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 1 
 
 2 
 
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 32 X 
 
 1 2 3 
 
 4 5 6 
 
p"^ 
 
■£*■ 
 
 
 CANADIAN TOU 
 
 REPORTS 
 
 t'.v Till-; 
 
 fe IMPROVEMENT AND PRESEi 
 
 TOEONTO HAEBO 
 
 rUBLlSHEI) MV AITIIORTTY OF THE II VllBOUJI ('( 
 
 ^^'^ •V(lvi!VtiseiiU'Ht of tlic Ilai-limu' (,'ouiiiiis^ioiuTs., 
 
 T*:^'» First Premium Kqjori : liy Henry Youle Iliml. J[.A.. riMtV^sor ul' ClicmigtJ 
 Trinity (."ollpi.'(> '..... 
 
 St'conil i'rcmijim Keport : liv Saiifonl Kk'inin^', C.E., llosiilcui Enirincc 
 Third Premium Report ; by Kivas Tully, C.E., Inspecting Enjrinecr nf thc^ 
 Supplementary Premium Report : liy Ilu^'h J^icliardsoii. E^q.. IFtirbour ^rast/ 
 Extract from the Minuter of tlie Uiirlxiur t.'ommi*Moners 
 
 KiiliAnM.—l'ug.- 20, lor '■ Kivai Tiilly, ICs,,.. l'r...viiKlal 8iii-veyoi',- rca.l 
 
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T O R O .¥'1' (f 11^ li ^ 
 
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Jl^ U B U R 
 
 It sf rate ffie First Pre mi ft m Report 
 
1 
 
 REPORTS ON THE IMPROVEMENT AND PRESERVATION 
 
 OF 
 
 TORONTO HARBOUR. 
 
 PITBLISIIED BY TIIK AUTHORITY OP THE HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS.* 
 
 HARBOUR OF TORONTO. 
 
 THE Comiiiissionora of Toronto irurliom-, Imviii;!; clcc'uU'il upon 
 offering iirciniiims for llic best Keports on tlie itjiprovenient nnil 
 prcsorvfttion of llio Harbour, ftmi upproprintcil the sum of Xlli; Id". 
 for that purpose, ami the (,'oinmon Council of the City of Toronto 
 having also voted a ttiinilar sum for the same object : 
 
 NOTICE IS HEREIJV GIVEN, 
 
 That three premiums of £100, £70, and £jO, rcspectlvelv, will bo 
 given for the three best Reports on the means to be adopted fen- the 
 preservation and improvement of tlie Harbour of Toronto. 
 Such Uoporta to embrace tlio followiuy subjects : 
 
 The effects which have been produced, or are likely to be produced, 
 by the present breach at the Eastern extremity of the Hay of Toronto, 
 particularly with reference to the liar, at the entrance of the Bay. 
 If prejudicial to the Harbour, suggest the best means of closing it, 
 and of streugtlic;iing tiiat part of the Peninsula against further en- 
 croachments by tlie waters of the Lake. 
 
 Furnish also a statement as to the probable cost of such works. 
 
 If, on the other hand, a permanent opening at that end of the 
 Harbour should be shottn to be a benefit rather than nn injury, furnish 
 full particulars as to the best mode of making a Canal, unci the pro- 
 bable cost thereof. 
 
 Also as to the advisability, or otherwise, of enlarging the opening 
 between the Harbour and Asbridge's Hay, or of making a permanent 
 opening into the Lake, from Asbridge's Uny, and the cost thereof. 
 
 The Reports ninst be sent in not later than the loth of .\pril next, 
 addressed to the Chairman of the Commissioners of the Toronto Har- 
 bour. 
 
 Two copies of all such Reports to bo furnished, one for the Harbour 
 Commissioners Oflice, and tlie other for the Clerk's Oflice of the City 
 of Toronto. 
 
 Harbour Commissioners' Office, ■) 
 Toronto, March 14, 1854. / 
 
 TORONTO HARBOUR. 
 
 on the preservation 
 is extended to the 
 
 f piIE period for receiving the proposed Reports ' 
 L and improvement of the Toronto Harbour," 
 4th of May. 
 
 The Commissioners desire it to be nn lerstooj, that it is not requisite 
 that the Reports should embrace detailed estimates of the cost of the 
 proposed works, except in so far as will suffice to give a general idea 
 of the comparative expense of the different plans proposed. 
 
 Harbour Commissioners' Office, 
 Toronto, April 1, 1854. 
 
 R E P 11 T 
 ON THE I'RESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 TORONTO HARBOUR, 
 
 IIV IIF.XUY VOILK Ill.Nn, M.\.. I'nOFK.SSOll OF CHK.MISTIIY I.V THE 
 ;..VlVKIl-<nv UF Tlil.MTV COLI.KflK. 
 
 [The first picmhim nf Oik Hiimlrcil Puitiuls was awarded to the 
 author of this Heporl.] 
 
 The queslidns proposed by the Comniis.sinnersofTorontoIIarbour 
 rospccting the means to be ndopted for it.s prescrvntion and im- 
 provement, involve as a primary consideration the origin and 
 distribution of the entire mass of accumulated materials from near 
 the town line of Scarboro' and Y'ork to -within a few liundrod 
 yard.s south of tlio fiarrisou Wharf, thus embracing the whole of 
 the sand and shingle beach enclosing Ashbridgo'.s Bay and the 
 swamps of the Don, together with the Peninsula boundary of 
 Toronto Harbour and its westerly subaqueous extension towards 
 the Hunibor Bay. A'aritnis theories have been advanced from time 
 to time with a view to unveil the history of the formation of the 
 Harbour. The citizens of Toronto are familiar with the names of 
 Koy, Bonnycastio, Fleming, Shnnly, Tully, and Ricliardson, in 
 connection witli this important subject. The views of these gen- 
 tlemen have been brought before the public in various ways, either 
 in papers read before the Mechanics' Institute, (Roy,— published 
 in the Monthly Review, June, 1841), the Canadian Institute 
 (Fleming, 1850-51), or in the form of reports and letters, (Bonny- 
 castle, Shanly, Tully, and Richardson). Allusions are also made to 
 the encroachments of the Sand-bar towards the Queen's Wlmrf in 
 the reports of the officers connected witli the Board of Works, and 
 publislied in the Sessional papers of the Legislative Assembly. 
 Notwithstanding a discussion in which so many have taken a part, 
 and which has been extended over a period of fifteen or twenty 
 years, the subject does not appear to bo exhausted and perhaps 
 still offers room for additional speculations. It is essentially a 
 geological subject, involving the present active operations of thoso 
 forces wiiich, on a scale of greater magnitude, have recorded their 
 existence and power on the shores of every tidal and tidcloss ex. 
 pause of water. Nor can the preservation of the Harbour, with 
 
 * The Commis»ioners of 'Toronto Ilaibonr, in addition to the liberal premiums awarded for the following Reports, have placed in the hands 
 ot the Iroasurer of the tanadmn Institute sufficient funds to cover the expensen of the r publication in the Canadian Journal 
 
 
 ir^ ,.*t. 
 
IIKI'OHTS ON TORONTO lIAUHorH 
 
 any proprictv, bo oonsUlere.l n,.nrt fr,..n ilio li-uits .1 s-'olopn. 
 %n'^^ T .:• n.".o,li„l n,o.sun-. pn-vnso.l uouM .1..;.. -..n.Mo 
 ;„c":".U « .vncly f..r >u. u,.kn„wn .n,l a,u,,..n-u. .....so. 
 
 Tl„. rrosulentof the Mmu.l of \V,„ks in is 11 '•"I""""' "'I'"; 
 Pn ,u.i,.l Soorotnry tln.t. "ut tho iulo. of .l,o T„n.,..u liny lUo --.u 
 
 ,,„rl„a some xvork u.ust l,o o-uouutorod to hx "'"> l'-^ ' ', ; 
 
 „„„,,. H,.n.l, m.a blmk >n,.«notic oxide of Inm:' ''"-1 "''fh' by 
 r .opo.ra;i,oal ..o„ formation «f tho IVninsula, .luoh nhortly. 
 
 ^^'Ti;:';;'oJo''':al..nf ..nation of this part of tho country i. alto- 
 , . ; V to tlu. HUVpositioM tl.at tho l,aHi« of the I'onmBuhv 
 
 ' : v of ,0 11 Ison Itivor liroup, n,u,„ «-hieh nhmg o 
 
 '" ? : n ,. U. o«i.o,l. The llu.Uon IH.er Oron,, extend. 
 T Tl : tl o . to tho i're,r,t, and forms the hanis of the 
 S:i^ l:o:.lh:^.un.ryM..o.nn.ao.erinthi.,u.i.h,^o^ 
 
 .,f vessels, .ho have cer.a.u vermanon, ^'^^ ' ^'^^^ ,,„^,,^ ,, ,;, '„ B v, it exhihit. blue argiUaeoous shales al.ernut.nR vv, h 
 
 to j;uide then, in eon.in); .n and hom.s out ol th(, l"> ' f ,;„. .us sandstone, and oecasionally limestone bands, 
 
 ascertained that within ".'> '-^ seven years the KHm. J^ : ^ ,;tut," B.W and UUe is gradual, and within a dis.,u.ce 
 
 di.taneo of .SO loot.- Further on ""^ ---Jt^^, ;:, ,Hft ^; r :^. , h of i'ri afs Hotel it is not reached at a do^h o^ 
 
 a.,..bt that the mnkin, o the bar --" '':>,',„.„,, ,,„„,,„,„, t'JX The vvater-worn shingle whieh largely enters .n to tho 
 
 of the »amU'.<lshM.):letr..m the *•"»//,< M- r' '' '. .' 
 
 ,vhieh is carried when the wind is fron. the east, ^ ' • ^'^ 
 
 want of a sufficient current in the Bhy, when tho w,nd chau,.s ,o 
 
 ir'JtT^T.:; -r':::;:::.:^;: >.::;i;^-rs.iotho 
 
 :::i;;::;io::;ft::lvninsulacon.ainsoecasional.y.bssilsl.,on^^^ 
 
 nttifasumcientcurre.u M. .... ...... - . ,,„,„,,. .......rred 
 
 the west is not carried out, hut ren.a.ns lonn.n- the ba. i Icrrc, 
 m w i. .. if not vvevented by the eonstrnetion -f -- ^ ^;^ 
 UK-reasin, and confu.in. the current will very soon destroy tho 
 entrance to the llarb.'Ur.' 
 
 tiirnol the 1 eninsuiinuii.i...... •— ^ 
 
 to the orijiin and vrojjress of lormatmn ol "'^ ' '." '' ,,,,. ^,,.n transimrted to its restingn>l.'™ and had Us .r.^.". .' " 
 
 b n...aarv ol' Toronto Harbour and its suba,,uoous ^"^'-.s.on . - h , ■ ,,i,,.bourin, shores of tho Lako to tho e.t«tward. 
 
 ne which appears to bo most complete and at tho sam o ^" ;' , _ ;,,^,^ the history of tho delta of tho Don from 
 
 most consistent with observed phenon.ena, n. ;-;y -^l" f ^^^ ^^,1,. boundary of Toronto Bay. and he carr.es us 
 
 ,,articulars, is that sub.nitted by Mr. Sand ord l'™ !^; ^; " ' ' , , the din. and mis.v ages of the ynarten...ry por.od .n 
 
 Mr. ricmins's views have been fully eM.1.....0'l •" ««" '• I ■ ^^ J '"'" , t for tho deposition at tho n.outh of tho Do., of .ts 
 
 ; ad bv hi.," before tho Canadian I..sti.n.e. and s.nce pnbl.shed .rder to c .jt ";,' ^^": / ,,^ ..,,„,,„ that sufficcnt 
 
 ^.^Vanadian .Journal (Vol. H p. U. and ... -IT- ir:ty^^o;anteK::T>o.->.orea,re supplies ..adequate c^ 
 
 necessary that tho a.h.ption wholly or part, "' > ' ;^.^j f '"f. rmin^, and eompleting Ion, since tho work ass.g.,ed to t 
 
 theory of Toro.,to Harbour, out ,,f several wlu..h in flu o pc _^. 1.^^ early history, slowly but eo..stanUy 
 
 tothepublic,sho..Ulbeaccompa.t.edbysa..sla.to,v... on ju.. a.tcj . - . ., ,...,. „, .„„te..ts of .t« 
 
 the seloetio... In accepting the ,uain ieatures ol Mr. H .u . g 
 thoorv, the writer cannot giv e assent to that P^;"-;;;-;X 
 of the early history of Toronto Harl.ur, or of the 1'' " f"" ' 
 
 or to the remedial ,nea.ures ..r the 1— ^'-: . ' ":"^:' , 
 
 l>oUowin.' out a channel a..d re.noving the former contet.ts of .ts 
 ; :," he Lake, the lighter and more s-duble .natter e,ng^. -^ 
 fu so,.,e ti.,.e bv the water, to be distributed far n.,d w.de, t .e 
 !::,:;:r;articlc; on the o,hcr hand, to be .>epos.ted near^^s 
 
 .,,.,.....,.... ,i,„ („rm of an extensive shoal or delta,~tho base 01 
 
 tl, .t it is desi able, before proeeedieg further, to exam,.,e the ox.st- 
 ;:Vd::o.nena of' that range of hills and cliffs, and see ow they 
 „,rr,!e with the descriptions which have been g.ven of them. 
 ^The following description of tho Scarboro' heights ,b the re«uU 
 .;U-n--t',,t.ttr.u..n.ica^pic.ur^^ 
 
 ?ar.., of W. Crone, t al-"t nine miles fron, Toronto. Ihesojer^ 
 * See Note A. in Appendix, f «- ^"'^ «• "' ^^''P"""" 
 
 into consideration. The views snb.uitted in a ^^'J-' ;"' '^ "^ 
 bour Co.,.missioner that the origin of the l'en,.,sula .«'<';«- 
 to detritus brought down by the rivers to the wes f 1 o..^ o « 
 completely set aside, tirst by Lieut. Herbert » Chart of Lake Un 
 a io which gives a depth of ninety feet between the souther,. 
 
 S;:f thellumborBly and the Y^I^'^^'TT/Zs'^^ 
 Mr Fleming's measurements, which show a dep 1, o mx.s k 
 about "tv d,ains from the C.arrison Common beach ; th.rd, by he 
 J^S^Hf the prevailing win.N and their inlluence up.m tl.e 
 exnanse of water exposed to the. fourth, by the .n.poss.b h.y of 
 
 ninsula eontists, na.,.oli, bhmijlt, pcooies, 
 
 I 
 
 ^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^. 
 
IIKI'OUTH ON TOKONTU IIAIUJOIJJI. 
 
 8- 
 
 raoflu attain thoir iitiiiost olovntion npirSctirlxiri)' tiivi>ni ; ((<iitf«') 
 tho eloviUioim of the tnrracpM, uh nicimiroil by Mr. Murray, tlio 
 ttssiHtaiit I'roviiiciul (IculoKiNt, nrn ah fnllnwH; 
 
 First Terrnro ftbovo tlio Liiko 101 fent 
 
 Second Terraco nliovo till' First IV,) „ 
 
 Soeonil Torrai'o abnvo tlir Lalco .ISO „ 
 
 — See Geolo'jical Hepurtfur IH-I"). 
 
 An boforo remarkcil, those torraocs run into cmo another (in 
 Mr. Odno'H farm, that is to say, the HwomlDr hi^^hysttnrrai'otrondrt 
 hero Ni) much to \\w South Ihul a pnylian of it lias falliMi into tliu 
 waters of tlid l/altc, as nliowii in section N'o. 4. 'f lie slope of tho 
 seeonil or hii!;host torra(!e has been denuilcil liy tlie full of its 
 materials to the exleiit of about lOII feet, ho that (lie ]>i'r|i('iidicular 
 ftltitiido of this, the liif;hest denudeil portion of the Scarboni' 
 hoights, does not exceed 'IW feet, upon the basis of Mr. Murray's 
 altitudes, whidi, for tho total hiMj^ht of the lirst and second (ditfs 
 are tho same as tliose f^iven by Mr. Fleiiiinj;, nanielv, '.VH) feet. 
 About 00 feet of the cliffs of the second terrace still reiniiin ilotlicd 
 with heavy timber, and have not eontriliuted any materials to 
 increase the deposition on the shore of the peiiiiisuhi boundary of 
 Toronto Hay. It is hip;li!y probiibli" tliiil the present •generation liiis 
 witnoaseil the fall of the first contribution of the second or hi;,'liest 
 terrace to tho sand shoals of the l/ike, and it may confidently bo 
 asserted that 50 years a;;o the second terrace was separateil from the 
 first by a narrow plateau several yards in breadth, and conse- 
 quently ((uite unafl'crted tlirouj;liout its entire developeiiient in 
 the township of Scarboro' by tho waters of tho Lakes. On tho 
 ne.\t farm to the westward, that of J. Thoin, the second or hifjhest 
 terrace has been still less subject to the effect of the oncroaeli- 
 monts of tho Lake, and remainin;; portions of the first terrace can 
 bo seen forming projections in tho sides of tho crater like cavities 
 produced by the land slips which have caused these extensive and 
 destructive removals. 
 
 The nest farm to the west belongs to 1). riierill, there tho 
 second terrace is attacked to a very trifling extent, and the pro- 
 jecting remains of tho first terrace are more distinctly seen. On 
 tho junction between the farms of A. Phcrill & A. Ashbridgo (the 
 next succeeding to the west,) the second terrace leaves the Lake, 
 and retires into the interior, as shown in tho diagram No. 2. 
 
 It thus appears that tho amount of materials derived from tho 
 destruction of the second terrace is inconsiderable, and might be 
 altogether embraced in a dozen guUios similar to that represented 
 in fig. ;!, wliich was sketched this spring, and of which there are 
 groat numbers otpialling it in capacity, along the first or lowest 
 terrace, between Gates' Farm and a mile or two to tho east of the 
 commencement of Ashbridgo's Bay. Mr. Fleming's ingenious 
 speculations with respect to the original form of tho Scarboro' 
 heights, and their relation to earlier developments of Toronto 
 Harbour, a.s exhibited in his diagrams numbered 9, 10, 11, 12 and 
 16,* become imaginary, and the section number 10 assumes tho 
 probable form exhibited in diagram No. 4, in one spot only ; tho 
 highest clitt' contributing its m.atorials to the Lake, not exceeding, 
 50 years ago, tho height of 100 feet. Although Mr. Fleming's 
 account of the past history of the Scarboro' heights, and, as will 
 
 •See "Canadidn Journal," Vol. II., page 228. 
 
 bo shown hereafter, of the niarshcs, or Delta of the Don, is not 
 borne out by existing topognipliical conditions, yet it happens 
 that its failure in this respect does not interfere with his views of 
 the formafion of the Harbour in its jinwiit condition and devulop- 
 nient. The first or lowest terrace, from the nature of the 
 materials entering into its composition, and its altitude, (in some 
 places 100 feet) affords abundant supply of di'tritus t<i explain tho 
 lorination of the sand and Kliiiigic beaches constituting tlii" penin- 
 sula boundary of the Ilaiboiir and of Ashbridgo's Hay. 
 
 The first terrace is composed of stratified sand and gravel, 
 and of bliKi clay. In one of the gullies adjoining that ri'prcseiited 
 in fig. ;i, the following oriler of stratification was observed by the 
 writer. The same order of stratification was frequently noticed 
 along the cliff's of tho first or lowest terrace it — 
 
 Yellow clay and vegetable mould, about 2 feet. 
 
 ."^riatified sand and gravel 10 ,, 
 
 liliii' clay 25 „ 
 
 .'^tiiitilicd sand .'50 ,, 
 
 liliie L'\;\y ami concealed measures to tho water's edge. 
 Diagram number 5 shows the stratification in a guUey near 
 tiates' farm. 
 
 A layer of two feet of small water worn boulders from one inch 
 to six inches in diaiiictcr is very persistent aliout 10 feet from the 
 surfaci" of the lowest terrace; coarse and line sand, beautifully 
 stratified, occur in vast (piantitics ; in fact the cliffs now present 
 every re(|iiisite feature for rapid destruction. 
 
 'J'/ki/ dill not jiicieiil l/icucjialure.ijijl!/ ;/eai:i ur/o, and there can 
 be no question but that the operations of tho settler have 
 exercised a vast influence upon the recent rate of progress with 
 which tho destruction of the cliff's has taken place, and (as a not 
 very remote eonseqiieiicc) the alarming rapidity with which tho 
 ]ieninsula boundary of Toronto Harbour has increased during lalo 
 years. In OW years upwards of 30 acres have been added to tho 
 peninsula in deep water beyond the Light-house, on Light-house 
 Point. The shoal towards the mouth of the Bay has increased to 
 a very threatening extent, and has spread in tlie direction of 
 llumlier Bay from Light-house Point : a new reef is rapidly forming 
 which, perhaps, this season will effect a fresh addition of 10 or 12 
 acres to the western limit of tho peninsula, as indicated on tho 
 Map Xo. 0, and which only requires a period of low water to 
 dovclope itself in the form of a beach. Now, all these enormous 
 changes in so short a space of time imply the existence of no 
 ordinary fiirces or supply of materials, for they have occurred in 
 deep water, and involve the remov.al of many million tons of 
 shingle and sand. 
 
 It is now proposed to consider the relation of the Scarboro' 
 cliff's to the existing peninsula boundary of Toronto Harbour, 
 without entering into speculations, as yet, as to its early history. 
 The problem is not difficult of solution, and it is thought to bo 
 one of tho utmost importance, as it seems to lead at once to those 
 remedial measures which the preservation of the Ilarbourdcmands. 
 It points to a power which has been slowly and beneficially acting 
 for centuries, liut which has suddenly become energetic and 
 dangerous in its recent extension. 
 
 A stroll along the precipitous cliffs of the lowest terrace, from 
 Gates's farm to where tho partial union of the two terraces takes 
 
 f Kote C, Appendix. 
 
UKl'OUTS ON TORONTO HAlUlOCIt. 
 
 t 
 
 pro,l, .1 l.v >l.M.ri-.« tl,o ,.l:.t,.,m ,.f the l.w,..l torra.o ...» tore t l^ K ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^j 
 
 growth, anil thus h., u,« l.u- th,- -ro.ts of thn ..l.a,. I ho nm.-v 1 ho V . t ^^^' « " . „^^ ,^^,„„ ^,. .^ „ff.,„,e,l long 
 
 :^„o,„,.uf this cm,,.!...,. r..,n„vul of th,- vn.toot.vo .om.ng of '-;>;- ;;;'';, ;,^,^,^^^^^^^ 
 
 limbrr is, that the .•lilV. boin^ unvroteetcl for i.u.ny years hy rost.n(;v>h..oslorMmig» an , _ ^^ ^ ^^ ^^^^^^_ ,., attain 
 
 fallon trees, have lost th.'ir former terraee,! ami «oo,|e,l > In.rn.ter, 
 and have heeoiiio (hv land slips) clean, luire aii.l shelvmn, ex,ms^ 
 inp their loose and shifting Materials to all the elfeets of rams aiol 
 winds. AVhontho lowest terraeo was vvoo.led. every tree vvImiU 
 fell from tho erest« of the elifls either liunj; hy its ro,.ts. or was 
 arrested in its fall down tho sides .d" the elift' l.y underhro^l. an. 
 small trees, and thns heenme a rostinj! idae,. for those annua 
 slips of earth, trees, pelddes, and even sand, whi.h the thaws ot 
 spring set in motion, liy sueh means minor torraees w .-.. |..rmed. 
 supported l.v tho strata of hine elay heforo deserihe.l and on 
 these suhordinate terraees, Rrass and shruhs grew ami gave a 
 p,.rn>anont.haraeter t,. the sides of the elilf. In some of the 
 Lilies, the retainins and conservative eflVet of underhrusl, ,^ s„ll 
 well n.arked, espeeially where the forest growth has he.o per- 
 ,„ittod to protee, the eres, ; there are, however, hut few .ns.anees 
 
 now renmining on the eUfl's, for miles have 1 n eleared. Another 
 
 rather singular eons.,,neneo is to ho found u. the quantu.es of 
 loose sand which are Idown up hy every gale of w.nd fiom the 
 South, South-east, and Kast, from the hare sides ,.f the unn.ense 
 ernterdike gullies which have heen fornu-d during the la.t levv-^ 
 years. A gentle hreezo suffices to transport tho nnstal.le sand .d 
 "thcditrs up the .dean si<les ,.f the gullies on to tho plateau al-ve 
 
 supply .d these protective harriers has ennhle,! th, h..ach to at a.n 
 „,'/ the waves to wash the foot of tho cliffs, thus accoleratmg ho>r 
 ,|,„vnfall. U is also prohahlo that the reu.oval of tho hou dors 
 ,„„1 lar.'er pieces ,d' shale washe.l ,.ut of clitf detritus, for hu.ldmg 
 „„, „„:... purposes, has exerted its inlluonce i-> ass.st.ng the en- 
 croaclnnen.s of the breaking waves of the Lake, ^l""'''' ^ '-J • 
 ,„„v artord an illustration of the appearance and P^" ';™; 
 hrcVKcrs as they .lash a, an a.uto angle on tho hea. h during tho 
 continuam'o ..f easterly an.l south-easterly wu.ds. 
 
 .\,,uosti..n of much interest and imp.irtance suggests itself w.(h 
 re.p. 't to the first ..r lower t.^nn^e. It nnvy be urged that a plateau 
 of th.' altitu.le.d' 11)0 foot, exten.ling in gra.lual snrlaeo hues .n tho 
 form nf a pr.im.m.)torv, wuld ho a sufli.dent s..urce .d n.atermls 
 a„d atV..r.l the ne.-essary ,„,,ographical eonditi..ns to produce mo- 
 ,,ili,ations of Mr. Flendng's hypotheti.'al early .levelopment of 
 Tonmt.. Ilarhour as slmwii hy his .liagrams S... 9, 10, H, 1-, an.l 
 l:l, and thus in part give .ountonan.'c to his view of its remote his- 
 t.,rv Mr Fleming savs, -On the suhsi.leneo.d' Lake Ontarn, from 
 a liigh t.. its present lov.d, the land fell in easy slopes to tho water s 
 
 e,l md the gra.lual .lescnding surface linos wore continued 
 
 o,Uvvar.l un.ler water ; the abrupt terminati.u.s .,f the land along 
 the iMuimlary of tho Lake having boon forme.l by its oncnmehmcnt 
 
 Ii rw. ... tUn ,.l(M.n ^l.lpq of the <'ul if's on to iiic vmuiMiu in '*l-. tuc nmnumr^ \n im^ '^-"vv. r^ - . • . r -i,. 
 
 eonrso and lino san.l, whi. h had been bh.wn up upon tho stubble 
 of last year's wh.-at. The san.l fre.i.iently p.'uetrates int.. the 
 fiel.ls for a distance exeee.ling ..no hundred yar.ls fi-.m. the .Tests 
 of the elitfs, an.l in process of time will succeed m dcstr..ying, or 
 at least very matorially deteriorating, considerable tracts ..1 land 
 on tho hnvest plateau, if n.,t che.k.^d in its march. -When the 
 cliffs are denude.l of their pn.tecting fringe .d' trees, and, as a 
 natural ccn. -oquenee, of tho underbrush which shicl.ls their si.lcs, 
 the least streamlet of water rapidly hnisens and sets in m..ti..n the 
 sand and gravel which f.irm so large a portion of tho lowest 
 terrace. The hod of elay '"-rests this process of dostructi.m for a 
 while, but being itself underlaid hy sand and gravel as unstable 
 as that by which it is super-imp.ised, its conservative inlluenco is 
 of short duration, and in a thousand instances tho bare and clean 
 Bides of enormous gullies show how rapid is the present progress 
 of their formation and increase. 
 
 It is important to mention that occasional traces of long con- 
 tinue.l persistence are observable in some of tho gullies. Mods of 
 bulrushes of gigantic growth may be seen in some of th.ise whoso 
 sides are still partially i.rotected with undcrl,rusli an.l small trees. 
 Those occur on the lowest bed of blue clay. The blue clay itself 
 sometimes presents precipitous towerdiko prominences, which 
 are best ^con cast of Gates' farm, where the forest still affords its 
 protection t.. tho cliffs. It is not, however, only the plateau 
 and the cliffs which point to the destructive effects which have been 
 produced by clearii.g away the timber, the beach itself shows by 
 
 proie.ne.1 have"l.een rounded ..ff by the destructive inlluenee of tho 
 olemeuts."-(Can. Jour., p. 2I2G, Vol. IL) 
 
 That an arm ..f the sea did occupy the region of Lake Ontario 
 and Lake Champlain during the Tertiary ep..cli there is littlo 
 reason t., .h.ubt. The occurrence of marine shells and "kelet^ns 
 of marine fish (Mallotus YiUosus) .".W feet ab.,ve the sea or 310 feet 
 ab,.vo Lake Ontario, at Montreal, in the valley ..f the Ottawa, near 
 Byt..wn, in tho valley of Lake Champlain, and in many localities 
 in the valley of the St. Lawrence, afford ample proof of this vast 
 phenomenon. (IaoU's 1st voyage to tho United States, page 110, 
 vol " New York K.liti.)n. See also Provincial Geological Reports, 
 Ottavva valley). It has, however, been shown that the phenomena, 
 of tiio hi-host terrace can have nothing to do with tho formation 
 of T..ron?o Harbour, seeing that it has only been attacked to a 
 trilling extent and probably within the last ,^.0 years. It becomes 
 necessary, theref..re, to advert to the period when Lake Ontario, 
 probably as an arm of the sea or a fresh water estuary, stood at 
 an altitude .,f 100 feet above its present level, or in other words 
 washed tho base of tho second or highest terrace. There is every 
 probability that this event extended over a long period of time. 
 
 Ridges corresp.mding to the plateau of the lowest terrace have 
 heen described by Mr. Hall in tho Geology of the fourth district of 
 New Y.>rk' "One of the most interesting of the superficial do- 
 posits ..f the district is the Lake ridge, which from Sod.is m 
 Mayne County with some trifling exceptions is a travelled highway, 
 nearly as far as the Niagara River. Beyond this it can be trace.1 
 
 
IPIW^ 
 
 UKl'OUTS ON TORONTO IIAItHOI.'Il 
 
 inn; "To tlin no(ilii);i(iil render it will rec|iiirn im fttteinpt tn prove 
 tliis the unoieiit lioacli nl' Luke i »iiliirii>, or ii Inuly ni' niiter, |)erlni|i!4 
 an arm ef the Dei'iin, wliieli mieo Htmiil al tliin elevoliim ; cueli 
 oeeiirrenees iiro well knnwii elMuwIioro . Imt there are iiinny jiernonii 
 in woatorn New York, and wmie urine ('ritii'H anionn the nuniher, 
 who jirofer to explain this hy NUppimin); mmie Htn|pen<liius iiplift- 
 in^ cil' the strata in this lino I'Mni Sculus Kay to NiaKara lli\er." 
 Further on (pn^'e :\r>\) Mr. Hull stales that "The elevation of this 
 ridgo ahiivu Lake (Intariu has Immmi variously estimated IVoni one 
 hundred tn two hiimlred I'eel. in b;!S, throunh the kiuiliiesa of 
 Mr. Ilarrett, I olilaineil the elevation of the ridj^e north of l,oek- 
 porf, which is aliout mn' huiiihul unit nijii/ Jirt libovo Lake On- 
 tario." 
 
 It is prolmble that the formation of the New York riil(;e iihovc 
 dcserilicd wim eonteniporaneiiux with the lowest terrace of ilm 
 8oarl)oro' heights, and may not the (lersistant layers of wator-w (i 
 pohliles de.serilicd liefore, as lieinj; about ten feet lielow theNuvfai c 
 of the plateau, In- the ancient beach of Lake Onlurii' it its I'urmcr 
 nltitode? Is it reasonable In suppose that when by uslow uphea- 
 val of the I'cunitry, the level of Lake Ontario becunie comparatively 
 lower and lower, the strata cjf allernatiMi: -and and gravel and blue 
 clay forming so large a portion of the i lilts o{ the lowest ternn'c, 
 wonlil have remained persistant, and pcrmitteil ilii> land lo fall in 
 easy slopes In the present level? Is it nut rallcr to Is; supposed 
 that its sllorc^ would have been terraceil and abrupt like those de- 
 Kceiits which are to be seen about four miles from Toronto, where 
 the lowest terrace leaviiin the Lake crosses the roa^ fri>ni Toronto to 
 Kin);sion ? If this wiMo the ease, anil there does not appear to bo 
 any reasonable objection to the hypothesis, the lowest terrace in- 
 stead of desccielinj; in easy .slopes when the laml became elevated 
 would form at least two distinct terraces abruptly bounded by de- 
 clivities (d' sand, precisely like the abrujit declivities seen on the 
 Kingston road near the eastern extremity (d' Ashbridge's bav, 
 which are nothiii;; incir or /c.v.i than the abrupt miiuli/ k/khv.i of the 
 ancient Lake as the land slowly ro.se from beneath the hod of a 
 Tertiary estuary or oeoan. 
 
 Under such circumstances the existence of any promonotory bo- 
 comes very doubtful, an<l tho coast iiie would appear to assume 
 an extension commensurate with the former extension of tho 
 whole northern coast of Lake Ontario, which in its earli. r develop- 
 ment extended probably nearly unifoniily a short distance Laki 
 wards. Tho protection afforded by Lake beaches durini; periods 
 of low water is so great that it :r.<iy truly be said that tho clitfs or 
 bluffs of the coast are only submitted to the denuding action lA' 
 atmospheric forces during those epochs, an action which tends to 
 givo them the form and conditions cs,sential to the growth of vege- 
 tation, which, in not a few instances, extends without tho occur- 
 rence of cliffs or even of quartornary formations to the very shores 
 of the Lake. 
 
 Other objections might be advanced against the existence of a 
 promontory or oven a considerable extension of the coast of tho 
 Scarlwro' heights Lakewards since thoir emergonce. Such for 
 example as tho great depth of water which exists in the Lake to 
 tho south of the Scarboro' heights. 
 
 Lieutenant Herbert clearly shows sounding? to the dejith of 4.S 
 feet williln a mile of the coast, and in one Im ality, west of tho 
 Highland Creek, the great depth of lliO feet is recorded wilfiin 
 two miles of the coast; what denuding operations can have pro- 
 
 duced these great ileptbs sincci the assuii.plion of the present level 
 of Lake Ontario if the land cxti'iided Lakewanls to a considerable 
 distance, even half of the distance assigned by .Mr. Fleming (about 
 two miles — see section and scale) during that epoch ? 'I'he occur- 
 rence, it in said, of tertiiiry blue clay within two or three huinlreil 
 yards south of Ashbridge's Hay is another (d.jection which, com- 
 bined with the known dip of the Silurian rocks in that Io<'ality, 
 suggests grave iloulits as to the former I'xtension id" the land to u 
 degree consistent with the idea of ji promontory.* 
 
 Mr. Fleming's views of the origin id' the d dta of the lion are also 
 scarcely consistent with the probable topographical condition of tho 
 country, when the Lake assunn'd its |iroscnt level. The supposi- 
 tion is not ndmissable that the country rose from beneath a tertiary 
 ocean (see (ieological Iteports for IKI.I-ll) in a sudden and violent 
 manner. It occupied, most probably, a vast epoch of time; 
 if it emerged at twiie the rule iit which Sweden is now becoming 
 elevated, lulincly at the rate of five feet in a century near the 
 North Cape, and a few inches in a century near Stockhiilm, («oe 
 Lyell's si'cond voyage to the I'.S., \ol. IL. page I'.il, New York 
 Kilition), it would have rciiuircd 'A2 centuries for the hills in 
 Scarboro' Township to have emerged; or if we take the lower and 
 Jicrhaps lust detinrd sea beach, the one of the lowest plaleaii, lliO 
 feet above the present lake level, it would still have eiidirnced 111 
 centuries, and this too upon tho supposition that the rise was eon- 
 tinuous, which is known not to have boon tho ease, its lower 
 beaches testify. During that period, how would rains, snows, and 
 dews drain away from a country "totally devoid of waler-ihannels 
 for surface drainage," as Mr. Fleming supposes when he assumes 
 tluit the (ton ln<iiiii to exist when the Lake had aci|uireil its present 
 level (Can. .Jour., Vol. II. , page llltl). The Dun, together with all 
 tho rivers and streams of any magnitude which now How into Lake 
 Ontario, U'i/<iii Ihtir rxi.skiii-r irll/i the uprising land and grew with, 
 its growth, excavating the valleys through which they now (low to 
 within a few feet of their present level, during the successivo 
 epochs of the subsidence of the Lake from its former vast extension. 
 The detritus of tho Don and other streams, brought down duriio' 
 higher Lake levels, forming sanddjars and mud-Hats, which aro 
 now fiino clad ridges and tho cleared farms of thriving settlers. 
 On the mnith shore of Lake Ontario the valleys of streams which 
 fell into the Lake when it stood at an elevation of 100 feet hii'her 
 than at present are plainly visible. Mr. Hall say-, "The inter- 
 ruptions in the continuity of the ridgo, from tho p ige of small 
 streams are numerous throughout its w hole extent. lany of these 
 streams were doubtless discharging their waters into tho Lake at 
 the time of the formation of tho ridge, and have thus kept an open 
 passage, others have been closed up during its deposition and 
 formed little ponds u[>on tho inland side, which, subseriuently 
 becoming more powerful, have burst through tho barrier and car- 
 ried away largo portions of it." (Geology of tho 4th District, p.igo 
 SiiO.) 
 
 It is suggested that tho term 'delta' is altogether a misnomer, 
 leading to tho idea that tho River Don has bnmglit down materials 
 from its excavated valley and deposited them at its mouth, and 
 elevated them above the surrounding waters, like the Nile and tho 
 Mississippi, oidy on infinitely smaller scale. 
 
