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Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthoda. rata lelure. 3 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 REPORT ON THE MOST CLIGIBLn ROUTE FOR A CANAL BETWEEN LAKE SIMOOE AND THE RICE LAKi^, And on the Praclicahilitij am/ Kxpenne of conneciivj these waters— hj order of His Excellciry Sir John Colborue, K. C. B., &c. Bv ii. N. BAIRD, Civil Enoinker, M. I. C. E. L. REPORT. To His E.crfll,nri/ Sill Jn!I\ Coi.BOllNE, K. C. B., Linilrwnit Governor of thi' Province, of Uppir (\ini the most eligible route for a Canal betircin L (/:e Simcoe and Rice Lalci, and on tlie praclicabiliti/ and i-rob ibk expense of conncctinej tliese Lukes. By N. II. BAIRD, Civil Engineer, k M. I. C. E. L. ' May it Please Yoi:r Excellency, That in accnrdiuico with your Esciillcncy's oomiiianJs, convoyed to luo in Licutomnt Colonel Row.in's coniiiiuiiications ol'tlic 2ntli >I,iy and Kith Juno last, and in thu spirit of the particular instructions convoyed in tho lattor, in conlorinity with the address of tlio House of Assembly of date llith April last, viz : — '■ To ex.iniine the most eliu'ible route for a Canal between Lake Simcoo and the Uije Lake, by a aeries of " runninir Kvols, and to report to your [ixcelleney, for the inforniation of the House at its cext &'ession, rc- "speeting the practicability and expense ol' connecting' these Lakes." T have, in consci,uence, the in)nor to state for your Excellency's information, that upon the 18tii day of June last, havm.u' completed my preliminary arran-mnents, in providing,' proper assistance and canoes, in which I found more diffii'ulty llian I anticipated, and having,' onyaocd the services of Mr. V. P. llubidge, Deputy Provuioi;il .Surveyor, t(,v the surveyiiii; depiirtiMrnt, [ proceeded to the inspection and examination of the country between Uice I^ake and Lake Simcoe, conceiving it more in order to follow up the route from the Bay ot QtmiliN as detailed in my former report to your Excellency on the i)roposed improvements on the lliver Trent, in 18;i;i, than to rcvc^rse, and commence from Lake .Simcoe -the result of which inspection, levels, survey, \c I shall endeavour, with as much perspicuity and brevity as the nature of the important subject will admit, to hiy belore your Excellency, assuming, although net expressed in my instruetion.s, or in the Address trom the Hou-e, the same scale of navigation as that reported on for the improvement of the Trent, viz.. for locks i;Ux:i;Jx.> feet water as the data upon which to proceed ; accordingly comn.encing from Rice Lake, into which the navigation must be understood as made avail ible by the re(,uisitc operations foriaerlv reported and estimated, and for perspicuity and reference sake shall divide the whole route iuto Uve sectiou.s, 'commenc- ing from the Rice I,akc, thus : — Section 1st. From Rice Lake to Peterborough 21,^o " 2nd. '• Peterborough to outlet of Clear Lake 14!JJ " 3rd. " Outlet of Clear Lake to Bobcaygeon lock and rapids 31^^ " 4th. " Bobcaygeon to Balsam Lake Portage 2G^J " 6tb. " Balsam Lake to Lake Siuicoo IG^J Making in all 110 miles. With rclennec U> scetinii No. 1, tlic first olistiido prosciiiiiif; itscH" is tlie bar at tlic nutlet of tlio Otnn- nboc ItiviT. I'M r wliifli, in mmmo .-ciif-diis, at lnwot .-uiniiM'r watrr. tlicii' is riDl iimro than ciLtlitri'M iiiclios ; from tliis jioint (il'dilVuiillv to williin liiiHa iiiilc |ii'ani I'nr nieilerale sized stciiiiiers. with the exee|iliiiii nl' three irillinL; olislruc- (inns, as shiiwn in the aeeinnii'iiiyiML; ]ilan .iml seelinii. \i/..: jianirer Field, Kuhinxm^ |>l,ind, anil V.mkee Itnnnot Sli nals, (iver whieh. at liiwest suuiiijei- water, IS ineln s will he the ntninst, and would nut t vei 'lave reaehod tliat hilt I'lir the e>:eiliiiMs made last summer, or sunmnr heiiire. in remn\iM^- thi' round Imulders Irnm tlir> channel, and j.laeiu'j tlnni in hs than 147 — 1> I'eet odds, on which portion of .m etioii 2iid are situated, above I'ltiM'boro' brid':»^ Halls' niill.t, built lor the ii-e of the iiettleuieiit by (ioveruiiieiit Some years aj;o, taking the water from the river above the mill by a very lonir ii(|iiediiet, and by the eoiistnietion of a dam iiero-s the river, a.s simwii upon the aeeomp niyiii;,' lUtailed plans, liavini: a head and fail id' 1 li — 7 K-'. (I feet. This dam has the eli'iet of selidiiii,;' the water as far baek as point A on the plan— from theiiee to tlio tail water id' Sliveiisoii's saw mill, the' river ]U-eserves its uemral eharaeier of rapiiNand swift water, and ',;eiieially deep, say from I! to -l feet ; abi've thi.- point is siliiited \lr. Sli'Veii- son's mill dam. id' rude I'oii-lrneti'in. but it is lae-unied sutlieieiil for all the purposes rec|uired, makin- a head iind fall of .' 7 feet, and tlu'iiwiiij; the water as far baek as jjoint 15 on the plan — from which to the next iirtilieial obstruelion to the rivtr, the same characteristic of rajml and <'liule prevails, until reachiiii; Ijce's mill- dam and works, at which place a dam, on somewhat more siibstaiiti il form and principli! of coii-truetioii, .dl'ords a aiminand id' l.'i — 1 2- 1(1 feet of heail and fall, and bieks the water, with the exception ol a slii;ht current, as I'ar a.s jioint C at the foot of Mr. llcid's cleaianee ; ti'"m the mill pond, it is wurlhy of remark, that the water lia.s b"eii conducted scieiitilically by the late .Nlr. Lies alonit an exp'iisive and well constructed canal to his mill, as shown on the plan, and lK'ill^ somewhat tliroui.:li roek, must lia\e co.st a considerable amount — this work will be more particularly referred to when tnatiiiL: of the improvement. From [loiiit V. on the ]ilan, or from the iiead of Lee's mill poiel, the river presents one continued series of rapids and chutes uiitil reaching; the cleml water nf Katchiivaiinoe J^aki'. The jreueral character ol'lhe banks, hi^h and rocky, and well bedded, atlurdin.i; excellent materials tor lockauc, kti., bein;,' ol a nuod cuinpaet limestone. ]'"ram the detailed ]d'in accomp inyinu'. from actual survey, a more correct idea miy be formed of the ftcneral character of the river than any attempt at de>eri]itiou could convey, while at the s.'ime time the longitu- dinal section shews the continued rise, with the general depths iif water, a.- found at the time of inspection. ]''rcuu the fo pf of llerriot's rapids i^ou which an excellont saw mill is in operation, .-iiid a urist mill iu ]iro;.'ress ol'beiiij.' erected) S feet — 10 — "i ol' rise carries into tin' li'iU pnud dead water, Ujiheld at that level, .-ay 142 ft — '.] — r» above I'eterboro' I!ay, by a short substantial dam. as shewn on the plin and section, and back- ing the water over the i'onuer rajiids into K itchiw.innoc Like, at t''c lower extremity of whicli a slio.il pre- sents itself, an obstruction to the rei|iii,-ite naviu;able i|UalilieS| but of short duration. Next in order, and the only lislruction to ;iavii:ation on the 2iid section, is the rapids at and ojijio-ite Young's house and mill, and the artificial ohstmetioii ol a dam thrown roughly ! cross the river by .Mr, Young, for the use (d' u very com]>Kte common jaiiieipled grist mill, m.ide to drive two runs of stones, with a total head and fall id' only 15 ieet, and during the particul.ir ]ieriod id inv inspeetiiai, li'id only 21 inches, ami aliords an iii^tanc^ of what jivi'ji, r/i/ .-ipplied piiwer may prodnee, with a due reganl to economy of Water. Hy the aecom|ianyiiig plan it will be seen the enterprising proprietor has s]nred no pains in the construction id an ai|ueduet, iVc, tliroii.:li a stony stratum to g;iin his end ; as to tlu' expediency or proprii'ty of his throwing a dim across the viver at the ]iartieular sjjot he has, will afterwards be eoiisiilcred in this re|iort, although it would appear to have m.iterially benelittid the navig.ition into the outlet of Clc.ir Jjake, by drowning the rajiids thereon ;uid giving sutticiency of wat'.r over them, tliu< terininatiiig the .second ',;eneral -jction of the route. The next ]iortinn (foriniiig the iJrd section) extends from Young's rapids to Bobeaygeon, a distance of 31 o miles, rising .'IS — I I'cit, ami taking in its course Cli'ar and 8toriy J^akes, reniiisula Fall.-, Deer Lay, and IJuileigh chutes, and IJuckhorn's rapid.s or IJall'd mill, with the navigation of JJuckhorn and i'igcon Lakes, with their shallows, itc. Then to resume at Young's mill rapdd, the uavigatiiai, in consequence of the dam already construi'tcd, is comi>lete, with the exceiitioii of 3 iu place id' live feet water on the outlet of Clear Lake, until reaching the Peninsula Falls, through the rather intricate navigation of Clear J.ake, among its rocky islands and sunkeu rocks, and along the sjileudid iiavigalioii of t^toney J..akc, until reaching the head thereof, iu the spacious basia yy: 8 into wliicli tlic Falls dis^jir;:! tJn'm^ilvc.- wiili liniytiToiis riipidity Iniiii tlic .-cvir!!! im;jl;i'i1 mid iron lioiiiid out- lets. To suriiKiunt till' iilp.-iiiclf iit llii,- point (ii>c li.'i — S ;i 10) S'l'iind at lir.-t, mid cvi'ii on iiiatiiir r lliction uiid ins|i('Utiiiu. In hv a work <>!' sduirwlial of a serious nature. Ironi llio |iarti('iilar <|Ualiiy of (lie iilxlructinn.-* ill the several ii|iL>iiiiiL's iiiid outlets an i ravine^ of wliiidi the mass nC adamant oli>ti'Uetion is eniii|>'i~c'd, wlirii (il'trr mileli searcli. u Miiall (dianiicl, emitting tli>' lia>t i|Uantity of water ol' tin' wlinle. atl'.ird'd an o|ipiiitunity oreariyinL' llie i'a\ iiiation o\(raii ascent ol'2J--S — .'!, and into tlie w ater eouiieetiie.; willi |).er Hay, and at wliieli |Miint tlie ilr'adi d iron liound iraiiir oT tlie ruck turned out In lie the liin >l /''./•/.■■//./( uianitc-tlie only in>tanee of tlie real uianile, in any i|UaMllty, wliieli lias eome williiii my uli-ei \alion in i iilier of tlie I'rov iiiei's, willi llie e.\ee|iii,in of Huekln'iii ia|ii.ls, w lieiT it :i|>o e.xi^ts ; liy the frriicral |rl:in the |iM>iiinii ollhe lock 'L'e can he seen — e.ineeiviii.: il ininee.