completed, enter the bay with ease, and take refuge there. This fact gives great advantages to Little Sodus Bay, as it makes it accessible at all times."

The City of OSWEGO, 36 miles north of Syracuse by railroad, is advantageously situated on both sides of Oswego River, at its entrance into Lake Ontario. It is a port of entry, was chartered in 1848, being divided into four wards. In 1855 it contained 16,000 inhabitants, 1,500 dwelling-houses, two Presbyterian, two Episcopal, two Baptist, two Methodist, two Roman Catholic, one Universalist, and one African church, besides a Bethel congregation; a court-house and jail, a custom-house, four banking houses, two savings' banks; a gas company, a female seminary, and orphan asylum. There are several wellkept hotels; the Munger House and the Hamilton House on the east side of the river, and the Welland House on the west side, are the most frequented by pleasure travelers. The Pardee House is a new and commodious hotel which is nearly completed, situated on the west side of the river, near the steamboat landing.

The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad, 36 miles in length, connects this place with the Central Railroad of New York, while another railroad is being constructed on the east side of the Oswego River, to run to Syracuse and connect with the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad, thus forming another direct route to the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and the coal region of Pennsylvania. The Oswego Canal also connects with the Erie Canal at Syracuse, altogether affording great facilities for trade and commerce, in connection with the lake navigation and water privilege. Here are now in operation 15 flouring-mills, with 84 run of stones, making 8,400 barrels of flour per day when in full operation; ten elevators capable of elevating 38,000 bushels of grain per hour, with storage room for 2,000,000 bushels. These huge edifices are so arranged as to unload and load vessels with great dispatch.

The Oswego Starch Factory, owned by an incorporated body, was erected in 1848, since which large additions have been

made. The entire front of the building is now 510 feet, five stories high, extending back over the river 250 feet; it is capable of manufacturing twelve millions pounds of corn starch per year, consuming some 600,000 bushels of corn for the purpose, and giving employment to 300 persons. In addition to the above are two steam-engine and machine works, two iron and brass foundries, one cotton-mill, besides several other mills and factories.

The quantity of water flowing in the Oswego River at ordinary high water is 700,000 cubic feet per minute, at low water 200,000. Fall at the two lower dams in the city, 36 feet, affording altogether an immense and reliable water-power.

The number of vessels which arrive and depart annually from this port is very large; there being here owned eight steamers and propellers and about 100 schooners, averaging over 100 tons burden, besides a large number of canal boats. The harbor is capacious and safe, being well protected by two large stone piers, constructed by the United States government. On the end of the west pier is situated a light-house; about half a mile above are two bridges extending across the river, 600 feet in length. An extensive forwarding business is done at this place by means of lake, river, and canal navigation; goods passing through from New York to Oswego, and thence over the Collingwood route, or through the Welland Canal to the Upper Lakes.

Oswego now ranks as one of the greatest grain markets in the world, and will no doubt continue to increase with the growth and production of the Western States and Canada. The lumber trade is also very great, immense quantities being shipped from Canada to this port, and re-shipped to Eastern markets.

The impulse imparted to the commerce of Oswego by the late Reciprocity Treaty, which went into force October, 1854, is very great, as will be seen by the following returns made from official figures:

Here it will be seen that the trade with Canada nearly doubled in the first year under the operation of the above treaty. The domestic or coastwise trade is also constantly and rapidly increasing.

One of the Steamers of the Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company leaves Oswego daily for Sacket's Harbor, Kingston, C. W., and Ogdensburgh, connecting with steamers running to Montreal and Rouse's Point, via the Northern Railroad of New York.

A steamer also leaves Oswego daily, for Rochester, Niagara, C. W., and Lewiston, connecting with steamers for Toronto, etc.

The Toronto and Collingwood line of steamers runs daily, Sundays excepted, from Oswego to Toronto, 150 miles, forming the most direct route through Lake Ontario to the Upper Lakes.

RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT ROUTE FROM SYRACUSE TO NIAGARA FALLS, via OSWEGO AND LEWISTON.

