Falls. The Museum is only a few rods from the Falls. Lundy's Lane Battle Ground is about one and one-quarter miles west of the Falls. New Suspension Bridge about half a mile from the Horseshoe Fall. The Cantilever Bridge and Railway Suspen- sion Bridge are only 380 feet apart and about two miles froir? the Falls. Whirlpool Rapids is only about one-eight of a mtle below the Railway Suspension Bridge. The Whirlpool is about one mile below the Railway Suspension Bridge, Brock's Monument is at Queenston, about seven miles from the Falls. DISTANCES OF RAILWAY ^TATKNis FRflJ THE FALLS. Michigan Central, Niagara Falls Station, Canada side, is one-half mile. Grand Trunk, Niagara Falls Station, Canada side, about two miles. New York Central, Niagara Falls Station, American side, about one-quarter mile. 30 Erie, Niri^rara Falls Station, AmeTican side, about three-quarters of a mile. West Shore, Niagara Palls Station, Ameiican side, ab'^ut three-fourths of a mile. Lehi;tel fare here, too, is cheaper than it vs nearer the Falls, and the afccommodation equal- ly as good. In the matter of hack hire, carriages can be 31 obtained at this place as cheaply and as readily as at the stations nearer the Falls. On the American side a street railway with a five cent tare, runs to the Falls. On the Canada side a champing walk along the river bank is open to those who may not wish a carriage. Admission Fees and ToUsi AMERICAN SIDE. To Goat Ishxud for the day $0 50 " " " season 100 " Cave of the Winds, with dress & guide 1 00 " Pr >spect x'ark for the day 25 " " " " season 75 " Art Gallery, (Prospect Park,) 25 " luclined Railway " " 25 " Shadow of the Rock, with dress & guide 1 00 " Ferrv to Canada aud Prospect Park. . 50 " Electric L'ght. Prospect Park, extra on day or season tickets 15 " Crossing upper Sasp. Bridge, each way 25 •' Crossing Suspeusioa Bridge, extra for one-horse carriage 35 •• Crossing Suspension Bridge, extra for two-horse carriage carriage 50 '* Railway Suspension Bridge, over and return same dav 25 " Whirlpool Rapids 50 " Whirlpool 50 " Devil's Hole, when open to visitors — 50 CANADA SIDE. To Burning Springs, including Clark Hill Islands ^0 50 " Falls Free " Lundy's Lane Battle Gro'd Observatory 50 " I\[useuni 50 " Crossing upper Susp. Bridge, each way 25 32 " " " *' extra for one horse carriage $0 35 Crossing upper Susp. Bridge, extra for two horse cariiage 50 Railway Suspension Bridge, over and return same day 25 Railway Suspension Bridge, extra for one horse carriage 35 Railway Suspension Bridge, extra for two hor> e carriage 50 Stone Road toll . . ./. 10 Whirlpool Rapids 50 Whirlpool 50 Brock's iVlouumeiit 25 How to Avoid Being Humbugged 1. Know the name of the station v/here you will leave the cars. 2. Know how iar that station is from the Falls, and what time you have at your disposal for sio^ht-seeing". 3- Decide hefore arriving at the Falls what places you wish to visit. Ascertain from this Guide how far they are from the Falls, and from each other, and what the admission fee is. 4- Remember no point of interest at Niagara Falls is free, except the Falls themselves on the Canadian side. 5. If you take a carriage, make your bargain with the driver before entering the carriage. 6. If you wish to return, you must make that a part of your contract, otherwise you maybe required to pay extra for the return drive. —That is one of the tricks. 7. If you need a hotel, select one where the rates correspond with your means and wants. 83 Hotels range from one to five do'lars per day. 8. Remember that as the driver is in your service for the time being, he will expect you to pay all fees and tolls unless you specially bar- gain for him to pay ihem. 9. It" any person should defraud you there is no place on the continent where you can get re- dress more surely or more readily, if you go di- rect to the authorities with your grievance. The Ontario Police Force, on the Canada side, and any Justice ( f 'he Pence on the American side will afford tlit stranger who applies to them ample protection. ' Rates of Fare Allowed by Law. FOK THE VSE AXD HIKK OF CABi I;iGKS MHKKK AN KXPKESS C N- TliACT IS NOT MA'DK THhliEFOR: O NIAGAEA FALLS, X. Y. CTj^^OR carrying one passnnger and ordin- ^jr ary baggage from one place to another C!!