 Now, the banks of the Don at its mouth arc of tertiary yellow 
 and blue clay, and there was a time no doubt, not very far removed 
 
 * See Appendix, Xoto E. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 

 lUnOKTS ON TOUOXTO ll,\mM)lJH. 
 
 iVom UK II..". wImmi Ih.wB Imnkn worp wiikIicI .lirctly l.y ih" 
 imrj;c-ii ol I .«•■ Oiitnri... It i» nLiimliuiily •■Ni.l<'i>t thiit tli.- l)..n. 
 within til.' limit* "f till. l'liri«tii\ii rrii, |i.iurr.l ill. wiitorn ilin-.tly 
 illt.i tlii' ■■•iki-, us till, ill.-cnir ..f ni.i^lr l.ii,.l. wlii.'li nl.iiit' iM.nxtitiitM 
 ft .Icltn, «>-ll l>r.ivi-», williiiut ri'l'iTi'iu'O t.. tlui ilci'l) wiitiT» ol' tlir 
 Miir.h, aii.l tlio iil.«.iin. i.l' lliiit <>vi.lcii.-.' «( ixnti.iiiily wlii>li ">"' 
 w.iiil.l rxpiMt t.i llii.l, il'tlii! I>..n liii.l l'..r iiiiuiy n^.'" ci.iitrilmliMl its 
 ili-lritiiH to mi 111" s|iii.p iiitcrvi'iiiiiK it" moiKli iiiiil tin" oplicwili', 
 tliounh Hnnuwlmt liir ronuivi'.l "h.iri' ..I' (lie l.uko l«iuiiilary ol' llm 
 Mar«l- 
 
 It is. Iwiwc or, imiMirtiuit tn iiimrirc what plipnoun-nrx r^liil.it 
 tli.-mwlv.- nt thn ni..iill.» ..I' riv.Ts iiourins; tli.'ir \uiU-v» .lirc.tly 
 into 111.' l.ak.-, ..iii-li ri\.TH, for instaiin'. iw li« l^"l^"^ Hi" lliii.il.cr, 
 til.. Mioii.'... ami th- lliijlilan.l ('.-...k, wlii.li lU'.. -.-v-rally lar^'or 
 nn.l Hinnll.i- than th.' l>..ii, .■..nsni.i.'utly .■..iniir.-hon.l rilli.'r ..xtn-n... 
 in point ol' aim.>n»i..n«. It i- ii.i|...rlai,t t.. ki,..« wlo'llH'r it H 
 i.roliiihli', or even iin.l.T ..nliiiary .inuiiiMamTH of «iiiil an.l w.'a- 
 tliLT, i.o.-.il.l« r,.rtlicl»oMt..lmv..|onn.'.la/..-' (lli..i,r..i..>r .oniO as 
 far from itn iii.mth ft« the houth unml L.'a. li ..f AHhlirulilo's May. 
 
 Tho I. -liinonv of Mr. Hall \» pculiarly ai.pn.priato in the pr. - 
 wntinstan.r. Spoakinj;..!' Lars at tlio m..iillis..friv.'i-» an.l ..tri'ains 
 h.'sav", "Tlu'l.ar U forni.-.l l.y tho inllii. lu'o of tw.. f..r.'fv-ll,.. 
 wHvci washiiij; in, whi.h .arry f..r«anl tli.- «an.l ami .l.'P""'' '' '" 
 1„„,. 1,..u.'h.'s; ana th.' ..pi...siii- p.nv.T ..f th.' M.'ii.ly .■.irr.'i.t. «hi,l, 
 novrtraliz.'s that of the waves, an.l th.' san.l th.'ii falls .l..wii lu 
 u l.roail iurvn. The f.ireo of th'' .'urront is primipally .'xp.'ii.l.'.l 
 in .ipposins tho wnvos of th<< Lako, nn.l li.'.'omin- .limisu.l. it ll.iw, 
 ,,Mi,.|lv .ivor thp har. Tl.i.s continues while th.'re is n.. more than 
 „r.liiuiry f..r. p in the waves, hut on the o.'.'urren.e ..f a vmlent 
 n..rlh-.'ast storm (i.e. near (lenesee) the whole <.f this har nn.l 
 p.'rhaps ten times as fjreat an amount of matter is thrown upon the 
 hoaoh, elosin); the ..uth't. This r.^mains so h.ns as the win.l eoii- 
 tinucs.hntas s.j.m as it snl.si.l.'s an.l the water in tliep..na is able 
 to for.'e a passn;:o throut-U th.' hea.'li, the ..1.1 ..nlor of things is re- 
 sum.-.! to he apiin suhverted an.l nwain reuew.-l. Su.h, simply, 
 is the operation of one stream, as it has existed f..r tho last f.iur or 
 Ave years, an.l such w..ul.l he the history of Imn.lrcls of larj;e and 
 
 smnll streams nlonR the Lake shore." (C of the -Ith Distri.t, p. 
 
 lifiO.) The knowh'iljte aetpiire.! l.y the inspe.'ti..n of any stream 
 pourin" its wnters directly into Lake Ontario, shows that it is im- 
 possihle for a small river "like tho l>nn, even if it were ten times as 
 large, to form n l.nr a mile from its mouth an.l water to tho depth 
 of Is an.l 20 feet intervene. Nor is there reas.m to sujiposo that 
 the Don was ever a stream iiui.li larger than it is at i.resent. 
 Th.isc who are familiar with thn .utting aetion of rivers, first 
 nttackin.' one hank, then h- landslips ,ir fallen trees, driven t.) the 
 opposite hank, will feel luuy satisfied that the l)..n in its present 
 devehipment is abundantly sufficient t.. explain the denuding aetion 
 it has excreiscd since it began to flow with the sh.wly receding 
 ■waters of a tertiary ocean. 
 
 We may, liowever, gain some clue as t.) the ago of the marshe.s 
 of the Don, and tho beaches which wnfino thorn, by examining 
 other marshes and benches which have been long under observa- 
 tion. I" geological investigations every thing is to bo learnt by 
 comparuoii, and he wh.) Bpeculatos upon an incident without 
 taking cognizance of similar occurrences must expect to he called 
 upon to furnish a separate theory for every phcnumenon, difl'ering 
 in externals from the class to which it belongs. 
 
 In .les.'ribing the pon.ls, uiarMies, nn.l bca.'hei. whi.li H« to tho 
 w.'st of the tl.'ii.'s.'n riv.'r. Mr. ILill .ii..iili...is a few fiu't" which 
 will .'iiiible us to f..rm »..me i.l.-.i ..ftli" probiiblu Bgo of the 'Delta' 
 of th.) Don. 
 
 •• 'riie hofteh heforn nllu.led to between the Liiko and tlienu 
 p.,n.ls, is nearly u mih^ l.mg (near <len.'«ee. see Licit. Herbert's 
 .hart,) b-'fore .■..niiiig t.i the oiill.'t, from IHly t.i one liun.lroa feet 
 wi.l.'. an.l generally not more than ttvn or six f.'.'t above the Lftke. 
 h\,r llii- 1 ml I'W iji'iiH* it has been w.'aring away (1H4'J) nnd tho 
 r. its of large trees growing iip.in it are becoming expoKod, nn.l 
 Kuiiic ..f th.' tr.'os th.'mseU.s are thrown .l.iwn." 
 
 " Farther westwnr.l the space belw.'cn the Lake an.l the mnrBli 
 
 is li>.' or six hundr.'.l f.'Ot wi.le. This is...'eupi.'.l by thr l'. .'net 
 
 ri.lgi's, running parallel with ua.'li other, an.l with the Lake. 
 .N'.'.ir the western exlri'iiiity these three ri.lges .rui.le into four, 
 but conlinu.' e.pinlly well niark.'.l. Th.'ir summits are from six 
 I., ..ight or l.'ii f.'ct ab..v.> the Lake, nn.l Ihu vallies between them 
 are from f.iur to six fo.'t bel.iw ilie tops of tho ri.lg.'s. Tho 
 nmt.'rials ..f whi.h th.'y are .•omp..se.l are similar t.. the ri'cent 
 lake b.-aih.'s, , .insisting ..f pebbles an.l saml covere.l with n light 
 saii.lv h.am. They nrc ..v.rgrown willi liirg.' tre.'S ..f ..nk, elm, 
 
 b.'.'cii, an.l but- ii-w I, which sIi.iwm ili.'ir anti.|uity. Their form 
 
 is distinct mid .11 niark.'.l. while the cause which gav.' rise t.. 
 thiiii itii'ir Ihiii II /i II w till I ;riii:i xiwe is still nctlve, producing 
 other similnr ones before our ey.'s." 
 
 Mr. Hall is contented t.> limit th.' .lurati.m of the existence of 
 Lake beaches separating marshes from the liiike, and eontnin- 
 iiig far -tronger evi.lenc ..f mitiqiiilij in the form of large trees of 
 " oak, elm, beech, and bult.m-w.)...l" than any p.irtion of Torimto 
 Harbour ben.hes, to a perio.l ..f " m..rc than one hundred years," 
 _(Oe..l. .if the 4th Dis., pag.- ;i.')7.) 
 
 Further im he says, " I might go on t.. illustrnto the .'ondltion 
 of the bea.'hes niid (.utlets further to the west, but these few 
 oxnmiilcs are applicable t.i the whole. The ri.lge .if bench west of 
 Long I'.ind is un.livi.l.!d, nn.l in mnny places from ten to twenty 
 feet high, showing that a variation of n few feet in height can be 
 no objection t.i the mode of formation." 
 
 " For many years previous to 18M tho Lnkos wore bU nt n 
 I.iw.'r .'levatii'm", an.l Ihk alhwot tin- formal ion of bnrn anil headien 
 at the .lutlct .if streams, which b.'f.iro opene.l by n deep channel 
 into the lake." Mr. Hall here hints nt a condition of things which 
 will ho shown hereafter to have exercised a remarkable influence 
 up.m tho conf.irmntion and stability of tho marshes of tho Don 
 and Toronto Harbour. 
 
 One m.ire example will suffice to illustrate the comparatively 
 modern formati.m of beach.'s and mnrshes on the shores of Lake 
 Ontiiri.i. " Some of tho Bays along Lake Ontnrio formerly 
 n.lmitted vessels for several miles, while at the present time they 
 are partially or entirely closed. The bea.h f.)rmed at tho mouth 
 of Irondequiiit bay has n narrow opening of three feet deep, while 
 formerly it was a fiuarter of a mile further east, nnd of a depth 
 sufficient to admit sloops which took in ireights at the head of tho 
 bay three miles distant. The bay is so situated that it receives the 
 nbradeil materials ..f tho banks of the Lake, both from east and 
 west. It is one milo and n ((uarter wi.le, gradually narrowing 
 southward; and is separated from tho I^ake by a sand-bar or 
 
 * High water of 1838 equtl to that of 1863. 
 
 Jk 
 
|{KW>UT8 ON TOWJNTO If AUHOUlt. 
 
 whii'li lin to tho 
 
 I'l'W fiii'to wliicli 
 
 i^o of tlin 'DolUi' 
 
 l.iikn niid (lii'nu 
 l.ii'ut, Uorticrt'fi 
 0111^ Imnilred feet 
 I nbovt" ilin Lnke. 
 y (\Xli) iind llio 
 linn •'ilioKi'Ji "'"l 
 
 ki- 111"! Ilic iiiarnh 
 
 liy three d! >'nct. 
 
 will) the l.lkko. 
 1 (li\iil(i into four, 
 mitn iirp from i«ix 
 lies lietwocn them 
 
 tlio riilnei". Tho 
 liliir to till" recent 
 \ereil willi n linht 
 Irees (iC link, eliii, 
 (iiity. Tlieir form 
 whieh fjiwe rino to 
 
 netive, producing 
 
 if the exiHtenee of 
 ,nke, nnd coutnin- 
 •in of larpci trees of 
 jiiirtion of Toronto 
 10 liiindred years," 
 
 itriito till! ciindition 
 rest, liut llieso few 
 (;e nf liench west of 
 from ten to twenty 
 !0t in height can be 
 
 ikes wore all at a 
 o)' bnr.1 and heachea 
 [ liy a deep channel 
 ion of things which 
 mnrknlilo influence 
 larshes of tho Don 
 
 1 tho comparatively 
 1 the Nhores of Liiko 
 ) Ontario formerly 
 10 present time they 
 irmed at tho mouth 
 irco feet deep, while 
 iFt, nnd of a depth 
 t» ot the head of tho 
 d that it receives tho 
 , both from east and 
 gradually narrowing 
 ;o by a sand-bur or 
 
 t of 1868. 
 
 liOfttdi, from fifty to l»fo Inindrml feet wide, and nn\\\^ from threu 
 to twenty feet high. The ,.//,. lAr iuhl nf tlm bench hiix ;in iimii- 
 latml within lliii liml. /(//// )e;ir». \\ ihiit diilunee nf lime it wim 
 \ery low, iiiid Hiureely eimtreil with gnms ; if i.i now mergrowii 
 ill Homu pliiiei with liirKC treei. 'I'Iri nikiid and «ilt hriiii;;lit down 
 by tho Htreikiiix Into thix buy are gradually lilling it up, and 
 euMitunlly it will beiMiiie a niarfili, with tho ntrvum winding 
 through it to thu Like." 
 
 From thnnc i|untationM it in evident that eM.iiHivo fnrmullniiH, 
 ■uch iH boaehen from f.iur t'l twenty feet high. »wam|is with viMt 
 Soeumulatiiinn of vegelal.l.i gnnvth i'lir e.\eeudii,.< tlio Dun murnli.H, 
 havo i4)iiiiiig iiilii oiiHtiiiio during the la-it few eunturies, ndopliiig 
 a wider margin than Mr. Ilall, who merely Niiyn, " nmre than 
 lOOytiiirn ago." Now iu tho abKcnce of any cvidnneo of greater 
 antiipilty than that wliiih may bo ombraced within n period of a 
 few cpiiturieH, it iliien nut appear reaKonablo to (imh/mi' Mueli anti- 
 
 (liilty, when every existing phenomena may be an tiled fur by 
 
 eiimparimin with Niirroun.liii;; uiid nearly iiinleiii)inruiie,uiH eveiilH. 
 It in again iirgml tli.it the gm.t depth nf water ( U', 111, and even 
 IH le.t) between Ihe ni". ii /„/,/;., (,vaild the mniilli nf the l),,ii, 
 together with the (;reat ilKUince I y ,\liieli they are Nepariited, are 
 K8.do)rieally, ipiilo null ioNt to ••sclu • the idea that any connec- 
 tion whatever has exis oil I :Heen tin iirmatiim nf the nne and 
 tho detritus nftlie other. V i • pi niii-i ' \beaih would have existed 
 in nearly IN present fnnii ' ■ . , .•, if |ho l».in had never begun 
 to llnw. A perfi'et ty] u i.i e peniiisiihi, only of larger extent 
 and more complete grnwth, is hnind at Ihe Knndoan, Lake Krie. It 
 cmbnucs an area nf li.lliin acres of water. Tho shallowness nf 
 Lake Krie readily explains the giant size nf this and nther similar 
 formations in that Lake; the Iniig swells and lempestunus waves 
 
 which distinguish that easily agitated Lake are due to its small 
 depth. 
 
 It now remains fnr the writer to explain the views he entertains 
 of tho fnrniatinn of Tomnto llarbnur, anil thon proceed to the 
 discussion nf thnso remedial measures which the cnnditiniis of tho 
 CISC appear to reipiire. These views arc nut submitleil vvitlmnt 
 duo ackniiwleilgement nf Ihe great interest which distinguishes 
 Ihe thei.ries nf .Mr. Fleming nnd nther gentlemen who have 
 reciirdeil their opiiiinns; and the writer wnuld never have pnhliclv 
 appeared in this contniversy, if ho had not thought it tho bouiideii 
 duty of every one whoso thoughts had been turned to the subject, 
 to di.scuss, to the best nf his ability, a ipiestinu involving tho very 
 existence of tho Cuy of Toronto as a commercial emporium. 
 
 The subject t.<( ' Trar.lV'i'j «ci/.,'„.»,' is one wliicl; l/is long 
 engaged the alleniioM nfUcnlngists, and is in the prcM- ■ instance 
 of peculiar interest. Sir Henry do la lieche, iu the Ooologi, al 
 Observer, points to the action nf the Sea ou coasts in tho driving 
 forward of shingle, in a partimlar direction, by breakers produced 
 by tho action nf prevalent winds, umler the iiilliionco nf 
 He.vdi..\nu.s.— (Genln>;ical Observer, page Ki. I'liil. edit., 18ol.) 
 The illustrations jri\en by that eminent goolngi.st, are perfectly 
 applicable to the -reat Xnrlh American Lakes, due uUnwances 
 being made for tho height and length, anil, cnnse(|uentlv, the force 
 nfthowaves, as wolliis to the dillerenco iu the spociflo gravity 
 nf fresh and salt water. 
 
 Mr. Fleming has correctly described tho effni produced upmi the 
 Scarbnrn' beach, as regards its westerly motion, under the in- 
 lluonce nf winds impellini; waves or undulations over the greatest 
 
 eipanse nf the Lake. U is bi lieved, however, that a few pnlntM 
 
 nf material impoiianie may I Ided, l,y way of illustrittiiig tho 
 
 '"■'' if waves he eoiist, ami the subseipient distribution of 
 
 Ihe beach they transport. Any wave raised by winds blowing in 
 a direitloii cast of a perpendicular drawn t" the gi iieral direelinn 
 nf the const, (sec .Mr. Fleming's Chart, also, I'lmrt .Vn. H,) will 
 biigiii to curve inwards the moment tho wave beemne retarded by 
 the increasing shallownesH nl the water. Tho time when thiil 
 intlnonco mi the 'V..,tii,|, „(' ||„, „-av„ begins to bo appreciable is 
 entirely dependeni iipmi the lieighl of the wave; for it has been 
 ascertained that a wave /.(//oi,.) to Im-uk when it reaches water of a 
 depth vi/wil 1,3 ilH men hnijlit. (.Sio Kepnrls nf the lirilish Assneia- 
 lion for IKIT -He|H.rt on Waves.) Its iiitluenie upon the bntlnin 
 is exerted beti.ro it attains a depth of water eipml to its nwa 
 height, and the retarding oHect of u Nhnaliiig coast in felt at Hnmn 
 cnnsiderable dislanco frnm the .Shoro— dopoiident, of course, upon 
 the depth of wator. These etlects give to all waves Ihe curved 
 form shown in tig, H. Hut there is another and a far mnrepnwer- 
 ful iilhience which gives a curved fnrm to waves as they approach 
 the cnast (.Scarbnm') when the wind is blowing in an easterly 
 directinii, or to tho .Vorth of Kast. The inllueiee of /„v,fr.7iH7 
 ll'iiillKifh, Tho shallowness nf the water induces the waves to 
 break when they ii|ipi'nacli Ihe shore, which they do in the Ibrm 
 of a curve, but the inlliience nf a prntecting headland is felt Imig 
 before the wave reiiehes shallow water on a shnaliiig cnast like 
 that nf .Siarbnro ■ The influence nf ii prulectiiig Headland is 
 extended to waves in water of any depth. By reference to tho 
 chart. Nil, i«, several systems of waves will bo seen, nome merely 
 curving inwards by their approach to a Hlmaling cnast, otherH 
 (A, 11, (', D, E, F,) curving to a mm h greater extent under tho 
 inlluenco of tho protecting headland shnwii mi the Chart. Tho 
 same argument applies, ibnu^rh in a far less ileM;ree, tn the waves, 
 1', i), Ii, ,S, which, althnugh coming frnm the Ka-t, will havo n 
 li'iiiliiiri/ tn movo Ihe sand, of tho west shore nf tho peninsula 
 ni'ilhwiintu, where nno would suppose it to be entirely safe from 
 the etli'ct of easterly waves. Sir Henry do la Uecho is very pre- 
 cise on this snbjeel, he says '• Tho lines of waves are shown b;; 
 dotted lines made to curve inwards by |iriil('ctiii^ Headlands." 
 (page SI, lien. Ob.) It is urged by the writer that waves driven 
 by belts nf winds acting in tho direction and position of tho 
 arrows, I, 2, I!, 4, (Chart «) would bo obstructed by tho headland 
 at V, which, when ehithed with pino forests, was far nioro in- 
 fluential than it now is, although now it affords protection In small 
 craft anchoring nutside Ashbridgo's bay frnm all winds In the 
 X' iii/i cf h'd.s/. It is well kiinwn that the inlhience nf headlands 
 is inanifestod every whore nn tho sea cnast and often gives to 
 certain harbours their value against the destriictivo ell'eit nf parti- 
 cular winds. It appears manifest that a travelling licaili from 
 K to Y, would bo arrested after it had pas.sed Y, and begin to bo 
 deposited at O O, (See note C. Appendix ;— remnant of an 
 ancient IJiMch.) lielts of wind 1, 2, ;!, 4, cmild have no effect 
 upon tho beach at O 0, nor would bolts .1 and d, as they 
 would act under the lee of tho land. Tho argument applies, n 
 Jhrtioii, to .\t.L winds blowing from tho Xorl/i of Ki.il. 
 
 Tho origin and formation of tho peninsula appears to the 
 writer to have been as follows. At a iwri|iil far within tho 
 Christian era limits, the coast lino of the township of Scarborn' 
 and Ynrk was continued without in'erniption round the iiurth 
 shorijs nf Ashbridgo's Hay and Toronto Harbouf. The Don 
 
REPORTS ON TORONTO HARBOUR. 
 
 ) 
 
 Hi 
 
 llowod tlicn, (lircotly into the Lako likotho llumber, Miraioo, &c, 
 lit tlie ]irosoiit tiim>, without dopositiiij; any more • Delta.' or har, 
 than other rivers of it» elass are obsorveil to ilo, anil cxereisinf; no 
 ■iillucnee whatever upon the I'onnation oi any portion oCtlie sai\(l 
 ))eaelics and Aw.\U under eonsideration. .S»n<l hars would 
 frciiuently 1)0 t'ornied under the intluen -e of the proteeting head- 
 land, about four miles from Toronto, and as frci|uently he washed 
 away hy storms during periods of lii>;li water, their materials 
 heinp; distrihuieil far and wide. With these sand hars pebbles 
 an.l "shingle would be oeeasionally miuj^lcd, ami time after 
 time mifjht be deposited from their jrreat speeilic jrravity to form 
 a basis for n permanent sand bar. A period of hifih water arrives 
 like the one just t-,'rminatin<:. like the period of 1S;k><, or of MX' 
 and diirin;; that period a sand bar of larger f;rowtli was ilepositeil 
 under the proteetin;; Headland— a period of low water follows, 
 like that of ISlll or that of IS-IS, and durin;^ that period the sand 
 shoal was wa.shed up into a sand beaeh similar to the sand 
 bcaehes before alluded to, as described by Mr. Mali, near the 
 mouth of (ienesee (see Herbert's Chart.) and of whieli thousamis 
 (d' their kindred are to be traecd on the shores of all the jireat 
 Lakes, formed under similar circumstances, " more than a 
 hundred years npi." 
 
 This beach wouhl iinderpi numerous modifications accordinj; to 
 the heifiht of water, which tluctuates in Lake Ontario to the extent 
 of five'ie.'t (some authorities say ei-ht feet), but as soon as its 
 western extremity had propcresscd beyond the intlueuceof the pro^ 
 tectins headland' it would be swept lound to the north shore, 
 forming the 'spit' from the Peninsula beach to near the wind mill. 
 Now all this mi^ht have occurred durin;; one period of low water 
 (a few years), or it might have occupied several periods. It is. 
 however, probable that the beach surrounding Ashliridge'sBay and 
 the .NLirsh was thrown up and rouml during one period of low- 
 water in the Lake. Now begins the existence of the Marsh, which 
 is iles> ribed as ccmsisting mainly of a tloating bog, but which has 
 been making rapid progress of late years, as a few illustrations 
 will ju-ove. About 'IM or :!nO yards .south <d'the bridge ovi-rthe D.m, 
 now being built by the (irand Trunk llailway Company, an old brick- 
 yard is seen. (April, l.'<.'>4.) The clay has been dug out to a liciith 
 below the jireseut level of the Don, and the hollows are occupied 
 with reeds, rushes, and swam)) plants. A farmer who lies resided 
 near Ashbridge's Bay, not two miles from the City Hall (next t.i 
 Leslie's], stated to the writer that he considered he had lost about 
 five lurcs during the last thirteen years by the encroachment of 
 the Marsh, but he expected he should regain some of it vhcii the 
 vtilrr.i I'll The remains of a fence at least 00 yards distant from 
 the present bcaiudaries of the rushes is distinctly visible in one por- 
 tion ot liie Marsh. These encroachments have been made during 
 periods of high and low water, and arise from tic invasion of the 
 land by the rushes and other swamp plants. They are merely 
 presented "ns modern instances of rapid encroachment, butwithont 
 relation to the main question. 
 
 Chart No. G represents a plan of the Peninsula. The dotted 
 lines indicate the longitudinal axes of the beaches which were 
 1 hrown uji one after the other during the progress of the formation. 
 The dotted line Xo. V) rcMresents the bar now in the act of being 
 thrown up into a beaeh b., theloweringof the waters of the Lakes, 
 whii-h arc now (April LliHli) tirufid lim-i.r than in Jiiiin hft. 
 
 The materials of w hieh the beaches are composed have travelled 
 along the beach of Ash:^ -"jje's Bay. impelled |.y windsand waven 
 
 before alluded to. The materials originated in the continued de- 
 struction id' the Searhoro' cliffs. Tkl.s poiiion of the theory nf To- 
 riiitto Uiul«mr i.v citliirlj/ iliie to .Vi: hiemiii'j, tn w'lom the credit of 
 hu-ii fjfir.it ijUrii it tn the iiulilir I'.v uiuiueslinnnlily d le. 
 
 It is with some degree of confidence suggested that the sBVcral 
 beaches denoted by the dotted curved lines on Chart G represent 
 the successive epochs of additions to the Peninsula, and that they 
 are the visible and permanent recoriis of the periods of low and 
 high water which have distinguished the recent history of Lake 
 Ontario. Five beaches are distinctly seen between the lighthouse 
 and the utmost south-westerly extension of the Peninsula.* These 
 may correspond to such periods of high and low water, as are 
 known to have occurred in ITHS, lS;i8, and 185?, and in 1«19 and . 
 1S4S, and probably in 1854 or 5. The ([uestion is one of much 
 interest and deserves further investigation. 
 
 The history and mode of formation of the Peninsula having been 
 pointed out, it is now jiroposed to discuss the question whether a 
 permanent opening at the end of the Bay would be a benefit, and 
 tirst of all, whether such an opening in the form of a canal could 
 be maiutained at a reasonalde expenditure. 
 
 It is manifest that in order to make such an opening permanent, 
 which is evidently the first point to be considered; sand and 
 shingle must bo prevented from 'travelling' ieto it from the east, 
 which would without doubt be the case if no preventive measures 
 were adojited. We are not, however, permitted to assume that an 
 opening in any one part id' the Peninsula would .iti.ipend the ope- 
 ration (d' those forces which have given a local habitation to the 
 wlude beach from Ashbridge's Bay to Gibraltar Point. Assuming 
 that an opening were made, say near the Peninsula Hotel, and 
 that bv groynes or other devices sand and shingle were prevented 
 from closing it. It is perfectly clear that in oriler to effect this 
 result the tirst object would bo to retain the sand and shingle cast 
 of the oiiening. .Suppose this to he accomplished, what, it is 
 asked, would become of the remaining western porticm of tlie Pe- 
 ninsula? would the sand and shingle there cease to be a travelling 
 beach ? would it ceasl^ to move westward as heretofore ? 1'hcro 
 can be no .loubt that if left unchecked it would progress onward, 
 being still subject to the same controlling forces as before. But if 
 it progressed, the beaches to the west of the opening would be 
 rapidly moved away and form an extensive natur.al breach, seeing 
 that no advance id' materials to .<»/)/)'.'/ H'eir place could take place, 
 they being preserved to the eastward of the opening for the sake 
 of maintaining it. The Peninsula, under such eircum.stances, 
 would rapidly become an i.-land, and its extremity near the canal 
 gradually assume the form of the western extremity, throwing 
 out tongues and spits in a northerly direction. But, it may 
 be urged that the sand might bo prevented from 'travelling' 
 by moans of groynes. It is true that the construction of groynes 
 from the canal all. the way to Lighthouse Point at short distances 
 apart, would have that effect for a time, but without tliey were 
 made very high the sand would mount over them and form dunes, 
 according to laws painfully recognizable in many parts of Europe 
 and especially in the 'Landes' of Franco as well as on the shores 
 of Lake Huron. (See Sir Henry de la Bcche, on this subject, 
 page 84, Geo. (»b.) Again, the groynes would have to pene- 
 tra'te into deep water beyond the influence of waves upon a shoaling 
 
 * See Note (1. in Appendix. 
 
 > f 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
REPORTS ON TORONTO IIARB(JUR. 
 
 const, or how would thcyclieck the progresH ofthc shelvins beach 
 which in aisturhed l,y the lun;; wilves of on easterly gii1o to a 
 greater deptli than fifteen feet? 
 
 The Peninaula in its suliariuooiis extension is nn enormous sand 
 and shingle shoal, very shelving on the Lake side, and, whore it 
 has not boon remodelled or disturbed, very precipitous on the Hay 
 8ido.», TliQ testimony of the fishermen of the present day in rela- 
 tion to It is the same as when fSir llichard Bioniycastle wn.te, it 
 consists Lakewards of imineuso fluctuating shoals. Tlmse shoals 
 extend Lakewards 1500 yards before they attain a depth of 30 feet, 
 except inonesp,)t, and that is near thoLighthouse orTurnin.r P,)int 
 Baywards the shoals are in general precipitous, and the openings 
 which have from time to time been made in Asbridgo's liay :.nd 
 the Peninsula, have scarcely changed the precipitous character of 
 the Bay sides. They have nieroly succeeded in shifting the boun- 
 dary a little northwards, but they have not materially changed the 
 lorni of the coast or its suljiiqueous e.ttonsioii in cither Hay. Tim 
 writer took pains to examine the effect of the waves break', g over 
 about a third of a mile of the coastof Ashbridge's Hay th... ^"ason 
 (April, 1854), and found along the Hav side of the lie.ach (1, (ij, 
 and 7 feet water m//,i,i 15 or :•() feet of the bar over which tlio 
 waves broke furiously, and had been breaking for weeks, under 
 the influence of the easterly gales which have distinguished the 
 present spring. (See Note H. in Appendix.) It is well known 
 that the late breach near the Peninsula Hotel is wh. n,. fiHea „p^ 
 and that its effect upon the IJay has been comparatively insig' 
 nificant. "^ *' 
 
 It will be seen that the arguments against the construction of a 
 permanent opening apply with greater or loss force to every portion 
 ot the beach from its western to its eastern extremity. A canal 
 from Ashbridge's Day into the Lake would, afortiuri, be still more 
 objectionable than one near the Peninsula Hotel, as it would in- 
 volve the strengthening of the whole of the beach as far as the 
 Light-house Point to prevent its westward motion. The next ques- 
 tion which suggests itself, a^.mmi,„j the preservation of the beach 
 provnled for, is the possibility of keeping an .artificial canal open 
 anywhere between a few hundrcl yards east of the P,int and 
 the most remote extremity of Ashbridge's 15av, without continued 
 an.l expensive dredging. When we remember that many million 
 tons of sand and shingle have passed along the beach from Scarboro' 
 shore to form in 5H years the ;«) acres in deep water beyond the 
 Lighthouse Point, whoa we glance at the new beach which has 
 recently been thrown up west of the Point, when wo consider the 
 changed character of the Scarboro' cliffs, unproteeteil as they now 
 are, is it probable that a canal could be maintained within the 
 lanits before mentioned ? Is it not rather to be supposed that the 
 8.and would accumulate on its eastern side with a rapidity before 
 unknown and defy the most energetic efforts to preserve a passage 
 during the wintersoason ? The rapidity with which natural l,reaks 
 hll up, as shown repeatedly ir Ashbridge's Hay, and recently near 
 the Peninsula Hotel, furnishes also a safe answer in the nc-ative to 
 this question. ° 
 
 It appears manifest that the integrity of the Peninsula must bo 
 preserved ; that no artificial Lake communication situated bo 
 tween the Light-house Point and the .^astern extremity of Ash- 
 bridge's Bay could be maintaiicd under the existing conditions 
 of the Scarboro' cliffs, without an enormous outlay at the eom- 
 
 * Note 11. in Appendix. 
 
 moncoment and .an annually increasing expense in maintaining it, 
 It IS urged that the chief objection to the construction of groynes 
 into only eight or ten feet water is tbo nature of the sloping 
 beach, the Uuctunting shoals, which in places are not twenty feet 
 below the surface of the water seven hundred yards distant 
 from the shore. Mr. Fleming's own measurements opposite his 
 proposed canal give a distanco of nearly TOO yards before tlio 
 slKjaling coast roaches a depth of twenty foot water. The whole 
 question of the construction of groynes is involve,! in a distinct 
 and exact knowledge of the depth to which the surges of the Lake 
 affect the sand and shingle of the shoal. It is manifest that if a 
 groyne were not con-tructod into water deeper than that in which 
 the waves have the |. .ver to move the sand at the bottom, it would 
 bo of little avail. Let ns suppose for instance that groynes were 
 constructed on the sand bars to the depth of twelve feet water, and 
 that the high waves of the Lake affect the l,ottom to a depth of 
 htteen feet.* The sand iluring storms, namely those which produce 
 the longest and highest waves (the easterly storms) would be dis- 
 tnrbe.l to the depth of fifteen feet ami pushed round the projecting 
 groyne, other sand from above or the east, falling down by gravity 
 or pushed along by the impelling waves would fill the place of that 
 winch had been removed, and lie in turn swept westward, and so 
 on repeatedly. A really useful groyne must penetrate into 
 water of a depth hcjonil the ordinary influence of the w.aves upon 
 the shelving bottom during storms, which certainly extends on the 
 Peninsula shoals to a depth exceeding fifteen feet. There is a spot 
 on the Peninsula where a groyne can lie constructed to serve every 
 purpose required. Mr. Fleming has justly recommended a groyne 
 at the Lighthouse Point (the south-western point of the Peninsula) 
 and It appears to the writer that that spot is the first which should 
 be selected for the construction of a groyne. Hut Mr. Fleming's 
 suggestion that the groyne should bo carried out into eight or 
 ton feet water, is altogether incompatible with the effect pro- 
 duced on the sand at tlio bottom below that depth by the long 
 swell of the waves. 
 
 The writer, while duly acknowledging Mr. Fleming's appropriate 
 selection (as it appears to him) of the locality, would suggest that 
 one groyne should be carried out there into -io feet water. When 
 the peculiarity of the beach an', shoal at the Lighthouse Point is 
 consulcrod the magnitude of the work will not appear so imposing 
 as It seems to bo at first sight. The boundary of the Peninsula at 
 Its south-west extremity is exlremo;y abrupt, so much so, thatat tho 
 point A on the Chart \o. 'J, the depth of water is not less than -10 or 
 oO feet within 400 feet of thebeach, (leaving a wide margin for recent 
 cliauges, possible, but not probable.) The s<,undings on the Man 
 are taken from personal observation, and Mr. Fleming's Chart 
 and they indicate a steep and abrupt boundary at tho turning point 
 of tlie shoal. This peculiarity in the conformation of the Light- 
 house P,int in its subaqueous extension, will necessarily be main- 
 tamed for a I.mg period of time, as every successive step in advance 
 IS into .leepcr and deeper water. A few hundred yards to the west 
 .d the Point, 00 feet water is recorded. (Lieut. Herbert ) Ul 
 progress of the beach, therefore, in a south-westerly direction must 
 be made by vast accumulations in deep water. This point selves 
 as a protecting lie.adhuul round wliich the travelling beach i« 
 rapidly moved by easterly winds and as rapidly forwarded north, 
 ward liy south and south-westerly winds. 
 
 jV groj^nojit^V^seot segnunit of curvature would, if 
 
 * Nute D. i.i .Jppendix. — — i ; 
 
10 
 
 UKI'0RT8 ON TOllONTO HAllHOUU. 
 
 
 i' 
 
 run out into AO foet wvtov, .irrcst all Rami aii.l sliin-lo l,.r !i cnn- 
 BidcniMo vcri'"! of time, nn.l ns llio nonimulatin;!; nmtcvmls 
 oncn-.u-luMl upon tho pn.tortius limitH of the i,'>ov.ic, lunl.or 
 inoroaso o.uUl bo i.rrcstoil, aiul llio materials riXEt., Uy vla> lu- a 
 8e.-..na L-i-ovno at IJ ; in l.r.H-ess of time the travelling beaeh w,ai!< 
 encroaoh u, uu the proteotiu;; lin.it.s of li, a third cr..yne placed 
 atO. on a smaller scale, vvouM arrest -..rther progress and m 
 the sand between C an,l 1! ; a fourth after a few years would be 
 reouired at D, and so on, as materials accumulated. The results 
 of this system would be the establishment of the Peninsula upon 
 a firm basis, adding year by year a laro;e quantity of what nufiht 
 become valuable property if properly taken care of and embelhshei. 
 with, as well a-s sustained by, appropriate trees. The westerii ex- 
 tremity of the Peninsula is al.so subject to the inroads of trnvcUin- 
 beaehos as not only its formation bnt the extension <.f the sand bar 
 sufficiently sh.nvs. and has shown, for many years. (Sect./.ovvski s 
 report, noticed before.) A proync at K, ^vould, if made o vene- 
 trate into l:> feet water, effectually retain the movmR beach, and 
 preserve the integrity of the distance between A and K, and hn,-.lly 
 L frroyno at F K, a. mentioned by Mr. Fleminp, would establish 
 the channel, and if curved sufficiently far in the direction of K 
 a permanent beach would be thrown up dnrini the ne.Kt penu.l o 
 low water, which would secure a current in one channel ot at 
 least 12 feet water, sufficient to preserve it from possible .nr,.ads 
 of Band, which might bo deposited in the form of Bars, rnlhn, ,/, 
 during summer currents, hereafter to bo m i.;ed. 
 
