Down the Niagara river from Buffalo a few miles the noble stream divides
and forms Grand Island. This is Buffalo’s watering-place. Hotels,
club-houses, summer residences and public pleasure grounds abound all
along the river’s banks on either side of the island, while the rich
farming land of the interior is devoted to agriculture. The air of the
island is pure, the scenery delightful, and the ride upon the river to
and from the city is full of restful charm.
Many pleasure steamers ply between the city and the island resorts, and
do a large and remunerative business. But for the great mass of busy
people some sort of transit more rapid than steamers is necessary. This
want is about to be met. A project has lately ripened to build a bridge
from the mainland and run an electric railroad across the bridge and
clear around the island, connecting with the street railroad system of
the city. Long-headed men foresee that when this is accomplished there
will be a quick and large appreciation of land values on the island, and
it is certain that within the next few years fortunes will be made in
Grand Island lands as well as in those of Buffalo and other sections of
the mainland. With the increased demand for manufacturing sites,
industrial enterprises will certainly seek that portion of the island
nearest to Buffalo and Tonawanda, and the other side, facing Canada,
will continue to be occupied by summer resorts, club-houses and
residences.