£J) in the Village, fifty cents Each additional passenger and ordinary bag- gage, twenty-five cents. For carrying one passenger and ordinary bag- gage from any point in this Village to any point in the Village of Suspension Bridge, one dollar. Each additional and ordinary baggage, fifty cents. Each additional piece of baggage other than ordinary baggage, twelve cents. | Children underihree years of age, free. Over three years and under fourteen years of age, half price. Ordinary baggage is defined to be one trunk 34 and one bag, hat or bandbox, or other small parcel. For carrying one or more passengers, in the same carriage, from any point in this village to any point within five miles of the limits of the village, at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents for each hour occupied, except that in every in- stance where such carriage shall be drawn by a single horse, the fare therefor shall be at the rate of one dollar for each hour occupied. TARIFF OF HACKMEN's CHARGES IN THE TOWN OF NIAG ARA FALLS, ONT. From Railway Suspension Bridge or G T. R. Station to Clifton House, or Falls Ferry, Davis' Museum or Table Rock, or vice versa - two horses: one person, $i, and each additior- al person, 25 cents; one horse: one person, 75 cents, and each additional person, 25 cents. From Falls Ferry to Davis' Museum, or Table Rock, or vice versa, two horses : one person, 50 cents, and each additional person, 25 cents; one horse : one person, 37 cents; each additional person, i2i cents. From Clifton House to Da- vis' Museum, Table Rock, Falls Ferry, Niagara Falls C. S. R , or vice versa, two horses : one person, 25 cents, and each additional person 25 cents; one horse, same price. From any place in the Town to any other place in the Town excepting as above specified for any distance not exceeding one mile, two horses, one person 25 cents, and each additional person 12 cents; one horse: one person, 20 cents; each additional person, 10 cents ; and exceeding one mile, and not exceedin;_j one and one-half miles, two horses: one person, 37J cents, two persons 50 cents, and each additional person, 20 cents; one horse : one person, 25 cents, and each addi- tional person, 12J cents ; exceeding one and one half miles, two horses : one person, 50 cents, and each additional person, 25 cents; one horse : one person, 37I- cents, two persons, 50 cents, and each additional person, 20 cents. Tariff by the Hour*. For two-horse vehicles to be $1.50 an hour; for one-horse vehicles to be $1.00 an hour Tariff by thk Day : To be $S 00 each day of eight hours, for two horses ; and $>4 00 per day for one horse. Optional with passengers to pay the special rates b}^ the hour or by the day. Any person paying by the hour must pay for one full hour, and alter the first hour for no less time than one-quarter of an hour; and any person paying by the day must pay for one full day. Any person employing a vehicle by the hour and not returning with the vehicle to the place of starting, must allow necessary time for the vehicle to return. Children between 2 and 10 years of age to pay half fare. Under 2 years of age. free. Passengers to pay all tolls when hiring any vehicle according to the tariff; but if any driver or owner of any vehicle shall agree to convey any passenger or passengers a certain distance for a certain price at a lesser ra;e than that al- lowed by the tarriff, or from on<; part of the mu- nicipality to any other part, at a lesser rate than that allowed by the tariff, and in making such 86 agreement makes no mention of any toll gates on the route, or does not agree that such passen- ger or passengers shall pay all tolls, then the driver or owner of such vehicle shall himself pay all tolls. C.A-TJm02^T. OMETIMES visitors are drawn to a point of interest which they do not care to see and consequently