 In the mean while, what, it will be asked, is to become of the 
 more easterly portions of the peninsula ; is there no danger of any 
 part of that narrow strip between the Peninsula ITotel and the ex- 
 tremity of Ashbrhlgo's Bay being .wept away? Nature hersc 
 supplies an answer to this question, which, when duly considered 
 may be correctly interpreted. Nature has made and repaired one 
 brelch during the past year at the eiwstern extremity of loronto 
 Harbour-, she has made and is now repairing at the rate ol an 
 acre a week another breach in Ashbridge's Bay, of a third oi a 
 mile long. There is not a doubt that during the whole epoch ol 
 the existence of Toronto Ilarl.air, from it« lirst washed up beach 
 to its present imposing magnitude, breaches have been made dur- 
 ing all periods of high water, and repaired during periods of low 
 water. The writer is of opinion that several remains of breaches 
 e-»n be recognised in various parts of the coast between the Hotel 
 and the eastern extremity of Ashbridge's Bay-these remains 
 distin'-uish themselves by two projecting spits, precisely like 
 those which are now seen where the recently closed breaks exis ed 
 at the east end of the Harbour. Four years ngo-dur,„g he 
 period of h>w water in 1^10-several of tliese remains of breaches 
 could be distinctW seen, bor.lering the swamps and cast of it. It 
 is desirable that breaches should not be made, as by slow degrees 
 they limit the dimenshms of l.o Harbour, but un.ler certain 
 oi'cumstances, thev are of immcose importance, ns will be shown 
 hereafter. The writer submits, with respect, that no works what- 
 ever are reriuired to preserve any portion of the beach from 
 destruction. It will be asked, why not? and it will be urged 
 that the diminuti.m of the beach near Privafs Hut.l and elsewhere, 
 in en easterly direction, to less than one half its width in ab.ai. 
 two or three vears, is cause for serious .lonbt as to its stability 
 Ttie writer would beg to call attention to the circumstam-cs under 
 which the beaches became diminished ; their diminution is only 
 apparent, «nd where real (if anywhere) it will be rapidly repaired; 
 
 the 1 caches expose less surface in consequence of the tinvMvally 
 hi.ih train- of Ihv hike The average annual ilnctuati.ms of Lako 
 Ontario are about two feet, but the ditVercn. e between the levels 
 of the Lake in October. 1H49, and in June, lsn;i, was four leet, 
 ti.e inches. (I^'O Canadian .bairnal, page "iT, Vol. 2.) Now .t .8 
 suggested that these great diifereuces in I,ake Levels are ot tl.o 
 utmost importance, n.,t only with respect to the general app™r- 
 ■uice of the Peiilnsulo. but with r.'gard to its subnuucons develop- 
 ment An observer in ISl'J would see a broad beach at the 
 P..Minsula Hotel some fifty or sixty yards broader than an observer 
 in IH.^io siddv on accmnt of the dilference in the Lake levels, 
 without the necessity of one particle of sand being removed. An 
 observer i.i 1S63 would say the beach is bnt two teet three inches 
 above the waters of the Lake, while an observer ui 184' would 
 my it was six foot ei-ht inches above the same level, and yet the 
 rc'ai altitude of the bcac.li might be precisely the same. So w^lh 
 ,,,pect to Houudings. The bar which in IK^.3 had four feet 
 wa er upon it world be two inches above the water in October, 
 im Thc^e are imp<.rtant items, they show the absolute neees- 
 sitv of exact scrutiny into all measurements relating to the Har- 
 bour, and the reduction t.. the same standard of Lake evel of 
 ■M , bsorvations, before a fair conclusion can be arrived at. Ihe 
 inllucnce of dillcrence in lake levels, in other vvords, o^V^'"^^ 
 hi.h and low water upon the Peninsula is all powerful. Ih. 
 liiercnco has enabled sand bars to bo thrown up into sand 
 beaches, and has, in a word, been tho great /o>»».(.«ea«^« "f the 
 S le Peniusnla. It is beautifully sliowu even in this tempe.tn- 
 lus weather, (April, 1W4) ; at Lighthouse Point tho writer no- 
 ticed in October last tho slow deposition of tho sp.t now protntd- 
 Z itself above water at the western extremity of the Pom The 
 Lak s then Z feet . inches above its lowest level in 1849, and 
 the spit was just covered with water in calm weather, and not to 
 seen fro., the shore, but easily discernable from the Point.* 
 Now it is decidedly a narrow sand beach, but tho Lake is about 
 a foot lower tha^ in Sept.unbor last. .)urir.g the present, or 
 rather coming summer, as the Lake falls, it will be washea up 
 into a stable, prominent beach, sweeping round to the north, and 
 enclosing some additional acres, to mark the present rap.d mcrease 
 of tho buuiidary of Toronto Harbour. 
 
 One m .re aspect under which the tinet iati..n8 in the level of tho 
 Lakes may bo viewed, is in the relation of those changes to tho 
 construction of groynes. 
 
 It raavbc supposed, for instance, that during a high lak.-> level a 
 crovne U eonstn.cteil into 10 feet water-it is known, however 
 tint the dilTeren-o between the maximum and minimum levels of 
 Outario exceed fi-e feet (some authorities say 8 feet). It is clear 
 that a giovno ,. -netratiiig into 10 feet water dunng high lake 
 levels w.Hil"d peretrate into only five feet dnri.ig minimum levels 
 which would have the elfoct of neutralizing the purposes for which 
 the groyne was constructed, t 
 
 This argument becranes perfectly applicable when we consider 
 the ..ature of the shoals east of Lighthouse Point. There is an 
 i.„mense distance between tho lines of 10 feet water and 1.. feet 
 water, when reduced to tho standar.l of the Lake levels ; this 
 distance exceeds in many instances tho total length which would 
 bo reuuircd for one groyne at Ughthonse Point, pen.-.rafng into 
 
 • See Note 0, Appendix, (referred to before.) 
 I Sec Note \. 
 
UKl'OKTS ON TORONTO IIARBOUII 
 
 11 
 
 40 feot wntcr, (l)Olwceii ,",00 ami -lOO i'eet) thus inviilvinjj; for tlio 
 cimstructiiiiiuf clf'ectiial n:'(iyiii'M immI til" Li; lithnuse I'uiiit, ivliiTc 
 tlio WiitcrHlmlliiws, lui outlay wliicii, it jiuliciously iiiournnl, w .^IJ 
 Bcrvo toiirrest pcrimiiieiitly tiio iirogroas oi'tlii.' Hiiiiil, ;^iM.' stiibilily 
 to tlio IViiiiuulii ii;i(l ili.stri!)i!tu (lii; oxpoiisocjfl'iili're works over a 
 groai, luiinlicr of yours. Tt will, Jojlitless, bo Ijooomiiig in tlio 
 writer to oxpross more fully tlio roiisijna ho eutortains for tho 
 opinion tliiit it U unnecessary to |)rot'!et the weaker portions of 
 tlie Peninsula. 
 
 1. Vast bodies (jf water in the form ofv-avcH may lire'ik upon 
 it, and over it, without carrying any fousidoraMu (juantity <pf 
 materials into tho bay, as before noticed. This arises fitini tho 
 very i/riulucil .sliijiiii;/ eoiilbrinatioii of tho shoals hiko\v:iril;i. 'I'hcy 
 may carry away the crests durin;;; hij;li water, but tlic'y rapidly 
 repair tlio breach. The sloping character of the fdioiils being 
 always niaintaineil by the mode of their forinution, and waves 
 always br.-akiii'j when lliey rea<:h water ri/Hii! to their own hei(jht, 
 their force is destroyed before they reach tho shore. During low 
 water levels, the waves break iirer the shore, the re-arrangod 
 materials of the beach are then more precipitous, but diuMiig this 
 period tho breaking waves exert no force on the crests of tie 
 beach, because tho einerged land due to falling (if the Lake 
 protects itself. 
 
 2. It is submitted that wo have paused the •iiaxininni period of 
 high water; but, if not, it will occur in June, an.l beiiiro works 
 (supposing they were necessary) could be constructed to jirotcct 
 tho weak portions of tho beach. It appeal^) (piite probable that 
 all period of danger from high wut^v is passed, if wo nmy per- 
 mit ourselves to be guidijd by tho esperionco of the past. Mr. 
 Hall, in (luotiiig Mr, lliggins, the Topographer to the Geological 
 Survey of Michigan, (uiibodies in a single sentence the probable 
 state of tho case. " llo considers it proba'ile that tho ininiinum 
 period continues for a considerable period of time, while the 
 maximum continues only for a single year." * ((loo. 4th Dist.) 
 This summer, doubtless, we shall sco tho Peninsula a]iparentlv 
 extending itself in all directions (as it is already doing) by the 
 8ui nidations of tho waters of tho Lake, and tiien will begin to ap- 
 pear and to bo thrown up into beaches, tho vast accumulations 
 which have been progressing during tho last two years of high 
 water from tho unprotected naked gullies of tho Searboro' cliffs. 
 
 Tho answer to tho question proposed by tho Harbour Comniia- 
 sioners respecting "the effects which ha\e been produced or nro 
 likely to bo produced by the pretonc broach at tho eastern ex- 
 tremity of the Bay of Toronto, rarticuhirly with reforenco to the 
 liar at the entrance to tho Bay" becomes very materially simplified 
 iiy i-ccent events. The first event being tl-- natural closing of the 
 lire.'ch, tho second event the occurrence :' another breach of far 
 more imposing dimensions in Ashbridge's Bay. Assuming that 
 the hrcaeh had not been closed, it is manifest that the riuestion of its 
 influence upon tho bar at the mouth of the Harbour would involve • 
 the action of tho rtmcnln which modify the form of the bar at the 
 mouth. The currents will be noticed hereafter. The question of 
 the breach ho\ng pnjiidlcial to tho Harbour is also involved in the 
 general ipiestion if the influence of the currents, and the necessity 
 for strengthening that portion of the Penins, .i whore the breaidi 
 existed hius been already discussed. It has also been shown that 
 a permanent opening could not be maintained at that end of the 
 
 * Sou iilbo Note I. 
 
 liay without imniense outlay, ar.d is consequently not to be recom- 
 mended. The question ol' "the advisability or otlu'rwiso of eii- 
 larging the opening botv.een the Harbour and Ashiiridge's Bay" 
 is subordinate to the general (juestion of the currents and will bo 
 noticed in tho seipiel. Tho constru.ition of a permanent opeuing 
 into tho Lake from Ashbridgo's Bay, has been shown to bo infi- 
 nitely iuoro objectionable than the construction of a canal near 
 the lat breach east (jf the Peninsula Hotel, us involving an en-ir- 
 niou'i ( jtlay for tho purposes of protecting .ts nioutl. and pre- 
 venting;, by groynes, the beach wat of it as far as Lighthouse 
 Point from continuing to 'travel' under the influence of the same 
 forces as those which called it into existence. 
 
 It is submitted Ijy the writer that it is quite impossible to sepa- 
 rate t"'.o effect of the breach at the east of Toronto Bay on the bar 
 at the month of the Harbour fnmi tho simultaneous and posterior 
 effect of the breach in Ashbridge's Ba\-. 
 
 M'hatever beneficial or baneful results were produced on tho 
 bar 1 y the opening iie:'.r tho Peninsula Hotel, have been entirely 
 obliterated by a power of r.uich ,. -eater magnitude acting unceas- 
 ingly uiiring the last five or six weeks, and there seems to be no 
 reason to doubt but that DO per cent, of the good etfects produced 
 by .iny openings or breaches on the bar, are duo to those which 
 have recently occurred in the Lake boundary of Ashbridgf ' Bay. 
 We can only sKjqio.sc the effect produced on tho bar by the opening 
 near tho Peninsula Hotel ; it cannot now be measured. Observa- 
 tions made in tho autumn might have recorded its effect, if any 
 were noticeable, but since the breach was made in Ashbridge's 
 Bay, those effects have been annihilated, or, at least, so gicatly 
 leic idelled as no longer to bo appreciable. Tho reasons for this 
 statement are as follows: — 
 
 i6t The opening in Asidiridgc's Bay, when the writer's attention 
 was first particularly drawn to it, at tho beginning of April, was a 
 third of a mile long, and tho waves swept through it with terrifio 
 vioieiice, producinga current so strong in Ashbridge's B.iy towards 
 Toronto Harbour, that all expectation of distinguishing tho effects 
 prjduced at the bar by the opening near Privat'e, (then closed,) 
 were entirely dispelled. At another time, towards the end of 
 April, when a few days of calm weather permitted a close exami- 
 nation of the breach, it was found that the waves still breaking 
 over it, although there was very little wind, produced a violent 
 current, which drove the boat in which the writer was seated, with 
 rapidity towards the swamp. A calculati = was then made of 
 t'.ie amount of water projected into Ashbridge's Bay by the rolling 
 of the waves over the beach. Tho distance exceeded lOOOft., 
 over which the waves broke. The height of each wave was csti 
 mated at two feet, tho bread'h between fifteen and twenty feet. 
 Assuming the length, 1000 feet, tho height, ono foot, tho breadth, 
 ten feet, a quantity of water exceeding 10000 cubic feet would be 
 thrown into Ashbridge's Bay by each system of rolling waves. This 
 occurred, on an average, once in twelve seconds, or five times in a 
 minute, which would give 80,000 cubic foot of water every 
 minute. 
 
 If the Don were 100 feet broad, ten feet deep, and moved at the 
 rate of one; foot a second at its mouth, it would throw into tho 
 Bay, 00,000 cubic feet a minute ; while the breaking waves over 
 tho breach, at Ashbridge's Bay, would, in a comparative calm, 
 throw ^0,000 cubic feet at the lowest estimate, into tho samo 
 general receptacle, during the sauii' time. This number doce 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
 12 
 
 HEPOHTS ON T i-ONTO IIAIIBOUR. 
 
 iMt, it miy be vory reasonably Rupimseil, represent one-fourtli 
 part of the muss of water projeeteil into Aslibrid^e's Bay over tlio 
 low boaeli. dnrinj: the long continued easterly storms wliieh dis- 
 tinguished the .lonth of April. It is therefore urged, that any 
 attempt to pri.nnuTice an opinion upon the elTeet produced upon 
 the entrance to the Harbour by the late opening near I'rivat's 
 Hotel, must lie entirely theoretical, as it cannot be fairly repre- 
 sented by soundings taken in April of the present year. It is ini- 
 jiortant, to ascertain, how this mass of water projected into Toronto 
 Harbour by the Don and through the breach at Ashbridge's Hay. 
 distributed itself in passing out ot the Harbour entrance. The teui- 
 peratuie of the water determines the solution of this problem. Si.i 
 or eight trials showed the temperature of the water to vary from 
 .■^8 lo 42 degrees, both in Ashbridge's l$ay, the Lake, and the 
 Harbour. This is within two degrees both nliove and liclow the 
 temperature of water at its greatest density, (;19°I),) cunscquently, 
 the densi':y of the water may bo regu ' as uniform, and hence, 
 the currc-nt would bo ctpuiUy distribute over the bar at tho 
 entrance to the Harbour, modified by a cu..ent produced by the 
 easterly gales, noticed hereafter. In suuin..'r, it is prcd«ible that 
 the surplus water would have escaped, almost ent'rdy, over the 
 bar at the mouth of the Harbour, and would have ha<l little effect 
 upon the channel iu deep water. Tho effect of tomperatun is 
 beautifi'lly shown iu the currents which are established during 
 the swmmer months at tho Harbour entrance, and requires a 
 dccailo 1 notice. The most permanent current in the Hay, having 
 an outward direction, is, of course, duo to the Don ; but the 
 waters of the Uay and Don, being shallow, raj'dly acriuire an 
 elevation of temperature, by exposure to th;? srn's rays: their 
 specific gravity is therefore diminished. The deep waters of 
 the lake do not attain the same elevation of temperature, and are, 
 consequently, hea. ler than the surface waters of the Bay. Tho 
 warm and light waters of the Bay are pushed out over the bar by 
 tho colder and heavfer waters of the Lake, irrespective of the cur- 
 rent of the Don. Tho cold Lake water enters at the deepest 
 part of the mouth of the Harbour, ami during the summer months 
 establishes an inward current, often remarked. Two other cur- 
 rent.s of importance are to be noticed; — 1st. An under, outward 
 current, which is occasioned by mslciUj winds impelling the 
 waves of the Lake over the bar into the liay : the same '.ntluence, 
 however, pressing upon the waters of the Lake, raises them at its 
 eastern extremity and lowers them at its head. In order to es- 
 tablish equilibrium between the level of the waters in he Harbour 
 and those in tho Lake, an outward undercurrent is established, 
 which, in prolonged westerly gales, is very marko . nd. An 
 ir, ,ard under current at tho mouth, when easterly ^ri':,;s are 
 blowing, which have the effect of driving tho waters out of the 
 Uay, and nt the same time, raising the level of the water at 
 the head of the Lake; in order to preserve equilibrium, a power- 
 ful under inward current is established in the deepest ..atcr at 
 the mouth of the Harbour. 
 
 It is evident that these currents have given to the sand-liar now 
 threatening the mouth of the Harbour its peculiar conformation, 
 as shown in Mr. Fleming's chart. These curreats cease to exist 
 during the maintenance of an opening, either in Ashbridge's Bay, 
 or at the east end of tho Harbour. Thtir conservative influence 
 in retarding the progress of the shoal northwards, and its inva- 
 sion of the entrance of the Harbour, caniiOt fail to be noticed: 
 they form another objection against the construction of permanent 
 
 openings in the locnliticg named. The i .to Mr. Roy, O.E., who, ne 
 before stated, ptid much attention to tho phenomena of tho Har- 
 bour, well describes the intlucnco of these currents iu his paper 
 published in tho }foiif/ili/ h'cvinc, for Juno 1H41. 
 
 It is sufficiently clear that tho currents just described, irregular 
 and accidental as they are, and ilcrwimj their very existence from 
 the conformation and growth of the Harbour, can only be sup- 
 posed to exercise an influence, (and moderate in its effects,) upon 
 the form of the saud-bar which threatens tho mouth of the 
 Harbour. 
 
 An effect ri'(|uircs a cause : the cause of tho currcnt.s is tho pre- 
 seuco and form of the peninsula, without which they would not liavo 
 existed ; the currents are destroyed by destroying the integrity of 
 the ppiiiusula. It follows, as a matter of course, that the currents 
 could not havi> (iroduccd that which has given birth to them ; an 
 hypothesis which, iu spite of tho contradicti<ins it involves has yet 
 found supporters. 
 
 The writer presumes that the Harbour Commissioners will 
 liermit such an interpretation of their words, " Means to be 
 adopted for the improvement and preservation of the Harbour," 
 as to aUow tho introduction into this Keport of remedial measures 
 which, have not liceu specially referred to in their published 
 notice. 
 
 The suggestions which the writer begs leave to submit are in- 
 troduced, without present comment, into the following recapitula- 
 tion of the statements advanced in relation to tho history, forma- 
 tion, and preservation of the Harbour. 
 
 1. The Harbour, in its utmost extension, is altogether a modern 
 formation. 
 
 2. Its formation is duo to the present existing i'rotectinq iie.\d- 
 LA.ND of tho west commencement of Scarboro' Heights. 
 
 3. Its original foria was a sand-bar, or shoal, deposited under 
 the protecting headland, iu a position a little t<i the south of ita 
 present situation. The materials of which the sand shoal was 
 coiupoacd were derived from the east, being impelled by easterly 
 winds during ii period of high water, and then washed up into a 
 beach during a period of low water. 
 
 4. The Don exerted no influence whatever on the original for- 
 mation or extension of the sand beach, but the beach was extended 
 westerly, under the headland, by tho same causes which originated 
 it, until it advauced so far as to be removed from tho influence oC 
 the ])rotecting headland. Subsequently, it was swept round in a 
 northerly direction, more particularly by south and west winds, 
 until it enclosed the space now occupied by tho marshes of the 
 Don and Ashbridge's Bay. 
 
 r>. The whole valley of the Don was cxcavotcd ages before tho 
 enclosure took place, and the marshes have licen produced by the 
 same vegetable growth which now converts the ponds of the penin- 
 sula into reedy swamps. (Witness tho ponds south of tho Light- 
 house, during the present generation). Tho detritus of tho Don 
 has accelerated the formation of its marshes, but that detritus 
 consists only of tho fine mud which can be mechanically suspended 
 in water, 
 
 C. The peninsula proper has boon formed by " travelling beaches," 
 impelled along the boundary of the present Ashbridge's Bay and 
 its westerly extension. There is every probability for supposing 
 that each successive beach, as shown by tho dotted lines on Chart 
 6, and Sketch 10, are permanent records of ioio LaVc I^eU. 
 
C.E., who, M 
 
 I of tho Ilar- 
 
 in Ilia paper 
 
 bcil, irregular 
 'X isle nee. from 
 I only be sup- 
 eifeets,) upon 
 nouth of the 
 
 nta is tlio pre- 
 f oulfl not havo 
 10 integrity of 
 ,t tlio currents 
 1 to them ; an 
 volves lias yet 
 
 lissioners will 
 Means to be 
 lie Harbour," 
 '(iiiil mciuiures 
 leir published 
 
 submit are in- 
 ing recapitula- 
 listory, forma- 
 
 ither a modern 
 
 ITECTINQ UEAD- 
 bts. 
 
 jposited under 
 le south of its 
 ind shoal was 
 cd by easterly 
 i<hed up into a 
 
 c original for- 
 li was extended 
 liich originated 
 ;he intluenco o£ 
 cpt round in a 
 id west winds, 
 narshes of Uie 
 
 ages before the 
 irodueed by the 
 Is of the penin- 
 th of tho Light- 
 [us of tho Don 
 t that detritus 
 cally suspended 
 
 jUing beaches," 
 •idgo's Bay and 
 f for supposing 
 1 lines on Chart 
 (ikc Ijxels, 
 
 UKl'OllTS ON' TORONTO JIAIMJOUU. 
 
 7. Tho boundaries of the lVnins,il;v have been immensely ex- 
 tended during the last 58 years, and the addition of so many acres 
 in deep water beyond the Lighthouse implies {Upxuhnqtwoiisexleiiswit 
 of tho shoals forming tbo sloping Lake sides of the Peninsula to a 
 •very considoralilo degree soutliwanla. 
 
 8. Tho materials havo been olitainod by tho destruction of tho 
 Scarboro' cliffs. (Mr. Fleming.) 
 
 9. Tho operations of settlers during the last forty years in cleiring 
 tho crests of tho cliffs in Scarboro' havo occasioned the immense 
 recent Instruction there visible, and have produced to a great de- 
 gree tho alarming progress of the Peninsula boundary of tho 
 Harbour. 
 
 10. Previously to tho settlement of the country tho cliffs were 
 much jirotccted from atmospberic inlluences by trees, under-ljrnsli 
 and grass growing on their cn'sts and down their sides, and llje 
 beach by natural groynes of fallen tinilier, also by the largi: frag- 
 ments of .shale and boulders washed out of tho drift, which have 
 been removed for building purposes. 
 
 li. Tho iirogross of the travelling beaches may be arrested by 
 groynes. (Mr. Fleming.) 
 
 12. Tho groynes must penetrate into a depth of water bevond 
 tho influence of the great waves of the Lake upon the bottom" mid 
 tho maximum and minimum level of the Lake must be t.akcn into 
 consideration in ascertaining the depth to which they ought to bo 
 constructed. 
 
 13. The effect produced upon the beach by waves washing over 
 it, or in some instances creating openings, is merely to change it.s 
 position and move it a few yards to tho north ; this is a conse- 
 quence of the vast extension of tho sloping beach southwards. 
 
 14. There is nodangerof ajuom ;«eH< hroach being made by the 
 waves of tho Lake. 
 
 15. Breaches are duo to the concurrence of storms and high 
 Lake levels, and no broach would have been made near tho I'eniti- 
 sula Hotel during low Lake levels. 
 
 16. Evidence tends to show that tho maximum level of the Lake 
 lasts for one or two years only, whereas tho minimum lasts 
 for several years. Tho maximum level of Lake Ontario for tho 
 present period was attained very probably in June la,st, when the 
 level was 4 feet 5 inches above the level recorded by Captain Lefroy 
 in October of 1849 at the Queen's Mharf. There is a remote pro- 
 bability of the level this year being efpial to what it was last year, 
 owing to the late severe winter. This is a point which will soon 
 be ascertained. Tho level (end of April, 1854) is now two feet 
 one inch lower than in June last. 
 
 17. In order to preserve the Harbour from closing, a groyne 
 must bo constructed at Lighthouse Point into 40 feet water, which 
 will cause tho sand to 'Lack up' against it and extend the 'dimen- 
 sions of the shoal southwards ; in a few years a second groyne 
 must be constructed at B on the Map, and after another interval 
 of time a third groyne at C, then at I), (each groyne being smaller 
 than tho preceding one), and so on T|,o effect of this system of 
 groynes will bo to extend the shoai southwards into deeper and 
 deeper water, and gradually 'back up' the progressing mat rah 
 TO THEIR soDBCE, thus immensely strengthening the Peninsula .uid 
 
 1 
 
 making it a permanent and stable ftngue of land. 'J'he sand may 
 bn prevented from forming dunes by iilantiiig trees, beginning 
 with the formation of new land and planting as the land /oinm- 
 (If groynes were to bo constructed first, say at the Hotel and then 
 westward, it would be necessary to plant tho whole coast at once, 
 which would bo a difficult matter). 
 
 18. Simultaneously with tho construction of a groyne at A, a 
 gnjyne into 15 feet water must bo constructed at KM, and simul- 
 taneously with this a groyne at KF. (Mr. Fleming.) 
 
 19. It is most desirable to produce a current between the (ineen'a 
 Wharf and tlie groyne. In order to effect this object the Don must 
 still be permitted to eutor the Bay, but not by its present mouths. 
 They should be closed and a mouth opened at H, and a channel 
 cut for the Don south-east of tho Railway Bridge. Two or more 
 channels would be better, for thepurposeof preventing the cutting 
 of a deep passage by tho waters of the Don ; tho channel might bo 
 conveyed to different parts of tho Marsh. Tho progress (jf consol- 
 idating tho Marsh by this means would bo very rapid. The 
 waters of tho Don would then percolate through tho JIarsh, and if 
 they cut a deep channel they would havo time to deposit much of 
 the mechanicully suspended matter with which they are charged 
 during freshets, and if they did not cut a new deep channel, tho 
 reeds would act as filters, like the reeds in the swamps bordering 
 the Mississipi, (see Lyell's 2nd voyage to America), and effectually 
 arrest all silt. Tho sewage of the town should bo made to flow 
 into the Don ; in the Marsh it would become inoffensive, being 
 rapidly consumed by vegetation. The waters of tho Bay would 
 thus bo greatly purified. The p.assago of the Don through Ash- 
 bridge's Buy could not bC mainkdned. 
 
 20. Any permanent opening in the form of a canal between a 
 few hundred yards to the east of Lighthouse Point and the eastern 
 extremity of Ashbridge's Bay could not bo kept open, without the 
 CO istruction of works into deep water, and of groynes into deep 
 water east and west of it. 
 
 21. But ONE POSITION for tho mouth of a permanent canal 
 exists on the Peninsula, and that is at Lighthouse Point, where it 
 should be carried out side by side with the groyne into 40 feet 
 water. The groyne might form one side of tho" canal. A caual 
 from tho Bay terminating there would retain a permanent open- 
 ing for ages, if groynes at B, C, D, Ac, were constructed as tho 
 'land made' time after time. 
 
 22. A canal constructed from the point G to A, .and the continu- 
 ation of tho groyne at K to G, would soon inclose a piece of land 
 which would amply pay all the expenses of tho undertaking, (to bo 
 u.-<o; for the sites of warehouses, storehouses, &c.,) and maintain 
 the Sntcgrity of tho Peninsula, and tho preservation of the perma- 
 nent opening into the Harbour throughout the year. See Section 
 No. I. 
 
 i:i. In process of time, which might bo materially shortened by 
 the construction of simple works, a junction from A to E would 
 bo advisable, and thus form a permanent island. 
 ^ 24. If the entrance at tho Queen's Wharf were narrowed simul- 
 taneously with tho CO.' ■'- ion of the canal frwn A to G, both 
 openings would rcmai;- ;.■■ i lanent and unoHstructed by bars. 
 
 m 
 
 fl 
 1, 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Nori: A. 
 
 Tlie inati'rials nf wliic'li llii- riMiiii»iil:i lieiicli ...nsist iiri- ilcrivcil iil- 
 nii>st altoni'thiT from tlir ilril't clay luul siiml iil' (lu' 'I'citiiiry cpiicli. 
 I'recisi'ly tlio sume iimtoriiils. as ri'^imls tlioir mii" iiilncical cImviieUT, 
 are foun'il tii cmnposii a, very lnr(;L' ijorliiiu ol' tlie t-carboru' dill's. Tlio 
 uiiiteriiib cc nsist uf — 
 
 1st. Very ooiirsc qimrtz snnil. , 
 
 Hull. lU'il Kolspiir. 
 
 8rd. liliiek niiignetie oxiilo of irrm. 
 
 4tli. I'oiiimimite.i oftteiiremis slmle, ilcrived from I'l" brcaliiug up of 
 
 larger frapuenl.s found in the l>lue elay. 
 5tli. I'elibles of ipiartz, syenite and various other k'r •' ■ of granite. 
 :v.icli a!i are found iu iibundaneu iu the drift vavs iud elay of 
 the Scarboro' elitfs. 
 Cth. Water-norn and rounded fragments of sh:ile, containing fossili) 
 btlongingtotiie Hudson lUvertiroup; soineoftiiese fragments 
 nro four and tivc inches .-n diameter, and one inch d ick. 
 Tlio • uaio and pebbles constitute n vt:\ considerahle proj.ortion (jf 
 the lUiiierials eoinposiiiiJ the I'oniiiaula airi are found iu abundance at 
 LIglitliouso I'nin.. They i/ii>i ^laveeomc'.Vi.ni the Kast and 'travelled' 
 along the bench. The .'^fM .■.!;.■ ftr ivitics o\ ,-nme of the sand n\nteriaU 
 are given below, tho figu: ' •■ -viU pr.ib.ibly be .-(inclusive as to the possi- 
 bility of Bueh heary Bub^ >.>.<ki, ar.i rt u luignitu I. which nniy well 
 confer on them the appell.itiou »i 'very coarse ^aiid,' being transported 
 from toe u-erl, iu tho ab.'-eni.e of powerful currents t.) propel them 
 through water from 30 to !") fo'^t "[.ep. (liBtwtcu tlio Ilumber bay and 
 the west frontier of tin; IV.iinsub.— j 
 
 i-i • '> 7'' 
 
 Gneiss —i_- 
 
 Syenite -■"■* 
 
 Granite from ... -■'j- '" 2.74 
 
 Ji;c. &c- 
 
 Out of 10 kinds of rocks mentioned by Sir llciiry de la Heche in his 
 "Uesearches in Theoretical Geology," only /our have a siiecific gravity 
 less than i.oil, o." two and a h.iif times heavier than water. 
 
 The fossils of the Lower Silurian rock found on the I'cninsula are 
 
 derived from the drift clay which reposes immediately above the rock 
 
 itself. They may be seen, i;i silu, In very many situations near Toronto. 
 
 Ico cannot have transported tho Peninsula materials from the west, 
 
 for then we should find houliim, of which none are to bo seen. 
 
 Hut one rational conclusion remains, which is that they have come 
 fri/iii the last, 
 
 NOTE D. 
 
 The late Mr. Uoy, C.E , of Toronto, paid considerable attention to 
 
 the ])heiiomenaof Toronto Harbour. lie describes it as follows: "The 
 
 Harbour of Toronto is about '1\ miles in length from the Government 
 
 Wharf to the I'eiiinsula Hotel, and about IJ miles in breaclth from the 
 
 end of (.'liureh Street to the soutliern Peninsula. The water deepens 
 
 jrrailually from the North Shore. At the distance of 1000 feet from 
 
 jjC shore it is abiuit 15 feet deep, and at the distance of about half a 
 
 ile from the shore it is 30 feet deep; further out it deepens to i)3 
 
 f"et, and continues to maintain these depths for about a mile further, 
 
 hen as we approach to the southern Peninsula, the depth suddenly 
 
 Yeelines from twenty-eight anrl thirty feet water to five, six, and seven 
 
 ^eet water. The greatest depth at the entrance is 14J feet, and the 
 
 width of deep water from the Government Wharf to the buoy is about 
 
 800 feet." This was piddishcd in the >Ionthly Heview, June, 1841. 
 
 NOTE C. 
 
 The writer would respectfully suggest to the Harbonr Commissioners 
 the propriety of a per.sonal inspection of tlie .Scarboro' coast from 
 the east corner of Ashbridge's liay to Gates' Farm. The wild and ro», 
 niautio beauty of the scenery will well repay the fatigue of the trip. 
 It must be accomplished on foot, and in order to obtain a clear in.sight 
 iutu the phenomena of the coast as connected with the forniatir n of 
 Toronto Harbour it must be commenced at tho east end of Ashbridge's 
 Bay. 
 
 The poiuts to which the writer won \ ■ ;iectfully direct attention are, 
 
 1-t. The nature of the be.icli it Ashbvi Ig ■'■ Hay, anil in ninny instances 
 the verv regular (illilu'f a sumnl by the sdiugle uiil' r the intluence of 
 the late easterly gall '. Tl.it atitudu coi.'miIs m ihe iuelinatioii of 
 each piece of shingle > iih ri- Bit li its neighbour, tlie one to the cast 
 reposes as it were on the ovi.' t Jo west of it, nnJ so mk, as exhibited 
 in the diagrnm. In i,. veriii inst.iices the wrilci Iri ,ly observed this 
 arrangement, evidently umde uiul ;r ;)ie ii Mueiicc •■( ..asterly breaking 
 vfiivea. 
 
 2nd. Attention iscallcu to a roinarkablo remnant r.'' in ancient lieach, 
 about a mile east of .Vsht idge's Hay. A fence of a eh^nred field is in 
 one part idacrd ujion it. fiees of considerable growth arc still ro- • 
 oiiMuing on ii. shov, ing its antiquity. The beach or t pit has tho form iii- 
 ilic "ted in the diagram. 
 
 .'inl. Natural groynes -f fallen timber occur in this locality and 
 afford a good idea of the c^tei.i, to which t!ia i.llen tii..ber may pro- 
 tcci the cltt-. 
 
 •(•';i. The eonbt'iiraiior. of tho coast is cspii-ally to be noticed whoro 
 the tirst or lowi-t terrace oppi n.iclie.-i 'he Lake, It will be seen that 
 this terrae ■. es! edally when Iriiiged ,,'th the, tall pines which once 
 covered it. ,roull .- ,'rvc all li t purpo.^es of a vast fiotecting headland 
 from north- 1 istcrly and east,;-;.\ gales, to tho presei.t Ashbridge's Hay, 
 and, in the ic-iter':' ipini(-ii, the first origin of the peninsula was due to 
 this protecting headland. 
 
 6tli. Tho enormous gullies nro to bo particularly noticed, their 
 recent formation, the unstable nature of the materials of wliich tho 
 cliffs are composed, iind tho certainty of an imoiensely rapid yearly 
 increase in the ijnantity of material precipitated into tho Lake by tho 
 falling of the si>)i of tie gullies. 
 
 Otii, Tho ideniity of, the mineralogical character which exists be- 
 tween the sand of tho elilfs, the beach sand, and tho sand of tho 
 peninsula. 
 
 7tli. The intl.iei.rp of the total destruction of protecting forest 
 growth on the rape! Cormation of gullies. 
 
 Other subjects Wo, ihy of note are embodied in tho accompanying 
 Ueport, anddo not re luiro to bo noticed here. 
 
 NOTE D. 
 
 " From the experiments made by the Committee appointed by the 
 Hritish Association, in WK, it was found that with a depth of water 
 eiiual to twelve feet, waves nine inches high, and four or five feet 
 long, did not sensibly affect the water at the bottom. Waves from 
 iiO to 40 feet long, oscillating at intervals of six or eight secondu, pro- 
 duced some effect, but much less than ii_ear tho surface."— (See Article 
 Waiet, in the I'dini/ Cijclnjmha, vol. Ti). 
 
 " The agit.-ition of tho sea is felt at different deptiis, in proportion 
 to the magnitude of tho waves raised by the friction of tho wind. 
 During heavy gales of ■•■■t'd, the depth at which this agitation has 
 been observed, suUicient as ii, . shako up fine sediment enough to 
 
 discolour the wat<'r, is about 00 feet."— yco/e^ica/ Oliserver, page 112, 
 
 "The depths at which the disturbing action of a sea wave can be 
 felt has been estimated even so high as f)00 feet on the Hanks of Ncw- 
 foundland."— i"my. Movement des Unjes. Quoted by Sir U. do La 
 Heche. 
 
 The writer is persuaded that tho long waves of Lake Ontario, formed 
 hv the friction of the wind on an expanse of water ecpial to 180 miles, 
 aie sufficient to move sand at n depth of fifteen feet, especially en a 
 shoaling coast. The construction of groynes on a shoaling sand beach 
 is open to tho objection that the eroyiio itself may occasion such a 
 reflex action of the waves as to bring sand from depths where it is 
 affected into deeper water, thus producing secoiidiirt/ ahoah. 
 
 NOTE E. 
 
 The writer doei advance this statement as founded upon indis- 
 
 putable authorit' has heard it stated by persons employed in 
 
 eolleetiiig stone ' d from the Scarboro' coast, that bine clay is 
 
 found in ten or i ■■■'' « Icet water, outside Ashbridge's Hay, and affords 
 good 1 xsk'jr , . .nj. On (lucstioning the fishermen in that locality, 
 
 ,'/t»f«ffJ 
 
1854.] 
 
 Al'PHNDIX. 
 
 1 ininniiy instnnccs 
 !■ 1 tliu iiilluciico of 
 the iiii'liiintiun of 
 till) oiiu to tho cnst 
 wi ',<!., t\H cxliibitcd 
 p( ,lj iiliscrvi'il thia 
 f .janti-rly lircukiiig 
 
 >■ in ancient licncli, 
 n I'li'nri'tl lioM is in 
 riitttli lu'o 8till ro- • 
 jit lias the foiinin- 
 
 n tijiM locality iind 
 u tii.ber may pro- 
 
 ti) lie noticed where 
 1( will lie pccu that 
 I pinc3 which ouco 
 ! rotcctinp headland 
 ..t AshbiiilK«'s Uayt 
 cninsnln was duo to 
 
 nrly noticed, their 
 L'riali) of which tho 
 ciisely rapid yearly 
 ito tlie Lake by tho 
 
 ir which exiBts he- 
 ud the sand of tho 
 
 they BolJ they had nol observed it. The qiie-lioii i« not ono of 
 importance, nor \mn tho writer had any oiij.ortuiiity of vorifyinn any 
 fltateuienl by iicrsonul in.-p«tion. 
 
 Nori; ]••. 
 
 Uiiring the present spring the writer endeavoured to discover the 
 ancient beach of Lake (iTiturin, iilluded to in the text. At the doplii 
 of two feet, on tho border.-i of the niiir.ili, ho found, rcpeiitcdly, a 
 wanhed Hand, but did not succeed in fiioliiic shiuHle and pebbles. Tho 
 high state pf tho water preveiilcd any seiir.h being prosecuted far in 
 the marsh, at a depth of tlirce and four feet. 
 
