366 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING 



those already settled, than government adhering to the pre 

 sent upset prices of land. 



The want of information which could be relied on regard 

 ing the United States, and the praises lavished on Upper 

 Canada by interested parties, has drawn a number of emi 

 grants to this district of late years. The stream of emigration 

 has, however, begun to take a different course, and the price 

 of land in Canada will tend to steady its direction. It is a 

 knowledge of the Western States, joined to their pecuniary 

 difficulties, which makes so many farmers anxious to sell their 

 properties. The late rise in the price of land operates as an 

 inducement for enterprising individuals to leave the province, 

 and already some of them yearly take their departure. 



But the whole system of settling land in Canada has been 

 bad for many years. The retention of two-sevenths of the 

 land for crown and clergy reserves, retarded improvement of 

 every description, and granting immense tracts to favourites 

 of government increased the evil. Bestowing grants of 200 

 acres by favour of government, or private individuals, pre 

 vented settlers choosing situations for themselves, and they 

 were often directed to unfavourable parts of the country, with 

 a view perhaps of enhancing the value of properties in the 

 neighbourhood. A lot of 200 acres of forest land was too 

 great an extent to grant unconditionally to settlers, without 

 capital, as experience proves they seldom clear 50 acres with 

 aid of a family. From these causes the province may be said 

 to be overrun instead of having been settled, the evils of a 

 forest-covered surface perpetuated, and the good effects which 

 result from concentration and unity of population effectually 

 retarded. 



It might now perhaps be difficult to remedy the state of 

 things. A tax ought to be levied on forest-land above a 

 specified extent, to check speculation in land, and induce large 

 landholders to sell or improve their possessions. Land ought 

 to be sold cheap, in small lots, for ready money, on condition 

 of actual settlement and annually clearing a certain extent. 

 The Canada Company ought to be got rid of, or forced to 

 dispose of its land at fixed prices, and on stipulated conditions. 

 Britain, in legislating for Upper Canada, should do justice to 