refuse to leave the cariiage. Then it frequently occurs that they are told by those in attendance "that it makes no difference whether they get out of the hack or not, they are on private property and will have to pay the fee just the same as though they passed through to the point of interest." In such cases we would warn you not to be deceived, for there is no law in the land that can make you pay for a point of interest that you do not visit. There is no such private pro- perty belonging to any point of interest where this fraud is practiced. This, however, does not apply to the Burning Spring, as Clark Hill Islands, through which they pass to go to the Spring, belong to the point of interest for which the fee is charged. Parties are therefore subject to the fee when they go on the Islands whether they visit the Spring or not. o — N. B. — There is no person permitted to ad- vertise in this volume for whose reliability we cannot vouch. CHAS. E. BENDRICKSON, 7 CHEERY STREET, NEAR MAIN, Instantaneous Process Used Only. OUILiDREIV'S PORTRAIT^t A SPECIALTY. All Work Executed with Neatness and Dispatch. -«-€THE BRUNSWICK,5^<-^ Niagara Falls, Canada Side. Best View of the Falls, by Electric Light from the Balcojiy of this Hotel. r Finest I^ocation. Entirely Free from Spray, South Side N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Depot, Suspension Bridge, - - N. Y. GEO. STOJIjIj, Proprietor. J pWooa'^ f extern '0otel| W. p. HORNE, Proprietor. SVLspeaasion Brid.gr®, IsT. "2". NORTH SIDE N. T. 0. DEPOT. Thia is one of the principal hotels in this place. Tourists cannot do better than to stop at this house as it is convenient to the stations ancP Located in the Centre of all tlie Points of Interest^ about Niagara Falls. o ^j3l c3-ooi> Tjj:'\r:E:Ei.Tr^ is connected with the house so that persons wishing a carriage can be accommodated. -Hj^S^ TERlIS MOPERATE. f^^H*- W. B. MCEWBN 9 IDE3^TariST. OFFICE OVER CITY DRUG STORE, Suspension Bridge, N. Y. The Light Running, Simple, Easy Threading, High Arm siwiM i&oimi! Its Success is imparalleled in the History of SEWING MACHINES. Beautiful ap- pearance ; highly finished. Every run- ning part is cast steely hardened. Be sure and SEE before purchasing. SSOLiD ON ItlOIVTIlIiV TERillS.! — Niagara Falls and Tonawanda. -^SiUBSCRIBE FOR€^ "^he ]^ia|ara jjall^ |{eview." $1.00 PER AN^frM. It contains all the important local news, exposes frauds perpetrated on strangers at the Falls, is free, and unsubsidized by the "Points of Interest" monopoly. Address Tlie Review, Niagara Falls, Canada. QUEENSTON From these Quarries is obtaineJ the Ftnest and Most Durable The contiaeut of America produses. For p<3rmaueat works, exposed t) the weither, no stone in either Cana- da or the United States equals tbat from these famous quarries. I jFORj 1 Monnm^ats, Vases, Ornim^ntal Work | Of all descriptions it is equal t> granite. Tha new Post | Office building at Niagara Falls, Ont. and that at Corn- : wall, the architecture of which is pronounced the tinest in the Dominion, are made of this stone. The abut- i ments in the Cantilever Bridge over Niagara River at \ Niagara Falls are also from the^a quarries. The attentiofi of Contractors requested. Orders of all kiads promptly filled. I Address JOHNSON & MUBRAY, ;| ST. DAVIDS, Ont. cPP 2 9 1950 -DEALER IN- Choice Family Groceries, Crockery, China, f^anips aud Cirla^iswarc . Also Wines, Liiquors and Cigars ! CONSTANTLY ON HAND. IXIi GOOI>S WARRAl^TED FRESH. EAST SIDE OF LEWISTON AVENUE, SvLspexision Brid.g'e, 3Sr-"5r- ONTARIO AVENUE, I SUSPENSION BRID&E, - N. Y„ | A. M . ROEIili, Proprietor, Sign Painter, Gilding, Kalsomining, Paper Hanging, &c. C. FINK & SON, wisLiiiii & mmtL iiQOiis, —DEALERS IN— Glassware, Crockery, Wines, Liquors AIV» CIOARS. Ixewiston Ave., Suspension Bridge, N. Y. IF YOU WAtVr your business to increaso a hundred fold advertise in the CANADIAN PHOTO JOURNAL, BAZAAR AND MSRCHANTS' BJilEAa. Tne publisher will not rest uutil he places a eopy in every home, store aud ofliae on the American continent. Miib -