 NOTK G. 
 In Ootohor, IKiV!, the writer sketched the appenranco of the ridpca 
 and now reef, at Jiinhthouso |)oint, from the summit of tlio lighlhoiise, 
 of which. Diagram No 1(», is a re|ire»enti\tion. The iliagram does not 
 pretend to tho aceuraey of measurement. Ft was sketched at that 
 time with a view to illustrate, at somo future period, tho theory of 
 the formation of tho Harbour advanced in thi ; lleport. 
 
 NOTE H. 
 
 Tho I!ay subaqueous cxtonsiim of the peninsula has been remodelled 
 and disturbed in many parts, this arises from a circular current which 
 sweeps round the south shore of the Jiay, towards the bar at the 
 nuiulli, when westerly and south-westerly winds press the waves on to 
 the north shore. Kquilibvium is established by means of this current, 
 which is, of course, dependent upon the force of the gales from the 
 quarters mentioned. Tlie late Mr. Koy, C.K., notices this current in 
 the paper before alluded to. 
 
 NOTIO I. 
 Tho late Dr. Houghton, Stale (ieologist of Michigan, took tho level 
 of Lake Michigan, in IBl'J, as hia Zero of Comparison, and he noticed, 
 
 in subsequent years, tho following variations in tho level of that 
 Lako : — 
 
 Lkvki. of [,.\ki; Mk IIIIIAN-. 
 f 
 
 ' ears. 
 
 IHl'.l ., 
 
 I.CIO ., 
 
 IHoil . 
 
 1H;17 ., 
 
 IHIIK . 
 
 1K;)!( ,, 
 
 IMJO „ 
 
 (I 
 
 III. 
 
 
 H 
 
 ;i 
 
 Zero of Coinp. 
 
 .1 11 
 
 {lirport i,f the. Slale (Iculoyifl nf Mirlii^an, IRJl.) 
 Approximate Kstimate for the construction of Works for the 
 preservation and security of Toronto Harbour. 
 
 £ 
 droync at Lighthouse point, about JOO feet long, into 10 feet water 3000 
 (Iroyne iit K.. M., into lo feet water, estimated length, with al- 
 lowance fur how Lake Levels, ."JO chains 2000 
 
 (iroyne at mouth of Harbour, 100 chains 40(10 
 
 Total £!)000 
 
 Estimated Kxpense of constnicting a C'aiuil, into 'lO feet water 
 at ,\, iiiirl -JO (Vet water, at (i ; ajiproximate length, I'.HK) 
 yiirds, width ofio (Vet 15000 
 
 Construction of (iroyne from K to G, 100 chains 4000 
 
 Total Kxpense, including (,'anal and (Iroyncs 28000 
 
 Amount of available Land enclosed by works between the points 
 
 A. G. I'" 250 acres: 250 acres at ,£100 ]ier acre 25000 
 
 Difference jEliOCJO 
 
 f protecting forest 
 I the accompanying 
 
 ee appointed hy tho 
 h a depth of water 
 id four or five feet 
 ittoni. Waves from 
 r eight seconds, pro- 
 face." — (Sec Article 
 
 epths, in proportion 
 riction of tho wind, 
 ih this ugitntion has 
 I sediment enough to 
 ( Oliurver, page 112, 
 a sea wave can bo 
 a the lianks of New- 
 d by iSir H, do La 
 
 ,akc Ontario, formed 
 r equal to 180 miles, 
 feet, especially on a 
 shoaling sand beneb 
 lay occasion s\ich a 
 I depths where it is 
 try sitoals. 
 
 founded upon indifl- 
 licrsoiis employed in 
 ast, that blue clay is 
 go's Bay, and affords 
 rmcu iu that locality, 
 
 REPORT 
 ON THE PRKSERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 TORONTO HARBOUR, 
 
 IIY S.\NI)1.'(IUI) FI.KMlNd, CIVII, KNOINKKH. 
 
 [7'/ie smmil premium <•/ Sfrcnt;/ fU'O Voiimh ira.y uwaiilcil h the. 
 
 aulhor nf iSiis Iteporl.] 
 TO THE l,'n.\raMAN op tub tOMMlSSIONEaS OF ToaosTO iiakuiir: 
 
 Sir, — A public roquisitiiin lias Lcen made for information as to 
 tho raeiiiis which should bo taken for the jireservatiou and im- 
 provement of your Harbor, hy a noticu dated March 14th, IK54, 
 and a pecuniary reward 1ms also tlieroby been ofierod. This last> 
 although porlnip.s inaulHcient iu itMolf to an ohiborate examination 
 of the subject, is doubtless an additional incentive to all who may 
 ohoso to c<inipoto fur it ; but to one who is proud of, and tnkc.'i de- 
 lisht in, those pursuits collaterally related to his profession, tho 
 pleasure derived from an enquiry so interesting as the forniaticn 
 of that singular breakwater bounding your harbor is in itself in- 
 ducement sufficient ; and I am fortunately in possession, ly pre- 
 vious and independent researches, of information cn.aldit-.g nie to 
 approach it with some degree of eonlidenco, and I accordingly 
 submit the accompanying copy of a paper laid before the Canadian 
 
 Institute about four years ago, which you will be pleased to con- 
 sider as ])reliiuinary to this report. 
 
 Toronto Harbour— Its Formation and Preservation! 
 
 Head before the Canadian Institute, June lit, 1850 ; 
 
 Dt SANDFOim FlKMlNG, C. E. 
 
 The origin of the now wealthy and flouri.shing City of Toronto is, in 
 common with that of many other cities and towns, clearly traceable to 
 certain natural advantages posses.sed by their localities. A waterfall 
 or rapid stream, the navigable termination of n river, or its junction 
 ■with a lake or other open navigation, will frequently accour' for tho 
 position of a town or village in an agricnltural or manufacturing dis- 
 trict ; but a n.atural harbour of easy access will generally, if not uni- 
 versally, point out the locality of a thriving commercial nucleus, in all 
 countries open to settlement and civilization. 
 
 To none of these circumstances except the lust can we attribute the 
 origin of Toronto. We have no waterfall,— no navigable river — even 
 the soil itself is enniparatively barren, and for ,-everal miles around, 
 with a few isolated exceptions, unsuitcd for agricultnral purposes. To 
 the last, therefore, must we ascribe the beginning of Toronto, and to 
 the unequalled excellence of this harbour forming on the north shore 
 of Lake Ontario, the most facile outlet for the productions of the back 
 country, is principally due the rapid and uninterrupted progi'css in 
 commerce and wealth of the western capital. To maintain this harbor 
 
 1 
 
10 
 
 nKFOllTS ON TORONTO IIARHOUR. 
 
 ill its ori|»iiiftt stale, or, if prnctioiilili>, to impi ove tlicroon ho ns to onsuio 
 n L'oiiliimiincoof prosjieiity, bi-conii'K, thoicl'ori", ot'tlic almost iiiiport- 
 niii'o. 
 
 The niitiiral Imsiu formcil liy a 8niiiliiil(?o oxtcinliiiK from tlie western 
 lii.miiiiiry of tin- towiisliip of Searborou^li, emlirueing ill its arms a 
 ]}cirlion of the urent Luke, possesses iniiiiy (jf the reipiisites for a (looil 
 li'irhour; it encloses aliout 1-00 acres of water, entirely free from 
 rocks ami shallows, ami avernning from 15 to 115 feet in depth, on the 
 wiile expanse of which the whole shipping of all the Canadian Lakes 
 might safely riile at anchor. Diirini; the prevalence of certan\ wimls. 
 however, the liasin is not of easy access to sailing craft; ami not only 
 is the channel scarcely snflicicnt to admit the entrance or departure of 
 large vessels, but it is oven fast closing up, and, a.stounding as the 
 assertiiin may appear to some, will, ere many years, unless efTicient 
 means of prevention be taken, put a complete stop to all navigation— a 
 boM enough statemout, but from asrertjiined facts a proper inference. 
 
 Tlial the entrance to the harbour is fast closing up, I have been led 
 to discover, by comparing a series of careful measurements recently 
 made, with ohl charts of various dates. In the soquel, this important 
 fact will be clearly shown, and an attemipt made to account for it ; in 
 the meantime, it may be sufficient to state that a bar has encroached 
 so nuieh on the channel, as to make it not more than half the width it 
 was fifteen years ago. With the view of prescribing an efiicient mode 
 to prevent the further accumulation of shoal calculated to prove so de- 
 trimental to the future prosperity of the city, it is first requisite to as- 
 certain the cause of the evil, from whence it arises, and investigate the 
 manner of its action — hence tho following infiuiry into the formation 
 of the Teninsula and Ilarljour. 
 
 Few persons visiting Toronto for the first time but are struck with 
 the singular appearance of the neck of land or peninsula stretching 
 out into the lake in front of the town, so low thai the few small trees 
 growing at wide intervalson its surface appearalmost springing from tho 
 water, and on a neare ..j.proach, so long, so curiously simpeil, and so dif- 
 ferent from the lanil on shore, that many are doubtless led to theorize a 
 little on its formation. Some, who have probably arrived in the pro- 
 vince by way of Niagara, and crossed over with their minds filled with 
 contemplati.ins of tlie mighty cataract, at once, ami without much 
 consideration attribute to the descending torrents of that river, tho 
 power of elevating from the depths of the lake, or of carrying across 
 in suspension, tho drift deposited here— a theory wild a}id incajiablo 
 of defence, though some arc hold enough to venture it. 
 
 Others again, who have probably arrived from tlie west, or whose 
 business takes them frequently in that direction, and from the steamer 
 generally calling at the mouths of the various small rivers emptying 
 into the lake between this and Hamiltipn, may be induced to think 
 that these streams have had the effect of drifting the debris of tho 
 uplands outward, which, with the assistance of an imaginary eastward 
 current of tho lake, is carriofl until meeting a contrary current, sup. 
 posed to be of the Don, then the matter held in suspension is supposed 
 to have lieen ileposited at their junction lino, opposite Toronto. Tho 
 advocates of this theory have yet to prove that such currents of tho 
 lake as these exist in reality : although it is true that cnrronts out- 
 ward and inward, over the bur, are found, cccasionnlly resembling a 
 slight half liourly tide, yet. if they have any effect on' the bar at all 
 they must have a t mdency rather to diminish than increase the deposit. 
 AH thcio streams, witli the exception of the Don, enter the lake nearly 
 at right angles, and it is impossible that they can flow into a largo 
 and deep body of water, such us exists between their mouths and tho 
 point in ([uestion, without being entirely diffused ; nor could the drift 
 brought down by them be carried wlioUy or chiefly in one particular 
 
 <lirccticni without a most powerful enrrent, but would, if ponderous, bo 
 deposited at their outlet, and if light, wouM be distributed fur ami 
 wide. More especially is it reasomible to infer that tlie l>eninsulft is 
 neither now affected in any way by these western streams and tho 
 imaginary currents in conjunction with them, nor /((i.» been formed by their 
 drift, since the material composing it, sand and gravel, could not, in 
 accordiiih'c with existing laws, be held in susjiension and transported 
 for miles over still water, 00 ami 100 feet deep. Were the deposit or 
 any part of it of an argillaceous nature, there would havoHjcen some 
 slight reason to think thai these st cams might have been auxiliurios, 
 but such is not Uic case. 
 
 Others, again, suppose that the reninsnla is merely a narrow ledgo 
 of rock, slightly covered with the sand and gravel which wo find on 
 tlie Mirface, but this opinion is quite at variance with tho gcnornl 
 geological features of this pint of tho country, and to local inveBll- 
 gationa. 
 
 A little consideration of tho subject will show that these opinions 
 can only bo advanced by those jiersons who Irnvo merely been enabled 
 to nittko cursory observations, and by tlioso who, knowing the wonder- 
 ful transporting power of running water when confined, as in n rive;*, 
 are inclined to attribute to its agency more than is justly due, and 
 overlooking the change of circumstances, class effects tuiiversiilly 
 which can only bo proilucod by causes under particular conditions. 
 They being anxious to account for certain results, are contented with 
 a superficial and fallacious reasoning, and assign to tho most con- 
 spicuous agents of nature, that, which after a more careful and deeper 
 search would bo ascribed to a power less oasil/ observed, but not less 
 active, or less potent. 
 
 Sir Uichard lionnycastle, in an elaborately drawn up Report, dated 
 1835, gives it as his opinion that tho Teninsula " was ono of tho many 
 ridges deposited at the bottom of a vast lake which existed before tho 
 present Ontario and Krio were formed out of its drainage," and " that 
 it liutl not materially altered for a vast length of time, probably not 
 since it emerged from the waters."' 
 
 It may bo thought presumptuons in mo to present anythin-; in 
 opposition to tho judgment of that respected and eminent gentleunn; 
 but from careful observations and measurements, and a comparison of 
 these with surveys made at different times by others during the last 
 half century, h.iving fouml that tho deposit both above and underwater 
 has received additions so extensive, and which so closely resemble 
 in character its older portions, I may bo permitted to suggest, instead 
 of (he Peninsula being a seiliin'n ary deposition of the tertiary periods, 
 as thought by Sir 11. l!onn) castle, that the whole of it belongs to the 
 present era, and that at least ono of the agents of its formation, is at 
 this day as 'tively engaged in changing and enlarging tho outline of 
 the deposit in question, as it has been hitherto in gathering together 
 the materials, and modelling them into its present shape. 
 
 I shall first endeavour to show that the inferior portion or base of 
 the Peninsula has been washed from tho valley of the U(m by that 
 river at an early date; second, that the materials composing the supe- 
 rior and more recently formed portions have been gradually trans- 
 ported along the shore from tho eastward, and that this westward 
 progressive motion of the sand and gravel beach is now tho solo cause 
 of the extension and enlargement of the Peninsula, and of the danger 
 at present threatening the entrance of the Harbour. 
 
 First That the groundwork of tho Peninsula enclosing the Harbour 
 
 is, or has been, a delta of the Kiver Don. 
 
 It is generally believed that iit one lime Lake Ontario stood -A a 
 higher level, and covered a fur greater area than it nt present occu- 
 
 ^ 
 
 :"~T 
 
1, if poniloroHs, bo 
 ixtiiljuti'il fur mill 
 tlio I'l'iiiiijula in 
 i\ streiiiiiH itiiil tlio 
 L'lMifcprmod by their 
 ivcl, could not, ill 
 iinil transported 
 IP tlio dcponit or 
 d liuvolieeii somu 
 .' liiH'ii niuiliarioH, 
 
 ly a narrow Icdgo 
 
 ivlilcli we find on 
 
 witli the general 
 
 to local investi- 
 
 liat tlu'80 opinions 
 rely been enabled 
 iwing tlie wondor- 
 ned, as in a rivef, 
 is justly due, and 
 tfeets universally 
 licular conditiona. 
 re contented with 
 to the most con- 
 nreful and deeper 
 rvcd, but not loss 
 
 up Report, dated 
 s one of the many 
 existed before (ho 
 nape," and " that 
 line, probably not 
 
 sent anythin,'? in 
 inent Rcntlemin ; 
 d a comparison of 
 ira duriu}; the last 
 e and underwater 
 closely resemble 
 
 BUjiKcst, instead 
 e tertiary periods, 
 it belongs to the 
 
 1 formation, is at 
 ng the outline of 
 athering together 
 lape. 
 
 portion or base of 
 the Don by that 
 nposing the supe- 
 gradually trans- 
 lat this we»tword 
 ow the solo cause 
 iiid of the danger 
 
 ising the Harbour 
 
 iitario stood ut a 
 at present occu- 
 
 HEl'ORTS ON TORONTO HAIIHOI'K. 
 
 17 
 
 plel. A barrier may havo then existed nt its uiillul, wliei-u probalily 
 the Thousand Islandt are now seen, over llietop of wliicli thepriiiioval 
 St. Lawronoo Ucwcil ; this uruiit river, iiHhIng over tlie hiirrier with 
 troraondous velocity, would, tlinm/h ccmise of time, wash away its 
 softer parts, ami leave standing tlinse immcruiis isolateil rocks and 
 pictures(iuo islamls which, now covi I'cd with foliage, adorn so much 
 the landscape of that section of tl,e country, ff this ho not the ap- 
 proved way of accounting for the hiwering of the level of the water.s, 
 a gradual ii|)lieaval of the land generally, or even a subsidence of the 
 ocean may be brought furwani ; it is iiiiiiecessiiry for our present piir- 
 po.sc, however, to cuter into a geological disipiisition on this point, if 
 we allow that the whole of the country bordering on Uke Ontario was 
 at one time submerged under the same extensive sheet of water; and 
 that the level iif this great hike, or it may ho this arm of the oceiin, 
 was through course of time depressc^d, and its outline contracted until 
 it was reduced to the present Ontario. A supposition so strongly sup- 
 ported by the discovery of several ancient beach lines, tcrruces and 
 parallel ridges in the vicinity of Toronto and other parts of the country, 
 at various, but corresponding levels, that it may, without nincli diffi- 
 culty bo admitted. 
 
 As the land gradually emerged, its appearance would lie bleak in 
 the cxtrorao ; a Hut or but slightly undulating surface unbruken by 
 rivers or ravines, and uncovered, for a lengtli ol' time with vegetation ; 
 on the ancient shallows of the great lake varioiH kinds of plants would, 
 through course of time, take root, grow up and wither; the eoiilinucd 
 reproduction and decay of which would gradually coat the surface 
 with organic matter, and tlius enriching the soil, enable it to produce 
 more luxuriant vegetation. Now, (prior to the settlement of the 
 country,) after a lapse of many centuries, we find the great hardwood 
 forest growing over soils of an argillaceous character, and tho ancient 
 land shoal) of tho great lake clothed with lofty pine. 
 
 Wo can easily imagine the general character of the present shores of 
 Lake Ontario, when they first became dry land— a vast umlulating 
 piano ascending as at prosei.t from the Lake into tho interior, but 
 totally devoid of water eh.ipnels for the surface drainage— hero a bed 
 of clay — there a tract of sandy soil ; and as it is only reasonable to 
 suppose that rains fell in those days as at present, the water produced 
 by them on tho surface, in flowing from a higher to a lower level, would 
 most easily wa.sh out channels in the softest material ; and these little 
 streams, collecting together in their downward course towarJs the 
 Lake, would form the commencement of a river course. 
 
 Tho newly formed rivers, having the same fall towards the Lake as 
 the surface itself, their beds being but slightly under it, would be 
 much more rapid than they are now, and rushing ilown with violence 
 after thaws and heavy rains, would, proportionally with their greater 
 rapidity, during the firs', years of their existence, be more ell'cctive in 
 scooping out tho sand drift, and tnuisporting it to the Lake ; from 
 year to year tho water channels would thus grow larger and larger, 
 and although tho rivers, as they were depressed, lost much of their 
 force and rapidity, yet continually undermining the banks and trans- 
 porting the debris downwards, woiiUl, through course of ages, form 
 those deep ravines in which many of them now flow. 
 
 That tho rivers in this section of the country have originated in this 
 manner, is iufeirod from tho fact, that they are found .almost univer- 
 sally to flow in flat-bottomed vallies or ravines, the banks of which 
 aro tho abrupt terminations of the level country on each side ; and 
 that those ravines are generally found where the drift is of a liglit and 
 sandy nature. 
 
 TI ■ accompanying section across the Uivcr Don, taken a little above 
 t! ■ ''■ letory, will show clearly tho first proposition ; tho second also 
 o 
 
 is established by tho well-known character of tho soil of which tho 
 banks are compo.-ed. Tho surface of the country extends for miles 
 to tho right ami left of tho river without any material change of level, 
 except wheve broken by a secondary ravine of a tributary stream. 
 Doubtless, then, the inference is correct as far as regards the Don, 
 and that the dotted lino stretching from bank to bank on the drawing, 
 was the surface prior to the scooping out of its channel. 
 
 Sfrliim itcrmt thr Ilim uIki ' IJ.j mllrt/rum ila mimlh. 
 
 n. Tho vnlli'V i.f the Dun nlioul » ' ; (if mllu ivIJ... unit upvtarjs i,f luu L-^\ Joi.|i— tho 
 
 rlnr hiTi' Is iia n Ivvfl ullh Ijiki' Diitiirlii. 
 I'. .K Irlliutiir.v •■fill.! Iloii. runnliiK llimimh V.irkvlli.., U 1* nut Ml,lli|urlj' Ijy tlio me- 
 
 tliiri mill fiirms a Junclioii Willi tlui Dun uIhiuI ';, ii iiillu lurlluT iliiwii. 
 
 ■'■'' "'"' I'"" 1» »'•"'• '-ll f'^'t liit-'hiT tluM the Uh... ami tlio Burlli.o uiilntalnil 
 
 viry n.'.nrly th.. sni.i.i h'Vil fur » ImiK illstaiire cm iltliir hIJ.. in a illri-ctl.in |mrall,-l lo 
 ivitli a Ki'iill" bIi'Iki 111 rliflit ant'lfj to It— on |inrl of llils nloiw tlw City of 
 
 III., kill 
 Ti iron to i; 
 
 huilt. 
 
 Nor is the Dun singular in these respects; of all the streams I am 
 acriuainted with to the east and west of Toronto, the same scooping 
 out of tlio ravines can be shown, and generally the same sandy charac- 
 ter of the conntry immediately traversed, as indicated by the dark 
 green lielts of pine running into tho interior of tho country through 
 tlio hardwood forest which flourishes better on tho heavier soils. And 
 here, without digressing nincli from the subject, one can scarcely 
 avoid observing very apparent marks of design— the adapting of the 
 pine to grow on soils unfitted for cultivation, and the lending of rivers 
 through pine-bearing soils, thus enabling tho settler to take advantage 
 of the various ;iropcrties of running water in conveying and preparing 
 the most usefi.l f all timbers for his manifold purposes. 
 
 Tho V lley of the Don is from a quarter to half a mile in width, with 
 abruptly rising bank^ ■, lOOto 200 feet and upwards in height, 
 the scoopingout of wh .', ! ,i) lies the removal of many hundred millions 
 of cubic yards, a quai.tity so immeasurably great when brought into 
 comparison with the agent of removal— a stream (when not dammed 
 up) only about uO feet wide, that it appears altogether irreconcilable 
 with the inference drawn; more especially is it so, when we know that 
 'he annual quantity of matter bronght down by tho Don is at present 
 inconsiderable. If, however, wo bear in mind that, without assuming 
 a greater volume of water to have flowed in its channel than l jw, the 
 transporting power of the Don must formerly have been very much 
 greater by reason of its greater descent and rapidity; and, if it can le 
 shown that many ages have elapsed since it first came into existence, 
 the conclusion come to may be taken ns rational and correct 
 
 It may seem difficult — nay, almost impossible — to estimate, however 
 roughly, th" .. u vliirh has elapsed since tho Don commenced to 
 flow; but if .'1 hi rive at tho oge of any other river emptying its 
 
 water into Lake Ontario from a source equally high, the problem is 
 solved. Whei: the great Lake already mentioned, subsided from its 
 high level, then, and not till then, did the Niagara, tho Don, and other 
 coteniporary rivers make their appearance. .Since that epoch the 
 Niagara has cut a deej) channel for seven miles through the solid rock; 
 its annual recession has been ascertained approximately, and from 
 these data its age has been roughly determined. " We may turn to 
 the deep ravine," says Lyell, "and behold therein a chronometer 
 measuring rudely, yet emphatically, tho vast magnitude of the interval 
 
 % 
 
 4 
 
 ^^-^i 
 
ItEl-OllTS ON TORONTO HAUHOUIt 
 
 I 
 
 18 
 
 of yoarM wl.loli scpumto tho pre-oi.t time from tli.- fi>"ili «'">» H'" 
 NinUiirii flowi'.l iit a lusher Icvi'!." 
 
 Tl.n.< ihni. tho D.m. cncviil with tl..> NUR«rn.lm. flowc.l, n«nr.Iiii« 
 to this K-vn.t (lc.^^.s!i^.t, f.,r ,1 ,>.M'iu,l f.ir I ■.. ^iTiil for tliP liiiiiiiM.nthm 
 t,. .•.,:i.i.ivl„Mi.l, iinlwlii.!i"tKM'aii>..Mro..lx vonturoto immc l.y .vi'iirs;* 
 ev.Mi iillowiiiK thut ,m, l.istovin.1 kiiow!...ljro ■ '■ Ou' I'M-t cmOiti.m "f 
 tl„. K..1U is fur loo iiiCTiirc. to o.limMo • u'- uiy •h-fitv'O i>i pire.sion, 
 tl.o ruto onii.'ir .Tli-opTs-ion in fuv.o-. ■ . (•^«, y«l ««'i'i. iM Imt nrnvo 
 HI tl.o oonolusion ll.ut llo- cImoi.oIoru »1 !!»« nf H" NiiK^rn tti»l - ■•■■'•.•- 
 
 quoiitlv uf the Do.,, must be so o moo,ly umit.thut m.o wo.il.l think 
 
 cv.Mi iN IViiHioiwl part would M.ili- for the roi..o,,il of tl.o hun.lro.i- 
 of ...illio.,- of yu:h of ii.Htter I .v the l.ittcr riv.r t.. tho I.nko, vMlho.it 
 oftUiiii,' to iti niil .my uini-iml phoiiomoiia. 
 
 Ilnvii.R th.is shown that Buffioiont tli..e i.iny l.o pr.iMloil, tho Hon 
 llnMorori' siiinilioM iin iiloiuiato cause for porfoniiinu ai.M oo.i.i.lot.io' 
 Ion" Hinoo tl.o woik as/.Ki.c.l to it: year after y.M.r .l.irina.'. vi.iy 
 hi.torv, Hlowly 1.1.1 on-lantly l.ollowinR out a ohani.ol an.l .omovinj! 
 tho forn.or contents of .ts valley to the lake tl.o li;;l.ter nn.l inniu 
 Boli.l.le n.atter hcin- hoM for »o...e time by tl..' water, to bo .listnb.ite, 
 far a..il Ki,le. il- heavier particles .,n the other haml to bo .lepos.tc.l 
 near its month, in I'lO form of an extensive shoal or ,lclta-tl.e base ..r 
 grounJ-work of li. Peninsula, on which as?ain to bo .lepomteil a .Inft 
 from other causes uml fro... another 8ou.ce. 
 
 .Soconil, That tl.o Peninsula proper has been foi-mc.l -olely by the 
 mechanical .ci.on of the waves, that tho -:,n.l an.l jtravol of which it 
 is conipose.) hav- been bv this action pra.liially Iransporte.l from the 
 oastwaiM an.l .h.ositea on the deltaic shoal of tl.o Hon, an.l that the 
 delta has thus been raised above the surface of the water and extendc.l 
 westward far beyond its original limits. 
 
 The etfects produced by waves o.i a shore exposed to their notion 
 
 nro of various kinds, depending in a great measure on the nalii o of 
 
 the beach, the dii-cction of the waves, and their mechan al force : if 
 
 the shore be of clay the acih.n is entirely dcslrnctive, the banks aro 
 
 umlermined and continually caving in, the fine argillaceous particles 
 
 are taken •^v by the water, c .nied out and deiiositcd after a time at 
 
 .loptl.9 unnliccte.1 by tho motiM. at the s,irf..ce; if the shore bo of siind 
 
 or gravel the eti'ects produced a.-c .inile different. When the direct..... 
 
 of the waves is not at right angles to tho beach a progressive action 
 
 results, and when the waves bi-oak point blank on the sho..e line with 
 
 suflicient force the action is destr...tive, in which case the banks are 
 
 broken ch.wn an.l tho spent wave returns loaded with sai. 1 to be ile- 
 
 posited outside of the bi-eakors in the for.n of a shoal generally pai-allcl 
 
 to the coast ; if the soil of which the banks are composed be a mi-. turn 
 
 of clav an.l sand the acth.n is botl '.-tructive an.l progress! . tl.c 
 
 chiyev particles are washed out an.l '^itod i. dl water, v tho 
 
 »a.i'j," gravel, an.l stones aro loft behind lo be moved forward either in 
 
 one direction or an..lher, a.i.l at a rate .lepending solely on the strength 
 
 of the impinging waves, and the gravity of tho materials themselves. 
 
 On a rockv shore the elfects pro.luced •.:- [.-..isely sin.ilai-, although 
 
 „r course to a much more limited extent ; liy conlintwl exposure to 
 the *earing action of water an.l weather ft mass is umlermined ami 
 tiimbh.ii down, ft p..rtio.. of the dobiis is p.it in pr..giessive motion 
 during every stor... when the waves in.pingo ..ihorwiso than at right 
 angles to the -Lore line, and is n.oved, ftCcordi..g to the l..cality, in a 
 certain prevailing .lirocth.n, until meeting a projecting point or other 
 hindrance to its ..nwarl i.r..gre»s ; thus lo.nilng those »hingle beaches 
 seen at n.any places on nil rocky shores. 
 
 The clTects of the destructive nelion on banks of clay can bo traced 
 whorovir th.' sl.o.e is entirely of that material; the owners of property 
 alon- many parts of Lake (hilari.. can bear testim. ,..v to its annual 
 encroachn.ont"-. i.n.l, to cim.e noai-er home, many citizens of Toronto 
 ni.ist hav.. wil..essed tl.o gra.lual alteration in the form and recession 
 of tl.o clay banks botwe..n the oM anil new garrisons. 
 
 - elfects of the progressive action can also bo witnessed at many 
 J,, ...i.. .11 all the lakes ; but at n..ne in a ...ore rc.nark.ihle degree than 
 at T.,ronto, although ,.l other places to even a much greater extent. 
 .\n,l ..i.ice to the peculiar m.itio.i ..f san.l an.l gravel beaches w.Il bo 
 Bttribulo.l not only the extraonlinary el.ange. tho Peninsula is at pre- 
 sent ..n.lorg,.i..g, but eve., the g.eatcr part of the entire 1,. niation, it 
 will be necessary to explain fully the nature „f it, an.l give tlm reasons 
 why the beach should have a tenilency to movei.i o.ie direction in pre- 
 ference to another. 
 
 Let us take an exami.le when tho direction of tho win.l for...s an 
 acute angle with the sl...i-o, a partible of san.l resting on the surface is 
 d.iven lorwar.1 up tl.o inclined plane of tho beach in tl.o direction in 
 which the wave il»elf moves, the particle either remains at i now 
 elovatoil positi.... ..r (as is more U9..id) sweeps along in a small oirve 
 
 »...! r.ills .low..war.ls with the expon.lcl wave t.i a new position, the 
 distance of which fro... the first will bo i.. i,roporti..n to the n.echanical 
 f.uco of the wave an.l its dii'cctiun ; another and .-ach successive wave 
 drives the particle forwar.l in a siinilar .nanner, unless by accident it 
 fin.ls a resting place behiiol s , .bst.'uction or bo bur.c ' by other 
 particles on the same missi.>n as itself. If we take instead > ' a grain 
 of sand, a small pebble, we fiml that the snn.o wave, or a wt iving 
 the same force, moves it ft less distance than it does the si that 
 larger pebbles being heavier make p.v|>w ii '.tely less progress, and 
 that stones still heavier are move.l only when the waves haveconsi.i. 
 able power. All of these bodies, however, when within tho im] 
 force of tl.c wav.. and placed ii. nosithms fairly exposed to it- la-ecl 
 action, seemed to be govorne.l by th.' an.e law, and ai-e moved 1 .rward 
 ft less or greater distance according to their weight and gravity. 
 
 FiR. 2. 
 
 * "Mr. Bakewell calculated that, in the forty years preced.ng IS.TO, 
 the Niagara l.a.l been going back al the ratoofabo.it a ya.-.l annually, 
 but 1 conceive that one f.u.t per year wouM be a much m.ire probM . 
 coniecture, in which case ILVIKK) years wo.iM have been n-umn-a 
 the' retreat of tho Kall.s, fi-om tho escariamnt ot Q»i' ' 
 pi-esont site, if wo could assume that the retrogade mov. 
 unif.inn througl.o..t. This, however, couhl not have bee 
 at every step in the process of excavatiiui, the height ol 
 the l.aribi.'r-s of th- materials at its base, and the ip. 
 matter to be removed, must have varieil. At some poini 
 
 .'(|.1.1TI1 i 
 
 n to the 
 'lad b. . 
 
 prec 
 
 y of . 
 a may hat 
 
 iiiiYi. ,,,,,...,. ... ......... I ^ 
 
 r..'"''.".l m.uh fastcr'tl.aii at present, at others much slower, and it 
 v..uld be scarcely possible to decble whether its avera;;c progress has 
 been mo.-e or less rapiil than now." — l.'/rll. 
 
 \ j ;^j,J>JvJvJ^,.J'NJ.>J■^J:<AA-'f.\ \ 
 
 ''•■J /\ ■ •■■. y / ■•■■..^ ./ ■■-'..'■ "^o-^ ' ''^■^■ 
 -...J" -■.... / "'■■- .•' ^--..-^ ■■■•-...- 
 
 The arron-s ihnote the (lirrclion ■/ (Ac .c.ii-ci,- the ilolled lines »hoif thr 
 pi:lli.i of i/iinim nf mnti and jieUites. 
 
 The zig-zag dirocti.m taken by the sai. 1 and gravel on tho bea.d. is 
 indicato.l by the >!iii....s .lotted linos .m Fig. 2, tl.c sniftllest one is in- 
 tended to show tl.c course of .i grain of sand, nn.l the two largest lines 
 that of iiebblcs va.ying in size. Tl.o |.rogressive motion is slightly 
 huspende.l betweo.i -li wavi-, but although int.rmittont is continued 
 so long as the seas .iik on tho shore fi'om the sa •■ quarter, and 
 nntil the moving mass mo. ts with an obsli-uction, or by reason of a 
 
 ( 
 
 ;j 
 
iiiiiil exposure to 
 uiiili'rniiiicil mill 
 ■ii({iTH»iv(' imitioii 
 'i->i> limn at riftlit 
 thf III ulity, in » 
 iiR |iiiiiit iir other 
 i< iihingld beaches 
 
 rlny run lie ♦raced 
 wnt-rs of property 
 i.iiy to its nnmml 
 tizens of Toronto 
 iirm mill rci csslon 
 
 ivttneasod at many 
 kiible degree than 
 jh |£iiiitcr extent. 
 •1 bi'iicheH will be 
 enliiHulii is at prc- 
 iitirc Ininnlion, it 
 111 (live tlio rciiBonH 
 le ilirection in pre- 
 
 tho wiml foniiH an 
 g on tlie siufiieo is 
 
 in the ilirortion in 
 emiiiim nt i now 
 » in a sniiill cun'O 
 1 new position, the 
 1 to tlic mechanical 
 fh Hueeessive wave 
 iilesa by acciilcut it 
 le burn ' by other 
 
 instcail ' a grain 
 •, or a wf. iving 
 doc the 91 that 
 t less progress, :ind 
 ares hiivcconsiili 
 ;ithin the imp '■ 
 xpiisoil to it-* direct 
 
 arc moved l^irward 
 , and gravity. 
 
 lotted lines >koH' thr 
 
 '.8. 
 
 nvel on the beaih is 
 c smallest one is in- 
 the two largest lines 
 ve motion is slightly 
 niittcnt is continued 
 u 811) I' ((uarter, and 
 1, or by reason of n 
 
 HKl'OKTS ON TOHONTO IIAIIHUIJU. 
 
 » 
 
 Buddon bond or other pccullarKy of Ilia Aurc line Is depi.-iteil In a 
 position beyond the lnHnence of the waves. 
 
 When lh« waves impinge al right anglei to the nhore the progres-ive 
 motiuii of tho bi'ucli is thei.rrlii'ally nothing, thi^ various particles of 
 saml are rolled upwards and downwanls, changing pnsilion only lalor- 
 ally or In tho lino of direction of the waves ; when llic waves Impinge 
 somewhat less than a right angle the grains of sand innve along in a 
 iharp ilg-iag line, as 
 
 Fig. li. 
 
 VA^\\'#fWMWiJ\'Wi 
 
 ill Kig. ;), when much less than a right annlc the particles muvo uii- 
 ward 111 a long uiidiilatory Mm- as In Fig. 4. Tho distance between 
 the points of each inilcniation being in pruporlion to tho co.sino of the 
 angle formed by tho diiection of tho waves and the lino of tho shore. 
 Kig. 4. 
 
 Oraiiiing that tho diiocliim of the wa»ea is governed by that of tho 
 wind, it follows that whenever tho wind bluKs from a (piarter to the 
 right of a perpendieuhir to ili.- shore, the l» ..h sand is nioveil to the 
 left, and t'i'ce vena. If, Ihei re, tho wind blew with C(|ual strength 
 null ihiring eipial times from all jioints of the compass throughout tho 
 year, and the waves also had at all times the same nieehanieal force, 
 tho sand would at one time move to tho riglit, and at another time an 
 equal dislance to tho left; but, to speak In general terms, tho beach 
 would remain ever as it was (excepting the etfecls of tho destructive 
 action). Since the forces never could act simultaneously, we would 
 have, it is Hue, a constant repetition of coinplicatcd motions, zig-zag, 
 uudulatory, lateral, )iiM;;ressivc, and retrograde; hut, from their as- 
 sumed equality and the equal times of their iipplicution, there could be 
 no resultant. The mean velocity of the wimi may properly enough be 
 taken as equal throughout the year from all points of tho compass, 
 since tho actual dilTerence, as obtained by observations, will effect tho 
 results inappreciably; but tho mean firce of tho waves will not in 
 consequence bo equal, as this is greatly influenced by tlu- locality. It 
 is found that the meclmnical force of a wave depends chiefly on tho 
 strength of the wiml and tho cxteiu of open water traversed; allowing 
 then that tho wind blows equally irom all imints, it will follow that 
 tho resultunt of tho aggregate forces of tho waves impinging at any 
 piirticular place, will bo a lino lying in a direction opposite to tho 
 largest area of open water. 
 
 In applying this conclusion to the beach in front of Toronto wo find 
 that tho greatest extent of Lake Ontario pas-scd over by winds blowing 
 from any point westward of tho perpendicular A B, Fig. 5, docs not 
 exceed forty miles, nor is tho area of water over twelve hundred square 
 mile« while to tho East or \ the 
 
 Fig. 0. 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 t.AK^ 
 
 0//TA/ilO 
 
 waves have a fetch of as niuoh as a hundred and eighty miles over rni 
 expanse of water measuring nearly nine thousand squaie miles; henee 
 then (the duration of the aclion being taken as equal In both cases) 
 the intensity of the collective forces of waves impinging at A from the 
 eastward is many times greater than those from the westward, and tho 
 motion of tho beach nt .\ must therefore be westerly; it must of courfO 
 move with a variable velocity because tho forces are not constant; Us 
 path, or rather the path of each particle, undulntory, since the forces 
 »cl Impulsively m the plane of the beach In ciMnblnation with gravita« 
 tlon ; It must siioi' limes relrograde since the ihrectioii of Ulc forces is 
 ever changing, and they never act simultancuu-ly ; but aggregately, 
 the beach sand, subject !■ many complicated motions, and acted on by 
 innumerable and incalculable forces, must muvo absolutely from cast 
 to west, and (taking the forces on each side of lino A II respectively 
 as positive and negative) with a velocity proportionate to their alge- 
 braic sum. 
 
