ITHACA. A city and the county-seat of Tompkins County, N. Y., 60 miles southwest of Syracuse, at the head of Cayuga Lake, and on the Lackawanna. the Lehigh Valley, and other rail roads (Map: New York, D 3). Its location is one of great natural beauty. In addition to the scenery of Cayuga Lake, that of numerous gorges and waterfalls in the vicinity adds to the eity's attractions. the most noted of the falls being But termilk, Triphammer, Ithaca, and Taughannock falls. The last. 215 feet in height, is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Cornell University (q.v.) is picturesquely situated on Cornell Heights, about 400 feet above and over looking the lake and the city. Among other fea tures of interest are several well-known prepara tory schools, Cornell free library (21,000 vol umes) and reading-room. Ithaca Conservatory of Music, Renwick Park, and three suspension bridges. Ithaca is in a productive farming re gion. Its coal trade is extensive, and there are manufactures of castings. machinery, agricultural
implements, guns, calendar clocks, salt, glass, wall-paper. etc. Under the charter of 18S8 the government is vested in a mayor biennially elected. a council, and administrative officials, who, with the exception of the hoard of educa tion. which is chosen by popular election, are appointed by the mayor. some such appointments, however, being subject to the consent of the council. Population. in 1890. 11,097: in 190o, 13.136. Settled in 1789. Ithaca wa.s variously called 'The Flats,' The City,' and 'Sodom,' until about ISOG, when Simeon De Witt gave it its present name. In it was incorporated as a village. and in 1S88 was chartered as a city. At Buttermilk Palls, near Ithaca, stood the Ca tawba, Indian village `Coreorgoncl,' built about 1753 and destroyed in 1779 (September 24th) by a division of Sullivan's army. Consult Sel kreg (editor), Landmarks of Tompkins County (Syracuse, 1894).