— -arv . ^o Ini,: a- 1 had a cnrnct section ol' llu' ravine, to Ii,i\e a detailed phiii ol the whole, jiarlieulaily as >iu'h could not I.,' |iro|M rly done till winter, Iriini [hv. .ery inlrieile and iii- suLitc'l uatiiri' of the se\, lul islands, hlull' |Miints. ,Ve. iJaviii;.' L'ained the waters oC the hay di ive. the next olistiuelioii occurs at tin outlet of II, er May, as >|iiiwn on the ]ilau. where a ri.-e ol' •_' — 'i tllo pii"^eiit-; il«eir m a smart wicked clinte or juui|i, i'l a >hort di~tani'i', hut iitlords an eseelleut ofi|iortunilv I'lr iiii|'ioMiiiiiii in tin; well proteeted hay In low. and advantamoiH ra\iui' and low ground adj'iiniiii.'. lli\ini: ■iverconie this oh-taele, a small chute aiiain iiitcrru|its the navigation, of is imhes. as -hewn on the lonuiluilinal seciioii- of ihe route, until n'acliini,' Hiickhoni rapids, on which are ^itu■lted Hall's mills, (and which poini I'iphii- a panieiilar f'aliin; in the line of eominniiieiitioii. m> ciinni iiidiii'j: aiel re'.:ulatiM'.i tlii' wlioli" surfaces of Itiiekhorn, t'liemou..;-. ,'iud I'iueoii Lakes, up to liohei}^' "11, 1 .'i^, miles,) at which place a ilitrnnoe of level oceiir> of S — 'J li III, to In' overeoiiie, a- atterwiril- descrihed— and eirry the n:i\i:^atiou to H..|icayi;eon rapid- ami locks, thus terminating- the .'inl .-.ectioiial divi-ion of the route. I'imhi uhieh in |{.il>aiii l/ike pnrtaL;e, a di.-taiiee of 2l..} uiiic.-. ami risiiii;- 134 feel, the llh section cxleiels. c imprclieiidin^ the rapid- and works at l{ohcayi;con, the -h illows liom theiici! to Sturu'eon Jjake, the work- at I'ameron's I'alls ami lial-im Haiiids, and which pii-'iit the followin- oh iiue- tioii-, namely — at IJohcayiieon a ri-c of ") ft. ."i in. 4 pts. and a eontiniiatioii of ripiil of cou-idrrahie e:;ieiit. to^'cthcr with -hallow-, until reachiii'.: the outKt of Sturm'on Lake, ami which ha- h.'eii ntlcmp'.fl to h- -ur- niouiiteil liy the coiislruetion of a lock and a dam at cdu-iderable expeii-e, hy a I'roviiicid i;iaiit, hut which has not as yet hecii availahle. hy some uuacenuulable ovi r-i'.:lit iii tlini! circnm-taiu"-, from tie- It i il of the lower m\] lieiiii; eiplal to tint (d' ill'' lowest wa'er ill I'iiieoii Lake, in place of heiie^ the rii|iii>il" canal water depth below the same, say .'! feet for the,-i' purposes — friUll the dams above not b. in;; Sllllieielll to retain a sulHeii'iit head of water over the -hallows above, and l,i-t'y, fiom the 1mii,c and open ualure of (he cut from the .-ihove to the lock, not retaining.; the water for want, of proper means hcini;' used in the eon-trnction. all'iwin.; the water to cscajie in the many oriiviecs and open chasm.- which the nature of the irround I'lvseni-. then by ri iideriiiL; the Works at this place entirely u-eless, without an adci|UNte outlay to remedy the evil. 'J'lie next aiel lo'i.-t -eriou- oh-trueliou to tie iin i'.:alion on this .-eclioii oeiiir- at ("aiiierou's Fall- up lo which ]ioiiit. al'ti'r ovi reoiiiiii^ the dilfe-ulties at aiol aiiove liolieayi;eoli, a mo-t excelh iil line of na\ li;alioN, in the deep water- of St iir'.:eon Lake pre-enl- it-elf, wlmi a risi; of 2 t —10 2-111 occurs. IViuii (he wati rs of the deep navi;;-ible inlet from Sturp'oii L ike to the foot of Cauieron's Fall-, into the -till wal' r o|' Cam. r, ms L:ike, renderini; the adoption of two looks and nuaril lock at a most eonveiiieiit site, as shewn on the pi iii iirer--ar,-. None who have ever witne-.si'd the scenery of Niagara F.ills but must at oiieo have the impri--ion fiiie.il on their minds of a re-emblanee in miniaturi', in ("aiiieron's Fall- — tie' approach from Stiii^eoii LaKe, li. (w.eii the liigh rocky hanks, in their [i ■ipeiidieul ir maiid'Ur. until in-laiilaiieou-ly the Fill present- itself in tiie ,-aiiie horse.-hoe form, with a curl liii similarly arranged, all'ordiii'.: behind it fi-oiii one shore to the other, :i prnnien- ade. A commeiiceaieiit has been ma le by tlu' cuterpri-iii'.; projiiietor. on aii extensive seile, ind'citive ol Ihe ••i.se and jirourcss of a place of inipo>'t:iiice. and w liicli. doubtles-, its central situation must iii-ure ; in addition .0 a saw-mill, ]ireparalioii- aie makiiii; for the erection of a lirist and other mids. .Vn inn of uiiu-ii il ixleiit llid acc'inmodatiou I'or a new country, has jii-t been e niiphled. toirether with the propiielor- nwn and -iver.il >tlll>r lHlII«.itU -litl'i' X'l* rii1'tll>; lilMtl' !l Vlll-ltr,. ill M \i- I 1 1 1 1 > M 1 1 •-- Other houses, store. \c , forms (|iiite a village in a wil'lerness. llie surlaee ol llalsam liaki^ 1 purpose lioliiim;- permanently near liiuli water mark, lor the purp i-e ol i;iviiii; sulli'jient wati'r over the bar at the outlet of the Lake, head of iJalsain rapicl-. as a!-o to aH'ord h'ller aeec— to the shore at the I'ortaLiO. or the point where the cut of junction with the Talbot is iiitcndi d to leave, hi'sidi's pavinir many thou.-and jiounds in excavation — thus terminaliiii; the llh siction, and commencing; the ."illi ami last to Lake ^'imcoe — desceiidiiii: US ft. o li-lo in. in a total di-tanci to tlu' ],ake of llir. mile.-, (U- to the rioiiit of iiiiietiun willi t!ii> 'f.-iilmt (li-i'Ii!it'>> itnf iKi>lf lolii l.>iL-i> .'siiiiciit> \[[' iiiilc- iasi to i^aKe cimcoe — uesceniiiiii; iir> n. ,) ,i-io in. in a loiai ui-ianci lo iiu' Ji point of junctiou with the Talbot, disehai-iiijj; it-elf into Jjake Simeoe. l:!,' miles. Ill attempliiii; a tle-ciiplioii of the obstructions ou the .-ectiou. [ may commence by remarking' '.'enerilly that llu;y are Iwo-I'old : — in the Talbot liiver. on the one hand, in its course Ind'Hnu loil one line lor c'iii-id''ra- tion, in coiitra-distiuction to cairviiij; a continuous navigation over a most favourable coniitry of I.'!;,' miles, until intersecting the 'J'albot '.!i,er in its more developed character i'or navigation, within - y miles of L iko Simcoo, and iu either iiflordin^ suflicicut scope flir the duties ol' the Knuiiieer. The Talbot Illvcr in its southern branch, taking its rise in a swanii) to the w•e^;t of Hal-am Lak''. cm- tinuus winding in a very narrow and serpentine ciuiise for abinit 15 miles, until reaching the l-'oiks or juneti m with the nortli branch, at wl ieh point the river assumes a respectable navigable appear. nee for bitteaiix, nid continues so, but in a very serpeiitiue ciuir.se, until reaching the Long I'ortage and head of the Lost Ciiaiinel, and continuation of Itry-bcddcd lliver, where the water linds its way under ground, and makes out ■■ to ilay " iisiiiin at iiliinii a mill' lii'lnw. IVom wliicli tlifi livrr poiitinucs iih (nriiii'rl}' dcsrribcd until rcacliin^' the Cronkcd or VVickol l!a|iiils, nralMPUt liaH' a mile in rxtdit, aloiij; wliirh we had ;.'r<'rtt ilil1i(;nlty to ttiiat tli<« canoes, witli the b'l'ji;'!!.'!' and )iiiivi of llondwodd, until rc.icliinj; the termination ol anytliin;; like .-erious iiiterrup- tioii at |ioint T. on plan, I'roni which, downwards, nmy he nekoned the rrally available poilion oC the Talhot lli\er lor iiii|irovcmenl, and which, I'rom the ditailed plan accouipanyin;,', mailc out f om actual survey, at much inconvenience to (he parly, will ajipear to be of a nature somewhat douhtl'ul in its present stati: — the /■(Ilia of ihc s\irvcy heinji such as to render the ready navii:ation by the descripli f craft inteiKhd to be used on this inland communication at least dilhcult, altlioU};h the elbows may be materially relieved of their aeute- nes-, Irnm which jioint until reachim; Ijiike Simcoe no material difficulty occurs, with the exception of flood wiiod, hut what lockajxe will easily overcome. Having' reached the nn.uths of the river aloni^' 8, 10, 18, ami 20 ft. water for the last \i or I miles, as shewn ill the ]il,in. the projiress into the lake is imprded by the existence of a gravelly and sandy bar of considerahlo extent into tlu' lake, as ])er plan and M'ction, affordin^^' at lnw water not more than 2 ft (i in. in the fair way, hut which can be r'inovcd and permanently secured ui.'ain>t lillini; up by the construction of piers properly thrown out. Of the euiiabilities of the Talbot, from its e mtluencc with Ijake Simcoi^ to the conimencement of tho rajiiils, there can be but on opinion, altlmiiudi that is in some dei;ree shackled from the very circuitous naturo of its eourso, inakinjr, for in.stanee, a distance by following the river, of liO miles to Ualsam J.iakc, whereas by a direct line from the present Inilian Landinj,', or rather from a more convenient basin oneci;,dit of a mile above, the distance would be reduced to l(i^ miles, thereby nut only avoiding' many inconvenient turns, as shewn in tho plan, but shorteninir the distance {greatly, say '.'>}, miles. llavin;.' thus endeavored to lay before your Kxcelletiey the iliflicullies and obstructions to be overcome, in order to render what I cot jcivc, al'ter mature deliberation the most eligible route fur a water co.nmunica- tiiiii available to connect L;ike Simcoe with Hice Lake; I shall, in order as they occur, suj^^est such operations as 1 con>idcr will he niniircd to accomplish the end in view. lUit prior to ciitcrinii- into the details of the route ])roposed for adoption, it may not be out of place to remark, that in t^ainini: the extremity of the 1st or lower .