 On that portion of tho beach successively washed by tho waves only, 
 can tho progressive motion be proved oceularly, yet doubtless a similar 
 (ictiim must bo pro luccd between the breakers and tho main land all 
 along the shore, and when wo consider that the lake is seldom or never 
 entirely at rest, that even during perfect ealins. unless continued for 
 several days, a geiitlo ripple capable of moving san 1 is found on tho 
 shore, throughout tho whole year, therefore, niu«l the nmtcrials ciuii- 
 posing the beach be continually changing place, and although some- 
 times moving easterly, yet generally, as proved above, in the contrary 
 direction. 
 
 Kig. 8. 
 
 -■^y,:. 
 
 Tho accompanying drawings of natural groynes very strongly con- 
 firm tho conclusiim here como to. They are cojiied from skotcliea 
 recently taken (18o0) on the spot, between Trivat's Hotel and the 
 Scarboro' Heights. Fig. was formed by tho falling of a tree opposite 
 a fisherman's hut east of the Narrows on tho passing log : the outer 
 end of the tree was supported by its branches : about one half of tho 
 log was floating, but kept stationary by the tree; the remaining half 
 rested mi the surface, and enabled the sand to accumulate at its easterly 
 side. Figs. 7 and 8 appear also to have been formed in a similar 
 iicinner. They were found on that part of the shore between Ash- 
 bri'l|-;o i Bay and the Scarboro' Height . Tho dotted lines indicate what 
 
 Fig. 7. 
 
 ^v\M^' "'"'" '-"'''^^''''' 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
20 
 
 HKl'OUTS ON TOllONTo II AllUOl II 
 
 Fig. «. 
 
 K 
 
 y 
 
 
 Shlchfi iif iKitiinil llri'i/iit.', 
 wii« •.iippiisc.l 111 Im- tho (irin'iiml wiiliM-iimrk. In nil cii-c. tin' wiili-r 
 wiiK from oni- tn twcp tint lU'vp on the wi'»tiTly "i'li' "f tlio l.i(r«, itml in 
 H'viTiil in,itiini-r^ tlio sinil wiis five nr nix iin'hi'f iili.ivi' tlu'T upinT 
 mirl'iico on the (■ii!<li'rlv si'lo. TlioHc (innni'i. furnn'il liy neci'ii'nt. 
 ihciw viTV i-lcnrly th" iciills of llio wctwunl motion of the lii'iiili. 
 nn.l, nllli"Mi;U simple in the i'\lri'in<', ui'i' milnrnl nioiliMn fioni which 
 may he ilc'riij,'nej odier eontrivanee'< fm' tin- I'elenlioii of the movinn 
 snn.l, iiii'l will he relViTe.l to lierenl'ter In tiintinn of the pve-erviition 
 of the lliiihoiiv. 
 
 In Badition to these ia.llcfttions of the weitwarl moti.m of the bench, 
 It niny be oli-ervej that, on iin exiiniinntion of the month of siveriil 
 smnll alrciims ilis<'hai>Mnn Into the lake eant of AshliriJtje'^ Itay, it \* 
 found that, whatever he their ^enerul ilirection inland, »o -ooii ni they 
 intersect the sand lieach, their conrso U westward. In most rnse^ 
 they mil parallel to the shore, separated from it by n small ridpe of 
 »and, anil ultimately dischai'no into the Ijiko some clistain'c went from 
 the point where they leave the woods. 
 
 We have also palpable and positive proof of the westward motion of 
 tho beaeh in the ejlensinn of the I'eninsnla itself in tlial direitiun. 
 Joseph llonelietle, late .Surveyor-deneral of the rrovinee, nuide a sur- 
 Tey of Toronto Harbour in IT'.'ii. ft reduced plan of whiih was publishi'd 
 in 181.'i alon^ with his work on t'anad*. At the date of the survey, 
 that part of the Peninsula on which tlie Ijighthouse is ercctoil wa< then 
 the margin of the lake. Since that time, one sand ridpe after another 
 has been washed np, until now, after a lapse of only fifty-four years, 
 a tract measurini; upwards of thirty acres ha.s been added, and tho 
 Lake is now distant from tho Lightliouso about eighteen cliains. 
 
 Tho general appearance of this recent addition to tho Peninsula ro- 
 Bomblcs so closely other older portions, and its geological character Is 
 so clearly identical not only with the adjacent parts, but also with the 
 ■whole formation, that wo may very |iroperly infer tliey are each and 
 all produced by tho same causes. Admitting, then — and it is indis- 
 putable—that this enlargement of llio I^iglithouso point is due to the 
 progres.sive motion of tho beach sand through the mechanical agency 
 of tho waves from the eastward, wo come to tho ci. iclusion that tho 
 whole I'enlnsula is the result of tho same action, continued throtigh 
 past ages, and traceable to tho same eastward ."ourco. 
 
 Arrived at this conclusion, we aro now naturally led to enquire 
 whence has the abundant supply of material for so extensive a deposit 
 been obtained. About live miles east of Toronto, a high bluff, known 
 as tho .Scarboro' Heights, stretches along tho shore for several miles. 
 The bluff is about three hundred feet high, and is chiefly composed of 
 sand, with at intervals a stratum of clay. It is known by the farmers 
 residing in the neighbourhood to recede ten or twelve feet aimually at 
 the present day. Farther eastward, the coast has a low aspect, and is 
 of a soil capable of providing but little of the substances of which sand 
 and gravel beaches are composed. Moreover, by contouring tho 
 
 country bnrdtrlnjt on thii high cliff, It li found that tho lino* betoken 
 n former gieat projection lakeward, of whiih Kig. 'J ("0« plates) l« »" 
 iihat outline, and Kig. HI ft sectional nketch mi the linn K I., at right 
 angles to the shore. Kor these reasons, then, we aro Indnicd to hi 
 ujion this point a« the locality from whenco has !><•«« ilrlfteil tin ma- 
 terials forming the depo-it In uneslion. 
 
 I'ounihd on dcinonslrallve and probaMe evhlence, here in part set 
 forth, I will now venliiri' to lay bclore yoii what ! lielieve to be a eor- 
 reit theory of the gradual formation of that singular depo-il which ha* 
 
 provided for Toronto so g I a harbour. 
 
 Ill, the sub»idence of Lake Ontario friun a high to its prcnent levol, 
 the land fell in easy hl.»pos to the waters edge, and the gradual, de- 
 scending surface lines were continued mitward under water; tho abrupt 
 tcrmliiatliins of the land along the boun.lary of the lake having been 
 formed by its enoroachnienls through ft long course of m-'", tho pro- 
 montories which formerly projected have been rounded oM by the U«- 
 slni.llve influence of tho elements. The sand clay of which they con- 
 sisted, and which lay between the ancient and proent margins of thu 
 water, having been removed to other parts, the clay carried out and 
 siratifled at the bottom nf the lake, ami tho sand fonneil Into now do- 
 posits, kindred to the one under discussion. 
 
 Ki'fcrring to I'ig. IC, we have an illustration of this as applied to tho 
 .Scaiboro' Heights. K repre-ents the present position of the cliff, and 
 L the supposed former shore of the lake, the point of land extending 
 from K to L, Fig. 0, having been removed by tho waves. 
 
 Figs. '.I, 10, 11, I'.', and I.l are sketches of llio deposit at several 
 periods prior to ami during its formation. The first shows tho sup- 
 posed original outline of tho lake immediately after its subsidence, 
 prior to any encroachinents or changes of tho shore line; the second, 
 a small spit rnnnlng westerly from tho .Scarboro' promontory; tho 
 third and fourth, farther cMensions nf this spit, and wearing away of 
 the promontory. At this iierind (Fig. IL'l the Iliver Don has brought 
 down a huge ciuantily of drift fro i its valley, as explained in tho first 
 part of this paper, and the lake de|i08it is now going on over tho shoal 
 water. Only a small portion of tho spit thrown up at this period now 
 exists, the remainder having been encroached on and moved westerly 
 as tho heights at .Scarboro' receded. Tho portion referred to is a 
 narrow ridgo running landward to the west of the IJon. It may now 
 be seen stretching froiu near tho wind-mill outwaril, and separating 
 the marsh from tho Harbour. 
 
 Fig. L't shows still further encroachments on tho land at Scarboro' 
 the almost entire removal of tho spit shown by Fig. 12, and the ad- 
 vancement of tho Peninsula westward. 
 
 Fig. 14 represents the present state of the deposit. The dotted 
 lines are contours, (explained on tho plate,) showing the rapid pro- 
 gi'css of the shoal landward at the western boundary of the Harbour. 
 Its edge between the point of the Peninsula above water, and tho 
 mainland, at the Queen's Wliiirf, may bo taken at tho ten foot water- 
 line, within which ii immediately rises, and gives a depth of about 
 four feet only along the eastern side, and from six to thirty inches 
 along its western boundary. 
 
 Figs. 17, IH, m, and 20 are sections across tho Harbour and Penin- 
 sula, on the lines H, E F, t' I), and A B, drawn on Fig. 14. Theso 
 show clearly, without unnecessary explanation, the nature and limits 
 of the deposit Fig. 20 runs from the foot of fieorgo Street southerly, 
 through that point of the narrows proposed for the eastern entrance to 
 the Harbour, hereafter mentioned; Fig. I'.t on a line parallel to tho 
 first, from the Parliament Uuildings southerly ; Fig. IH from near tho 
 Queen's Wharf directly across tho shoal at tho entrance : this, as well 
 as the last, cuts several of tho many ridgos of sand, with long narrow 
 
 U 
 
10 liii''« l)Ptok«n 
 •i'« |ilttl)!s) i« an 
 tic K I., nt riffht 
 5 iniliici'il l<p ft I 
 ilril'tDil Die in«- 
 
 hcro In (inrt let 
 iovp I" l)c> ft i'(ir- 
 Dpo»il which h«» 
 
 U prwcnt l*Tc1, 
 
 Iho urinliml, ilo- 
 hUt; thoiitinipt 
 iik<> hnviiig l)«eii 
 III iii-'es, tho pr(i- 
 fil (ill liy Iho (le- 
 which they oon- 
 I iiiHrxin* of tho 
 / I'liri'k'il (lilt and 
 iiol Into now de- 
 
 i (in npiillcd to the 
 n (if the (iliff, nuiI 
 if liiiul cxtiMiiling 
 
 IcposU ut Bovoral 
 si (thinvH tlio sup- 
 er il* Kubsidoncc, 
 line; tlio second, 
 proiiiiiDtory ; the 
 weurinK iiway of 
 I)(in Ims brought 
 ilftincil in the first 
 (in over tlio shoftl 
 it thi,< period now 
 id mnvcil westerly 
 1 itfiTrcd to is « 
 )(,n. It niiiy now 
 I'd, mill separating 
 
 lund at Soarboro' 
 ;. 12, and the ad- 
 
 )08it. The dotted 
 ig tho rapid pro- 
 Y of the Harbour, 
 vo water, and the 
 lio ten feet water- 
 a depth of about 
 lix to thirty inches 
 
 arbour and Pcnin- 
 m FiR. 14. Theso 
 nature and limit.s 
 Street southerly, 
 ?nstcra cntrnnco to 
 inc parallel to the 
 ;. 1 8 from near tho 
 anco: this, as well 
 , with long narrow 
 
 UKl'OHTS (».\ TOilONTO IIAUUCri. jl 
 
 p.m.N l.tween, hy which ihu npp.r s.irfiue of tho for.natl.iu U charao- are mored onwi. -, h the gro«t«,| f»,illi.y. | ■„■ j h„„i,|o„ ■„, 
 
 teriMcd. Hg. 1, runs frcni Ihn old Knui. h fort parallel to tho other oonno nco of Ir iMo t„ rcKlM Ihu nioc. ■ ■■• ■ . .irco of Iho wii'v... 
 
 .oetioiH. Intercepting ,„i p„rti(m of (ho depo.it, but pa-sing fery elni-o remain ut re.:, .,.,1 ...ercforo cm f„rn. no pun .,( beach forma. - ' 
 
 to Its wcKlern lliu.t at the I.igliihoiiso p.iiiit, In .,ixty feel wuler. The 
 
 dqith of water iiicreaKiiig ai the depii^it wan e.tended wcterlv ac- ""*'" '" " '"'"«'''"'»<" "'' """"' '■^''X'ltvx ni.irc piirticiiliirly referred 
 
 eounl. very HailMiielorily fur its spreading „o ini.cli towaidi the mirth. ',"; "''"'' '""" '"'"'" P'""'" "" "'" "'"'"' '" "'" '""""' "' "'" "'"'"""•. 
 
 AHI Kh an e,,,i,il amount of «ind iiii.y „,„„i,illy have bee,, brought '","" "'"' i'"""'""'"'" '■<^'"Mly -xamined II Id niup, u„,l eliarts 
 
 forwuni, yet, as the (lep.i^it wa^ forced out into increasing depths of ' Nnrveyor-tlenenil and (trdnance Depurtments ; nniny nf ihom 
 
 water, this rate of clcnsi,,., we.terlv would in pr.morti.m lie de- ""' "'""""' .'" ''"';'','' '""' '" "''" ''"I"'"' "'' '""" """'"' '" "»• '"l""-? ! 
 
 mini»hed, thus allo«i„g (he s.iulherly 'ivaves o and no.re lime to ", T ''""''''"'•"''''' ^"l""' '>'" """" "•'•""I''" "f "I''''!' «I'P""- to 
 
 act ill moving the .|ep,„ii t.iwiinj, (he north "■'" '"' "'""■'"^"'•' l>'>.v«"ld, and llonnycustle, dute.l respect- 
 
 '"'•'.V, K'.Ml, IH'JH, and IH.i,-i ; f„r ulllinugh they do not profess l„ much 
 
 In Mie manner ubuve eipluiued, it is argued that the Penin-ula has nicely of detail, yet emanating from llie.e s.mrces we have no icisim 
 
 been lormed, is Mill ii,„|,.,gi,ing great changes, and is even now re- to ddubt their general accuracy. Fig. ^ show, the p(i,itl„n of the 
 
 oeiviug large niiTuoil a<Mil s from tho same source. It seems, tn.i, shoal at the several diiles (if theso charts, and as it now exi-ts ■ the 
 
 trom what will shortly lie lai.l before y.iii, tjmi the same natural agents soumlings have refereiicn to its pr nt state. I Imve much t,i ri.gret 
 
 which have raised up a l.icakwaler, ami formed one of the most eapu- being as yet unsiicces.lul in f.r.icuring a ( ..py of ime very old chart 
 
 Clous harbours ,iii the l.iike, aro as actively engaged in its dcstruetion, the possession (,f which wi.iil.l be iiivalimble, "seeing that 'it is wilhoii't 
 
 liy lencing In, as it were, the whole smooth water basin they have doubt the earliest record nf Tdn.nto Harbour in ejistence This ,|„irt 
 
 made, and justify tho iufereiice that, if left entirely to tlicmselves. Is said to Imve been made by a C(irps of engineers who accumi ied 
 
 villi at s„me luture peri.id unite tliu I'enlnsula to the mainland west of the first pioneers from France, nearly L'OD years ng„. \ e„, y ,,er- 
 
 the yueen's Wharf, in the same nianiier as it was originally ccnnectod haps llie only one on the f'.iritinent, was unfnrlun.itidy .|estr..>,,| with 
 
 by the ridge from near I'vivafs to the Windmill, This stage of tho the Parliament lluildings in Munlreal, in It^HI; the original is sup. 
 
 deposit IS illustrated by Fig. l.'), at which period the surplus water of posed to be deposited in a .lesuii Cullege in Paris. 
 
 the Uoii would in all proliability find egress over the bar by » shallow „ • , . 
 
 channel, Hiictiiuliug in position as well as depth during evei-v s.iu.herlv ■ , '"""''"'"« "'" ''""•"' "' ""'"I'""". ""yft'-l'L nnd Ilonnyeastle, 
 
 gale, or by such «,ips as are ncca,i„ually o, ed in the narlow licit nt "".' '"^ """ "■.'"" " '■"'''"" ""'">' ''"'"'"« "'" """' "' "'" l'«>'i-""la 
 
 .and separating .\,|ibriilges ll,.y from the main Lake. '" '"■''"" """'' "" "'""'" '■'"'""'' "" '"""«"••- 
 
 Tho progre-sive nintimi of the beach, observable only on close exami- "■''"'• ""'' ""' "hannel botwoen ten feet water lines was. 
 
 nation, and apparently nf little moment, is when continued during In 17!in about 480 yards wide. 
 
 incalculable periods of lime, thus proved to be proilnetive of very " IMJH " ^J^^) '„ 
 
 extraiirdinary results. Nnr is it confined to this neighbourhood, for •' Ih'-J) " "!i" 
 
 wo discover unmistakeable indications of its operations along tho ' ''" 
 
 shores of all the great inland lakes. Second, -t the ipiantily of sand deposited at tho south side of the 
 
 Hound Lake Ontario its effects can bo traced at Iliirlington Ileach, •""''"'™ ''> "" TProximato estimate is us follows :_ 
 the mouth of tho .Niagara River, Presipio Isle, t.'obonrg, Port Hope, f'™'" '"'"' '" lH4',l-oO nearly OOO.OOO cubic yards, being in M years 
 
 Windsor Ibiy, and at innumerable points along tho oast and south "''"nt 12,41)0 yards per annum, 
 boundaries of tho Lake. From 1H28 to 1841) nearly 2;i.-,,0()0 enbio yards, being in 21 years 
 
 Round Lake F.rio we see its results at Sandusky Day, Point aux »*""'' 11.200 yards per annum. 
 Pins, Long Point, Port Colborne, Bufi-alo, and at Krio. From 18.1.'5 to 18 In nearly ]r,.-),000 cubic yards, being in 14 years 
 
 At Saganaw Hay, Thunder Hay, Riviers nux Sable, north and smith, "'""'' ' '/•*"' jnids per annum, 
 at Nottawasaga, and tho (Christian IslaniLs, un Lake Huron. Tho alarming progress of the shoal landward is from theso figures 
 
 Round Lake Superior wo also havo many examples of n liko kind ; """^ opparent. Fifty-three years ago tho entrance is shown tu have 
 
 at Fond du Lac, a gravel beach resembling in a marked ilegrce, both ''"''" '^^""" ''"'"'* ''^ present width, and fourteen years ago more than 
 
 in appearance and position, the Unrlington beach, near Hamilton. At Jn'djle, thus decreasing at the rale of from seven to ten yards annually, 
 
 tho mouth of tho Bad River, and at Point Iroipiois, also, are found ^^ "'" ''TOsH of abmit 11,000 cubic yards. 
 
 beach formations, tp .. i. i »i i .^ • i. i . , 
 
 It such be the caso, and it is founded on tho most autlientic infor- 
 
 Many of the-e closely reseuilile In outline tho Peninsula at Toronto. niation relative to the past condition of tho Hiirbonr as yet in our jm.s- 
 
 Somo of them aro kindred to tho hypothetical stage denoted by Fig. 15 ; session, we have substantial reasons for believing that if left unheeded 
 
 all of them aro identical in geological character, and exemplify tho 't will in ton or twelve years bo inaocessiblo oxoopt to the BuiaUcat 
 
 working of ono of Nature's ever active agencies, co-existent and '^■'''f'- 
 
 co-e.tcnsivo with tho lakes themselves. Ono fact which very strongly Tho extension of the shoal may be attributed to the same causes 
 
 confirms the theory of the formation of tho Peninsula hero propounded, which aro proved to have formed the whole Peninsula. The beach 
 
 IS worthy of notice : all tho examples above mentioned invariably con- sand having reached tho Lighthouse point cannot by reason of tho 
 
 form with tho rule laid down-tho trend of the deposits bearing in a great depth of water, as shown by tho contour lines, Fig 14 niako 
 
 direction opposite (o .he lon^^^est fetch of the waves, or tho largest much progress in extending th;. Peninsula from thence westerly • 
 
 area of open water tr iversed The entire absence of boulders is also there is therefore nothing or at least not much to prevent the southerly 
 
 very remarkable, an/ who , ever gravel forms part of tho drift, tho waves from acting in full play, they having a fetch of forty miles in 
 
 largest size is generally found nearest its source, tho finest kinds opposition to the northerly immediately ofi' the land, and washing along 
 
 being at the greatest distances. This circumstance is explained by tho bar (scarcely under water) towards tho north "dump," as it were 
 
 *ig. 2, and tho accompanying remarks, which show that small bodice periodically, large quantities of sand into the channel. 
 
f 
 
 RKPC'TS UN TOllONTO HARBOUR. 
 
 I'l'vtiiin outwiinl iinil iiuvMrl rurronts ooi'iisioiinlly exist iit the 
 ciiti'iinoe, oiiiii^t'il I'vuliiibly 'i.v i;;iU's slijilitly YiiryiiiK the level of por- 
 tiiiM.-* (tt' the lake, of, us it is also supposeil, Iiv local variations of the 
 atmos|ilieric pressure on its siirl'iiee : these may assist to a liiuiteil 
 extent ill iiroloiijiing the existence of the channel, but from all the 
 olwci'vatioiis I have as yet been able to make, they appear to be surface 
 currents only, having little or no appreciable effect five or six feet Vinler 
 water : even this supposition therelbre is very problematical, 
 
 n^ I'UKSKUVATIilX. 
 
 Having by sulliciout eviJcnce set forth the probubiliiy if nut the 
 certainty of nn larly Jestruction of the Harbour by the (lamming up 
 of its entrance, wo may now proceed to the pnictical, anil so far as the 
 commercial interests of Toronto arc conccrncil, the vitally important 
 part of the iiifiniry, anil endeavour to obtain a satisfactory answe'r to 
 the i|uery — How can such a catastrojihe be ohviatcil or imlctinitely 
 postponed'.' A problem which becomes of comparative easy solution 
 when the immediate cause of the evil is set beyond a doubt, ami the 
 nature of its operations clearly asccrtaini'd. 
 
 To keep those Harbour channels subject to obstruction from moving 
 sand-bars in a navigable condition, three expedients are generally 
 resorteil to: First, eonliunous or perioilical dredging; secinid, the 
 npplicatinu of II scour to remo>e the bar a.s it is formed: third, the 
 ccmstruction of such works as are calculated to prevent the deposition 
 of the sand in the channels, by retaining it at a distance, when its 
 source is known, or by diverting it to those points where depth of 
 water is not essentially necessary. 
 
 The first is often applied as a temporary remedy, :iiid as such may 
 at times be viewed as a tit expedient, but to employ it as the lasting 
 cuunteracter of a constantly increasing evil, is to adopt an iiulubitablc 
 source of unceasing attention and endless outlay : it should accordingly 
 be dreailed as a permanent restontive, and employed only by compul- 
 sion from unusual ilitliculty in the ajiplication of other measures that 
 ore generally less costly and always more satisiactory. 
 
 The seciuid is obtiiinetl at nuirinc ports by taking advantage <»f the 
 tidal fluctu;itions, and is generally produced twice each day by nsing 
 the currents of rivers at Uiw tiilc, av by holding up the sea water in 
 large artificial basins at liood, then concentrating and guiding it to the 
 bar at ebb. The ini]iracticaUlity ff procuring a scour on Lake 
 (bitario from tidal lluctuations must be admitted, since jiractieally there 
 are none : true it is we have a grailual rise and fall of about two feet 
 annually, and at times successive oscillations in level to the extent of 
 several inches, much resembling small tidal waves; hut the latter 
 although they give to the surface water at the entrance of tlic Harbour 
 a perceptible current, are too rare and too feeble to be of any real 
 value. Xor have we at Toronto a river sufficient fur the service ; for 
 the Don has hitherto failed to keep open its own ehanjel to a grente- 
 depth than two or three feet. Indeed I feel quite convinced that all 
 attempts on these inland waters to keep permanently open those har- 
 bour channels much exposed to beach drifts by other than the largest 
 class of rivers must so' ■:ier or later prove inneffectual. The currents 
 of the Nottawasaga, of the Sable, and of the Saugoen, are unable to 
 keep open to a Burticient depth or width the mouths of those rivers, 
 and yet they arc in volume from ten to twenty times greater than the 
 Hon. 
 
 The third remedy can always be advantftgeously employed in cases 
 when the obstructions are the natural results of moving beaches, and 
 when the works are located and executed with proper care they 
 usually answer n pood pi:rpose; the second is often after great outlay 
 under favourable circumstances of doubtful efficacy. In the case of 
 Toronto, even if we had at command a current capable of removing 
 
 the sand on its arrival at the point of the shoal, I iiuestion very much 
 if it sliould be considered as more than an auxiliary, since it would of 
 necessity tend to siu-eail the deposit, and thus, 'ilthoi-gb injuring the 
 channel in a less degree, would impair the Harbour gi'iierally by 
 lessening in depth the approach to it. Without doubi the steps likely 
 to confer the greatest security, and hence the most a .visablo to bo 
 taken, are tliose which are calcul.ited to keep the drift at a distance 
 from that ]mint where it is not wanted. 
 
 I therefore beg leave to submit for your consideration the following 
 preventive and remetlial measures ; — 
 
 1st. That a tiroyne ."hould be constructed at the Lighthouse point 
 from theshiu'c outward to H or feet water for llie retention of the 
 moving sand, on the principle of those very simple natural ones shown 
 by Figs, li, 7, and K. 
 
 '2ui\. That an auxiliary Groyne be run westerly across the outer edge 
 of the shallow,s, a little to tlie south of (iibralter point. 
 
 ■ '.I'd. That a I'icr or breakwater be built along the south side of the 
 channel as shown on Fig. ^1, incrci'sing the navigable water to six 
 hundred feet, by cutting off the point of the shoal north of the proposed 
 line of pier. 
 
 The third alone wouhl probably suffice frir many years to keep the 
 cliannel perfectly free from deposit ; but the sand, if not retained at 
 the Lighthouse point, wiuild as at present be moved northward by 
 the southerly waves, and would gradually accumulate to such an ex- 
 tent a- to liU up the whole space along the south side of the pier unt .1 
 ultimately rounding its extremities. To effectually prevent this the 
 first anil second sh(Uild also be constructeil, the first would divert the 
 drift westerly into deep water, where the navigation could never prac- 
 tically be obstructed ; and tli" second groyne placed about midway 
 between the first and tiiinl would have the effect of counteracting all 
 progressive action aloBg the west end of the Peninsula. 
 
 If the ilcstruction of tlie Harbour entrance, and the formation of tho 
 I'eninsula generally, be satisfactorily determined, I think it is equally 
 conclusive that these works, or w(uks of the same character, would, 
 if established in due time, be exercised to a very beneficial result — the 
 preservation of the Harbour for an indefinitely long per-od. 
 
 There are other evils, which, if they affect the salubrity of the city 
 more immediately than they ju'ove detrimental to the Harbour, are 
 not on that account of the less conseiiuence. The Don annual! trans- 
 ports even at this day considerable quantities of silt ;': em tho interior 
 of the country to the ^^l^sh, and, during freshets, a poriion escapes 
 from thence into the Harbour through the openings in ihe beach 
 between the Wind-mill and I'rivut's, tending of course, vii'na dcpo itrd 
 in the basin, to lessen its depth. All the drains and sewers empty into 
 the bay, making it, in truth, the grand cess-pool for a population of 
 probably ;?0,000 inhabitants, with their horse^i ami c.ittle. The sewers 
 of necessity bring down no inconsiderable portion of solid matter, 
 imparing greatly the purity of the water in the Harbour, as well as 
 gradually lessening its depth. This evil, increasing in a proportionate 
 ratio to tho growth of the city, might be greatly ameliorated, if not 
 almost totally removed, by the construction of a main suwer along tho 
 wb.ilc city front eastward to the Mirsh. Into this sewer all the lateral 
 ones from the north, and the drainage of gas, chemical and other such 
 like works should be made to discharge. The feculent mixtures pro- 
 duceil would thus be collected and conviyed to a distant point, where, 
 T)V similar operations to tho-^o now ripening in llritain, ■vhich will 
 strip thein not only of their noxious, but even of their offensive cha- 
 racters, might be profitably converted into a marketable commodity 
 of the highest valiio to the farmer. 
 
 H 
 
stion very imicU 
 I'liii'C it would of 
 <^h injuring tlie 
 ir pciuTiiUy by 
 the Htepa likely 
 a ivisiiblo to bo 
 ft lit a ilistniico 
 
 nil tlio follovlnj; 
 
 .iglitliousc point 
 retontioii of the 
 tural ones bhowii 
 
 ss tlic oiitiM' edge 
 
 iiutli side of tlio 
 hlu wiUer to six 
 li of the iiroposcd 
 
 eara to keep the 
 not retained al 
 id northward by 
 > to such an ex- 
 of the pier unt .1 
 prevent this tlie 
 would divert the 
 :ould never prac- 
 •d about midway 
 counteracting all 
 a. 
 
 formation of tho 
 hink it is ei|Uiilly 
 L'haractor, would, 
 ;ficial result — tho 
 ler'od. 
 
 ibrily of the city 
 the Harbour, are 
 lu annual! trans- 
 noni tho interior 
 n J. onion escapes 
 gs ill ii'-c beach 
 e, wl"m dcpo itcd 
 lowers empty into 
 ' a population of 
 ittle. The sewcra 
 of solid matter, 
 irbour, as well as 
 in ft proportionate 
 imcliorated, if not 
 n suwcr along tho 
 wer all the lateral 
 al and other such 
 uit mixtures pro- 
 ant point, where, 
 ritain, -Tliieh will 
 leir offensive cha- 
 etable commodity 
 
 The prejudicial efTcct of the Don on the depth of the llnibour may 
 «lso be deslro.ed by closing its present outl.M, imkI fonriing an opening 
 of sufficient ciipiuity in the b-nch scptiniling the iiuiin I.ako from Ash- 
 bridge's Hay. 
 
 All pr.>poseil works relative to the iniprovoment of the Haibonr 
 should carefully considered bebire any be proceeded with, lot some 
 of tliD'c. may interfere with preservative measures, or the general iin- 
 provement of the whole. It nmy not be luit of place, therefore, to 
 consider briefly another proposition, which, for ninny years past, has 
 engaged public attention perhaps more than any other in connexion 
 with the Harbour, viz., the forming of an eastern entniiice. 
 
 Judgin •, from the following iiariigraph extracted from the Cuiiricr 
 newspaper, dated "ith March is:',.'), the jirojcct was seriously talked of 
 lifteen years ago : 
 
 **reT A"no.-H TKE Pk 
 
 l{i:i>ORT.S ON T011U-\T<> JfAKBOLR. 
 
 " It is argued that all tl 
 
 23 
 
 KviNsn.i.— A rc'ipecl.ilil.' mi'olini'i.llhi. frit.n.ls In thi< ni™.«nr.. 
 
 was hi'I.I on I liui-silay uvi'iiin.;; .'il tin. ('.nmuiTiial llnii'l. whvii ii .Spl.Tl i 'oinniUie wius 
 a|il>o,nti' I to n-.iiu.at 111.' (Ic.vonu.r to imin,. nil Unt'liii'iT. niiil nl.s.. to risiiirel tin.. Miivor 
 Jlnil ( iiriH.riilion to n.-im.^ nii.ilh..r, to nuvt him r.>r Hit. pur|»isi. of n.purlliii' nn tin- I'li-i - 
 lalile n<m\t of tl)o rul. Th,. Ciinmlttn. «:i1|ih1 „n hi, Kxc.llc.nc.y Mils in.'iniii .• nho 
 vcrj- iTOjily ii.'iiiiLVi r.ipl.-iin ll,.iiiiy..iislh., at tli,. sum,, timi. oxiirrssliiK' a ho.«. tiinl ii 
 nwimurt. ,« lulaplivl li. pmiiiol.. tlic hi'iUlh ..fthiH-ilv m..iiI,1 !». nirrii.,llnl.i .-iWl llij 
 hxcellonry also pniuii.wd to d.i nil in his |i.ivi-or to put th • i.iilin Miir^li iil liii- ,|i.|H.-ii 
 of n i-oropiiny. with a viow to its 'vUtg r.»liiliiii..l as tar as it is p.is«il.lu I,. .1., -n I'hi'ii- 
 « «CTy ri.a«ni to expoi't llml Iho (•..rpninlinii will taiic thi. kaiii,. vi..w of 11,,. ,ii.,. : ao.l 
 If tho r,.p.,rt ,)f thu KnKhi..,is shall hi- favoiirahli., a numlvr „riv,.allhv ni, ivha.,1.. iiti,! 
 othiTs in th,. rity havu i-'xpiTss..,! tlu'lr intonlinn t,, lako up a aulli't 
 stock to cuniplctu tho uiidoi-tukini^.' 
 
 Ill iiuaiilily of 
 wa« gazettcl ammigst the 
 
 will niakf. appli,.ati,>li lo 
 
 lli.'in iiil,, a iipaiiy for 
 
 " Ilie IViiiiisulu lh;lvvi...n 
 
 A few months thereaft"r the f.ilh.wiiijj 
 Notices of Public Iniprovement : — 
 
 '•T.\Ki: NOTIfH.-Thi. lohal.ilanls of th,. rity of • 
 tht, next M,.ssi,,n ,,r th« rroiincial Parliaini-nt t,,' inco 
 th<.pur|«isL. ofoiwninun.ship Na.ication tliniuah th,. 
 the I,akt. anil tlie Hay of Tor,>iil,>. 
 
 "Toronto, August tst. ls:).V" 
 
 It is unnecessary to siiy that the cmtemplite.l improvcinont has not 
 been carried out. Tho spirits of tiie projectors were iiroliably diimpcl. 
 and t!-oir stock-book laid aside, after the opinions of the engineer.s 
 appointed to examine were niitile ,)ublic. 1 have only been able to 
 obt.iin the peru.ial of one of these d.icuments, but am informed that 
 the report of the gentleman apjiointcd by tlie t;,.rporation was even 
 loss favourable. 
 
 Captain Uounyca.stlo say.s, rehitivo to cutting a navigable canal 
 through the Peninsula: — 
 
 " If this should be done without ,lue consideration, tip) barrier 
 which nature lins interpose,! for tlie preservation of a llarliour formcl 
 probidily by tlie cutting action of the !l,,n when it was a larger river, 
 which it only re,|uireH to l,iok at its liaiiu- t,) ..■onvinco one's self that 
 it unciently was, will be thrown ilown, mid tlie Harbour entirely le.s- 
 troyed. 
 
 "Tho reasons to he assigned for tliis opinion are as follows :— 
 
 "The southern face the of Peninsula, alow ridge of sand, is lior- 
 (lered to some distance out, excepting near tho Narrows, by large and 
 fluctuating shoals, well hii'.wn to the fishermen, who have so recently 
 established a iirofitable trade on them. 
 
 "Tho force of the easterly an, 1 westerly gales on these shoi-ls an,l 
 tho bounding slioie i* tremendous, as every person in Toronto has 
 frequi'iit opporlunitics of hearing, even at the great distance which 
 the citVjjs from tliein. 
 
 " Should a navigable canal, without ,|iie restrictions, be cut through 
 the slen.ler bell which ,livi,|es the waters of the Lake from the basin, 
 all the millions of tons of largo shingle, small roiimlcl iin,l an,niliir 
 tragments of granite an,l olher hanl rocks which liae the beach will 
 be pu 111 motmii !— will break ilowii by theii (.rosive power iiiiv barrier 
 oppo.scl t,> them!— will carry b,.f„re tlic.u the whole ext, n't of the 
 Narrows, and perhajis penetrate lliroiigh tlie )ionils. fill the basin, anil 
 convert it into a fresh -ami bank. " This he goes on to sliow might bo 
 pro,luced by a current through the canal, ami further states, '• It 
 might III fact tear away all the strip of beach along the western or 
 buy slioro of the g-eat .Marsh, and let tlio whole of that body of the 
 mini of ages into the basin. 
 
 the 
 
 St ami 
 
 extreme le 
 
 may be avoided by rnnning out extcnsivo 
 jiiors mlo ilie bake, ami forming a strong embankment along the 
 Diiliirni lace of the Narrows. These, if i.laced in such sitiintions as to 
 lireak oil th,. strength of the easterly or we-teilv .mvcIIs, will ,!o iiiiicli 
 towai,!.. It, but it will Ij,. also ii(.c,.>>iirv to niaki.'the canal of stone. I,i 
 piolillo lis si,l(.s I,, a c,,Msi,lcni!,le thickness or extent, to make it 
 narrow, an, I to place gates both at its entrance and exit. 
 
 " With these precnntiiuis there can bo no harm in trvin.' the exueri- 
 inent. . . i 
 
 .Mthoiigli entirely concurring with Caiitaiii Iioiiny,.iislle in the expe- 
 diency of (.losing up tlie present outlets of the Don", and of conveying 
 tlie whole sewage of the city to the .Marsh ; yet having already, with 
 all .lue ro-jiect. expressed my reasons lor ilillering from the view he 
 taki.s ,.f the formation of tho llarbour, ami MJnce conclusion.s on this 
 point affect iliiectly ami very iimterially the consiilcrafion of all works 
 of iiuprovement iiniiiediatoly coiineeteil with the Peninsula, I may also 
 be iiermittcl to entertain opinions not altogether eoinchling with his 
 as to tho probable cftVcts of the nroposed south-eastern entrimee, and 
 its mode of constiuclion. 
 
