404 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



extent upon this continent ; and I believe there are some 

 very good farmers; but there is, upon the whole, a very 

 great lack of that enterprising spirit which alone can 

 bring a rich soil into a high state of culture and produc- 

 tiveness. 



On Thursday afternoon, August 15th, I left Hamilton, 

 and reached Toronto in four hours, run close along the 

 north shore of the lake, where a good many flourishing 

 farms are to be seen, if we may judge by what I have 

 always considered a good sign, that is, good barns. 



Toronto is also situated up a bay, though not back 

 from the shore like Hamilton. One of the most prominent 

 objects in approaching this city is the Lunatic Asylum, 

 and next the extensive, commons lying waste in front of 

 it, though not quite so worthless to the world as the bar- 

 racks and their occupants, also seen in the same view. 

 What a number of persons might support themselves 

 by cultivating this tract of rich, alluvial land now lying 

 idle, or only serving to show off the trappings of the few 

 swords not yet made into pruning hooks and plow shares. 

 I was disappointed in finding Toronto so much more of 

 a lively, thriving business place than I expected. The 

 population is about 27,000, which, I presume, includes 

 somewhat extensive suburbs. One of the best farming 

 regions of the province lies contiguous, and gives trade 

 and wealth to this city. 



By the politeness of Mr. McDougal,^ editor and pro- 

 prietor of the Canadian Agriculturist and the North 

 American, I had an opportunity of viewing the farms 

 some ten miles out "Yonge street." This name is given 

 the continuation of the principal street leading north, in 



^William McDougall, born in York (Toronto), Upper Canada, 

 January 25, 1822; died at Ottawa, May 29, 1905. Attorney and 

 Bolicitor, Member of Canadian parliament. Commissioner of crown 

 lands, 1862-1864. Minister of public works, 1867-1869. Founded 

 the North American, 1850. Keenly interested in agriculture. Ex- 

 hibited Shetland ponies at the Ohio State Cattle Show, 1850. Ameri- 

 can Agriadturist, 9:375 (December, 1850); Wallace, W. Stewart 

 (comp.), Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 254 (Toronto, 1926). 