-icction, viz.: Pcterhoro' Bay, the attention was natu- rally called to link around for an outlet — appearances indicating that the navigable (|ualitiea at that point ceased. When my attention was naturally drawn towards the ultimate object of my searcli — the direction of the head waters — Chemong or Mud Lake naturally attracted at- tention, however forbidding its appearance in the present Btato at low water, through whicli a canoe can be paddled hut with difliculty, and the general report as to its inadequacy to anything like navi- gable jiurposes, neverllieles^, I resolved on a trial, and steering my course in that direction, following a natural ravine ami apparently low .irround, leaving the hay at the convenient basin, as shewn on tho plan, and passin<» through chiefly thi! unlocated town lotsof Feterboro — crossing the communication road at Mr. Dixon's gate, and thence bending northward in easy curvature through convenient ground, until reaching by easy ascent the heightof land between I'eterboro' and Cliemong Jjake, in the shortest feasible route between tho two waters which afterwards, contrary to my ex{iectation, on applying the level, [ found not to exceed 50 feet above Cliemonn; L:ike, thereby offering a jnoljiihili'i/ of the internal or cross-thc-country line, being worthy of attention ; still as the Olonahee, it its circuit, had to form the criterion of competition, I resolved not to abandon it without an examination, jiartieularly as the land route did not hold out any very fi;ittering inducements to at once adopt it; Imwever, when on the ground, and as the country afforded an excellent opportunity of ascertaining the gross difference of level, and at the same time afforded data for a sectinnal view of the country for what- ever ]unpo>cs its capabilities al'ti'rw.'irils might be dei ined su.^cejilible, I instituted a .set of levels across from Cliemong ur Mud Jiiie, at a trilliri ; expi inliturc, an av.iilable iiavij^.ition to I'ctcidxiro', at all times, b;- the simjile adDpijim id' a dim and luck at Whithw's I'apids, whi< li is the next ob^trun- tioii on this seetiiii, thereby throwim,' biek w.iter over the Liltl' Lak" -nlfieient to drown lhi» ripple at the Narrows betwrcn the lake and buy, and throw sutficieiit water iulu No. I lock of the coll.ileral cut finni Knir.inco hay ; thus cairyin}; the navi^jatinii from .\8pliodel I'.iidvre to j'eterboro', 4l( miles, at an expense of, per estiniito, £4.24ti Ills, a very incinsiderable amount indiid, wlnii cotnpared In the adv intiL'cs to be derived, the enu- meration (d till' whole of which I do not ('onsider <'iiiries within the inimediate sjihere (d'this re|iort. Section 2iiil. — From l'eteibnn(' to ('Kar L'ike. 1 l\ miles, and risini; 117 feet, with a ciintinuatinii of rapid for !i miles until reachiii'^ llirriot's mill pond in Kaichiwannoe l/ikc, and thereafter the rapids at Younjj's mill, of bbort duration. To overcome these, (the most serious (dislruclion on the whole route) there can be but one opinion pointed out in the extreme lacilities tlu' river aflnids in it.s universally lii,;;h .iiid well di'liii mI hinks, and tho convenience atbu'ded for the construction of dams at suitable di.-tmces, to render the intermcdi n spaces avail- able, the practicability of whiidi sy>tem has been .m) (I'li/ih/ tested on the llidcau communication, ihat leaves not a doubt as to the applic.ibility in the piiseiit instance, while the exi>tetiC(! of tolerably sized d mis at present, proves the facility witi which such can be constructed when reiiiiircd, JSiit alllioui;h I should r commend the system as <;eueraliy apjilicable to tho niii') mile rapids, yet, as will be seen by the accompany- ing detailed and niinutt! plans, T proprso leiiviiij,' the river at the Ijitllo Hay, immediately contin- uiius to the storednni^e, and makin,' part of the jircs'iit marsh and H.iy, a rci'eivinj; bi>iu, and carrying the navisration inland throuiih the Town of I'eteibmd'. is nearly fiarallel with the streets as now laid out a.s possible, alnn;.' (avourahle Inw f;nuind, .-nid well Baited to Incka'.'e — bouiide I by the natural mound nr hank on tho western side- beniliiij.' its course around to the plain his, until reiehinj the natural ravine .'it K, to whivh point the levels natuially le.id. as shewn in the aeefiiij|ianyin:r plan and section, until reacliiii:; the river at .S, and into the dead water I'lom Hall's mill dam. or fii in the teiniinatimi ol' the mound refeiia'd to, t) carr^' on a a continued iiaviiiatinii to the summit line of Lee's niill-p md, for which the i;iiiun 1 is favourable ; and as this woulil ajipe.ar in the iiieantimo t'> be more eligible, it nn\ be 'leeuied siidi -ient to e.-timato nn this line, leaviiij.; the adoption as a matter of (xpediency hcrcaltiM'. when the works may <^o into ojH'ralioi. I would, therefore, propose for the piesi'iit, the continuatieii of the cut to i^ec's mill pond, by whicli all the mill oper,.tions will be left undisturbed, lanl the wi. ked chain of raoids .ivoidiMl, Havin.' L'ained the mill-jiond by a collateral cut of 2i niilis. with 5 locks, niakinij fiCi ft. lift, and the necessary hridij:('s, \v., for the :icciinmiodatiiMi ol the |iulilic, the ilam and lock system will cunie into en. id [>1 ly, until reachintr the foot of ilerrint's rapids- bv the several locks, dams anil exc ivatnuis, as shewn on the plan and section, from which a collateral ciu of oneeiL;litli of a mile w . ! be lueess.ary to cany the line past the mill and rapids, and avoid interl'ciin<» with the o])erations thereof, which are likely to become extensive, and sc(uire a more convenient and ready mode of pissiiiu' this particular fpot of dilliculty. than by following; the river and then by riisinLr a-id streiiLjtheiiin^ the present dam, a sutHciency of water can be backed up, with no inconvenience to the adjniniiiir lands, to the fnot of Voiiii^'s ra|)ids— eoveriii;^ the small rapids iit the outlet of Katchiwannoe l^ako, and throwiiiir suthcient water into the lock ot 3 i't lilt at Vouii;;'s, as shewn on the pl.iii and section— from which to the w.iters ol Clear Lake, a short cut nf 7(1 yards in liMii^lh, averai^iiig t) ft deep, throuirh a irravelly .section, will cany the n.ivi^rntion (and c iiipletitijr section 'ind) from I'etorboro' to Clear Lake, Njmiies, and risin;; Uti — 111 [ '■'> vi-IO=l.ii) It. and at an estiiuilcdexpen.se nf CiiO.fjlil l-»s. Id. Section ;-ird. -From Younji's to iJobeayj:eon, iiicludinjr in itscourso, tbrouiih Clear and Stoney liakes, the Peninsula Falls, IJurleinh Chuti's, IX'cr Uay, Uuckhurn Kapids, and the navij{ation of Uuckhorn and l^iiieon Lakes. Having gained the waters of Clear liake the only opiiation repiired to complete the n.ivigafion to Peninsula Falls will be a properly constructed dam, to rais(! tlie w iters of Clear and Stoney Lakes 2 ft, above their present heights, so a> to give suffi"iency over the outlet of the lakes at lowest suninier water, which cannot in any way interfere with a'ljoining lands, the general cliaraeter of Clear and St'iney Ijikes being rocky and barren shores and in general very abrupt. The Peninsula Falls, gross rise of 2.) — H ;j-l(l, I propose surmount- ing by 8 locks and uxionded win^ wills, with the requisite guard lock at the head or summit to regulate the spring floods. From this point the navigation continue^ throu;;h D.er Uay, until re.ichin.' Burleigh Uapi'ls, a pitch uf 'i ft. '2 in. at which, place a mot favorable o[iportuiiity presents to surmount, what otherwise would have been attended with tnnible and cxpcn.sc, in tho placing of a lock in the neck of a peninsula, as shewn upon r T 6 tlip f;pficral pliui, witli llip noc-fnary oxcavatinn, fic, whioli will carry tli'" iiiivii;nti(in, liy llio constniclinn nl' n diirii lit (lii.s iiliico "Vir llic little cliuti^ U> Hiicklinrii riipiils or IIkH'n mill, at wliicli iiii|ioriiiiit puiiit nniiMiilcr.itilo wnrk will 1)1' ii.(T>>.nv in tin' fnii^trnctinn oi' a luck nt' !• It. ll in. lilt, and cxciivaticpii acniss tlu! jdiiit oC'jriO yarili in li'ii;.'tli. Iiy Hit. in di'iptli (avcia^c) in a mixture of lar;;f liiiiildcrs and lartli cxcavalitm, imd tnwardH till' Mucklinrn Luki' ixtninily, nt' mrk txcaviitinn, as aUo in the rai.-iiiL; nl" the present nr the eonstnietion nl' iiii additii>nal dam, .-iiflieidit to deaden tlie rapid.s and swil't watir almve, and tlimw sufficient additicinal head in Bnekhurn, Chemi'iiL' and l'ij:eip|i Lakes, so as t(i retain those water.s at hi|;;h water mark, mid iherthy insure it Cdiisiaiil, sale iia\ iualii'ii to r,iilieay(:e'iii Itapids. where teniiinatiN seetion ."trd, in a di.-tunee ofliH inileH, ascendinir :ih It. I in. at an expen.^e of fJl.ld'i 2>^. 'xl. Section ith. — Kniiii Hnl)ciiy'.:e'in to Ualsani I'ortie.'e (to Lake Simem ), '2i''\ miles, — Will reiiniri' the re-eoiistrnetioii of the lock at ilohc!iy).'eon. tlie lower sill heiii;.' placed, as already stated, ut leant iJ It. t(i(i liiuh, heside.s the dimensions ol' the lock ehamber ln'in;4 too eontractcd for the present eoii- teiiiplated H'lile, heiiif; only lil^ I't. in tlie clear ; the cut IVom the lock luail to the hay ahove will rcijiiire eori- siderabli! cnlar'.'einent and deepinin^', so as to admit of heinu' properly seemed hy linini.', fir., to prevent tlio CBoapi! (d' the water throiiuh the open tlssiircs oi' thu lon>e rock, as jiiovided I'or in detailed estimate; thu re eoii.-trtictidiis and iiien ased lieiiiht to the present dun, with the addition id' a smalh^r one, helweeii the iippix island anil iiiaiii land, as shewn upon ihi.' plan, with the view of ;:iviii^ u snUicieney of wall ovt r the lont; eon- tinned si allows in the river ahove to Sturgeon Lake — which gained, ^'ivesa splendid iiaviLMtion lor any sized craft to ("aiijcrnji's {''alls, a:id to the very font thereof, where a most favorable opportunity occurs for locka.iio into Cameron's Lake, or rather the river leadinu' to said lake, as shewn on detailed plan and section of that pl.ice, Mirmoiintini: the diflerenee of level ol lit 10 2-l(t, by two locks advititaj^eously loeatcd on the brink of the roekv harik, with the addition of u j;uard lock and excavation into thu river or tnillporid above — in ii distance of only 2lir) yards, and averui;inj; (! ft. cutting', passini; between the hotd and .saw-mill. Hifore leaviii',' the extended and line navijiable w.iter of Stiir;,'eon Lake, it may not be out of place to refer your Kxeclleiiey simply to the fact of the existence of one of trie most favorable o[iportiinitie.s ever pre- K'litid to cpdi np the same extent id' country, by so very little assistance from art, iih the water.s of Seui;of; River and Lake att ird. pa.s.