 Knowing the nature of the action of the beach at the proposed site 
 of the canal, and I think it i.s estiiblishcl beyon,! a doubt, there can 
 be no iKissible ,langer of any part of t„e Peninsula b(.ing tiu'ii away, 
 or the basin within being Hllcl .i]i with sami, if proper stejis i,e taken 
 to counteract such action. This action is chiefly the i.rogre...sive 
 motion of the beach, which would ell'ectwally tie siispemlcd f,?r many 
 years by the piers of the canal themselves, constructed with crili work 
 in the onlinary loaiiner. The canal need neither be narrow, as sug- 
 gestcl, nor providcl with gates, since the former would increase tho 
 danger in entering, while the hitter would ad,l to 
 venience. ami no benefit I'onhl result from either, 
 
 I'ig. 21' shows the propos,.,! p,,sition of tin 
 from l.i feet water in the Day to 17 feet in the Lake, is 1(1(1(1 feet, wilh 
 a wiilth of ;!00 feet. The eastern pier preseiitinp nn obstruction to the 
 motion of the beach wcMwar,!. woiihl, acting as a groyne, retain it per- 
 manently at its ea.siern side; the western pier, on the other hand, would 
 be exerciscl to a similar result in siisi.ending theretiogiade niotio 
 The sand gradually accumulating in tli -pace north of 
 ami D C wouhl thus strengthen the Peninsula at its weak, .t poiiii. an,l 
 remove any danger which may be fearcl from the destruction of the 
 narrow separating riilge between the Lake ami the Harbour. The en- 
 tire destruction of the Isthmus, altliough hypotheticn!, is nevertlieless 
 a contingency advisable to guard ngcinst. Opening,* have repeatclly 
 been forccl through tho ri.lge boun,liiig Ashbrnlge'.s lin- by gale's 
 point blank on the beach: these, having a destructive action only, 
 might produce a similar result here. If at the same period the base of 
 the .Scarboro' Heights becam,. partially protectcl fr,.m the fury of the 
 waves by the loiiginent of nn unusual numbev of trees, or the fullli..r of 
 boulilers from the .diffs above, the supply of saml from the east wimld 
 for :i time be diminished, the gap wouhl remain open, ami liable to be 
 w;,lciie,l by every s,iutherly wiml. The Peninsula wouM thus be con- 
 verte,! into an islaml, resembling its kindrcl formation '■ Long Point " 
 on L,.,ke Krie. 
 
 Through course of time (roughly estimated at about iO years) the 
 sand .accumulatii.geast of the cnmil would reach the line A Ii and ulti- 
 mately roiiml the piers. Then it would be necessary to make another 
 provision f,u- its retention. A groyne on the line G P would effect this 
 object, and retain the sinil lor another pnriu,!, luitil it reached as far 
 as the line V, V. Tlie canal might thus be Kept open by repeating the 
 construction of groynes like K P ami H K, ml iiifuuliim, from time to 
 time as neces.^ily require,! ; or the same piirpn-enmy be aflectcd by 
 simply extending the eastern pier iis tie' s:iii,l accumulated outward 
 along its eastern bi'lc. 
 
 in. 
 A 11 
 
24 
 
 UKrOKTS ON TORONTO 1IAH150IIH. 
 
 The cttnil, liiivinpthu? the oft'oct of wiilcninit tlio Itliiinius nndromoT- 
 iiig nil probnbilily of ilH ilcslruction, woiilil, licsidoB lii'inn ii pront 
 ai'coniinoiln'.'im to ^^lulini^rrnft in iidvi-r^c winds, uiiil tn slitim itmc/j at 
 a. I /<m<'.v, llki'ly enough proveofserviee in another respeel. The purity 
 of the wiiter in the liny is ever liiilile tn bo impaired by the vessels in 
 dot'U, nnil its close proximity to the eity. The cnnal would provide iin 
 ndditionul opciiiii|; for the ingress and egress of the slight tidal wave 
 formerly referred to, doubtless presenting greater faiilities for the 
 renewal of the water in tho harbour on its occaisoual tluutnatious in 
 level. 
 
 I'rom certain simple and well-established premises it has been my 
 purpose to draw reasonrible com!! iisions, which in recapitulation may 
 briefly be stated ns follows: — 
 
 First, That the foundation of the IVninsula enclosing the harbour 
 may be attributed in its early stages to the debris of the country tra- 
 versed by the Don, in conjunction with a drift from an ancient ]iru- 
 moiitory at Searboro'. 
 
 Second, That the drift fnon .'Jcarboro' has supplied and gradually 
 deposited the main part if U'lt the whole of the materials composing 
 the more reocut portions of the formation. 
 
 Third. Tliat the drift is in consc.puMice of the singular progressive 
 action given to sand and gravel beaches under certain circumstances 
 l>y the waves. 
 
 Fourth, That the harbour is daily being impaired by its chief agent 
 of formation, and that its only entrance is llireatcued with early destruc- 
 tion by t'ae same cause. 
 
 Fifth, That its preservation may ' .M-manciitly etrectcd by the con- 
 struction i.f gri>ynes at well selecteil pHinls. 
 
 Si.ttli. Th.it the iliingers to be feared from the silt of the Don and 
 sewage of the city although remote, would, taken in conjunction with 
 tiie increasing deleterious etVects of the latter on the water of the 
 harbour warrant their total exclusion. 
 
 Seventh, That the construction of a south-ensterM entrnnce would be 
 n great accommodation to the shipping, nmy improve the purity of the 
 Bay water, and, if properly executed, have no etTect in! ;sseningitsdepth; 
 but wcmhl only assist iu the preservation of the harbour so far as its 
 piers, acting as groynes might retard the sand, widen the narrows, and 
 thus strengthen the weak point of the Peninsula. 
 
 .\ltliough the preventive and remedial measures are fouiulcil ou what 
 I believe to be correct deductions. ■. ,t. .seeing that tliey dillVr jnateri- 
 ally from those advanced by otiiers who have consiilered the sulijcct, 
 they are presented (ui that account with some degree of timidity. 1 
 purpose, however, with the view of either confirming or modifying the 
 conclusions arrived at, to coi;!inue a series of observations, car fully 
 noting the various changes going on ; and will if deemed worthy, take 
 iniicU pleasure in laying the results of sucli observations before tiie 
 Institute at a future time. 
 
 13v tlio poru.sitl <d" Unit paper, it will lip £uuii<l to be cliietiy 
 founded on a very laborious and ox|ienslve wiirvey made lietwc*o 
 August, 1S4'.!, and tlio spring of 1851). Without such a survey, I 
 am inclined to think an/ opinions on tlio sniiject wmild bo too 
 speculativo to Ue of mueli practical value, aud I may tlierel'oro 
 claim that in tliis cunipetition due consideration lie given to my 
 previous labors, of wliicli this liejiort may be considered as the 
 result. 
 
 All the leadinjj cliaraoteristios of the peninsula were laid down 
 liv careful triangulations — tlie slionls lakeward by soundings and 
 
 angular intersections, and the nature of the lied of tlio basin nscer- 
 tained by boring and soundings through the ice, and chaining on 
 its surface: these soundings amount to between two and three 
 thousand, and are rediu'ed to an approximate mean levid of Lake 
 Ontario, uscertained in conjunction with Captain Lefroy, from a 
 series of lake levels taken by his directions during several years. 
 The chart made from tliis survey is a necessary necompaniincnt of 
 tills Keport, and 1 shall bo happy to sulnuit it any time for your 
 inspection ; but since I have yet hopes of refunding myself (by its 
 publication) for the cost of its produidion, you will be pleased for 
 the present, therefore, to consider the copyright secured to nie. 
 
 Tlio results deduced from tlio ovidenoe set forth in the paper re- 
 ferred to were so startling, that on tlio occasion when I had the 
 honor of laying it before the Institute, 1 determined to lose no 
 op)iort unities of verilying or contradicting tbem. Tlio promise 
 then made I have not failed to make good, having from time to 
 time iiistrunientally observed the various natural changes in pro- 
 gress: and since those observations wete made with the greatest 
 eare. and appear to be of considerable value, I am gratified by the 
 opportunity now alTorded me of laying them before you. Ileing led 
 to believe that my views on this subject ;iro at variance with the 
 acknowledged opinions of parties officially conncted with tho 
 harbour, I have been especially careful to review the grounds of 
 my decisions, and have discovered no reason for departing from 
 the opinions originally expressed by iiie in the paper referred to, 
 but on the contrary have been strengthened in them by subsequent 
 and very recent investigations. 1 therefore franklj- submit to you 
 my convictions, ta!;iiig leave to remark, that they are based on 
 well ascertained facts, capable of positive proof, and not at all on 
 any of the many prevailing rumors and baseless suppositions 
 which are current amongst us in relation to this harbor forriation 
 and its present state. 
 
 It may be laid down as an axiom that a right understar.ding of 
 the causes of the formation of the Harbour and of tho continual 
 changes it is undergoing, is essential to the consideration of any 
 preservative measures. The document attached enters so fully 
 into this part of the question tliat it ap|iears tome unnecessary to 
 enlarge thereon, more especially since four years additional ob- 
 servation very materially strenglKen and go far to confirm tho 
 opinions therein )iromulgated. I will first, then, explain tho 
 nature and results of the instrumental observations recently made. 
 
 My attention has lately been more particularly bestowed on tho 
 suba(|ueous operations at the Kntrance, not that they are hero 
 most active, but because they are least conspicuous and most to 
 be dreaded. To ensure accuracy tho following steps were taken : 
 
 The approximate mean level was referred to a permanent stono 
 benchmark, the stone step of one of the cellar doors (d' tho Custom 
 House, under which it was found to be six feet and one inch. The 
 mean being only approximate and subject to nfter corrections, six 
 feet under this benchmark was assumed iis a good datum, and to 
 which all soundings were reduced. Scales were estisWished at 
 various points with zeros corresponding in level. 
 
 A tloiWiiig ( haiii 4(i2 feel in length, nnule of long woo<.lcn rods 
 linked together with iron rings, was con-.tructed lor measuring 
 with the greatest possible accuracy horiz<intal distances on the 
 surface of the water. 
 
 An aron tripod was erected on the shoal as a fixed point from 
 whence to stretch the chain and measure distances. 
 
 i 
 
the biisin nsccr- 
 iiiil chaining; un 
 
 two nnd thrpd 
 II level of Lnko 
 
 I.ofroy, I'rDiii a 
 ; Bcvenvl years. 
 I'ompiiniinent of 
 y time for your 
 •^ iiiysylf (hy its 
 I lie (ileaacii for 
 eiired to mo. 
 in tho pupor re- 
 flieii I hail tho 
 ined to lose no 
 . Tho proniiso 
 j4 from time to 
 changes in pro- 
 ith the {greatest 
 gratifieil by the 
 you. lioing led 
 riance with the 
 e"ted with tho 
 the grounds of 
 departing from 
 per referred to, 
 1 by subsequent 
 y submit to you 
 y are based on 
 nd not at nil on 
 ss suppositions 
 arbor formation 
 
 nderstarding of 
 )f tho coniiiiiml 
 deration of any 
 enters so fully 
 nnneeessary to 
 < additional ob- 
 ' to eonfirm the 
 !n, explain tho 
 s recently made. 
 
 jestowod on tho 
 they aro hero 
 )us and most to 
 'ps were taken : 
 lormnucnt stone 
 s of tho Custom 
 I one inch. The 
 correetions, six 
 il datum, and to 
 I estttblished at 
 
 ng wootjcn rods 
 
 for measuring 
 
 listauces on the 
 
 xed point from 
 
 
 IIKI'OIIT.S ().\ TORONTO H.Mlliorii. 25 
 
 A g..aduated standard s ,din, p„l,. .v„s used for n,easnrin;; i„ ,1„. a.v.onpanyin;; paper Iln.„,,ted by a model of tho en- 
 
 <riiHT .l.'pnsited in the miivciii.M.r the Canadian Institute. 
 
 A sell in-lin;i; tide giiM-i' \v as eonstnicled r,,r the purpose of wiil, il, ,. , ,, •, ■ , ., 
 
 civini' a eimtihiioim re.rlwt,,,. f ,., e , ■ ■ i i i <■ " '"i ll"'>'' ""'■'■'"lenK'iits laki'ii wiili the ndnost care, and wth 
 
 giving a ciinuniious legister nl i'\it\ lin-lua lun in r\i'l and at- ..*!. . • -i i , . . . . 
 
 f;.rdin« a means of arriving a, the' e.ten., nature, L ^t 'Z:r':::^'''r V """•"" ''" '""' '" " '"'-'T !" 
 
 nnn.ber of lluetnations, of whieh so little is known, and on which " " , 1, ,r "''"^ "' ''T """' '""•""^""■'y 
 
 l.l.onomeua so n.uch value i. placed by many as !,ei„g the cause ' '" "" """"" ^"" '"'"^ '^^"'-"'• 
 
 of currents in yimr Ilarboiir. I regret to state, however, that I ''"''"' I'i'"l""*ili"ns are as follows: "The elfcMs which have 
 
 have as yet been unable to apply this iiistrument to its pnipMse, ''"' " l"'"'liieeil, or are likely to be produced by the presi'iit breach 
 
 for being unrecijnizi'd and unassisted in this servici', I cmild lind "' .'''" ''■"*''■'''" ''xtremily of the Hay of Toronto, parlii'olarly with 
 
 no position in which to establish it, nor have my means Jostilled '•••l''i'ence to the bar at the entrance to the Hay. If prejudicial to 
 
 me in incurring the necessary attendances for observation (hiring ""; 'f'"''"""'. "nggcst the best means of, ■losing it, and olMrength- 
 
 my own absence from the city. " ''"'"" "'"^ !'■"'' "'' ''"' I'cninsnla against nirllicr ciirronclinicnts by 
 
 Thus provided (omitting the last mentioned instrument) I com- " ,."' "" " ' "' " '"' 
 
 nuMwed my second survey on the ;2Tth Xovember, IS.'id, and was , ''"'"'.' ''' "'""' '"•''"i''' 'I'-i^ 'i^i'l H" appreciable elVcct on the bar, 
 
 to u certain extent very successful, but during the night some evil- j'"' ''"i';'';: t'i<' period when it was open, the bar has been enlarged 
 
 disposed person unknown, removed the iron tripod sl.ilioued on ".' Pi'i'^'iNely the same manner, throngh tho same causes, and at a 
 
 the shoal leavMig, to my regret, the survey only partially linisheii, """il-"' ™l'' to that in which its f.,rm.ili,m proceeded when no 
 
 and thus vexatidusly disheartened 1 had on" after occasions to '"''■•"li ''^i-'cd. 
 
 adopt othi'r, though perhaps not much b'ss aci'iirale measures. Sccnd. Jieasoning by analogy frnm the above, the breach (if 
 
 Two theodolites were placed at stations as lar apart as possible T-^ ^I'"" "'"' ""\"^:'^' I"""''""' ^'"^ "l'l"'"iable efhrt, ber,c- 
 
 on tho Queen's Wharf, their distan,-e being carefullv n.easnre.I, !,, . , "","'"""" "" ' "■'• 
 
 aud the points where soundings were made ascertaiiu'd bv a pro- ' ''"''''''' r'™'"^'''' "» tl"'' haiiior generally by the 
 
 per coiio of signals and angul.ir iuterseelions. The soundin-s '"■'■■"'' ■'_""""" '"''y ''; n" uuimportan-, change ii, the contour linos 
 
 were in three eases likewise made by the standard rod, and M "" ''' '''''' "'"'''' '" '''' '"'"""'''uto vicinity, and there only; 
 
 wore carefully redi 1 to the same .latum, the assumed 'approxi- "''"''' '''""■-"• "'"'" ''""'''' '" '•'■''"'"" '" "'" ''■"■'""• »>< '' "'"'i''. 
 
 unite nu'aii level cannot be consideri'd of any moment whati'ver. 'Whilst however 
 
 In this nmnncr surveys were again nnuleoi, the l^TthXoven,ber, l!!i';^^T':r TTI'^^V'' '', ^''T "^^^^^^^^ 
 
 18.^1, the li;th IVeen.ber, l.sr,:!. and the lioth April, KS54, each o „ ; ' ' "". ''''■'"'■V''::" ,' -■ ■ ""'?"' ^'""r^'" 
 
 whiel,are delineated on the accompanying diagl-an;. Ti; sound- " W lu ■ i " r "l T''"T' 7 ""I'- " "T1 """" 
 
 , , ,. r I 1 . " r, ii.> tne sanu' causes winch lor.nerly produced It, vz.- t le i evtrnc- 
 
 ings mid contour lines of each survey aro shown respect vey n five •idion ,,r .i,„.,„u ., •, , i i i .i . ■> •■"' ' 
 
 different columns as follows:- ' ^ „ , l^ "","'" ^'""■'-""' "'^'>> ''>• '' '""- 
 
 timiance thereot be dangerously enlarged. It is therefore desira- 
 
 Ihc survey ol the 2,th N„v,'mber, IS.-,o, in /,'„/. ble that a recurrence of this brea.li should bo guarded against, 
 
 -"''' " '■^■"''' '■ Jtl'"'- "'"1 I proceed to submi,; how in my opinion this may be eflcM-fed.' 
 
 " .i!:'!' "'"■':•"'"■''•■ I":;' " ('/";*• To strengthen this part of the P,.,iins„la two methods prcent 
 
 -Oth April, l.sol. • l,7A„r. thems.dves : 1st. The eons.niCion of groynes. i2d. The construc- 
 
 An examination thereid will show very clearly the iirogressive tion of a canal or eastern entrance. Two properly cmstructc.! 
 
 advancement of tho shoal norlhw;ird, attributable to tho .same groynes, established on the lines marked in red ,,i'i I'laii \o. L', 
 
 causes and formed in the same manner as already explained in would efiectnally and permanenllv strenglhei, and protect this 
 
 the paper referred to. 'fhe diagram shows the minininm width part of the iieninsnla by retarding the pn.gressive motion <,( the 
 
 of tho ehanuel between ten feci water lines to he as fallows ;Lt the beach, and thus arresting the moving sand :uid gravel, an acennni- 
 
 sevoral dates :— l,ili„i, w„„ld gradually bo fbrmed on tln^ outer Thoro calculated to 
 
 ;,st Octi.ber, 181!) HKS yards. prevent further encroachments id' the lake. 
 
 2-th .Vovember, 18.50, lii,) ■. The eon.struction of n Canal at the Isthmus is a proposition on 
 
 27th November, 18.)l, ;,ii •■ ,viiich. along with the beach, .'here h.is been great diversity of 
 
 12tli December, IKi:'. 77 " "P'"'""'. ''« "iH lie seen from the following oxtr.acts from report's on 
 
 2iHh April, l.s.VI, 7;j '• the subject recently published. 
 
 As the n.>rtli ti'ii (.'ct water line of the channel is 1.1 yards south Mr. Shanley says, 12Mh .lannary, IS.V! :_'• The very great nd- 
 
 i»f the Quiwn's 'Wharf, in taking the width of the entrance from vanca^re to be derived from having an eastern entraiice'to the lake 
 
 the edge of the Mharf 1.! yards mu>t he added to each of the di>- will probably keep this subject so constantly before the public, 
 
 tances. Alth.aigh the>e figures are not a fair criterion to judge of that the cx|ierimeut will ore long be tried, more especially as the 
 
 the rate of .idvancemeiit ,,f the shoal, seeing that the precise jiosi- breach whieh has lately oecurrcil would seem to have taken the 
 
 tion of tho annual deposit is not always in the line of the minimum initiative in the matter and 'pointed out the way.' 
 
 width of cimmiel; yet these and &■ diagram prove very positively '• The making of su.di i. channel -■ di be a simple matter of cost 
 
 the progressive encroachment, an.! show an average .arrowing of and, once made, a short time will s, rve to show whether the ad- 
 
 the channel of about eight yards annnally, thus establishing tho vantages accruing from it will be sufficient to connterbalanco the 
 
 truth of the deductions based upon my previous survey as stated ex],eiise of maintaining if. 1 have ternn.,1 it an -xperimciit and 
 
liU 
 
 UKrojn> ON TouoNTo iiAi;ii()ri!. 
 
 :i 
 
 »uch I helievo it to I'O in the widest , I'litalmr. nl' tlic li'i m- ''cin^ 
 ilouMful tliiit till- inoliU'iii nl'wlint U' oH'octs iip' n the liarlior will 
 til' oaii lie satisfai'tcirily soKod lioliin-liiiTiil. h may prnM' mi- 
 moiisclv ili'triiiwiutal to (li. liay in •Irillili;; in \a.«t iniaiiti: .i.< of 
 silt and •iJiiiiKli- : or it nia\ "iuiiily (ail to arromjili^li the i'u.l in- 
 toiidi'I liy w-rkiii:; out it^< own ili'^-trncticin liy siltin;: iiji n>orc 
 
 ra)iidly tlian the drcdfio ooidd ii it. .None I think will ili'ny that 
 
 ono or dthop of those results is iiinoii}:*! the pus i Ic oontinijcni'ii's 
 Wftitini; on the exiieriinent in (|nestion; and thoiij;li 1 have iK>t 
 given the matter the attention in'iessnry to ciialde melo iiroiioimee 
 eontideiitly on the aliove points. I must reeord my opinion that the 
 now ohannel would not he a sell'-fustainin;; one, and that its e'ViTt 
 upon tlie present ontranee would be the reverse of Ijonelieial." 
 
 Mr. Kivas 'rnlly says, luth Fehruary, IS.'i:!;— "I would Mow 
 direet attention to the eastern entranee, whuh has lieen lately 
 forntcd, and which 1 venture to prediet will not he elosed UL'aiu.'' 
 And, further, he says: "The hreaeh which has lieen niaile lately 
 lit that portion of the peninsula called the Narrow, aliout half a 
 mile east of IVivat's tavern, shews the practical>ilil\ of oonslrnel- 
 in^ an eastern entrance, and it is not likely that this new c hannel 
 will ever he Idled up from natural causes. 1 examined this chan- 
 nel on the Sth insl. It is al"uit lil'iy yards wide and three feet in 
 depth, witli a current of aljout two miles an hiair runnini: through 
 it in a south-east<Tly direction. The wiml Mowinj; stron^c at the 
 time from the S.S.W., the , urrent was (piite sutlicicnt to keep the 
 channel clear lA' the sand which was washin;; into the ciilrame 
 with the return of the waves, which were pretty hi;;h ' •' lime. 
 \t all times there will he a current thronr;h this cliai. u either 
 into or out of the harbor. During the prevah'iico (d' an easterly 
 pale the current will he inwards at the eastern and outwards at 
 the western entrance ; and ilurinj: a westerly pale this action will 
 be reversed, and the veUicity of these currents will be suflicient to 
 keep both entrances open.'' 
 
 Captain IVichardson says. .lanuary, l^.'id; — "The boundarii'std' 
 the harbor bein;; of -and, nidess known ]itiysieal laws be sus- 
 pended for the benefit of Toronto harbor, d eiirrnil t/irdii,/// il vill 
 accelerale its ruin." " I "ill here -imply state my opini';! "u the 
 etfect that a canal liOO feci widi' and twelve feet deep at the Nar- 
 rows wiaild have upon the harbor: During' a stron;; .'^. W. 'viiid 
 it woid<l cause su<di a current over the Ijar and ali>n^ the s..uth 
 Bide of it (jud^in^' from the ell'ects as now seen at the breach) as 
 not only t^i ihMu^'e the harbor with sand, but in a short time to 
 Rwotp away block-house point ami all the iiu'i|Ualitiesid' the north 
 side of the peninsida, and convert the harb.ir iido a wiile-mriithi'd 
 bay, at the expense of the oast end of it first. With the iienin ulii 
 intact all gales arc favorable to the ehaniud and niaintuinancc of 
 the bar. During a. broach in the peninsula all high winds are 
 more or les? destructive to the harbor." " The present broach by 
 the lake at the .Narrows is pimilar to the warnin;: shock of an 
 earthquake before volraiu. erujition— il f.-rliodcs coming cveiit.s— 
 and an irruption of sand into the Inirbor. during some oxlraordl- 
 narvjialc, maybe found as dest'uctive to it as an irruption •fUis.i 
 to viuoyards and villages." 
 
 I am inclined to agree with Mr. Shanley, in c.nsideiing the ef- 
 fects of an eastern entrance somewhat problematical, whilst 1 am 
 induced to believe that both the opinions above <,uoted are based 
 on verv insufficient gronnd.s, as on the one liand the breach has 
 been alreadv close.l willi(rut artificial aid. and >'n the other its ef- 
 
 fects have not fulfilled the predictions. As a proof nlso that by 
 f;ir too macfc stress has been placed mi the otl'eclsid'lake current.s, 
 the bre»»'<» 1» (ii>w tilled to such art extent with saml, that without 
 a previous knowledge of itx jt>>sitiiiun one could hardly lidl where 
 ir iiad existeil. 
 
 I'liat currents i\ist at th* piesent entrance there is no doubt, 
 and whelher atlrilaitahle totljt- wind or olli»-r natural causes, these 
 currents are ihmhtloss duo In oecusional differences of level be- 
 tween the waters in the bay and the ofM« lake. If a partii-ular 
 wind exerts a force sufficient to elevate the lake in the vicinity of 
 Toronto a certain number of inches, that rise must of necessity bo 
 communicated to the bay throu;;h the entrance, and h»«uce a cur- 
 rent of a certain velocity ; anil this operation would be rM-vrrned ou 
 the falling of the water in the lake by a change or fall of the wind. 
 If, therefore, the harbor be jirovidcd with two entrances, ar.d if 
 we assume, for the sake id' argument, that the sectiomil areaof the 
 second entrance be emml to the first, the current in this case will 
 be eiiually di\idcd. iinil its ell'ects, whatever they may be, dimin- 
 ished one-half, and so in proportion to the relative sectional are.i 
 of the entrances. Thus, then, the effects of currents at the west- 
 ern will Ic diiiiiiiishcd in prop.irlion to the width and di'ptliofthe 
 proposed canal at the Isthmus. 
 
 We now arrive at the ipiestioii: ll'/ml an' t/m.if fjl'irlx,' The 
 undoubted tondeiicy of currents in a channel such as the entrance 
 to 'I'oronto Harbour, is to increase its width and depth : it does not 
 follow that currents in this ease have no smdi tendency, because 
 neither wiiKii nor depth have lieen increased, .since they may have 
 lioen exerted in counteracting other causes as powerful as them- 
 selves ; but 1 think it will clearly follow that the currents have no 
 cIVect, or at least no efl'oct of real or |iractical value, if it can bo 
 shown that the chaiiocl has been narrowed in width nearly at an 
 eipial rate during ii,u;il or proportionate times: lor it must bo 
 observed that the currents would nx'cssarily increase in velocity, 
 and hence in their scouring ofTcets, the more the opening through 
 which they passed was contrai'tcd. Since the end of last centnry 
 up to isl'.l. the average rate, of the encroachment of the shoal is 
 .'hewn to have been from 7 to 10 yards |ier annum; since then, 
 during l] yciirs, it has advanrcd ',)'< yards, giving an average rate 
 per annum of >< yards ; and during tho last four months, it has 
 advanced at the rate of nearly V2 yards per annum. Thus, then, 
 Avhile tlie width of the entrance has been dimiiiislioil, the annual 
 r;ite of the encroachment of the shoal has actually increased, and 
 the deposit moreover lias generally occurred at that point where tho 
 current (if it had any effect) would have boon tho most active, 
 llcnco no other .oiu lusion can be come to, than, that there are iin 
 viii'irctimiil.i in the channel, or if there are, they havoproved to bo 
 of no practical value. The fear, therefore, of destroying or dimin- 
 ishing the eti'oets of currents at the western entrance by the con- 
 slrnction of a Canal at the istlumis may be entirely laid aside, 
 .seeing that there arc nono. 
 
 We have now to consider whether or not the proposed civnnl 
 would be ..clf-su.'taining; and. in this respect, 1 am still of opi- 
 nion that it would not. To place its outer entrance beyond the in- 
 fluenco of tho beach action, it would bo reipiisite to eslond the 
 pier- into deep water, as shewn on tho ]ilan ; through course of 
 lime, the progressive action being totally arrested, an accumulation 
 would gradually form, more especially on the eastern side of tho 
 canal until reaching the extremity of the piers, ultimately rounding 
 
UKI'OUTS ON TORONTO IIAHHOIH 
 
 27 
 
 f ftlso llmt \>y 
 'liik(! ciirrciits, 
 1, tliiit witliout 
 rillv Icll wluTC 
 
 III- is III! (Imilit, 
 il ciuiscf*, tiieso 
 PR (if level be- 
 IC a imrticiilnr 
 
 tlio vicinity of 
 of neecssity bo 
 1(1 IvMicp a (Hir- 
 
 iK'rifjiprtu'd ou 
 ill! cf tlie wiiiii. 
 tr.inii's, BiA if 
 iiiiiil iir»'ii(if tli(s 
 II tlli^ iiise will 
 uiiiy hi', (limin- 
 • sectidiml area 
 nts at the west- 
 
 lul (ll'|ltll()f tlio 
 
 w (;//;(■/,«,' Tlio 
 as tlic ciitrniK e 
 |itli ; it (Uics not 
 iilciicy, licciiuso 
 ! tlipy limy linve 
 v(>il'ul i\» tlicm- 
 iirrciits have uo 
 ue, if it can be 
 Itli iicai'ly at an 
 fcir it iiuist li(" 
 L'as(> in velocity, 
 .peniiif; through 
 of last coiitnry 
 t of the shoal is 
 ,111 : since then, 
 an iiveniire rate 
 iiHrnllis. it linH 
 in. Thus, then, 
 'hod, the annual 
 r increascil, and 
 point where tho 
 he must active, 
 liat tlicre are nn 
 laveptiived to bo 
 royin;; or dimin- 
 imcp hy the con- 
 ircly laid aside, 
 
 jiro|iiised rtinal 
 an\ still of opi- 
 o beyond tho iu- 
 ,0 to extend tho 
 iniM};li coiirso of 
 an ai cumulation 
 stern side of tho 
 inately rounding 
 
 them to the detriment of the arllllcinl channel ; to lu-evcnt which 
 eontin;,'ency tlii' finmitlon of additional ■rnyiics IVoni time to lime 
 would he necessary : the construction of v.liich altliou<;h not in- 
 volvin.i; much ouilay would always he clnir^calih' to the rcveiuio 
 of the canal. 
 
 HDO.OOtI euhie yanis of water In the whole Hay due to the rise and 
 eli'eclive for scour, hnt the d.scliar-.'.- of this quantity as has been 
 shewn has never retarded tho formation of the bar. Exc'avato 
 Aslihiidjrp'K IJiiy, eoinhine it with tho present Harbour, and wo 
 shduld olitain at times of similar variations of level .').'{0,000 
 I aecordinsly coneludc that in relation to the present Ifarhour ''nhic yards (d' water additional, or an increase of fiG per pent, on 
 entrance the construction of the canal would he neither henelicial "'i' '|Uantity of water now occasionally llowin;; thnai^h the elian- 
 nor detrimental, ami that if the preservation of the l!ay be alom! "el. .\nd this addition can only ell'ect the dm,. tion of tho current, 
 desired that object can more cheaply and i|uite as clli'ctually ho ""*■ its velocity, since the vertical column of water is not increased 
 nttamed by ihiMiiuch nnu-e economical expedient of tho liroynes therebv, and hence also the velocity is nut. Moreover, I am in- 
 011 the l,ake beach. These 'iroynes woiihl proliahly cost CToO or cliiied to think we have taken much too favorable a view of tho 
 
 XKHUt. whilst the canal could not bo constructed for less than 
 .C|."),l)llll, ami inasiii, eh as the latter may not be considered an 
 ein;ineeriii>; neci's»ity. It may be simply vieweil in its conimercial 
 
 iiuesli.in, in assuming; a rise o|' fne inches, I liav(' done so in tho 
 aljsence of more correct kiiowledv;c!re,i;arilinf.' phenomena of which 
 so little, iiidee.l 1 mny say iiothin^i; antlii itic of value is known 
 
 aspects. Whethei- tlll^ convenience lie desirihle fir the eastern (fir this purpose thi! self-actin^l; tido k"''. -' referred to was ii:- 
 tradeof the rort.and if dosirable but not heini: actually necessary, tended/. Althouuih in )iossessioii of daily and oeeasionally inoro 
 whether the w(M'k vvoiild be renuincrative. I'poii this latter point freipient (diservatloiis reduced to a common datum, the information 
 
 I entertain stronj; doubts, yet it is sufficient for me in the ]ier 
 formance of my present duty to e.xfiress my opinions only on the 
 en;;ineerin;; question, leaving the better qinililied body whom 1 am 
 addressing to deterniini! that of the comiiiercial convenience. 
 There exists no eni;iiieerinfr necessity for the c:vnal and its con- 
 Rtruetion would result in no ailvantage beyond that due to incrciised 
 faeilily of conimiinicatl"n l.etwccii this I'ort and the eastern por- 
 tions of Lake Ontario. 
 
 I now proceed to reply to the ii.'xt (piestion sulmiitted, viz.: 
 "The advisability, or otherwise' of enlarging the oiiening between 
 tho Harbour and Ashbridge's Bay, or of making a permanent 
 
 opening into the Lake from .Ashbridge's ISav." 
 
 conveyed thereliy is quite insuificient on which to venture an as- 
 sertion, yi^r from the evidiHice before me I doubt much if the daily 
 Ihict.ialions exceed one-fourth theamonnt above stated througlmut 
 the year. It is not reasonable in view ctf the utter insnlliciency of 
 the present currents to anticipate that this addhion induration 
 only would yield an eflectivo scour, and accordingly I conclude, 
 that with such an oliject the combination of .Vshbridgi^'s with tho 
 Toronto l!ay would be valueless. 
 
 .\gain. it has been suggested that by such a combination, to- 
 gether with an opening or canal to the extreme eastward, a con- 
 stant current would be insured through tlu^ entire Hav, and thua 
 
 Rhall consider it lirst in regard to engineering, ami secondly in 
 reference to conimercial purposes. 
 
 .Vshbridgc's liay as comnionly known comprises nn area of alioiit 
 800 acres, triangular in form with the apex eastw rd, half of 
 which area may with sufficient accuracy for our pre.sent intention 
 l;e taken as marsh land, the other nioiely water of very various 
 depths. It i.s divided from the Hay of Toronto hy a narrow belting 
 of sand and gravel beach, through wlij. I: two channels have been 
 formed by the waters of the Iton delivered itito the main hav. 
 
 doing so I the channel kept open by efficient sc 
 
 .Such an opinion would 
 
 seem to he based on erroneous observation. The currents still 
 always due and identical with the variations of Lako levels, would 
 still lie siipcrtiidal, and so long as those variations continue to be 
 (ami tli(-'y always will be) uni.iiportant in amount and gradual 
 hiitli m regard to voluini! and time — so long I believe will all 
 eftiirts fail to ?eeuro an efficient si^our. 
 
 I do not, therefore, think it necessary or expedient in an engi- 
 neering view to effect this combination, or to unite these B.ayseven 
 by the enlargement of the present ehannel. If the present breach 
 
 Lakeward it is protected and separated from the main Lake by a of the Toronto liay be such as to require protective works, how 
 
 long narrow sand beach precisely similar in formation to the neck much more would they lie necessary where the existing beach of 
 
 of the I'eninsuhi, and through which the Lake storms make re- -Vshhridge's Bay is weak and treacherous, and extended in a tcn- 
 
 peated breaches. To construct proper works of protection lu a fild degree. And, nn reover, if a channel mily were c<in«trueted 
 
 beach so exposed and ho tn^aidierotis, and to excavate so large an imminent danger would result from tho contact of so largo an 
 
 area of marsh would be a work of such immense i-ost, as not to bo area of swamjied land, unless the channel wero in fact constructed 
 
 justitiod except by the most • Iriiigeiit and positive m^eessity, and throughout tho length of the marsh as a canal. It might bo ex- 
 
 undor tho warranty of certain and indisputable advantages. pedient to direct the water of the Don permanently into Ashbridge's 
 
 It has b 1 argueil that by increasing the body of water within ^'•^>'' ""' '"'''"'"• "'"' ""' ''"l""'' f™'» "'"' ^'^'■'^^ '■'' <'" o-'^tensivo as 
 
 the Hay of Toronto, //,,i.v exl'cudal, a strengthened scour at the en- *" ^'° '"""-''' *"'-''''''"'• f'"" *''" *='"'" "''-'"" ""'' ♦'"' 'leposition is of 
 
 trances would result sufficient to ensure their maintenance throifh **'""' t-'^'w"' 'i'"' '""'• •«'«» t'"i" >« l"ipiili>i-ly imagined, but that as 
 
 all time. I ha\e already I trust satisfietorilv [.roved that no "'"^>-' "'^it'-i-s are of no value to the main harbour and might bo 
 
 scour results from tho present currents vrhicU indeed are entirely '"'"''' "" <'^'''-'^'"'' '''""l"'' f"i- tbe sewage of the City, the diversion 
 
 superficial, and 1 think it is undeniable that those currents are ^'■""''' '""' ''"'''' "" "'■"'"'^ ''° ^""''"cive to the health of the City 
 
 mainly creatod by fluctuations in the Lake levels, traceable to vi- ^^'''''■'* ""' '" '^ ''''"™'= detrimental to it- ^i.irbour. 
 fiations in tho wind and possibly to some more remote and unnp- If then I am correct in asserting that i,, i fvantage would result 
 
 pr?ciable agencies. Now tho maximum variation in the Hay in engineering point of view by the ope.- .■ Ashbridge's Bay, it 
 
 water levels hitherto observed, even on extraordinary occasions only remains to bo considered whether . .. regarded commerci- 
 
 durinft any 24 hour,( (and it is clear that to extend tbe time would ally it is a desirable work, and I confess that when contemplating 
 
 betodiminishtheelfectimaybetakon avfivo inches, and woiildgi^e the extent of the present Ilorbour, and tho construction of the 
 
J 
 
 2S IJKI'OHIV' ON TORONTO lIAItHOnt. 
 
