But the article that I found most interesting is a tongue-in-cheek travelogue written by Robert Tate, as he explores the Black River, starting from the Erie Avenue Bridge and continuing until he runs aground at 31st Street. It's mostly written in an amusing style (he shares that his provisions consist of two cheese sandwiches on white) but there are serious comments sprinkled here and there. Tate also contributes a few photos.
It's surprising when he discovers how polluted the Black River is. He points out that "the river is filthy dirty and stinks." He observes 'two warnings of death' early in his journey: a drowned rat floating by on its back, and a deceased fish trailing it by a few feet.
His log is at its most whimsical when he writes, "Pushing on upstream, I came to the country of a tribe known as the Steelworkers. They are noted for their handicraft, round metal tubes, especially. They make these in big campfires that burn day and night."
Tate notes that "The water is red brown with pollution. Any fish in it should have its fishhead examined. The only waterfalls are sewage pipes discharging."
He ends his journey at 31st Street, aware that "further on lived people known as Elyrians and others named by the civilized lakeshore peoples as "downstaters.""