-inj; in their course from Sturgeon Ijake, from the south-west an;;le of Fenelon, tlirouiih the whole of Ops (dd miles in cxtt^nt, interrupted only by the r.ipids at I'urdy's mill,) touching on Wanvers, watirini; the whole ot Cartwrisilit, and part of Ke.icli, at the upper extremity of the like, and even extendinu; its r.iinitie.ited contributory branches, rendered partially available (and which little local entcrpri.se would make perfectly so,) into Mariposa, Urock, and Whitby, and as a matter of course not conliniii;r its spreadinj; iiitlueiice to these alone, but enabling' an available eoinmuiiicalion b(an^o|HUied up from the safe and eonveiiienl H.iy of Windsor ( wlun; it is now in c(intem|dation to cmistruet a harbor) by a railroad, or a j^ood macadamized roail. /'ic tkf /irrsiiit, from which point the head id' the extended tiavij;ation seenH to be distant only 18 miles, and which, as already shewn on the particular rejiort on that subject, can be rendered avaihible by the simple o[ier.ition of one dam and lock below IIk? present site of I'urdy's mill, and at an expense tiot exceeding .i!2r)(l(l. (uii IvT priijiir mana_u;ement)— thereby affonliiif; an immediute relief to tho.se rapidly .settliiij^ districts — at a trittinir outlay, until the thorouLrh main channel id communication should he opened up, and then afl'ordiiif^ a permanent local benefit to the townships immediately bordering on liie Scuyoi^ Kivcr und Lake, as also on the contributories, the Non-can and Cross Creeks. To resume my sectional description of the main line: — Having pained by the operation.s stated, tlio ,£unimit (d' Cameron's liake, as the river above the dam, |)articiilarly at the outlet into (/ameron's Lake, at low water, does not exceed ei;;htcen inches, it will bo necessary that the dam now existinjr, and which is one of the most substantial and creditable pieces of workmanship I have seen in the I'rovince, should be raised from 2 to I! It. to assist in giving sufficiency of water over the bar at the mouth of tlie river, where some rock excavation will also be nece>s.iry ; but if the banks will bear it, and I have no doubt but they will, even a greater iiKT.'ase would be advantageous, not only in the saving of rock excavations at this point (under water) but in materially assisting operations at the foot of Ii >lsani Kapids, which point the navigation reaches easily throufih the deep Cameron's Lake, and up either of the channels of the river, communicating with Balsam Kapids and Lake, where openitions of considerable magnitude, compared to the (rifling diflereiico of level, will be iei|uisite to coiimct with Halsain Lake in the eonstruetion of a lock of 3 ft. lift — and a continuous excavation chiefly through n ck, for 450 yards to the river above, at point B, where a dam will also be re(|uircd to throw siitlieient w.iter over the bir and into Portage Bay- -on the summit level of the chain of comniuiiications, from the Hay ,r)d() Itis. 2d. Currency, being a total diflerenee of level ahove Hice Lake, with the increased head on Balsam Lake of 2'J7 ft.; above tlic Hay of Quiiite,=:.")l)2 ft.— assuming Balsam Lake to bo IJ ft. above July mark, and 118 — G ditto above Lake Simcoe, and assuming Lake Huron, as shewn on the map, f)!!-! ft, abc.o the sea, would seem to leave a ditl'ercnce of level between Lakes Siniooo and Huron of 110 ft. odd. say lltj ft. (1 in. Next comes the last sectional division of tlin route No. ,">, and one, as already stated, upon which there is sufficient scope; for the luiginecr's duties — not in point of any very untow.ird difficulties to be surmounti^d, but in the proper selection (d' the most eligible route from Balsam Jjake to L.ike Simcoe, between which there is a ditf'rence id' level of 118 — 5 — 3 in the present state of the waters, an amount far beyond what was antici- pated, and which, conseqiieiilly, suggested the strictest investigation into thu merits of the two probable routes ulre.iily spoken of, viz.: to follow, as much as may be .available, the course of the Talbot Uiver from its source downwards — or to adopt an eligible line for a more continuous navigation from Balsam to Lake Simcoe, and for which latter the face of the country affords (with the exception of a trifling ri.se near Bal.sam I^ake) an op- portunity equalled only in one instance in the course of my observation in either I'rovince, and in that lor a uiore limited distance, (viz , on the line for a continuous canal from Lake St. Francis to Laku St. ^ouis, which runs through the Seigniory of Beauharnois, an] winch I estimated last year for the Honourable Kdward Ellicc, in conira-distinction to tiie other side of the river — the expense being much less). Still, how-much- Koever I might be dispo.sed to avail of such facility for contiuuouo navigation by a cut to Lake Simcoe direct, ctiiin ol' II nidtTiihlo int of '2M il tou'iirilM tioii of nil I licnil ill y iiiMin' i\ Uh lllili'M, lily sfiitod, •iX'Ilt Cllll- ijiiirc ciiii- IfVl'Ilt llio iiiiti- : tlio till' ii|>|i('r Icili;^ UOII- >e, as marked Q on the iiecniiipanyin^' detuiliil plan, made from netiial >urvey, with the view of a»eertainiii'_' the ri al nature of the river, wmiiIiI not enly be expi siiiL' 'be works to niiieli tardiiiesH of exeeiiliiiii from the limited prriiid in wliieh npi ratiniis eonld Ih' eariied mi aiiiniii: a emitiiinatinii ol lapjils. but at the same time, when dmie, woiiM add miieb tu tlie IniL'tli of the cniniiiiiliiealion -the direet liiK' uith the point ofjiiiielioii with liil-am Lake, briii<_' niily |,'i|' miles in extent — and iiltb<>ii;:li I sbniild certainly iouk forward nltiuiateiy t iny tlie iiaviLiaticii in this point, or into the SiiiKrni' I'nrta'.'e reaeb— yet, in the mean- time, I Would .-U'.'ijest till priipriely of li;i\ iiii,' the 'ralbot eitliir at the eonveiiieiit and eiiniiniMliinis ba>iii, iis xliewM on the plan at l>. I'l miles above the inniitb. iVe,, or iibove the termination of the lately enn-trneted road from liaison Lake- and Iroin the >.'iid basin, or point 'i', to carry an inland cut to Mul«ain Lake, us per line deline-it((l /'k/oii the plan, with the necessary 1'- locks, of, in all, ll(i lift, as thenon shewn, or as may after- wards be found more emiMoicnt to locate, for which, as alreidv stated, the section of the eoiintry is most I'lviuable, with the cxe('|itioii of considerable ri'ck exeaxatinn in bcilijed linjcite coiitiiiuoii- excavation, culverts, bridjics, \e., to;;ctluT with the neeosaiy operations at the nioiith of the river, in the rciiiov al of the bar by the eonstruclion of ///(/•«, to pievent its iii^ain forininu ; thus ovei-enmini: the obslrnction in this section by an inland cnntiDUous cut I'liun Ualsam Lake tu Talbot Kiver at 'I', of i;ij' miles, with I'J leeks thrown rtt suitable distances as shewn on the plan and «eclioiis, by one lock on the Talbot river, il found luccssary, and the construction of the necessary wiirk> at the mnilth of the river, in all JiiA miles; descending 121 - I ;t-10 feet by luekaj;c, or IIH — h 7 lU natural ditloreiico of level, at an expenditure of ij'. 21 ,21'- 18s. Id. (,'iirrcney. For the sake of per.-picuity, I be„' have to annex a recapitiibitinn of the whole for your Excellency's information, which at one view will shew the abstract of operations rcipiircd, amountinu; in al! to the sum of iI2(l.',(lt)7 Ids, 4d. and for which I e insider these works may be constructed in a pernriiient, substantial, and workmanlike manner, and under a similar speeiticaiion as intended for the Trent works, viz — " Of ^ood sub- (itantial hamnierdressed masonry, with iisliler hollow ijuoins, corners, anil eopitiii, wooden sills, iVc , iV<'." — Thus (ipeiiiii<; up an iiniiilfrriiplnl water conimnnie.-ition from the Hay of Quiiitu to Lake Simcoe, a disiance of Ill/out 1'.I5 miles, and TOtI — 4 feet of liiek.i;_'o, for tlu' siiui of ilVJbJAb odil. Currency, includiii;^ the Trent CBtiniutc, wliieh amounts to .t;2I{.'i,447 tJs. Hid. Currency. KKCAFITULATION. Sec. I Description of Route. Mileb. I Rise. Pms. No. 1 2 3 From Rice Lake to Petcrborouiih, including the bar at the. niniith of the Otonabee, |)ftnf;er Field, Robinson's and; Yankee Hoiinet Shallows, U hitlaw's l{a(iiils, Ac I From IVlerborouah to Clear Ijake. includinj; the nine niilel Rapids, llerriott's Rapids, Kateliiwannoe Luke, and Young's Uapids, From Young's outlet of Clear Lake to Bobeayceon, includ- ing Clear and IStoney Jiakes, Peninsula Falls, Burlei<;h Cliutcs, Buckhorn's Rapids, Buckhorn's liake, CheuioiifiJ and l'ii;eon I^akcs, From BolK!ayi:eon to Cjinieron's Falls and Bnlsatn Luke l'orta<;e, includinj: StitrL'eon I,ake, with Bobcayjicon Rapids, Shallows above rapids, |)ams there — Dam at or below inonth of Little Bobeayiieon, navinalion of Stur ficon lake, Cameron's Falls and Shallows, Camcron'sl Lake, Balsam Rapids and Balsam I^ake ^ From Balsam Lake to Lake Simcoe, ineludinsj: collateral cut to Talbot River, Jioeks thereon, clearinic of Hood wood,l and piers ut the mouth of Talbot Uarbour i 21 ft. in. 3 lock. 14,i!147 (J 2fi'-' IC 38 4 34 Fall ft Collatt^rul Cut. 118 5-3 2 G Log. Amount. s. I>. 4,240 lli 14 6U,.'')24 14 21,102 5 ; 22,.'.4(i It) 12 I 121,212 18 Ainountini^ to Lock Masters' houses, &c. .£2;i.'),iii:! ti 10 2,i;(io i;j;!.s,24;{ 9 lo To which add coutiagencies and management, &c., 10 per cent 23,8J4 i> (5 Total amount of Estimate, .£.'tij,0ii7 li N. 11. BAIRD, Cinil Engineer, M. I. C. E. L. 1 1 lliiviii'.' nciw, I'nr vmir I'ixci'lli noy')* inrnriimliDTi, Kiiliinitlfil ilu: rciiill iil' my liliorx, ami iif it iiinru pro- triicffil Miivi'v tliiiti I hill aniiii|iiitri|, iiriniii^ I'roiii I'irciiiiiHiuiK'cs wliii'li ufU'ei j{ivc riw to, iiinl iTi'.iii- iiiort (lill'niiliii M III till' |iriit;r."> 111 till' Ivi.'iiirt'r's o|ii'ratiiiii« ili.iii the ri'iil ilifl'iri.ltirs prr-oiiti'il, ii imcly iliu (liU'crciit i>ii|>|"i'-i'il rniiii'- wliirli h|)i r tliriii'cU'i'it 10 i'i>ii''i>lrraiii;i/y III' ftii' ilili' riiiiti' — llirl'i'l'V ilivi'i't'ii'4 till- .'illi'iitiiiii iiiiil orrii|iyiii'-' llmt liiiiii wliirli wiiiiM li ivr bci'ii niiiro ailvuii- ta'jri'i|}taii('i' ill' it ilmilit cm^iIiil; III' |Mi>-iliiiity llirrrnl', liiivr^ nil .'ilirrnaiivi- but (<> rnllnw mil mu'Ii, IT in any \v;iy I't'a-iliii' ; iiimI iiniiiir hiH'li iiii|iri'>Niiiii. I wai irail tu iiiaki' llii' tour nf llm liai'li liiii' of l.iki'.