 K/<lil;iimilo I'V wliicli sliipiiiiin iiciMiniiioilatioii mny sd Imrj^oly lio i\i\yn tlio ti'ii fi'ot wiitcr lini' of tlio hIiohI lias liopii iinijcc'tfil fiftppfl 
 
 ('■ctiMidoil, 1 (Mil (lisr.iviT nil iii'.i-ssilv by wl.idi tn jiisliry mi ccislly fV'ct, tli(- cijilit IVot line Iwi'lvi- Ibct, imd the six feet lino twciity- 
 
 nnil I foiir s,. donl.tlhl if not il;\iij;cn>ns an cxiN'rinicnt. five f"ct iiitu tlio I'lmnnrl nurtlici-ty, tliiis iliminisliini; il« wiiltbs 
 
 ll:uin;: tints cxpress.'d niy u|iiiii(Hi(in nil tlio imiiit'* siil.initH'il Ipy tlmso iiinonnts. It is nonirdiiif;ly iiii|iiiroiit tlmt tlio IJiiccn's 
 in your udvortisoinoiit, I slmll now tiiko loiivo tn diri'ot ymir at- A\liai-1' works, rooont an well an ronmio, ultlion^li foi-tiiilnnsly now 
 ti'iitlon to nnotlior, mid in my opinion, fho most imiiortaiit of all >■( ominoiit ailvaiUa;:!e in a comnionial point of view, liavo failed 
 tlie i|uo.stioii3 relating to tin- cHiL'iont prosorvation I'f this llarliour. in tlio oiiniiioorin^ .soi-vieo for wliieli tlioy wore advised ; and tliey 
 Until a oomparntivoly recent period tlio formation to wliioh tliis 1':"" (""ili'il I'eoaiiso tlicy have not resulted in streiif,'tlu'nin.n; the 
 Bay irt due was ontirelv eonsistont with the most iidmirahlo iiro- current and croatiii'; a aeonr as was antioipatod, lnvauso in truth 
 visions of llarlionr capaoity, shelter, aii.dioraj!;e, and tlio eonvo- the current which has ever been inoperative in checkiiij; the shoiil 
 niences of iiavi;:ation. I'p tii such a i.oriod (and it i^ .lemonsirated f 'rmatioti is so still, heinu now as always siiporlicial, 
 by the charts! Nature was oiiftaL'cd in work eminently useful, and In the paper to which 1 have so froipiently referred I liavT de- 
 \n a manner most fortunate and nnimpeachable : no." did our pre- nioiistrated the manner in wliiidi this encroachiiieut is prnceedinir, 
 decessors fail to discover how excellent a haven had been formed, nml it is sutllcient hero to reiieat that it is brought from the south- 
 as to its inducements may botra.'cd the selc.tion of the site for the ward, and that every ctVort to check It by the current has Ijcen 
 eitv, .just as surely us to "its inlluonce may be attributed the rapid inefl'c.-tual. We may, therefore, roasimably abandon such an 
 f;row'th and great"prosperity of this metropolis. At that time, and expedient, wlileli, however excellent and elficient it may bo found 
 it niav bo taken as A.l>. IKOO, Xatiire bewail to destroy that which i" tidal waters, should not, therefore, Indneo us t<. rely upon its 
 she hivd herself so well completed, and recently by si'ich palpable adeipiacy when attempted under such tota'ly different circum- 
 enernaehments on the Kntrance to the Bav as naturallv to indui'o stances. 
 fllarm lest its commercial value ini-ht l.o eiidan-ered. " '''" preserve the Kntrance fnau further encroachnients of the 
 
 I have already shewn how ro-ularlv and eonstantiv this lai- siioal ami to arrest the beaeh drift al a cmvcnient ami safe distance 
 
 eroa diment has been procoediii-. how year after yenr the channel il>''i;ofro,n I would recomme,,,; the early construction of the fol- 
 
 has boon decreasin}; in width and the shoal extciidin<:. and I hav.' lowing W(U-ks: 
 
 endeavoured to tra.-e the source and causes to whieh these dan- l-"' -^ «''"yne at the I/ij;lith.iuse I'oint to retard iho sand now 
 
 j;erous luvumulatious are to be attrilmteil, showiii- 1 trust mi.viuf,' northerly, and divert it into deep water westerly, 
 
 satisfactorily that the same a-oncies arc enpv.'od to this day -'"'• '^'' auxilliary jiroyne opposite (hbraltar Point, to arrest 
 
 in the same work of injurv. ' •""' counterai- all pro^'ressive action alon;; the west side of the 
 
 And vet it is stran;;ethat with the exception of tlie construrtiou ^l'"'''- '1'"^ eiialilln;!; all drift to accumulate south of the dear 
 
 of the Queen's Wharf in 1S;5.5, and its extension in IX.Vl, works water openin- of the IJay and presorvin,!; the present extended 
 
 in my opinion entirely inconsistent with, ami as the event has ri^'-'^ii^''-^ to facilitate the early removal of ice in sprinj;. 
 
 proved entirely iiiiidciiuate to the oliject sought, no oll'ort has been .'ird. A Pier alon:; the south edge of the channel ns shewn on 
 
 directed to the ])reservation of the pri'sent Harbour channel, but the plan of a ti>t;il length of 2'J(t yards, cutting off about 350 feet 
 
 imblic attention has lieeu attracted by speculative and amliitioiis from the point of the shoal to a depth of twelve or fcuirtcen feet 
 
 attempts to alter where aUeratlon is unnecessary and dan;.;erous, by drod^'iuj:, thus enlar^ine; ami permanently deepening the navi- 
 
 and to improve that which Nature has left perfcrt to our hands ; gable entrance from 24li as now to 000 feet as proposed. 'Witli 
 
 neglecting moanwliile the one and only point in whieh her (ppera- "such work jiroperly constructed, I am eonlidcnt In the opinion 
 
 tioiis may bo regretted and whore intorferonce is justilied by that Iho difficulties hitherto connected with the western cliaunel 
 
 <lauger. It is to this point that I shall now adilress myself, con- would bo removeil, and that the Entrance to th(\ 15ay would be 
 
 vinced that if this be neglected works at no other pliu-e can coin- permanently iircscrved in an efficient condition. The Harbour 
 
 pcnsate for the omission or preserve the Harbour in an cllicicnt would then be such as for extent and convenience, wouhl I believe 
 
 state. • bo altogether sufficient and satisfactory. And I take leave very 
 
 In the Harbour Master's Koport id" January last, ho says, "Ppon rc-spectfully to repeat my conviction that it is more consistent 
 
 the faith of the current (to which in a prci-eoding paragraph he with jirudcnce to content ourselves by checking an ascertained 
 
 declares that the Harbour owes Its navigation) the extension of evil, by simple, palpable, and safe expedients, than to rush wildly 
 
 the Queen's Wharf was advised, and although it is as yet only into costly experiments having no actual bearing on, and at a dis- 
 
 constrncted half its length, a widening ill tlie channel has already tauce from, the only evil by which we are embarrassed in the 
 
 taken plive." I have already jiroved (by deinonstratlon of actual frail hope ol begetting an advantagii of uneertalii value, 
 
 moasuroment) that the currents here are too feeble to bo of any The following is an approximate estimate of the several works 
 
 service In retarding or removing the deposit, and the ileclaration proposed: — 
 
 of the Harbour Master appears to be inconsistent with the facts. i,t. A grovne at Lighthouse Point, JJO 
 
 This is scarcely extraordinary, for unles.s tlio measuronients be feet in length £900 
 
 made with the greatest delicacy and reduced to a ■well-establi.shed 2nd. A groyne near Gibraltar Point, 800 
 
 datum, it Is difficult, nay impossible, (owing to the frcfpient varia- ^'"-'^ '" '''"S"' • 
 
 tions in level), . arrive at nccur.acy. >•!■ } I'if' "* •''° entrance estimated 14 
 
 ' ,,,•.• r , feet under water, and 5o,000 cubic yards 
 
 Irom recent iiieasurements made 1 y mo m continuance of the dredi'iii" 10 200 
 
 whole system of survey uiiim which tl ei-liarts have been laid down, ,(,| 'l'^".^, ^,.,1^-,^,^ at the Isthmus 850 
 
 it appears indispiitabie that since the extension of the Queen's 
 
 WlriTf was brought to its present stale, and in tho space of 1'28 £12,550 
 
f 
 
 UMI'OKTS ON TORONTO HAlUiOnH. 
 
 It will Ijo (ilisorvi'il Hint a 
 
 "•;;■'> iliMii ill thi' i,i„i,,.. estimate is ImsoM upon wliicli ilio oj,ini„ii» nuw Milimittoil liavck'cui funnel, 
 
 fi, UMiltli ul (Id |,.,.t „ ,1,..,, wat.r; (hat ai,l,.„iKli Km, lo..t nii^^lit ..fM.mo valuo t„ „i,., 1 |,avo ix.fVmnoa Iron, at.a.-liinl tlinn (o tins 
 
 Milli.'O ami roilniH. the hi-.sl mst about tli.T,. tlioiismiil iionmis, vet U.'iiort. 
 
 tho iii,.n.aH,.,l ami pmnaiiLnt advantaf;,.. ro.suIthiK iron, tho mi- li; Imwovor, .vun slionM .Iomiv to oNmniioMh,.,,,, I .shall ho n.o.st 
 
 lai-.Ml ontiaino, wonhl I am inrhnca to think warrant tho ad.li- Inijipy to attend at anj appointed time, and .snl.n.it them ;„ your 
 
 tional oxpomliture. Smee von do not lU present rcpiiro detailed inspeetinn. 
 
 jiliins and estimates of the proposed works, I havo deemed it iiii- 
 
 neeosHiiry to ].reparo them. 1 nniy, however, again refer to tho 
 
 fact that I have in my postession e..arts and other doeiiments 
 
 bearing iiiinii tl 
 
 g upon tho ipicstiuu befbre you, and although they nre the 
 
 Tc.n.ub), Mil 
 
 1 have till' hniiiiiir to be, Sir, 
 
 Vour obeilieiit servant, 
 
 SANDroKI) I'l.KMlNG. 
 -I, isr.d. 
 
 UE r () JIT 
 
 ON TJIi: .MK.WS TO liK AlRil'TKP 
 
 10 a THE 
 
 V Ji K ,S K Jt V A T I () N A N D I .M I> 11 \ E -M K N T 
 
 or THE 
 
 HARBOUR OF TORONTO, 
 
 HV KrVAS TL'bbV, bSiJI II!i:, I'UOVlNCIAb SlllVKVOl!. 
 
 Ill 
 
 his repnrt in Is:;), in vefercnec to 
 
 [T/ie Third I'miiiiim of lufiii I'uunilt was auanleil lo the niilhor nf 
 this JiejiurL] 
 
 The opinions of tho several |jrofessionaI and seientifie ])ersoie; 
 who have lu'eviously written on this sulijeet, are so wiilely differ- 
 ent, that, to diseus.s eaeli separately, would far e.'ceeed the limits 
 of a rejiort of this description, and which, for all practical pur- 
 poses, cannot be considered necessary. The preseiil iuteiitioii, 
 therefore, is to condense the subject as inucli as possible, consistent 
 with u due explanation of the means to be recommended, founded 
 on tho most reliable data. 
 
 It ia proposed to divide the report into two heads, one on tho 
 rreservation, the other on the Improvement of the Harbour; 
 the expense necessary fur preserving the Harbour, as it will bo 
 shown, being far less than that \vhich may bo reiiuired for its im- 
 provement. 
 
 Previous to entering on the discussion of the subject, it is neces- 
 sary to remark, that the construction and extension of the Queen's 
 Wharf was the most advisable course that could be followed here- 
 tofore, both for the preservation as well as the improvement of the 
 Harbour, and must be a source of much satisfaction to those who 
 recommended its construction originally, and were afterwards iu- 
 strumenval in :-arrying the project out— to think that, up to tlu' 
 present time, there has been no useless expenditure, a result that 
 cannot always be avoided even by the most experienced persons. 
 
 Ist. The preservation of the Hiirboer. 
 
 In order to form a correct oiiinion, it is necessary to impilro 
 into tbc causes of tho original formation and increase of the I\!n- 
 insiil». forming its southern boundary. 
 
 f'ir liichard liniiiiycastli' 
 this subject, states — 
 
 •■ The I'eninsula, opposite tlio soutliern fare of tho city of To- 
 ronto, appears to me a iinu/i iiiun' diinnif loniiatiaii llina i.s- i/rne- 
 riilhi iniiiijinnl; it is comp.jscd of sand in various states of jolio- 
 sioii, the surface being usually disintegrated, ai.d increasing only 
 in lirnincss ami tenacity as it increii.ses in depth. It is pnTbably 
 one of the many ridges of the b„tlom of the vast Lake, which existed 
 before the iiri'sent Ontario and lOrie were formed out of its drainage, 
 nor jvas the shape id' the Peninsula, materially altered for a vast 
 length of time. 
 
 " The Freiieh entered the liasin, and fancied it a ri\ or, when they 
 firiit exphired the country under the guidance of lleiiuipen, and 
 tlio oldest surveys show little or no diU'crencc in its outline. 
 
 " It is not necessary, however, with the object at present in 
 view, to enter into a geidogieal description, to prove that the Pen- 
 insula was made during the sedimentary deposition of the tertiary 
 periods : but it is useful to that purpose to ascertain that it is not 
 comparatively new, or in tho eunstant habit of receiving great ac- 
 cessories to its bulk and extension." 
 
 These opinions, written twenty years ngo, besides being corro- 
 biu-ated by later authorities^, liavo boon proved to be corre;;t hv 
 recent examination. 
 
 A superior set of boring irons were constructed for the p.urpose 
 of ascertaining tho substratum of tho Petiinsula, and in order lo set 
 the question for ever at rest. 
 
 The first and second trials were made at ( iibraUar I'nint and the 
 same result was obtained ili both instances, iiameiy, sand and gravel 
 in alternate liiyi'rs, three feet in depth from the surface of tlio 
 water, and finding, after consider.able labour, with four persons 
 working the boring irons, that no greater depth than three feet 
 could he obtained, a specimen (d' the substratum was iirocured with 
 the shell augur, and found to be blue day. nr hard iian. as it is 
 more commonly called. 
 
 Tho resistance of the sa>\d and gravel on the third trial, at the 
 Narrows, ea.st of Privat's tavern, was found to be so great, after 
 boring about two feet, that a fighter boring iron was procured, with 
 
 < 
 
30 
 
 ItKrOUTS ON' TOKONTO IIAItnoiU. 
 
 ; 
 
 one (Mill hoU'iw.'il "lit ti) rorrivi' tin' siihstnitnin, and iil'tiT smoral 
 trials lirlwiMMi liiUraltar I'oiiit ami (In' Narr.iw.s, nleii;; tlio I'cnlrn 
 i)f tlic IVniiisula, tlii' xaiiii- ri^siilt was nlitaii'cil. Siioi-iini'iiM of tlio 
 clay ami a momoramlum (if tlioir rcsinvtivi' iidsitii.iis and il('|itli-< 
 nro" licrowitli siilimitted for iii»iipi'ti(iii. Tlio lidUnw in tin- iron 
 Iwins (if xniiiU eaimcity, a Kinnll portiim (if tlio flay I'mild (Hily lio 
 pnu'urod, unit cvun this i.s inixi'd witli tlic lino sand wliicli lies (in 
 the «iirfai'i> "f tlic clay. 
 
 TluTO is, howovcr. sufficient (Midcnco (if clay in tlic several s|ie- 
 (.'imens to (inive the assertinn, lliat the liasi- (if the IVninsnla is 
 euoval with that of the mainland, and m.t a deposit (.aased hy the 
 action id" the waters (d' Lake Onlarin. 
 
 It is intended to piirsne tlic invesiij;alion still fiirlher, and, in 
 all prohaliility, the same result will he found on horing east of 
 the Narrows, towards the liei;;hts of Scarlioro', uiid aliii oil the 
 nci'k of land that soiiarates the Harhour froin Ashlirid):e's Uay. 
 
 Whether a portiou of the sand ami gravid rcstiiiir on the siih- 
 slratnni of the I'eninsula was an orijiinal foniiation or not. it would 
 he difficult to ascertain ; lint the most likidy conclusion would he, 
 that it has lieeu dc|iositcd on the rid^e forminv; the hase of the 
 Peninsula since the period when the water which covered the 
 ■'fcater portion of the North American continent suli;.ided to its 
 
 present level. 
 
 The sources tVom which this deposit is and has been supplied, 
 is explained in a letter of mine, dated rdiauary lOtli, IK'i."., as 
 l„l|„„-s : •' The cuntimied aceumulation of deposit on tlio Penin- 
 sula, are the vvashin;; away of the shores of the Lake to the oast 
 and west of Toronto. Durini,' an easterly faille, which generally 
 lasts three days, the ' dehris' from the .S'lirhoro' heights is washed 
 nloii" the shoro of tho Peninsula to the lee of the Lighthouse 
 Point, and during westerly gales, whiidi generally sneceed easterly 
 ones, the Mehris' from the shores west of Toronto, as far as the 
 point of the Ilumher l!ay, is washed along the shore towatds the 
 Peninsula, and meeting the current of the Don at the western en- 
 trance, is deposited on ihe liar." 
 
 A comparison hctweou the deposit on tho Peninsula and the 
 formation of tho Soarhoro' heights will prove, that not one-twen- 
 tieth part of the " dehris" linds its way to the JVninsiila. 
 
 The lorination of tho Searhoro' heights heing jiriiicipally argil- 
 laceous, and the deposit on the Peninsula being granitic detritus, 
 the argillaceous portion of the debris being the lightest is carried 
 to a much greater distance, and sometimes three or four miles out 
 into the Lake by tho undorton, where it is deiiosited when the 
 causes that originally removed it eease. 
 
 Pursuing this ipiestion still further, it will bo found on exami- 
 nation that a eonsiderable portion of the "debris" travels eastward 
 as well as v.cstward, the prevailing winds being westerly, though 
 tho easterly winds arc the most violent. The ctreet produced by 
 tho prevailing westerly winds in Lake Krie is evidenced by the 
 more extended deposit forming Long Point, and also tho Harbour 
 of Krie. 
 
 The above remarks, though more diffuse than maybe oonsiJcred 
 requisite, are introduced to prove that the whole of the "debris" 
 from the Searboro' heights is not deposited on the Peninsula, and 
 the same may he said of the depoHits from the river Don. 
 
 'fhat the construction of tin; tjiaeen's AVIiarf has had tho effect 
 of changing the line of dcf osit i»a the Bar, cannot be for one mo- 
 ment doubted. 
 
 Ity referring to the map published by Mr. II mchclte in iHl.'i, it 
 will he observed that the point of the bar was more easterly than 
 't is at the present lime, and to the increased back current out of 
 ti.e llarhonr, caiise.l by tli(> contraction of the chanmd, may prin- 
 cipa'ly he attributed this result. 
 
 .Vssuming tli(> above remarks to be au.uitted facts, as such, they 
 cannot be controverted by mere conjectures— some of which are 
 ealeiilatel to remind a person of Ihe reply of a celebrated member 
 of the Uritish Parliament to tho speech of n eon«e(|uenlial repre- 
 sentative from one of the inland cimntica, who felt flattered at 
 being iioticeil by him— "There is a great deal in the lion, mem- 
 ),cr"s speech that is new and true, but, nnfortnnutely, what is true 
 is not new, and what is new is not true ;" and with these reinarkH 
 he went on with the subject under debate. 
 
 Whatever may have been the result of the action id' the current 
 of the river I "on on the formation of the Peninsula, it has not much 
 inlluenee at the present tinn — tic- current being very trilling at 
 ordinary times. 
 
 During Hoods, the injury to the Harbour by tlicileposits of allu- 
 \'vA matter siis|n'nde'l in its waters are very considerable, though, 
 fortunatidv, the direction of the Hood, when the Don overflows its 
 banks, is into .V^libridge's Itay, where the greatest amount of do 
 posit is made. A large portion, however, reaches the Harbour, and 
 the lighter parindes are even carriiMlout some miles into the Lake 
 before they are deposited. During Ihe prevalence of a flood in tho 
 Niagara river, about five years ago, caused by continued wet wea- 
 ther, when the ice was breaking up in Lake Krio, tho water at 
 the mouth of the river for five miles, at least from the shore, and- 
 an ei|ual distance im either side, was ipiite discoloured, and tho 
 ■neutral lino between tho Lake and the rivor waters was tiuite dis- 
 tinct. 
 
 If the foregoing remarks are correct, and there can be no rcasmi 
 to doubt them, it must he admitted that the injury to the Harbour, 
 in conseipienco of this deposit, is greater than the benelit to be 
 derived from its current. As ono of the precautions necessary fur 
 the preservation of tho ILirbour, it is advisable to alter the direc- 
 tion of the current into Ashbridgo's Bay, and allow it to find a 
 passage into the Lake through the eastern entrance in A.shbri-lge'.s 
 liav, and if at any future period a canal shouU bo made, connect- 
 ing Ashbrid,;e's Hay and theHarl>i,ur, the entrance into the Har- 
 Ijour siiould be protected by gates, so as to prevent tho current 
 fram tho east bringing with it the mud that has been deposited in 
 tho marsh for ages past, tho niml in Ashbridgo's Bay being at 
 least twenty fwct higher than the bottom of tho Harbour. 
 
 Fortunately, the present connection between tho Bay and the 
 Harbour is very slight, and, acciirtliiig to the annexed estimate, a 
 comparatively small amount would he necessary to chise up the 
 mouths of the Don, aud alter the direction of tho current into Ash- 
 bridge's Bay. 
 
 The deposits from the sower* of the city in the Harbour, is much 
 more considerable tba»ii w siJd wt first 1)C suppo-sed ; from experi- 
 ence in the construcDwn c. wharves, piling, .Vc.. it has be«n found 
 that, from \onge Street on tdne west to the Don on the ifiat. the 
 average depth of .ieposit from the sowers alone is not less tlian 
 two feet, taking tho distance to bo 5000 feet, with aa average 
 breadth of at least 3Hil feet we have a quantity c (|ual to about 
 100,001) cubic yards, a very serious amount, considering that it only 
 extends over a period of sny twenty years ; the annual deposit will 
 
ii'lto in IS I,'), it 
 rn ■.•iiNti'rly timn 
 k I'lirri'iit mit of 
 iinol, limy prin- 
 ts, ns Kiicli, tlicy 
 11(1 iif wliicli iiro 
 cliriilivl mcmlipr 
 ii'(|iicnliiil re))ro- 
 fi'lt tlatterod nt 
 1 tlic lion, iiipm- 
 I'ly, wliiit is true 
 li llicHi" rciiiiirkH . 
 
 m of till- ciirront 
 
 , it liiiH not inucli 
 
 very trifliii;^ nt 
 
 iloposits of ollu- 
 'loriililo, tlioii^li, 
 Don ovcrllows its 
 vst aiiioiiiit of do 
 tlio lliirljoiir, anil 
 les into tlic I.iiko 
 ' iif a (lood in tlin 
 iitimicil wet wea- 
 rio, tlio wr.tor at 
 111 tlie chore, luul- 
 Hiloureil, nnil the 
 jrs was quito ilis- 
 
 caii lie no reason 
 y to the Harbour, 
 tlie benelit to lio 
 ons necessary for 
 to alter the diree- 
 alluw it to find a 
 leo ill Ashl)riif;e'8 
 bo made, eonncct- 
 ince into the liar- 
 event the current 
 been deposited in 
 ;e's Hay being at 
 larbour. 
 
 tlio Bay and the 
 uoxod estimate, a 
 ry to close up the 
 current into Ash- 
 Harbour, is niach 
 s^d ; from expert- 
 it has be<fn found 
 n on the east, tlie 
 ue is not Sesa than 
 , with OB ovornge 
 ity c (|ual to about 
 idering that it only 
 innual deposit will 
 
 KKI'OUTS ON TORONTO lIAUlJOnt. 
 
 f 
 
 of course increase in proportion to the population, so that at the 
 end of twenty years more, takiiiK the population nt that time to 
 be 100,01)11, the increase of dcp,„it may lie lairlv calculated to be 
 at least 7(H»,(I()() cubic yards in mldjiinii. 
 
 InSirll. Iloniiycastle's l!c|,„ri, Ihi, Mibjcvt isabo bnclly ujlnded 
 to, as follows, and the injury to ilic Harbour anticipated": "J also 
 be- to remark th ; .nakinj; tln^ sewors for this (_'ity, it would 
 be very achisablc , ; .nstruet one main sewer through the wholo 
 length down to the Marsh, instead of lateral ones into the Jiay." 
 
 Tlio (liffieulty of construetinj,' a main sewer in nn easterly di- 
 rection is insnrmoiintahl,., in eonse.pienceof the wint of a sullicient 
 hill, a sewer constructed us above described beiiifi; almos, on a 
 level, would be always snbji'ct to be choked up with the deposits 
 from the lateral drains, and from this inevitable result would be 
 destroyed in a fow years. 
 
 in a letter of mine addressed to the City founell in IS.').", it is 
 recommended "that a covered channel should be constructed in 
 the centre and beneath the intended Ksphinade, from the Kivcr 
 I'tin t ) (iucen'a Wharf. 
 
 Th-. drains of the City to bo extended to thi.< channel, and a 
 portion of the current of lliver Don to be tnrne.l into it by dam- 
 ming' the present channel and allowin;; tlio surplus water to flow 
 into the .Marsh us at present over a waste weir one foot in beii'ht 
 above the present level of the water." This wouhl be sdl'-aitin.' 
 and would carry otf the uiilieullhy deposits which are now 11011^- 
 made in the Harbour, as evidenced by the rank veiietable ;:rowth 
 ill tho 8ta;;nant water about the wharves. 
 
 As the final disposition of this matter rests with the City Coun- 
 cil It may l,e cinsidercd sufficient for the present purpose to state 
 that for tho preservation of the Harbour the sewers should not be 
 permitted any lon-er to cmjity their filth into it, which if other- 
 wise provided for, instead of bein^ an injury to the Harbour ami 
 a cause of uiihealthiuess to the citizen.s, wouhl eventnallv be a 
 source of profit. 
 
 For the preservation of the Harbour the next ipiestion that sm'- 
 Rcst,s Itself is the strenJ;ll,ellin^^ or the openinj;, of that porthm of 
 the len.nsula termed the Narrows; when the ipiestion of the im- 
 provement of the Harbour is taken up, it will bo suffieien* then to 
 show tho advantaf^e to be derived from the construction of an 
 ea.steru entrance, or the contrary; but as far as regards the preser- 
 vation ol the Harbour is concerned there can be no doubt that the 
 strengthening and not tlio opening of thi.v portion of the Hay is 
 the safest and the most advisable plan. 
 
 Considerable damage has already been done bv allowim' tho 
 breach at tho Narrows to remain open so long a.s"it had be^ii as 
 some thousands oleuhie yards of sand have been washed into the 
 Harbour during the high water and tho action of cisterly gales. 
 
 Very little damage can bo done to the Harbour at present at 
 this point, as the iirevaleneo of westerly gales in the autumn of 
 last year, an,I the lormidable barrier of ice that protected it during 
 tho winter, collected a considerable ileposit m, the Lake side and 
 since that time, the water having fallen about I.', inches has in- 
 eroaseil the width of il.is portion of the IVninsula cunsiderubly 
 but from Its position Iwiiig a curve from tho reg ,!ar line of the 
 bceh It vviU always be subject to damage during high water, a, 
 the whole fon.e of tho waves pro,luced by an easterly storm breaks 
 on It and carries the lighter particles of sand into the Harbjur 
 
 '" sfoHRthpii it and ei irage tlicacciimulatiiMi of sand nt this 
 
 point two rows of piles, ::o feet apart, and live feet nhovo the sui- 
 hice should be driven on the inner or Harbour shle from the 
 Marsh to l'ri,at's Tavern, the piles to be lined with plank on the 
 inside, and the space filled up with the deposit from the .Marsh, 
 vvhich is convenient, the base of a substantial bank will thus be 
 formed, which can still further bo .strengthened by phmting, ic. ; 
 the action of both wind and water on the sand will !,(■ to form li 
 slope on the Lake shle, wlileli will most ellectuallv secure this 
 portion of the IVuinsiila from further eucroachment." The cost of 
 the above is also stated in tho annexed estimate. 
 
 ''''"' • '•Iruction and extension of the (^icon's Wharf haviii" 
 
 doteriniiied the result at the western entraneo as before state.h 
 f he .lid adage of ■' let well enough «l„ne" may be safely ap- 
 plied in this instance. 
 
 If IIIO feet is dredged from the point of the bar, so as t, widen 
 the channel to ^00 feet, to eiialde sailing vessels to boat into tho 
 Harbour during easterly winds.as they were in the habit of doin.^ 
 until the |,rcsent, and the wharf extended westerly In a line with 
 the point of the bar, wliiih work is now under contract, and will 
 be completeil this year; the bar cannot possibly clos,. up the 
 channel as the current into and out of the HarlMnir will always 
 be siiflicient to ki'cp the clianne; clear ; the opinion which was 
 expressed in my letter of Is.".;;, experien.'e has proved to be cor- 
 rect, as the extension of the (,)ii|.cirs Wharf lillK feet sin.'e that 
 time has prmlueed the vi-ry re-iili whhdi was then aiilidpiitcd. 
 
 It is there stated "as to the extensimi of tlio (iueen's AVharf 
 westward it cannot effect the channel, proviih'd the deposit on tho 
 bar is removed as reconiinended, it would not increase the deposit, 
 it would merely alter its form, which would then assume a wester- 
 ly ilireetion.'' 
 
 In order to uii.lerstaiid tho subject thoroughly it will be iieces 
 sary to investigate the eff.icts of tho current into and out of tho 
 Harbour during the jirevaleneo of c.isterly as well as westerly 
 gales. As to the fluctuations of the water on the Lake during 
 calm weather they are so irregular in their ac'tioii that the resuU 
 is inappreciable though certainly lieiielicial. 
 
 During a westerly gale tli.' water rising suildenly in the Lake 
 by the action of tho wind the surface level will of course be niain- 
 taineil, and the water will flow into the Harbour. The effect of 
 the force of the wind on the surface level of the water, causing it 
 to rise at tho opposite point from which the wind may be blowhig 
 at the time was ascertained by .'^ineaton to be eight indies in ono 
 mile, the wind blowing a strong gale, or at the rate of 10 miles per 
 hour at the time. The experiment having been made on the water 
 in a narrow canal, is hardly any criterion of the effects that a gale 
 of wiiiil of the same velocity might have on so large an cxi.aiiiTe of 
 water as Lake Chitario; but still it will afford some data to bo 
 enabled to judge of its effects by comparison. 
 
 The great damage caused occasionally at the Harbour of Hulfalo, 
 and other ports on Lake Erie, by the sudden rise of water, caused 
 by severe westerly gales in that compara.ivelv shallow Like, is 
 also a further [.roof of tho force that is proiluccd bv the action of 
 the wind on a large surface of water, the actual eHW't can only bo 
 ascertained by continued observation. The reconls kept during 
 the last few years by the Harbour :Master iirovo the sudden rise ol' 
 the water from the effect of an easterly as well as a westerly gale 
 to bo from four to si.x inches, and even more. 
 
! 
 
 lil'.l'OIiTS ON TOliON'I'O IIAI!l!()l-I!. 
 
 Till) nlidvi' I'l-miirkx rcl'or In tlio first ilVi'i't ; ten- llio How lil'waicr 
 iiitip li .' Iliiv llinmjrli th<' wi'otnii I'lilniMii" llip rcacliuM liii-' iils.i 
 ti. Ill' iciiiMiili'i'i'il, anil arniriliiiK ♦" tin: l.tw* n( iiinliiiii, wliicli an' 
 a|i|iliiMilili' tu lliiiiN UK well n* snliil'*, tlic« actiim ami rciirliun arr 
 i'c|u:il; till' ai'tiiiii \* niimtimt ill it« cH'ci'ts wlini llii' wati'r in 
 till' llai'lioiir I* rai-iil to tlio .laiin' levels as ihe water In the Lake 
 11 reai'liiiii takvn plai'i' ami iwn I'lirrcnlH are estalillMlieil diio intn 
 uml til" other out of tlio Ilarliimr ; ami tlinse iiirmitH are iniii'li 
 imreaMeil liv tlie mirf on the liar, wliiili actiiii; as a siinkeii break, 
 water, the siirl'aee water is liireeil into the lliirlniiir li_v its nioineiitiim 
 mill returns liy the deep ehaniiel near the wharf. Tu the ell'eet of 
 this iMirreiit may lie iiltriliiiteil the Htee|i eil)^e on the inside of the 
 liar, ami il lias ivlsolieoli liiund itlieaeioiis in seiinriii); the channel. 
 The elVi'i't iirmliieed liv an easterly t;:ile is the same, with t!ie 
 exei'iition that as the waves do not lireak with such ;;reat \ioleiici' 
 on the liar, the additional ell'eet from this cause is lost. 
 
 The dilli'i-enceiif level caused liy an easterly pile is greater than 
 that |ii-odiii'i'd liy a westerly oiii', as it acts on a larjiiT surface of 
 water. 
 
 .Vs an e.astei ly ;;ali' increases the de|iiisit un the liar mi tic I/iko 
 »ide iieire than a westerly one, it is evident that a westerly gale is 
 more lieneficiil in its etl'ecls on the niaintenaiici' of tlio channel, 
 
 Vrom tlio alieve remarks the eonclusiou uiay fairly lie drawn 
 that a ehaiim 1 which has licii maintained l.y natural causes f..r 
 years past may l.c injured hy an iiilerl'cvciice with those causes 
 wdiicli the e 'U-triicliiiu nf a |iicri.ii the |.nint "I' tlie har parallel in 
 til" l^iU'cii's Wharf Would mnsi if'cid.'dly ppidi 
 
 The recijiilulatlnii of the si'veral reconimemlations fir the pre- 
 servation 111' the Ilarlionr will therefore he as fiillmvs ;~ 
 
 1-t. The idiisiui; of the !' ii, and divcitiu;; the current into 
 .Vsliliriile;e's lia- . 
 
 '.^11 1. 'fhe siwajieof til' • : 
 into the llav)).;,;: . 
 
 ,".rd. The slrenj;tli. iiiii^ -..rtl; ■ Xarrows id' the I'cionsula. 
 
 (th. The coutimied e.\(Lii-i. ,. ef the t.tuceu's Wharf, sii as ly ho 
 always on a line with the p.iiiil of the har. 
 
 That the llarliMur can lie preserved furaj^os liy the cuiirse almve 
 reomumi'uded I have nut the least doulil, and slmuld such a eon- 
 tinj.'i'ncy ever arise as the reniuval of the depusit on t!io liase of 
 the IVuinsnlti hy any future action of the waters nf the Lake, 
 wliioli is estremely duiilitful, the reeeut examimitions hv Imrin;; 
 prove that the sulistratiim is suflleicnt to liear n stone faeiiin on 
 the Lake side, similar to the one eonstriicted iu front of the Xew 
 Garrison, wdiieli 1ms stood tho test of sl.t years' experience without 
 Ruy injurious otfect, and to resist the action of the water.s nf the 
 Lake for an indefinito ]iei-iiid, so that as fir iis tho decay of the 
 roalnsula is oonoerned it is iilto^^etlier mythical and reduces the 
 (juc^tiun to one of expense. 
 
 TlIK I.Ml'ilOVKMK.NT (iF fllK 11 AUnill'lt. 
 
 V.'itli ro-pcct to the improvement of the Ilarliuur it is intended 
 to treat this iiiie-tioii altogether as a separate matter. 
 
 The only alterations from the jirooediiig remarks on the rre>er- 
 v.ation of the Ilarlumr wnuld he instead of strengtheniiifi; the IV- 
 ninsula .-xt tin; Xarrows the opening is reeoiiimended. 
 
 The disposition of the I'iivcr ]).jii, the Kowago id' ihe Citv, and 
 
 !.e prevented fruni liciiig emiitied 
 
 the maiuiciiaii c of (he western (diannel would remain the same ; 
 the ipiestion, theteCore, to he considered will lie, the practicahilitv "f 
 c. instructing an eastern entrance, it- iiiainteimiice, limit he I'lVect pro- 
 duced un the west' rii ciilrance in cunseipieiiec of its c striiction. 
 
 'I' igiiieerin diliii ilties to ho eiieotiiitered in the construction 
 
 of nil eastern eiitraneo will ho eonsideriilile and ntteiided with 
 much greater ('."ipoiiBO tlnin at (IrHt would ho imagined. 
 
 Thi'liaseoftho IVniiisiila liiiviiig heen ascertained to hoof hliie 
 elay or hard pan. as it is . mnmonly called, and heiiig live feet 
 froiii the present siirfa.e uf tin, water at this pnjut, the dilliculties 
 are rather increased than diiuiiiishcd, though the work when eom- 
 lileted would lio iiioro Huhslantial tlian if it wii» iiltogotlior mmd.' 
 
 The only way in wliicli llio hlite elay or liiird pan enn ho p.xea- 
 vilod to a depth, so «s to atliird 12 feet at low water, would hu hy 
 the coiistriiction nf culler dams instead of dredging, which oiaild 
 he resorted to if sand and gravel alone had to he excavaloil. 
 
 The fuiindatiun uf the piers would, however, he more secure ami 
 less lialile to injury from the ell'ects of the heavy sea that will have 
 to he eneiaintercd than if sand and gravel funned tho foundation, 
 Aceonipanyiiig this Ueport is a map copied from one in the 
 possessiiiii of tho City Council which explains the position and ca- 
 Jiacily of tho proposed oiistern entrance. 
 
 Ill order to jirevont the "dehris" from the Scarlior.iugh lliights 
 from l.eiiig cuiivoyed into the Ilarliuur hy the current wdiich will 
 he caused hy all easterly gale, it would he necessary to run tlia 
 ]iiers into -Jtl fet of water at least, or to the line where tho waves 
 lircak,wliii II indicates the state of the under oiirrent; to carry this 
 out siiceossfnlly will reipiiro the piers on either side to average 
 ;;i II Hi feet each; the eastern iiier to ]irojeet ."i(lt) feet farther than 
 the uther, su as to all'ord siiflieieiit shelter to vessels during mode- 
 rate gales ill running into the llarhour, 
 
 I-'or roiuions that will hereafter he evident it wnuld not ho ad- 
 visalile to make the entrauco wider than 1200 feet. 
 
 The piers would re.piire at least tu he III feet wide, and loaded 
 with stone in the sami' manner as the exteiisiun now in course of 
 eoiistruction at the liuoeii's Wharf. 
 
 liy eonstrueting the piers as |iropiiseil it is considered they will 
 he sufficiently strong to resist the cll'cctof the most severe ciisterlv 
 storms, and the piers lieing run out into 20 feet of water, hevonil 
 the e>;leiit of th.o under current, no siilistance further than the 
 lighter particles of argilhiceuiis matter, which are held iu suspensiun 
 hy the agitated water, can enter the llarhour; and in case of a em - 
 rent heiiig esti'hlished thniiigh the JIarhour, which would occur 
 in 1111 easterly storm, this suspended matter would not he deposited 
 ill the llarhour, hut would he carried with tho current through 
 tlio western channel into the Lake again, and rkx versa in case of 
 westerly gales, in fact it would not he more injurious than at the 
 jircseut time. 
 
 If this is correct the maintenance uf the eastern channel cannot 
 he (picstiiined, the etl'ect that would ho produced un the western 
 channel reipiircs more serious consideration from tho fact, that the 
 ha .k ciirrciit at the western ehannel would he lessened in the 
 exact proportion as the current through the eastern, nnd this re- 
 mark applies whether nn easterly or westerly gale prevails. 
 The data to decide the ([uestions are as folluws: — 
 The scctiunal area of the western idiani.cl, including 
 the water on the har, ii in auperlieial feet 21,350 
 
 rierg. 
 