THIS route, during the season of navigation on Lake Ontario, is a most interesting line of travel, affording the tourist a fine opportunity of viewing the scenery peculiar to Lake Ontario and Niagara River.

The Oswego and Syracuse Railroad, 35 miles in length, runs along the west side of Onondaga Lake to the Seneca River, which is passed near Baldwinsville, the first stopping-place after leaving Syracuse. From thence the road runs north on the west side of Oswego River, passing opposite to the village of FULTON, 11 miles from the city of Oswego. Passenger cars usually leave Syracuse and Oswego three times daily.

American steamers leave Oswego daily for Sacket's Harbor, Kingston, Canada, Ogdensburgh, etc., in the morning, on the arrival of the cars from Syracuse; while in the afternoon a

steamer leaves for Rochester, Lewiston, etc., running up the lake. Passengers passing through Oswego are afforded a hasty glance of the city, the harbor, and Fort Ontario, the latter being located on the east shore of the river at its entrance into Lake Ontario.

DISTANCES AND FARE BETWEEN SYRACUSE AND NIAGARA FALLS, via OSWEGO AND LEWISTON.

On resuming the trip from Oswego to Sacket's Harbor, the steamer runs in a northerly direction off Mexico Bay, being a large expanse of water at the east end of Lake Ontario, where lies PORT ONTARIO, at the mouth of Salmon River. On this stream is situated one of the most romantic falls in the country. SALMON RIVER rises in Lewis Co., and flows west through Oswego Co. into Lake Ontario; discharging its waters into Mexico Bay, at the village of Port Ontario. This is a fine and durable stream, having a tolerably good harbor at its mouth, and is boatable during high water to the Falls in Orwell, a distance of 14 miles. "The Falls of Salmon River may be classed among the principal natural curiosities of the country. The current is gentle above for six or more miles, then two miles of rapids, and at the falls drops almost perpendicular 107 feet. At high water the sheet is 250 feet in width, but at low water it is narrowed down to about half that extent. The rocky strata seem to be composed of slate stone and granite, or gneiss, and the height of the banks immediately above the fall is variously estimated at from 70 to 90 feet; below it is said

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that the walls, perpendicular rock, are about 200 feet. At the foot of the cataract there is very deep water, abounding in fine fish, such as salmon, trout, etc."

GREAT STONEY ISLAND and other islands are passed as the steamer approaches Black River Bay, which affords the most capacious and safe harbor on Lake Ontario. Here enters Black River, an important stream, which rises many miles to the eastward, interlocking with the waters of the Mohawk and other tributaries of the Hudson River.

SACKET'S HARBOR, 45 miles north of Oswego, and distant 38 miles from Kingston, Canada, possesses one of the best and most secure harbors on Lake Ontario, being situated on Black River Bay, ten miles below Watertown, with which place it is soon to be connected by a railroad. It was an important naval and military station during the war of 1812, with Great Britain; it being the rendezvous of the American fleet on Lake Ontario. Here now lies a large war vessel under cover, which was commenced at the above period. Madison Barracks, garrisoned by United States troops, is handsomely situated near the steamboat landing, being in full view from the water.

This place is an important port of entry, and no doubt destined to increase in wealth and numbers on the opening of railroad facilities. The village now contains four churches, two hotels, twenty stores, four storehouses, a ship yard and rope-walk, three saw-mills, two furnaces, an iron foundry and machine-shop.

The Sacket's Harbor and Ellisburgh Railroad, 18 miles in length, connects with the Watertown and Rome Railroad.

BLACK RIVER, so called from the color of its water, is the third in magnitude that has its whole course in the State of New York. Its whole course is about 120 miles, and is navigable from the High Falls in Leyden, where it has a fall of 63 feet, to the Long Falls at Carthage, a distance of 40 miles; thence, by a succession of rapids and falls, it continues a circuitous route, until it empties into Black River Bay, near the foot of Lake Ontario. It is a deep, sluggish stream, but the navigation is much obstructed by falls; affording, however, fine