-', Ka; i I '11111 I'urt i;.'i"<, rruni Slnnry to Ciiuv Laki', wliii'h, a.s iiiirady niaii'l, m ' * hn'. In iviiilinu lli" pri'ir n|iiiiii)ii nf iiii|irHbaliiliiy, a« :ii>ii in cx.ni. iiiiii:; till' lay nl' ttm i-iiiiiitrv. tliroif.'li iill'i'r.nt tiiwii>lii|i^ of KMon itinl Ki'iii'loii, ax iliriTicii in ymtr Kxi'i'llrMi'vV lin<'lii>ii-<. |ii'r liicilti'imnt l'oii>nrl Itnwaii'.-* coinniniiir itioii of dati- llith tliiiir lant, |iiiiiriilail\ till' |iiiitiiin liiirili'iiiij; (III, mill in ilu' ]iinxiiiiiiy nitliiT of Likr SimciMi iiini Sluru:riin l^akc ; but Miiiii iiM'cii liniii'^ lliat Midi a nmli' iiiu.'l ciit' il Willi il, not only n \rry i .iicrinl iiicrciiM- in ili-taini'. but itt th" Hanii" liiiii' an iiirnasi' in lurk il.", iinil willmiil any ciTtaiii siip|ily of w iter Ifiin it -iiininit Icvi 1, tin' I'uiinlrjr li-in'_' lirailiially t "WanU llial imhii'm' frniii tlir Tallmt valli'y ((.vrl.iinly tin: Imvc-t i^inunil in lli it Mi'lii f cmiiilry) until I'.'ain liiiliii:: into tlic Sciiiriij: -iiii'i lia\iiiL,' rollowcil liiat linn rivrr ami inori! cxiianilrtl bike navi- ^Miiiin to ii^ brail, aini a-n'i'ri liiiin,', Lrrn^'iaplili' illy ^pi^ikiii^. I'lat ill it rout', allliiiu;;li uppiri'iitly Irasibio tortarils Lake Siini'oi', vvonjil lir ciilirrly too cirri; loiis. Al'trr iliii' roii-iiliTaiiiiii ortbc mailir in all it-* bi"irin^'H, itml wi'inliini; tlu' iinTits of tlif junction with Jjikt! Siincoiv llinni'.'li tin' S('ii;.'oi.' roiili', wliicli niu I liavi- been ilown tbc vallry of tin? Iiittlc 'ralliot to Hcaver- town, 11 .--trrani by no mean- b'-irinj; ('niiipaii'b('ltcp, nil iiiilrpi'inli'iii III' tin: ^;i'ou'rapliii' il obji'ctiou in point of di^tanoo — not only in it locil viuw, iVoin iStiir'.'i'i'U Liiki' to hiki' Simcoi', but in rollowin;; up tin' ulterior obji'cl of eontinuin;; tlic chain of coinninnii'.itioii witb l.akr Huron- -all of wliicli will bi: avoidid, and tlv! t'ranil obji'iH of tin- moat (iirci't and li'i-t ('.\pi'ii>ivi' inoili" of coiinictiirj lbi'>i' witcr.s obt liiird by tin' Mal-uui Ijiki' routii; and tlio Talbot Hivi'r. as now cstnnilud, b"iidi',s liaviiiL' tin: doiibli' a ivanl ii.'i' of bi'irinj,' out tin' lji'ii' ml i-h iraomr of the wli ill' line IM an inlininl I'liinmnnii'iilion, nprniiifr U|i a widely cxtindi'd ;'iid valualili' counlry iind one which pioniises, ore loiiir, to be mioimI In no proportionali' >p.'i('(' of inland country in the Province, iu point of eiipa- L'ilitic.i of iiii|irovi'nii'iit. proiliii'lions mid opporiunitie.'- Ibr piitcrpii.ii'. For the u'<'iii'ral line of coniinunication and it.s coniici'tinn with the adj'icci t and Mirronndiuj; enuntry, and slmwiiiLr that the line as now Mirveyd and eNliinateil is not only tin! iiiO'^l di-ecf tint t':in b- found, but the one nio.-t calen'aleil to develop ihe re-ource'* of the firtilo and valuable cob" ,ry throiiLrh which it passes, 1 woiiM b LT to refer yoiir Kxcellenev to the aceonipinyini: epiieril pi in which 1 have had eonipiled (by Mr. 1"'. I'. I!iilii:;e, |) I' S ) 1 1 shew the whole line .it one view, with tin; ilill'ercnt works pri>]ioscl to render tho wlinle navij iMe, by which it will he .>ieen. th .; from tin: Bay of Qiiinte to Ijakc Huron, tho jreneral direction ol the ciiiiiiiiniiieiiiion niaiiitains a pretty ^trii'lit conrk ; but still I hid the sitisf.iction of iileanin;: a eonsiderablo deal III iiiliii 111 Ition I'l-oin the kindness of an ill lividnal in Orillia, whi is luiicli intero-ted in tho fiirthoranco ol th.' Liraii I nhji el — mi the pTiisal of a report, drawn up by an OifMcr of Kn'^'ineers, on the st ite of tho i'^ ".('ni liivei', aiil which, fi'iin \.\w ijriit ohservatloii and oxpnience, and studying; the c mrse of nature in her niultiplie'd arraiiLreiiients, it I'Ver app'ar-* that the low.'st pass b 'tween a:iy two seetions of country is j^enerally, if not always indie itcd bv the j.'ri'ile>l di-cli ir.'c of wat :r — although, ai .1 matter of course, and one in all e.i-^es not to be avoided, the r'lite may In' sonewhai eiieiiitous. I wmld, therefore, b.; dispi-i 1 to hazir J the opinion, that either by the Severn or Nottawa-f i^a Rivers must bo tho lino of cinuaiunii i'' m, unless tho latter bo intercpted from Lake Siineoe by a coiisider.ible height of land, which I have not h;id an opportunity of exaininini; ; in support of which liypHthesis, :ind which I consider by no ineins piohlein itical, I W'luld refer, as an ex.imple, to tho country lyiii;_' bi'lweon I'lterlioio' and I'hemonj; I/ake, around which the Kivcr Otonabee, the niiin outlet from these w iters down the 'I'reiil, &e , in ikes such a circuitous bend of no less than ".'li miles — that haviuji traversed the counlry between these ; unts in all directions, for tho purpose ol cndeavoriu!^ to find a pricticablo overland route, and nctuiliy running; levels of the most prob ible, I t'ound t!io hnvost ridi;c of land to be 49 It. 4 8-10 above the waters of (^lienioiii; and I'i.'cou Like.s, diminishing proportionately, on approachinj; the outlet, and riir iTcv'/, 1 mii;ht (| mie niiiny other instances, which have come within my ob.scrvatimi, to streni^then the hypothesis, that the country b.itwecn LikosSimcoo and Huron m ly h.ive a similar sectional character — unless some convulsion of nature may have interfered in the general arrangement. nilviili- :i iliMilit I iiiiilitr my to I I'X. Ill- ill ymir nc hut, I' : but liiit at ■iiiintry I'tiiiii of ikc iiiivi- Tcisiblo Ilnvinir tliuo nil< iiiptiMl to liy Mi>rv ynur Kxw-llciipy thf ri-ntilt of n vi-ry iniriiiic nml dotnilfil ciainin- «tinn (if llu! coiiiiliy lyiii^: lutwnii Kin- l.iiki' iiml Lukii >iiiu-nc, willi tlio lak'H iiiiil waiir-' iliiTciiii, mid of a Mrii'K of riiitiiiiij: mxl iIi-McImiI IiviIh, hh in li iiiis ol ynur Kxci lli'iicy'i* iii>tru('ti(iii^, ami in |iiiiniiiii; I'Ut vvli.it [ Cniidivc to ln' llli' lllii«t fllL'llilc lilM- liir ciiiiimcIiii;; lliMrti' iiikcM, I ^llllull| iikW |iriiC('r(| III ||ii|Ml nut till' |pr(l^p((•• livi' liciK tils liki'ly f> nri-i! tioiii till' iiil(i|,ii. 11 mill i xi ciitiiHi nf mu-Ii a incaMirt', Imt liir wliii'li ta^k I n^iilly «|ii I't'cl an iiiaili'ij'iaoy In il" llio Hiiljict ilir ju-iicc ii^ iiii|iiirl met! liciiiandM, wIiiIIiit ediiHiilcrrd in a political or cniiiiinrri il |iiiiiii ol viiw : Imt iih Mirli ispncially ixprc'iiMJ IVoiii, or to wind up, aii Kn;;iiii'tT'n l{t'port — par- ticularly il'Hiicli ^llollld rcji r to o|ifnilionM propo-nj tiimu^li any new (and scii'iililically unknown) country .» till rout- I liavc just liiid tlic honor to cxiimiiu!- -1 f.||.i1| u««.' my licst cndcavnrH to cniiipiy witli tlic ti.«k. An tlic ^rcal (dijccl of liitcniiil liiiprovcnii'iil tliroii^ili any country, is to alTord llic iiicaiiN ofulicap ami cipcditidUf- Iniiisport lor ilii! ti'.-iiiiicc.> tin h ol, Mud to all'xrd tlio op|>orliinity of cnnncctiiii; the iiiokI disiant points III' r<'rtilitv and i-cciiik id' inou-try and tnicrpii^c with their rcspictivc iiinrts, it lollows that th« .sliurti'.st mid niii.-t availiilili' inutr Inr Mich an olgot inu-t hi^ the »iiiv qiiit-nini-iliihi upon which to start — iiid which, with a due ri'^^iird In the Inc.il ii tri^t.'- at ihe luinc time through which niicIi lino o|' roiiiniiiiiic.ition may pass, lor the developmi'iil nl Ihe pHUleesol »ialtli iiiiil inlei|>iiKe, III which every ^cctillll abounds, haw been lliu re;:ulaliii^' principles in the scIccIhiiis m dr. and whiili 1 Ihilter myseU'wdl be louiid unei|iialied in any other, in a ^('u):rapliical point id virw, \\i , the iiHordiiii.' a tlior>>il;;;li coiiiiiiunicaliiiii Inr ihe piodiiei^ ol' the NVcsterii uouniries bordtrin^ on Lukes Simcoe, ilnion and Alii'hiL'an — particularly Illinois, Indi ma, Michi^raii ami Huron 'I'crritories, and parli.illy Ohio — all ri.-iiiL' rapidly inio the lirst .leaii; nl' coiiiiiii'ruial iiiipni lance, in their rich productions, now ponnn^ down ihe uipids ol PiiroU and St Cldr, Iroiii and iicrosH those imiiicnsu inland KCas iiilii l.ukits Krii! and Ont.irio, mid by the laiiied spiculatioii nl' the Kiiu Canal, which was at lirst, ami fur hin|.', coiihidercd to be Ml chiiiieiieid mi nndcrtakiii}: ; but now deiiiaiidiii|;, I'mni the coiisei|U('iit duMdopment of those I'irtili! rcj-ions, iiicreiised diineiisions — still, however, subject to the inconvenience of such very hazardous ciicuinnavi^'atioii, as a single ;{|iim'c at the inip of the I'rovincc and adjoining' iStiit< s will deiiion. hlrate, and which every season attords fie.