 ' t 
 

 wil«°bv'i2 z:' "7" ■;'■ "■" "'"""•" '-•'""'"«'• !2o ' foot 
 
 ,, * 1«,050 
 
 .i."'n::'i;i::,;;;,"'"°"?,i" "» '■-■• '"•*»• ■'•p-.-r. 
 ~n, , Ji r: ::,;' ::;:r,:;;;;;;;;;': ■ 
 
 the Harbour, tl,r„.,gb tl,o wctern chnn„..l, «„„1,1 I„m i„ i " ', ,' 
 
 one.n,„,h „„.. .b„ con..,,„..„t uringeff,.,:, ,„ .. ' 
 
 nol would b« lost iu this proportion Wl »"""•"'""'■ 
 the effect of destroying „. bila e wl.W "'"'•"'' '""" 
 for .0 lon« a ponVl. i. a n..,.. of .^loi; "'""""' 
 
 ae^'x:';^;!:::;':,:rr '"- "■: i ^" ^'«'" '^- p- >- 
 
 would bo n..:! : ;•:::;;:■,;:,'"■;-"• ^'^ —'■-. 
 
 Plotod, I tt,„ of opinion thut tho back current ,vilM „ «• 
 
 aeour tho increased oli.innol 40„ feet l^^ Z::^ ^:^:::; '" 
 
 eastern entrance boing constructed. '•"- '»ent ol „„ 
 
 The current throufih tho western channel caused I v »K r 
 placement of the water by steamers pussins ut l^, " ''"• 
 considerable for the time it lasts and 1 w » ' ' " ""^ 
 
 With regard to tho arrest of the deposit on the bar bv th„ 
 Btruction of piers or groins alonR the shores of t In l'. ^- V"""" 
 can only bo considered as temporary and ,. ^ ".'""'"■ " 
 have to be renewed and kept i^i "i'ir vear v """"'' """''^ 
 w^chwinhe.undasnniifJ^^.:^---S;;r 
 _ In Sir Charles Lyell's Principles of tleoloKy im^e 3IS . i.' 
 
 2.V'' """''^^*™'"'^ "" '"" -""■ --'or£:,!,r„'d:Ti; 
 th:tVaTr;/;:rjtrr:: °?'^- ^^""- -^ -"-. 
 
 Bouth^aaL coaft, to stop the LreC 7:,:" ""I ""?"" "' 
 ners The pebbles continue to accumulate till they rise as bth 
 
 *™; r,"x.- "■"" ""'" *" '"' •■" '• "''■• ™S 
 
 uoi io great ai is imagined, and it must be born, in 
 
 I'.KI'OUTS f»\ TOIJONTO tl \l!)!o| |(. 
 
 88 
 
 . n ,„o»ed by the under-eurre,,, no, to be rephic,-!, excr,,, bv this 
 
 from \shl,rid.e I. ■ '' 1" ''"""-it openin« into the Uke 
 
 p , " ' '^- ".'^ '\ 'l'"-'i"" <''«t nin be well post- 
 
 , nn he preseiu openinR is .,„i,„ ,„rt,.,ie,„ f,„ „,„ ^^i^.. 
 
 ';',"" '":"'""."'■ ""• ""' n and in all future sp 'e . 
 
 "uch, with an entrance ZtuZuZ'^r''"' """ ' "' 
 .a.os, .0 keep the mod which Cc: , rfi^llt", T 
 
 -o..n«Tor,.n.o 1. arbour, an excellent ..':;„;: ru.,t 
 
 t M ; . n "";"""'' ":''!''"" '■"" • •' ^ • ■• «- —-,1 f r 
 
 a dm l,e general es.nnate; -houKl, ,l,e p.,,,,,,,,,, ;, „„^ ^,,,.i^. 
 
 " ■ ": "" ."^"l'"'-'" <"'"''' "ill '.. fo, littlcc nongl, ,., "'I 
 
 ■.«andn,.,„itu,nin.Mv Harbour, which, up to the pr sc, t J . 
 "tands unrivalled o„ ,he ^reat Lakes of thii Continent ' ' 
 
 KIVAS TCM,Y, 
 
 Toronto, .May ,■),!, ISC,4. ''i'H F.iiijini,;: 
 
 K S T 1 M A T K S 
 
 l«t. Closing tho Kiver Don, and diverting the cur- 
 rent into Ashbridge's Bay ,-~rnn n n 
 
 2d. The strengthening of the Narrows of'iheP;;: 
 
 insula 
 
 2,500 
 
 £10,000 
 
 for the Impmi-ement of Ihe ILnimu,: 
 
 1st. Closing the River Don „. ,.^ ,, . 
 
 2d. CWueting the eastern entrance 200 feet'wide " 
 
 1ntot!Tl''f"^'^' P'«" •!"'•<=«' wide, running 
 
 ■nto 20 feet of water ";_ ^^ ,, ^ 
 
 £07,500 
 
 Improving Aahbridge'a Bay. 
 1st. Constructing channel in eastern end of Ash- 
 
 hridgo's Bay, with piers, &c i--,onnn n o 
 
 2d. Con..ructingcanal, with gates, &c.,60feet;id;''" " " 
 
 10 feet of water, where shown on the Map 10,000 
 
 jEGO.OOO 
 
 Toronto, May ;jd, 185-1. 
 
 KIVAS TULLY, 
 
 Cirtl Engineer. 
 
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 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.25 
 
 £ bi 12.0 
 
 M. 11.6 
 
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 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
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 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
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 RI-n'OltTS ()\ TORONTO IIAKliOI'll. 
 
 R E V H T 
 
 <i\ Tin; piu:si:iiv.\Ti()N and imimiovkmkxt of 
 
 TORONTO HARBOUR, 
 
 nv iimii iiiciiAUiis IN, KS'iriiu:, iiAuiMrii masiki!. toikinto. 
 
 [.4 Siiiipletiiciitarn I'lrwiiaii nf Semiti/-l-'in' I'mimln mis iiininli.l 
 to 'III- iiiilhor of /his /{•■poii.—Sfi' Kxlviuf thmi llu- Mnmles nl'llip 
 Ilarlimir ('oiiiiiiissinwn mi jiui/i- ;i8. | 
 
 To THE tVlMMISSlONKIlS HI TllIlclMll Haiiikii II :_ 
 
 (iENTi.KMK.v, — Mill witli iiiiv prctoiitioii ti) cnKinoprin^, not 
 with the presumption of coiiipetiiit;; with sciontiiif men, in plans, 
 nnil ostimate:^ of jiliins, for thi> ini|irovpnicnt ul" tlio irarl.om-; 
 but, if I liavc unlorstooil the luivortisonipiit ri;;ht, it ailniits tlio 
 opinions of ob.xervors and of practical men, as well nautical as 
 scientific, to compete in a sort of essay on the sulijects enibraceil 
 t'lerein, which may lead to some beneficial decision, or induce 
 more scientific aid. 
 
 If projects arc in a;;itation, which, if carried into effect. I think 
 would be destructive to the Ilarliour, nautieally of little value, 
 _ and commtrcially onerous, I, as a nautical man, a practical man, 
 !in ' an attentive observer of the Harbour of lonj; standiu'r, am 
 entitled to intrude an opinion, and compete in the race of compe- 
 titors, the labours of whom tend to the pubUs benefit. 
 
 In my Report to the Commissioners of Toronto Harbour last 
 year, I stated as my opinion that the breach then open was inju- 
 rious to the Harbour, and urged the necessity of closing it, and so 
 simple and trifling was the injury then, that the beach that was 
 made on the 1.3th and Uth January last, closed by the operation of 
 Nature on the 17th February following, and had the Harbour be- 
 longed to myself (wi»h the opinion I held of its injurious tendency), 
 I should then have raised ihe beach with the material around mo 
 to a height above the reach of the wave. If the aspect of the 
 breach now is in any way formidable, the delay in closing it must 
 be attributed to the public divided opinion, as to its beneficial 
 or prejudicial effect upon the Harbour. But the mass of material 
 that has been removed from the beach, essentially altering its 
 f aturo, and the drift that has been brought into the Harbour, to 
 gay nothing of the undetermined effect it has had upon the Bar 
 must convince the most sceptical of its injurious effect ; and an 
 examination of the shallow shelving coast is sufficient to preclude 
 the iaea of a natural channel ever forming there, if such an idea 
 was ever entertained. 
 
 Further neglect may bring this Harbour into the perilous and 
 costly condition of Erie Harbour at this time, to which it has a 
 close resemblance, where, from having allowed it to become a 
 presqu'islo by a breach at the West, it is continually inundated 
 with sand, and threatened with destruction. 
 
 The means of closing the breach when no more formidable than 
 when I ob8erve<l it last fall appear to me very simple. It can hardl v 
 have escaped the notice of the observer that whenever the height 
 of the Peninsula was above the reach of the wave, the wave was 
 rolled back from whence it came harmless to the beach ; and that 
 it was only where the wave surmounted the apex of it that it be- 
 came injurious in its descent on the opposite eide. 
 
 To repair the breach in its then form with a current through 
 It. it required first to stop the current, which might be done with 
 
 us many rough plank of 2 iuclies, made into cases (i feet long by 
 2 feet I) inches X '? feet !> inches, filled with the material of the 
 beach, as would stretch across the narrow neck of the breach in 
 double row. ten or twelve fecc apart, and filled in between, this 
 vvould effectually stop the current, (the narrow jiart being only 
 sixty feet wide and far removed from the beat of the wave), the 
 current once stopped the process of raising the beach is the mere 
 affair of carts ami wheelbarrows, with labour and a plentiful sup- 
 ply of the material of the Peninsula. Ttie object of these casoons 
 being only to stop the current, which d(me all would be buried up. 
 With moderat(! winds at S.W. and N.K., the lip of the wave would 
 repair th<! beach in a fair line to a certain height almost as soon ' 
 as the most aciive labour would raise the other part to the required 
 height. .Alore scientific and a more expensive process might be 
 adopted, but none more efficient. 
 
 On examining the beach I ubsurvc.l the wave had never reached 
 a height above five feet, where that height was twenty feet from 
 the line of calm water, and treating th. Lake for alfimmediate 
 practical purpose as at a constant level, I had only to consider 
 the casuality of an easterly storm ; then looking round me for 
 even the lowest part of the Peninsula that withstood that storm, I 
 place<l in imagination in the interval of the storm a section of it 
 in the breach, and I felt myself secure, convinced that nothing 
 could be so effectual in repairing the breach as the material of 
 which it was composed. 
 
 The Lake was, when I observed it last fall for the purpose of 
 estimating the height of beach required to resist the sudden en- 
 croachment of the Lake, two feet lower than the highest level, and 
 two feet higher than the lowest; I therefore concluded that a 
 beach six or seven feet above the highest water at 20 feet from 
 the line of calm water, and a hundred feet wide in nil, would be 
 amjdy sufficient to secure the Harbour against further inroad from 
 the Lake. I do not think that for many years the beach in that 
 part has been five feet high. Be it remarked that the water being 
 shoal without, the wave in any storm is greatly reduced in height 
 and force in passing over the shoal water before it reaches the 
 beach. 
 
 If cribs are made use of to stop the breach, the retrocession of 
 the Peninsula (as I shall show) will in thecoursoof time lay them 
 bare, and even if they extended all the way to the head of Ash 
 bridge's Bay, yet in time the whole line would be taken in . averse. 
 Keeping the beach at all times and in all parts above the reach of 
 the solid water of the wave, the retrocession will proceed safely, 
 uniformly, and almost imperceptibly, biit proceed it will, as it has 
 done, and still does ; breaches accelerate this, as witness the 
 present effect, and examine the marks all the way from the 
 fishing houses below the cross beach to some hundred yards West of 
 Privat's Hotel. 
 
 But until the important question of a canal at the East end of 
 the Bay is settled, I fear even the preservaLion of the Harbour will 
 be a secondary consideration, I shall therefore publicly treat this 
 question fully in all its bear. ;s upon public interests, that is 
 physically, nautieally, and commercially. 
 
 PuvsicALLv.— The superstructure of the Peninsula, the southern 
 boundary of the Port is composed of drift— that is, cleon washed 
 sand and stones; the base of it I believe of all the material of the 
 cliff;* of Scarboro', the substratum most probably of indurated 
 clay. The b.ir or western boundary of sand and clav. 
 
 I 
 
rasps 11 foi't lonj; (ly 
 tl'C material of the 
 L'k (if the brench in 
 !il in between, this 
 w part being only 
 .t of tlio wiivo), tlio 
 ! beach is the mere 
 \ii(l a plentiful sup- 
 icct of tliese casoons 
 vonkl bo buried up. 
 1 of thowiive would 
 ight almost as soon ' 
 part to the required 
 i process might l)e 
 
 ! had never reached 
 .3 twenty feet from 
 ! for all immediate 
 ad only to consider 
 ;ing round me for 
 stood that storm, I 
 orm a section of it 
 uced that nothing 
 as the material of 
 
 for the purpose of 
 dst the sudden en- 
 i highest level, and 
 
 concluded that a 
 iter at 20 feet from 
 lo in nil, would bo 
 urther inroad from 
 i the beach in that 
 hat the water being 
 
 reduced in height 
 "ore it reaches the 
 
 the retroceseion of 
 50 of time lay them 
 ' the head of Ash 
 c taken in . averse, 
 above the reach of 
 ill proceed safely, 
 ed it will, as it has 
 s, as witness the 
 he way from the 
 [Ired yards West of 
 
 »t the East end of 
 f the Harbour will 
 publicly treat this 
 3 interests, that is 
 
 isula, the southern 
 t is, clean washed 
 he material of the 
 ibly of indurated 
 1 elttV. 
 
 nKI'()|{T,S ox TORONTO HAUBOLI! 
 
 sufficient for n,v „rcsen m n" '"■""'"" ''"•■"'"'""• " '-^ 
 
 century's ob,o „, !n . ' ' " '"'"""•' "'"" " 'I'""'"''- "'' " 
 
 £S£.tt:;;rzi;:::;t:;:=-;:';;«;,;;;- 
 
 "■■'■ " ",fi,:;;;r — "■ ;;-:::;:-■ ; "■ 
 
 =,=:;;;:;;:,-•■ -..---t'irte 
 
 35 
 
 , _ ', ""'•"■'""*'■ I'l^i- and b.iundaric« wore ..(mi- 
 
 l"-od of .and, a,s t„ pn-Judi.,. ,hc existing .hannol. 
 
 in.^\'rir'''~','''''' ''"''''■ ''■"'"^'"■"^'^"'."■ouM be useless tosail- 
 
 At right iin:'Ie< to this iii'ivin,.- i..>, i •.. • 
 
 r™ :,r"S!;:;r;;.;;:;"irT''' "v- "";'■ "■• - >■ ■■' ■<«" 
 
 i«mk. i„.,,,:,n,. :r:i; :rr :;,': it'"""'" 
 
 ... ''^■t:"";,'::;; 1 ' ;■";'■"'• " •"> <■-•■ - ""■'■ 
 
 HK cast. It would be usoliil i„ nioderate woalher I„ l.i.l, 
 --'s, Cher no,.„,.east or soutb-wes,. i, .,„,,, ..oM: ..cd ' 
 
 ;l* :;,i'::«;;v;,:!;;j;;:;;l:-::;:-:-- 
 3;.::;;:i^.;:r;;:,r:;::;;;;;;t,---3 
 
 l..»e.st calculation, nu.st bo betwixt .C.iOOO and jC4000? 
 
 ,1^^:?-^^^=—^^^^ 
 
 heavier hero tinn at r, . ",""' "" '" '"« >'■'■■■ ^™, which is 
 
 poated con™.;!:;:' i'^c: sr ^^^' t'"^"-' '*^ - 
 =S.s:::t;:i::dE--^ 
 
 .n.sivo.com,.:5:irs:S;:^;::--^ 
 with a Lng .o^w^s: t.::™<:;:r"n"r "^^'"^•■^' 
 
 the sands of the Bar into it .J \, ? ' "' '" *"■'"« ''""'" 
 
 thePeninsuIadowrupn" 1 Canal TtV*'"""''""''^^^ ■ . 
 
 whilst the evil conscucnce of^om e^f T' """ "' *'"'= "">' '"'' "•'"'^"'"'■^' "'" 
 
 be calculated. I thi k 1 ZlZ:^^:^^L ^'^l^' "^ '"^ '^^'"'^ "" "^ '-' 
 
 be calculated. I thinkll ave eV TT '"''^' «"'" ™"''' "«' 
 
 from «outh-wcst a : „ :^ "bl : """ r""" "'^"" '"« ^"'- 
 time. " "' ''""' «'">''"e>« unnavigable for a 
 
 west gale, illustr led unoi 'r'-'f'f '"'' '""^ ''"""« "^ -»"'- 
 
 they («,(//,/, take the Canal. Itohn'tlno. ,i, . v , r. 
 
 not one-fourth of the whole f,„- .n'rance or elit if \T , 
 
 w ro free alike, ,„„W take the t.nal '"""''' 
 
 t. J!:;:':::i,:;';;?::,::.S"^l'''^ -'' .'"• -"p--ting.br 
 a.o.jchann^,th:trr:i':;;;:n;rr^i^f:rr 
 
 "'^,:'^::^"'!°'T ^"^""- """ "ron .11 vessels or earg":lZg 
 
 What must be the amount of Harbour dues eollcctcd to nay ih 
 ta-est on he capital invested in this Canal, reduce the "rin dpll 
 and mamtan, two channels to the Harbour instead of one? 
 
 W.ll It not be a great commercial disadvantage to a town like 
 loronto surrounded by sn.all Harbours, eonneeted by^ r d 
 and ,n close proximity to the rival Port of Hamdton, an, h o t' 
 
 en ovinc Inrbt rrnrK„.,- ,1 1 ■ ' IllUlLriO 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
86 
 
 IlEI'ORTS OX TORONTO HARBOUR. 
 
 cxchnngo their 
 With them it is 
 
 What wouhl the citijonn of Hamilton give to 
 costly Canal for the almost free Port of Toronto ? 
 Canal or no Port. 
 
 It may justly ho iiskoil, whonoo conio.t tho desire to risk the sta- 
 bility of a gouil n:itural ll.irhoiir, hy mikin;; another costly chan- 
 nel, which, at the best, can only benefit a partial navigation ? 
 
 To the east en<I of tlie Town it can bring bnt evil, if it injure the 
 west of thcirarbour. 
 
 Is the entrance to the woit of any beuclit to the west end of the 
 '.rown ? 
 
 Are not almost all the coinnicrcial wharvt's east of Yonge Street ? 
 And is not Yonge Street the pivot around which all commerco 
 centres ? 
 
 Will any merchant a>.k, or care whether his goods come in at 
 tho east or at the west end of the Harbour, provided the Harbour 
 charges be light? Will he consent to pay cnornn.us Harbour 
 dues merely for the acconiniodation of a partial navigation? In 
 no other light can foniwinr look upon this project of a Canal. 
 I/istly, as Provincial properly, can there be a' reasonable hope 
 that any Legislature or Government will as^ent to the mak- 
 ing of a second opening into one of the finest Harbours in tho 
 Province, at an acknowledged risk and heavy cost, unless an urgent 
 necessity can bo shown for such risk and siich cost? 
 
 Until this vexed ([uestion is set nt rest, the citizens of Toronto 
 generally will not turn their attention with due anxiety to the 
 preservation of the valuable Harbour they have the happiness to 
 enjoy. 
 
 I have endeavoured to show, in the light I see it myself, that, 
 physically, a Canal to the east would bo destructive to the Port ; 
 that its nautical advantages arc largely delusive; that it would 
 act prejudicially on the commerce of the Town ; and, lastly, that 
 the assent of Uovernment to such a project is all but hopeless. I 
 will now turn my attention to a subject more worthy of the care 
 and economy of a great commercial town like Toronto— the im- 
 provement of the Harbour, active steps of preservation of the main 
 
 and still grows from the root whence it sprung, tho point where 
 the land falls away nt the head of Ashbridge's Bay, striking out 
 in a fair field of growth into deep water, the present formation, 
 the result of ages of destruction of the highlauds of Scarborough, 
 even from the undefined time where tho Lake changed its level 
 from a higher to a lower, of which the whole boundaries of it bear 
 iucontestible evidence. 
 
 The action of tho north-east storm has had the same effect upon 
 the t/ini advanced promontory of Scarborcmgh, as tho north-east 
 storm iias upon it at tho present day. Acres and acres hnvebeen 
 removed from the flats below SearlKjrough Heights within my re- 
 collection. 
 
 The result of ages of this work of destruction has been the for- 
 mation of the present peninsula and shoal, the latter of which is 
 upwards of a mile in width and si.x miles in length, the crest of it 
 being the present Peninsula. If my theory be correct, the super- 
 structure will be the gravel and stone of Scarborough 6atfl, under- 
 neath of necessity rhii/, and below that most probably indurated 
 eiay. The crest has started in continuation of the land, with its 
 broadest part above water, where now it is narrowest, for as the 
 Peninsula extended west, and the Promontory of Scarborough re- 
 ceded from erosion, so did the neck of tho Peninsula at the east, 
 as it could not stand out prominent from the protecting land. 
 Hence the more rajiid retrocession of tho Peninsula east, and the 
 tendency to a Presqu-isle formation. 
 
 The proof of this rctroi^ession of the Peninsula or crest of the 
 shoal, is traced in tho flat shelving shore, leaving little water as 
 tho crest recedes from the south, and meeting comparative deep 
 water to the north, the Peninsula not being acted upon by the sea 
 on that side. The modern marks of retrocession, within my own 
 ol)servation during tho last twenty -five years, are the long line 
 of aged trees undermined and thrown down by tho sea all the way 
 from the head of Ashbridge's Bay to Privat's Hotel. 
 
 On examining the beach on the inside at the head of Ash- 
 bridge's Bay. although the Lake has frequently make breaches 
 
 features of it, as traced out by the hand of nature, rejiaiiing that there, and swept over the whole part, from where the trees cease 
 which is decaying, and improving without dangerous innovation cast; increasing tho beach inside, as it was swep* the out- 
 
 such parts as are susceptible of improvement, is the only safe course 
 that the guardian power of the Port can pursue. Like tho human 
 system, in all ordinary derangement, ordinary care may suffice, 
 but where the danger is imminent, wo call in the most skilful aid ; 
 so would I, in tho important case of the derangement of any vital 
 feature in tho Harbour, consult the most eminent engineers, nay, 
 a board of engineers, for no expense should be spared to secure 
 the stability of a Port, up. which the value of so much property 
 depends. 
 
 I, in the matter of the improvement of the Harbour, only give 
 opinions founded upon long observations, and which observations 
 may be useful to engineers ; for it is only by observations on the 
 present operations of nature, that wo infer of the past, or antici- 
 pate for the future ; therefore, in furtherance of my opinions and 
 observations, although I did not mean to touch upon the theory of 
 the formation of the Peninsula, yet as the means for its preserva- 
 tion call for some opinion of its origin to account for its present 
 appe-trance, its constant state of transition however gradual, and 
 to adopt measures to retard its decay, I here submit them. 
 
 The Peninsula is still fed by drift and detritus from the east, 
 
 side ; yet there is no such thing as that which we t o brcoch 
 
 in Toronto Bay ; that is, two long piers of sand i . , inwards, 
 showing the range of current in ; in Ashbridge's Bay there is no 
 ready vent in an opposite direction for the hod'ea of water thrown 
 in by the sea, consequently it returns in under-current again 
 through the beach ; hence no leading marks of a current, but aug- 
 mentation of the beach within. 
 
 In Toronto Bay, the wide mouth of it affords rapid exit for the 
 water as fast as thrown in, and hen je the long banks of sand above 
 water as leaders, and the mass ejected at their head into deep 
 water. 
 
 It is easy to account for the spreading of the Peninsula tree-like 
 to tho west. The material being finer as removed from the source 
 of supply, spreads over the lake, as seen liy the turbid waters in 
 all easterly gales ; these gales are invariably met by a counter gale 
 from the south-west, driving back tho charged water upon the west 
 end of the Peninsula and the mouth of the Bay, the reaction of 
 the water from tlie Bay causes tho deposit which forms the bar at 
 the entrance. It is useless to speak of the phenomena of ridges 
 caused by the action of the waves. 
 
 li 
 
"^W — 
 
 in);, tho point where 
 i?'8 Bay, striking out 
 prcBcnt fornifttioii, 
 .uds (if Scarborougli, 
 ke changed ita level 
 boundaries of it bear 
 
 the same effect upon 
 
 li, as tho north-east 
 
 and acres liavebeen 
 
 eights within my re- 
 
 'jn has been the for- 
 lie latter of which is 
 ength, the crest of it 
 correct, the super- 
 borougli flats, under- 
 probably indurated 
 if tho land, with its 
 arrowcst, for as the 
 y of Scarborough re- 
 eninsula at the east, 
 he protecting land, 
 nisula east, and the 
 
 sula or crest of the 
 iving little water as 
 ; comparative deep 
 ted upon by the sea 
 ion, within my own 
 I, arc the long line 
 tho sea all the way 
 Hotel. 
 
 the head of Ash- 
 ntly make breaches 
 bere the trees cease 
 wep* the out- 
 
 we 6 breach 
 
 nd 1 . , inwards, 
 e's Bay there is no 
 ■ps of water thrown 
 nder-current again 
 ■ a current, but aug- 
 
 8 rapid exit for the 
 janks of sand above 
 leir head into deep 
 
 Peninsula tree-like 
 lOd from the source 
 le turbid waters in 
 ot by a counter gale 
 vater upon the west 
 ly, the reaction of 
 ;h forms the bar at 
 9Domeua of ridgei 
 
 RKPORTS ON TORONTfJ lIARBOiril. 
 
 of a mile w,do m the centre from the west leacon, east, ,u>d car- 
 ries from three to six feet of water on the top, in ridge .arv' 
 
 and t .8 encroach.ng upon the deep water of the Bay, for tho sand 
 shoots down frun, ten feet, where a buoy i. laid on , lo ,no "« 
 ft teen and sixteen feet water ahuost immediately. Zllt 
 proof need be of tho encroachments of the sand, and the reltan 
 ummr an7"°n'T '^''''"«-'-- '"- b-n reduced tho las 
 would bepennancnll!, ~^o, to the ruin of the Ilarhour by a canal. 
 that wirr"'''"" "''""' P""'"'"'"!""" gradual and uniform, 
 ftr aTot ser r^'r"" "f''^'-'""'"-'" f- "'« ""hour need be fel 
 tor a long ones of years, unless neglect allow casual brcu-hes to 
 l~t '"^ extra„r.linary storm may occasion ; then the evil 
 
 Bav a m ''\ "'" ""'-"-■' "*■ "'« P^''^""' breach into the 
 
 way, a more rapid erosion and retrocession takes place. 
 
 au'Iilori"i[r'"'lf "'\"^""' ^""■'"^"''' '' ^''«'"^' '"'^ ^i'h tho city 
 authorities; then the city authorities hold the responsibility and 
 
 z tit: 'f? ■?'■ '"" "■'''"''■ ^''"^ "^y "p---^ I '^i '2d - 
 
 the delL r 7^ "l^ '■""^•'^^ •■""•" ""•' "'y -^"^"-fi^'da open to 
 the depredations of cattle, as expose this Bay for one sexson to tho 
 consequences of the inroads of the Lake. 
 
 heivM ""T'-'r? "^ **" P""'"""''^. maintaining it to a certain 
 height and width, the soiling, planting and seeding it, to secue 
 the surface against the action of the high south wind wHl beTm 
 provements compared with the state o"f neglect to wlTch it ,1 
 been eonsigneus nee the hour that Toronto became a own Th 
 
 tru light t^iat tr :." '"^P;"'"'"''' "-'^ '"'«" appreciated in its 
 as an fsfa^d of r, T "" ^''"■' " ^"^ '"^"^ l**"" ^ealt with 
 
 the Po^ dtli"""' "^" ^^ " '^-"«' "P- -'•-•' '"e safety of 
 
 b/dykrrd'thr'r "",' "'" '^^ ^•'^"'•^ "^ --^ ■^•^--^t- 
 
 w^th th.^' "*""'""' ^n'^^'od from the Peninsula, but 
 
 v^.th he experience of Erie Ilarhour before me, where they Lave 
 e osed the entrance to a narrow channel by piers, it if mo e 
 clear y demonstrated to me that the large bodj of waedrrn 
 over the bar by the S.W. wind is more valuable'in its r act!" or 
 und rcurrent m resisting the encroachment of the bar un the 
 Harbour and coursing round through tho channel than f he 
 same body of water were shut out and the mainten n" 
 current at the channel left to tho mere varying levels b->twiTt Z 
 
 tions Irom the Don. But be .t understood that it is of necessi/u 
 that there be no breach or outlet of water to leeward. ^ 
 
 As tx) the shutting out the Don from the Bay of Toronto that 
 can no longer be thought of, as it would largely effect private 
 in erests, therefore it must be treated as an Id/unct and made 
 valuable to the Harbour. Not only should the entrance to Tbe 
 cleaned out, but the whole of the bed of rushes entire y rl yed 
 
 in and out of the Don, the wave to beat upon the shore, and in a 
 short ime a clean beach would form all round the head of "ho 
 Bay. leaving only the mouths of the Don to be bridged over. 
 
 ..nX^^. '" '"•®='«°"J' l-'fg^ a^d contains surface enough to 
 contribute to a great reaction during the prevailing S.W. winds in 
 favor of the channel. It is ascertained that the water Jdig 
 
 87 
 
 to the wind fluctuates frrm one to f.,ur inches during 24 hours by 
 
 lall of water onuses 144 cubic inches fi,r every foot of surface to 
 
 l.J the outlet oi the Bay, ,n other words one-thir.l of this surface 
 wa er ,n cubic yards to flow by the mouth of the Bay, ^ , y 
 
 c Jlation IS kept up by the wator being blown over the bar and 
 
 «atcr on it, it forces a passage by the channel. 
 
 of moveable sand in its position, if, instead of backwater there is 
 a current over it, and through the Harbour from west to casT? 
 
 It would certainly be an advantage to the Ifarbour if the system 
 of .onsidenng ,t an arm of ,he Lake were extended to the hoadr 
 .Mibridge-sBay, by makinga wide opening of TOO or 800 fe 
 pas the mouths of the Don, through the cross beach, the rushes 
 dre ged away, and the wiods an.l the waves allowed to 'Lltj 
 o^er the surface ; this large circulation would benefit the Ilarbou^ 
 and conduce to tho health of the town, and the money that would 
 be unprofitably to commerce and injuriously to t e Ha bo 
 wasted upon an experiment, might have been applied with a bette; 
 chance of profit. The whole of Ashbridge's Bay mi^l i„t e 
 course nftime, be converted =nto clear water and Jrofitil; l."„d 
 
 It IS certain that the .Marsh is both too valuable and too mis. 
 ehievous to be left much longer in the stato it is in contiguiTy to a 
 large populous and wealthy town like Toronto ^ 
 
 In looking to the channel I see no inconvenience likely to attond 
 
 Sc It s :?T • "" "' "'■ "" """"^ "' preservation s^uch as the 
 Uictates of science may poiat out. 
 
 "o'^fletf '"" point "f the Bar progresses West at the rate of 19 or 
 -0 feet annually-. It has taken 22 years to advance about 400 feet 
 
 ay It will take 50 years to progress Westerly 1000 feet, no fur 1'; 
 
 han Mr. Shanley has laid out in extent from the Que n's W l/f 
 AVest, m his Report for an entrance to the town for tho T.JT 
 and Guelph Kail Road. We will presume as a mat e. f 
 also that the Harbour pier is carried West parallel with the ad 
 vanco of the point of the shoal 1000 feet in 50 years. 
 
 The buoys and beacons with flags on them show the shape and 
 advance ot the Bar, and it may be observed how it knuckfcs mit 
 abreast of the old head of the wharf, showing its effec „ Z 
 shoal,^the channel being 150 feet wider there'than at the poiil 
 
 The channel has never yet been cleaned out since Toronto was 
 
 of 14 feet in its best water when the Lake was at the lowest Lt 
 
 It would require no more looking to for at least ton years, prob. >■ y 
 
 wenty, as the longer the head of the pier, the mor"e concentratod 
 
 the action of the flux and rellux. "«.™«-u 
 
 1 
 
 I cannot close this essay without claiming for myself larger and 
 
 closer observations and more devotion of time to the interests of 
 
 he Harbour than has fallen to the share of many individuals for 
 
 the last twenty-five years, and I trust my ago. my experience, aud 
 
,-y^^ 
 
 38 
 
 UKl'ORTS ON TORONTO H ARMOUR. 
 
 my Ions observations warrnnt me in nialcin;; an urgont npp«al to 
 nil the inliiiliitnnts of Toronto tonpprocinto the greiit vnliio ot'llieir 
 Il!irl)OMr a.i ■ (.v. To oppose tlio Htuhhorn huhvnrlis of conimon 
 sense to <lclu8.,oiind cof.tly projo.^ts of innovation which oppose 
 the opcralioiis of nature. 
 
 There are but two natural Harbours on the Xorth sliore of Lake 
 Ontario. These are Toronto and Kingston, Hamilton is only a port 
 by means of its costly eanal. Cobourg is entirely an artificial one, 
 and one of continuous cost; Port Hope does and will owe all its 
 haven properties to art and cost. Port Dalhousie .„ the other 
 side has claims to that designation at great cost as the terminus 
 of the Welland canal. 
 
 But Toronto, the very best Harbouron Lake Ontario, comprising 
 an all but land locked basin, with a superlicies of water of nearly 
 six square miles in extent, possessing what no other port possesses, 
 besides its safe basin within, ((Hcj-c(.//f«^rw;(Av/rt(,? wilhoiit, nchanncl 
 of easy and safe access, and moderate harbour dues: yet with all 
 these advantages there is a suicidal call for speculative an<l dan- 
 gerous innovation. It will be instructive to hear arguments in 
 favour of this canal as beneficial to the Harbour in a. pliijsiail mvX 
 commercial seme, I speak not of the practicability of construction, 
 for the science of engineering is eipial to any task ; but the adver- 
 tisement that calls forth this essay is an invitation to constructing 
 engineers to meet if possible the expressed and known wishes of a 
 large portion of the inhabitants of this town, and the temptations 
 to the undertaking of a work of such importance are very great. 
 But the advertisement also calls for and challenges other opinions. 
 I, as an official of the Port, as an advocate for the safety and 
 preservation of the Harbour, with a feeling of great interest for 
 its commerce, with a knowledge that the value of ai,i, property in 
 the town is based upon the stability of the Harbour as it is, oppose 
 my opinion, grounded upon my long observations and much re- 
 flection, against those who advoca'e what in my opinion is a dan- 
 gerous and speculative experiment. 
 
 It cannot be denied but that the Harbour good as it is, and may 
 be .'or years and years to come is one of gradual transition and 
 decay. To preserve it, to improve it, to protract its decay, c.iU in 
 aid if needful the most eminent science, but touch not with a rash 
 and speculative hand its vital part. 
 As a last appeal, aud probably the last I shall ever make, I 
 
 cannot impress too strongly upon those who hold property in the 
 town to guard against all attempts at making a second opening 
 into the Harbour. The integrity of the Peninsula is essential to 
 its safety, upon it depends the stability of the Bar. and the flux 
 and reflux to which the channel is due. As long as the Uurhour 
 is as safe and as commodious for all the purposes of navigation and 
 commerce as it now is to adopt the common sense and homely adage of 
 "letting well alone." 
 
 When this paper was written ao far the breach at the narrows 
 was open. It is now closed up, this is as it should be, and it be- 
 hoves the guardian authorities now to raise the beach to a standard 
 height above the reach of the wave sufficient to guard against 
 future evil. 
 
 I have no interests to serve but those I ought to serve, the safety 
 of the Harbour, and the interests of navigation and commerce. 
 Now, that the Peninsula is intact from end to end, keep it so. If 
 any engineer can be found to assert that a body of water can come 
 in at one end of the Harbour, and go out at the other without cur- 
 rent, or that a current can pass over sand without affecting it, it 
 will be an anomaly worthy of explanation. For certain purposes 
 it is convenient to treat the present channel, much as the Czar of 
 Russia treats the Turkish Empire, that it is sick and ought to die 
 for the beneUt of others. But I here assert, and I am willing to 
 subject that assertion to the test of the most experienced engineer 
 or to be examined upon it by a board of engineers, that us long as 
 the Peninsula is maintained intact, and as long as there is surface 
 water in the Bay that the last drain of it will pass by the channel. 
 Neglect in extending the pier coequal with the march of the shoal 
 may allow the water to flow over less navigable bottom, but as 
 long as this is attended to, and the pier carried West, so will the 
 channel bo good, even unto the Humber Bay, which will not be 
 for some generations yet to come. As long as the same phenomena 
 of winds and currents exist as now, the guardian powers of the 
 Harbour must be guided by their past and present effects to calcu- 
 late on the means of he future preservation. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 Your most obedient servent, 
 
 T » ,or< HVGll laCHARDSON. 
 
 loronto, 1854. 
 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES_OFTHE HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS. 
 
 Moved by Mr. Tiiompso.n, seconded by Mn. Harris — 
 
 captain Kichardson's Report should not be considered as in conipetition'^lthTe oZ ^r Z't htv'"" ""^ " "'''''"'• ''"' 
 
 e„s:.fz;:sr^c;:r'^;.:B:s^:;i:Er:rsiri? 
 
 Harbour Commissioners, as an acknowledgemrottVe™ 
 
 t, uiBui 01 luB very great merit and the amount of information contained in his Report.— Carrtjrf. 
 
 (^'e°°<^)- J. 0. CHEWETT. 
 
 i 
 
ilil property in the 
 ; n mvond opening 
 aula \n csxentinl to 
 ! Bar, nnd the flux 
 )ng M the Harbour 
 t of navigation and 
 id homely adage of 
 
 ich at the narrows 
 uld be, and it be- 
 leach to a standard 
 to guard against 
 
 to gorve, the safety 
 )n and commerce, 
 lid, keep it so. If 
 of water can come 
 other without cur- 
 >ut affecting it, it 
 • certain purposes 
 ich as the Czar of 
 and ought to die 
 1 I am willing to 
 eriencod engineer 
 •8, that 03 long as 
 la then is surface 
 s by the channel. 
 larch of the shoal 
 e bottom, but as 
 West, so will the 
 hich will not be 
 same phenomena 
 in powers of the 
 U effects to calcu- 
 
 it, 
 [CIIARDSON. 
 
 with propriety, 
 if opinion, that 
 
 ■oulii ha it: been 
 the funds of the 
 port.— Carried. 
 
 CHEWETT. 
 
 J