-li iiislai s of the iiielaiiclioly oceurreiictn, in tlii! iminy shipwrecks and loHs of life and |iroperty in coiis('i|Ueiicc, iiiiisl point out as an ulterior object to be ^'aiiied, that tliu tide of the Western trade, at least a;;rcat pioporlioii llienol', would naturally liiid its way by the safer, more expedi- tious and certain route, the (ii'nr;;iaii liiy, and Iroiii iheiicc down thriiU},di the now proposed line of coinmuiii- catioil, by Lake iSimcoe, the waters of the Newcastle' District, and the Itay of Qiiiiitc, thereby savuiL', as already observed, not only I be very perilous ciicuiiiiiavi;.'aiiiiii of l^akus Huron, Kriu and Ontario, but absolutely siiort- cuifij^ thu ruutu thu inuoiiceivahle distance ol 2iil iiiilcH. Having rencbed the Hay uf (^uiiile at tlio conflux of tho iiplcndid River Trent, so very susceptible of iniproveliieiit, as shewn by ihe detaili d report I liiid the honor to address to your Kxcelleiicy in IHHIJ, tho transit from thencj to our own mart beeoiiies a matter of case and safety, either by the St, liawreiice or by the present available mid certain iiavi^alioii of the Itidcau and Ottawa Canals, now in active operation, and, for our iiui<^bburs, aifordin^ an opporluinty of transit and coiiimunication with New York market throii^di tho Upper liiip to (tsweyo — at winch point the Krie (Janal touches in its course— but as the St. Lawrence and lildeau must he allowed to be the natural niith-t liir Upper Canada, the propo.sed iiiiprovenieiits, as a matter of course, should be conteiiiplaled in ennneelion with these nntlet.s, particularly the most practicable and avail- able for neiieral purpn.ses of eommerce, althoUf;h when the j;ii;aiilio improvements on the St. Lawrence are com- pleted, she must stand unrivalled in the annals of internal navi;.:ation in point of ma>;iiitude of conxiruetioii — and which, of course, is inti'iided to dr.iw the Western trade iu that chuiinel, which the intended impruvctuents fruiii the liay of Quintu to Lake Hurou nmul iimurv. To the local advantages which, from the extent of country traversed, may with propriety bo called national, it would almost he presuinptnus tn set limits, and iu which I conceive I am borne nut in the retro- Bpective glance of the rapid strides imw m.ikinj; tovvirds settliiiient and development — I m.iy say, from the Hay of Quiiite to Lake Huron, under the most untoward and inconvenient clrcutustanee.s a yoiiii^; country could expect to proj;ress — land lucked with Ihe worst ol ro.ids, where such exist, and eipially so with the prtwent state of the river and lakes in their .several insurmountable rapids, to any description of cr.ift but the fra^'ile bark canoe, and that oniy in desceiidin;^ — the iinproveineiil of which hitter would unquestionably unfold thu resources in a ratio I should be at a los.s to iiauii., was such an outlet afforded. To ai;riculturc, the j;reat stand-by of any country. I would add the ininienae increase in tho article of lumber, of all descriptions, now c.irried on lo a very limited extent (by a lew of those enterprisinj:, hardy speculators, with which the country so copiously alioiinds,) particularly in the article of staves, tor which abun- dance of the linest oak exists, untonclied and uiivisited but by the Indian — affordinjr, with an outlet, unlimited scope lor individual enterjirise IliroUiihout the whole line of coinmunicalinn, to say nothini; id' tho vast impor- tance in jioint of settlement of those line disiriets, bordering on and adjacent to the teveral extensive lakes, and which have ol late drawn the attention of wealth and enterprise to their shores. Of the benefit tn he deiived from the openin;; of the Trent above, it may be conceived superfluous to ajrain refer, liavinf; been discussed in my former rejiort on that river and its contribtitaries — and Wnuld but bri( fly aj;ain refer to the importance of havinji an outlet for the wares of the Marmora Iron Works, i-o much rciiuired in a new country, and which uiay be viewed iu u political or national, as well as commercial light. To sum up these cursory idiservations I would merely C'dl your Excellency '.s attention to the different Townships tlirouj!;h which the coiiuijunieation is intended to jia.ss in its course thrnuf;h the Home and Midland Di.strict.s, in number no less than iiiiivlvcii. immediately borderini; on the waters of the conimunieation, besides brin^inj; into play as many more, with all their agricultural and commercial re.sources,witli their respeclive alri'ady populous settlements, a.s siiflieient jjuar uitee, independent of the j;reat tliroiujh commuiiicalinn olpject, which, as a matter of course, must positively insure on ample return to the I'rovincc of the outlay re(|Uired — really of secondary consideration to the object to be j^ained — and to tho Home Government, in the ready settlement of those vast tracts of iiao lands throughout tho i->roviuce, now imiccessible, au ample return for any interest which ■J 10 the MutluT Oiiuiitry iiiislit bo iiiduccfl to tiiVe in .siu-li a nationnl iinilcrt ikiii^ — wore it only with tlio limited view of I'tilianciiiLT tho viiluo of C'nuvii I,;iii(is. Imt j>iriiciil irly, I .-lioiilil >ay, in roiitli-riny fully nv.iil- iiblc till' ^n at oullHysoii the Ottawa and lliiloau CanalM, uf wliiuli the ciintoiii|il.itc(i coniuiunieation may now be suid to bu a rinitinii'itlun, I wnulil fiirtlit'i' riin irk — ami ]ii'rliaps it may lie prcsnnipl nf in nic so doin^, but I feel ns if I owed it ns a duty to tlic land of my a(lo|ition, as well as wiiliin tliu splicn^ of my in-tiU(Mioii> — that if we intend to maiiit'iin our cnnimereiiil importance in the scale of nalioii.s, and jireservc lor ourselves an iiulipviiilinl po' t of entry fur tlie Cariadas, somi tliiiij: must be doni, ami that imnudialely, to secure sueli ; and nolliiiij;. it is belli \ed, will tend so much towards such a desiiahle object, as an e.iily cinimeiicement ot this internal work, which not only docs more immediai''ly interest all I jiper Canada in promi'tin^;. iiy any means, and at all hazards, but not less interested is l/ower Canada — which should cnii>ider the e oisc as intimately iiml more imiiiediutely connected with liir existence, as the outlet not only lor ults conti'iiiplated, and on which subject I would beu; to refer ymir Kxcelleney to the liiteriui rejiort 1 liad the honor of submittinir some months a,:;o, (iJiitli September) suu^cstinj; the expediency, for reasons therein assijined. of, in the first place, construetim; with all expedition su'h works alont; the whole lino (d'communieaiioti. as inij;lit at the smallest expense, (as per e.-tim.i'e of respective sections which I have ail Jiloiijr jiurposely kept detached) open up the f;reatest extent of navii.'.ition, or in other words, the least expensive sections alonji the line, such as on the llivcr Trent — the dam only at Widow li.iiri.s' — the operations at Chrishnlui'a rajiids — the dam above lleeley's falls, and works at Asphodel Uridjie or Crooks' r.ipids — thereby opening up the navigation from Widow Harris' (9 miles above the U.iy of Qnintc) to I'frcy liaiiding, •:! miles, and again from lleeley's I'alls to i'cterboro', by the construction ol the small dam and leek of ^ feet lift at Whitlaw's rajiids, half a mile below I'eteiboro , and a^iaiti on the present section from Peterboro' to Lake Simeoe, or more properly fi-om Kice L^'ke to Lake Simcoe, by the construction of the d.im at Huckliorn rapids, sutlieient to maintain Chemoiig Lake at or about high water mark — by the water at bobcaygcoii, Cameron's Fall.*, and Bal.saiii rapids to UaUam Portage, with the propo.scd woiks on and at the month ol the Talbot llivcr — leaving the intermediate and more expensive, but si on sections, I'rcun the mouth (d' the Tient to Widow ILirris', 'J miles; I'rom Percy landing to head of lleeley's Falls, 11 miles; again from IVterboro' to Chemong Like, 8 miles, in jilncc ol ;{ll miles, as per river and lakes as .staled; and lastly, fiom Halsani Lake Portage to the basin on tin- Talbot llivcr — to be railwayed in tlir iiiiiin timi', lor which it is rather remarkable, the whole of the ground of these intermediate sections affords the most favorable opportunity lor construetiou that can be imagined or wishc! for, any descent that is being in the proper direction, and ea.-y of formalioii. As an i:r/it(lieiit only do I venture to suggest to your Kxccllctiey's coiisi leration, the adoption ; at the Biimc time 1 am perfectly eunvinced that the plan will meet with .suiiie locil opposiiioii. in the apprehension of its ; Tactical utility, superseding probably tne necessity of (for some years) cairying the through water com- munication into operation, which would better suit lor the transpmi of heavy lumber ; but which nljection I sliouhi be desirous of removing, by the construction at the most difficult f.dls, of sliilis, which cost compara- tively little, and utnch liiihr suit t''e purpo.sc for heavy lumber, tlian lockige ; the intermediate railroad systini (without transhipment) scrvii.j^ every pun use of the transport of stives down — and the re(juisite out- fittiiig for lumber establisliments upwards — aid tor a general eairying trade, c(|ual.y answeriug every purpose, until Its incrcast! should be such as to warrant th' putting the whole in full operation. By this mode of adoption, the coininunication would be three years e.irlicr opened up than in waiting for the completion of the whole — an iniinen.se saving in the intrrcxt of expendiluie cBected, sueli as would go far towards the liirmntion of such ex])edients; and when the trade ami traffic id' the ciuintry should require, or when it niigl t be found necessary to carry the grand scheme into effect, I am salislied, fruiii the experience I have had in cniiducting such heavy works in the interior of a ncir <'(!uiilry, that the facilities which such means of transport of m.iteiials, &c., would affiird, would cnmpensate for the exeeuiion, tiking crcuit for the raw material, and when it might be deemed necessary (if ever) to remove them, poticul irly applicable to the inland sections; in coiiseijueiice, this latter arguiuet.t would not bear so strung upon the 1) mile .section of the Trent. With the \iew of doing away with the only, nt least the chief objection to the expedient system — tho idea of fri(|uent transhipment, I would propose that long and substantial stjamers, of particular construction, should regularly ply to and from, on the intermediate extensive water couimunicaiioii, viz.: t*- ! limited y uvail- iitiy now owed it iti'iid to I pill t of iMfi. it is ^il work, ii>i iit all inii more •ciiinicat- liu other iIkt pro- / sft'iu in t-" The 11/ iitiai'h mis ; but r we sluill ;s of 01 im- r now en- Vi! up tlio ii expundi- ' the most I and iiiti- 1101! ill tlio bryo, will and expe- the limits as p'is>ible t,lie intorim diem-y, lor whole lino 1 I have all t expensive (Jhiishi'lm's ninj^ up tlio 1, and u^aia t VVhitlaw's ! Simcoe, or lis, suffioient s Falls, lciii, by whit-h it would appear the whole may be accomplished fur the sum of tl !).')..")().') (Is. lid. currency, soimnvliat m ire than I formerly hazarded to your F.xcelleney in my interim report, and may be completed in two and a hall years from date of eommencenient. Ilavinu; cndnayored to set before your Kicolleiicy tlie advantaires likely to arise to these Provinces and the Mother Country from the I'arli/ openiii'j; up ol' the eoniniunications now 1111 ier leview, in a coiniiiereial and political point of view, in so far as consistent with the limits of this report, I should consider the tisk hut half performed, did 1 not in some dejiiec refer to the iitnilnildlilf ficilities whieli. in a military point of view, would us a natural consequence, follow the completion of sueli a work as coniieetinu; the liay" of Quiiite wiili Lake Ilunm, or in reality the Atlantic with the far West — completinj; the chain of commiiiiic .tioii (so ireneroiisly commenced and so far completed and practically useful to the country) from th ! Atlantic to .Miehiyan and i^nuh St. Marie, by the works ot the Carrillon, C'hnte au Blondeaii, and tJrenville Canals on the Ottawa Kiver, and thence by the Ridcau to Ijako Ontario, an internal navisiation of immense extent, say l:ill miles — but by the present cireumiiavij;ation already referred to, 147,')— diffjrence '2(il miles, in iduiidinir the Upper Can id.i Peninsula by the Hiver and Lake St (^lair, and by a loikac;e otapjiarently only ;{.{l't. atS lult St.. .^l•l^le, cany the navigation into Lake Superior and rej^ions beyond, at little additional expen.so — thus adniittiiiLi of the tran.sport ol'st^iros to the most di-tant portions of the Province, with the f;reatest ea'^e, (fcriainty and cxpeilitioii, and in which point of view 1 would particularly call your Excellency's attiuitioii tecretary : Sir, — At this stage of the survey of the water communication from Rice Lake to Lake Simcoe, in connec- tion with the River Trent iniprovements, and looking forward to the ultimate end in view, viz. — acommunicatioa between the Bay of Quinte ami Lake Huron, I feel myself called upon to lay before you, for His Excellencys iuforiDiition, the result of n)y labours up to this time, in a condensed form, in cjse the result thereof might lead to other arrangements which might be more eonvenieiitly carried on now than at a future period. On running the levels from the Otonabee River at Peterboro' to the head waters in Chcmong and Pigeon Lakes, I found the difference to be much greater than was anticipated in my Report on the Trent improve, ments, as also the liifference of level to Lake Simcoe, etjually so, and which, for perspicuity, I shall now enu- merate in order, viz.: From Bay of Quinte to Rice Lake " Rice Lake to Peterboro' 4 ft. " Otonabee River to head water Chemong Lake 189 Bobcaygeoii Rapids (J Cameron's Falls 20 Balsam Rapicls 2 To Lake Simcoe, (descending) 118 6 in. pt8. 9 7 G 8 4 7 5 3 365 ft. in. pts. Making difference of levels from the Rice Lake to Lake Simcoe 348 3 7 Lake Simcoe to Lake Huron, assuming the Luke 51)4 feet above the sea 110 Total lockage from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Huron 823 ft. 3 in. 7 pts. , vin, the to in the iirr ei'OY- 500 t) ,114! 7 « ,359 ,000 ,31)!; 810 17 4 ,(1001 [,45»> ),000 i\78(i 13 8 7,7781210 15,5651 Ol 6 7. E., L. 18 Conceivin};; from the very great extent of lockage, the sura unavoidably necessary to accomplish such, (on the most economical principle) and rogardiug tlio improvements now in progress and in agitution ever^ where, to command the commerce of the Wtstorn Territory, and divert it from the natural outlet (the Trent), it has occurred to me, and 1 am strongly impressed with the conviction, that a species of communication might bo adopted, with advantage, between the Bay of Quinte and Lake Huron, to answer every purpose required, in the meantime, with the advantage of increase of speed to a considerable extent, and would propose for the ex- pensive sections of the Trent, aud along the line of communication to Lake Simcoe, to substitute Railroads, viz.: From the mouth of the Trent to Widow Harris' 9 miles. " Percy Landing to summit of Heeley's Falls, about 11 " " Peterboro' to Cliemong and Pigeon Lakes 8 " And from Balsam Lake to Talbot lliver 13f " Or Lake Simcoe, direct 16^ " Making in all, from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Simcoe only 41 miles of Railroad. The communication to Lake Huron, from Kempenfeldt Bay, I am not in possession of sufficient data to say what proportion may be railwayed, but from the lockage being so heavy, I am disposed to think the com- bined principle may be equally applicable on that section. The whole expense of opening up a direct communication from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Simcoe, on the combined system, will not exceed the sum of £195,565 6s. 6d. and may be completed in three years. By continuous lockage, £495,515 3b. 3Jd. In the one case the passage of goods from the Bay of Quinte to Lake Simcoe may be accomplished with ease in twenty four hours, whilst by the other three days would be required. From the manner in which the arrangements can be effected, the wagons will pass directly, with their loads, from Lake Simcoe to the Bay of Quinte, and vice versa undisturbed, by steamers constructed for the purpose, to ply on the intermediate waters. Having laid this cursory view of the subject before you, for His Excellency's consideration, feeling it a duty I owe to the country, as well as in accordance with the spirit of the instructions I have in commai d from His Excellency, I shall be glad to be informed whether His Excellency would approve of the estimate of such a communication being made out, to lay before the House, in addition to the lockage estimate, or whether the latter should not be dispensed with in the mean time. I must beg to be understood in recommending the combined system, that it cannot in any manner inter- fere with the through water communication, in any other than to materially lessen the estimate, when it might be carried into effect, in the construction of which a saving nearly equal to the expense of such intermediate railroads would be effected. Awaiting His Excellency's commands — I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, N. H. BAIRD, Cioil Engineer. dtied system of mcoe, in connec- X comuiunic:ition iis Exoellency"8 ercof might lead d. nong and Pigeon . Trent improve- I shall now enu- in. pts. 7 3 in. 7 pts. 14 I > REPORT To Ilia Esrollcnry SiR JoHN CoLBORNE, Knight Commander of the Most Houornble Military Order of the Bath, Lieiitrniiiit Gorrrnor of the Province of Upper C'lnadn, Major Gineral Commanding His Mdjcxli/'s Forres therein, li'c, (fcc, <('•(•., on the pravticabiliti/ of rendering the. River Trent navigable from itn month or conflnence with the Bay of Qninte to Rice Lake, By iV. n. BAIRI), Civil Engineer, M. 1. G. /;., L In obedience to Your Excellency's commands, transuiitted to mo by Lieutenant Colonel Ilowun, Civil Secretary, in his conimunicatioD, bearinjr date 19th Mnrch last, as well a.s subsequent correspondence. I pro- ceeded upon the 7th day of September last to the mouth of the Trent (the state of the water preventing an earlier inspection, )for the purpose of aftonding; to the import of my instructions, viz : To survey and estimate the expense of rendering tlint Uivcr navif;ablo for Steam Hoats drawing five feet water, with Locks of commen- surate dimensions, 134 I'eet in length by 33 feet in the clear, tlie result of whicii examinations, survey and levels, I have the honour now to lay before your Excollcncy. Before coming to a conclusion, as to the mode mo-t likely to be attended with expediency in rendering the River navigable, I conceived it necessary, first, to traverse and explore the whole course of the River, its banks and contiguous ravines, the result of which determined the principle upon which I should proceed to es- timate the difficulties to be overcome, and taking into account the great (luantity of water in the River (nearly the second in the Province in point of discharge) the efiecta which such might have on the construction of the different works required, connected with the vast accumulation of anchor ice along the banks and shallows, and from the very great facility afforded, from the favorable nature of the banks, ih illustrated by the several sec- tions aecompauying, the principle of damming the River, would sjom, under all circumstances, to be the pre- ferab'e mode of overcoming tlie several obstructions, and upon which principle I shall proceed to point out to Your Excellency the manner in whicli I would propose surmounting the obstacles to such a grand and available stream, It will, however, in the firs-t place be necessary, in order that Your Excellency may have a comprehensive view of the subject, to cnumor.ite. in as condensed a form as may be consistent with the extent of the under- taking, the .several obstructions to the navigation of the River, from its mouth to the Rice Lake, and may be classed under the following general sections, viz: feet in, 1st. The rapids, commonly called the nine mile rapids, extending from a mile 1 10 5 9 above the mouth to navigable water at the Widow Harris', rising iu all 116 feet. 2nd. After passing along a fine navigable sheet of water, available at present for moderate sized craft, for six miles, the Little, or Chisholm's Rapids, present themselves in 8 7 8 extent 1100 yards, and rising 8 7 8 feet to Chisholm's sawmill, which leads to a still finer sheet of navigable water, with a moderate current, not less than 1 2\ miles to the Percy Landing at which place the .'5rd section commences, in extent \'1\ miles to Crow Bay, and 150 5 3 rising 150 feet — with the exception of a small sheet or pond opposite to Major Campbell's new settlement in Seymour, the whole of this Section consists of a series of rapids inter- rupted only by big Falls, Chutes, &c. From the foot of Crow Hay (along the bay) the water is of sufficient depth for 1^ miles until reaching the foot of the rapids from Ueeloy's Fulls in extent 1^ milcs,at which point, commonly called the Forks, being at the confiuenco of the Crow River with the Trent, commences the next series of obstacles, the 4th in rotation which embraces Heeley's Falls, *72 9 ") extending as stated li miles* where commences the Long Reach, navigable for 13^ miles *4 2 with the exception of three shallows''- or rilts whieh as will afterwards be detailed, may be easily overcome, to the foot of Crook's Rapids immediately below Asphodel bridge, six miles from Rice Lake ; at this point the "jth and last general section occurs, in extent Natural rise 7 9 about h a mile and rising 7 ft. 9 in. Increase 5 5 8 2 8 2 which overcome brings the navigation into the head or summit pond of Rice Lake, making tVom the mouth of the River at the Bay of Quinte, a total rise independent of the natural current along the several navigable portions, which of course I wave, ft. in. of 360 8 5-10 rifts 4 3 5-10 365 in a distance of 61 miles, and which I would propojc to overcome by the following operations ; and in detailing which, with reference to the plans and .sections, I trust I may succeed in laying the matter in as clear a light before your Excellency as the subject will admit. 15 of the iiig His tiviguble ran, Civil ce, I pro- nting an I estimate ' comnien- rvcy and rendering River, its cecd to C8- er (nearly tion of the allows, and several sec- oe the pre- point out grand and mprehcnsive the under- ind may be rom a mile let. t present for themselves in ids to a still 1 to the Percy row Bay, and or Campbell's ' rapids intcr- : depth for U niles.at which ith the Trent, leeley's Falls, lor 13^ miles detailed, may phodel bridge, icurs, in extent 5 Lake, making , of the natural ft. in. 360 8 5-10 4 3 5-10 :U)5 and in detailing 1 as clear a light With reference (o the abstract of obstructions to be overcome, the 1st or nine mile rapids present the most formidable, the natural rise to Widow Harris' at the then lowest pitch of water being 116 feet 5 inches 9-lOtha These being a continued succession of rapids, cascades, chutes and sliallows, until reaching the small pond of still water near the Highlands above O'Connor's Tavern, I propo.sf. surmounting by the construction of dams and locks, with the requisite excavation for the foundations and entrances, as shewn Lock No. 1. on the sections, placing the first or entrance lock in the now dry channel at the head of Myers' Island, and taking advantage of the present channel between the Island and main *By nine Dams shore na a line of ingress, as shewn on the detailed plan. The navigation keeping the and 12 locks, channel of the river,* until reaching below Robinson's Mills, at which point murked on the plan, a collateral cut will be rc(|uired for a short distance into the still water at O'Con- nor's, which being raised eight feet, will sufficiently drown the Highland Rapids to throw the rctiuisite depth into another collateral cut, as shewn on the detailed plan, along a meadow, chiefly through rock excavation, upon which I propose to have Lock No. XIII. of 9 feet lift, which will carry the communication into the navigable sheet above Widow Harris's liou.*e, at which point the Wing Dam, as shewn, will be re(|uired to raise the water sufficiently to ensure the necessary draft of water over the shallows above Lewis Bush's, and be- fore coming to the foot of the little or Chisholm's Rapids, at which place the second Section commences, and which, although of no continuance, and the rise apparently trifling, being only 8 7 8, yet presents considerable difficulty, and which may be overcome with most advantage by one lock of 10 feet lift, the difference from the natural rise (8 7 8) occasioned by raising the long reach above, and by 1100 yards of excavation through lime stone rock, of a nature easy of excavation, and of suitable material for the lock, itc, as the rate per estimate will shew. This section will co.st i;i3814 7 0, and bring the navigation into what I shall (Cor distmction) call the Perry Rfiirh, extending 12^ miles to Percy Landing, the waters of which, however, will reijuire to be raised as shewn in Sections, 1 f lot 4 inches 2 by the construction of a Dam at the head of Chisholm's Rapids, on the Table Rock, in order to afford a sufficiency of water the rocky shallows opposite to the (jovertnent place from the head of Long Island upwards ; and will coat, as per estimate, £400 Halifax Currency, and ensure a perfect navigation to the foot of Section 3d or Percy Landing, which place is by nature calculated for the reception of any number of vessels, from its extended Bay (Trent Lake) and the secreting coves issuing from it. From this point to Crow Bay (termination of section 3d) a distance of \2^ miles, the river docs not, upon the whole, afford such opportunities of improvement by damming, particularly the first 1^ mile. From Percy Landing at point A (being the deepest and most convenient spot for leaving the river) the navigation mu.st follow a collateral cut along the West shore in suitable excavation, until reaching Myers' Mill pond, as shewn on the plan, rising 23ft. 8, 8, by 2 Looks of 12 & 13, 7 and from which, until reaching Wilkins' Mills, a distance of 2 3-8 miles, the river, from the fortunate circumstance of being divided by a long Island, extend- ing from Percy Landing, offers every facility that could be wished, as the whole of the water can be turned down the back or main channel during the excavations from the bed of the river, which must be lowered at the different points, as shewn on the Section, to save raising the dams to an inconvenient height, and conse (uent embankments, the banks for the greater part (to the head of Long Island) being rather low — then from Myers' mill the navigation will be carried to the foot of the Big Falls or Wilkins' Mills by 2 locks, 2 dams, and the different excavations from the bed the river. From the waters immediately below the Falls, which are of sufficient depth, and only require to be deadened by the Dam, head of Long Island, the lino of navigation must leave the river until reaching the Table Rock rapids above the Falls, or to Wilkins' boom, a distance of 1430 yards, lor which purpose, as favourable an opportunity presents as could well be conceived, alnng a natural hollow or ravine, coursing by the rear of Mr. Wilkins' house and leading nearly to the point where it is intended to rejoin the river, at this place three combined and two detached Locks will be required to carry the navigation over the Big Falls, their con- tributary rapids and tible rock chute, into the river above the boom, making a rise of 39 ft. 11 in. chiefly through favourable excavations. From hence to Crow Bay the river presents every opportunity for improvement with the exception of the Crow^ Hay or u'iddle rapids, at which point a collateral cut from No XXVII, at the foot of these rapids to No, XXIX. foot of Crow Bay, will be recjuired with 3 locks, through rock excavation of well bedded limestone; from the Boom to this point (XXVII.) reijuiring (coinprolicnding the still water at JIajor Campbell's) 2 locks and 3 dams, the whole rise being 58 ft 5 in. 3 from Wilkins' Boom to Crow Bay, with the increased head on the Bay necessary to cov.^r a tiblc rock to the requisite depth. — This section from Percy Landing will cost £113,714 13 4, which brings the line to the Forks at the foot of Heeley's rapids, where commences section No. 4, which rising 72 ft. 9 in. 5 in a distance of l^ miles, I propose surmounting by 8 locks 3 dams and 220 yards of excavation, as shewn on the section for this place, in the following manner, viz.: — At or near the Forks, by the construction of 3 dams 14, 13 it 13 feet in heii;lit by 180 feet in width with 3 locks of 9 ft, ti in., 8lt., 8 ft. lift, which will back the water into what nuy be termed Entrance Bay, at the foot ol Heeley's Falls, from which point in a direct line to the summit water of the Long Jicarh, a ravine leads, in every respect calculated to assist in overcoming the difficulties on this in)portant station, and which may be accomplished by the con- Etruction of one detached, three combined, and one regulating Lock, making a total rise with the increase of head on summit level of 7li ft. 11 in. 5 pts. re(|uisite as afterwards will be shewn, and will co.-^t in all £32,892 2 5 bringing the navigation into the 14 Mile Reach, on which however there exists three different impedi- ments to more than 18 inches draft of water, and which are tinged on the general plan amounting in all to 4 ft. 2 in. perpendicular rise, which, together with the complement of water re(iuired over the Upper Shallow (say .3 feet) make a total of 7 ft. 2in. The surmounting these, I had in contemplation to aocomplisli by part ex- cavation, and to have towed up Craft by a Machine suitable for the purpose, but after taking into account the comparative trifling damages which would arise, from raising the level of the Long Reach, and the facility of doing so at Heeley's Falls, the adoption of the latter measure, would seem the more advisable, and which is in- tended to be effected by a dam across the table rock at the summit of Heeley's Falls of 13 feet in height and 16 t fl p. 1 ( £ 70«2 D. 10 320 in li'Dgtl), at an expense of e7r)0 which at tho same time will effect a material savinp in the rock excava- tion, from tlie Bumniit level, head of tlic Falln, to the tiuard Lock, and which bein-; wholly rock, will more than compensate f..r the ennstruction of the dam. To last section, the fjth, the navi;;ation in now broupht by the last named dam, baokinf; the wafer to Crooks' rapids, where a similar obstruction to the rapids at Chisholm's occurs : the naturid rise beinj; 8 ft. 2 in. and the rapids running over a continuation of table rock, with at the time of inspection only 9 inches water, and at lowest water nearly dry. To overcome these, as well as to en,>-ure a sufficiency of water over the rocky shallows between Asphodel Bridge and Rice Lake, I should propo.se tho construction of a dam across the river below the rapids, at a con- venient site, which shall be of suflScient height to tl'.ow 5 feet water over the now lowest portion of tho table rock, on which thcro is above the mill, 1 ft. 4 in., and from whieli, excavating a few beds, say to 2 feet in depth tor a short distance, will leave a permanent increase of level atan