REPORTS ON TORONTO HARBOUR. 



races attain their utmost elevation near Scarboro' tavern : (Gates') 

 the elevations of the terraces, as measured by Mr. Murray, the 

 assistant Provincial Geologist, are as follows : — 



First Terrace above the Lake 161 feet 



Second Terrace above the First 159 ,, 



Second Terrace above the Lake 320 ,, 



— See Geological Report for 1845. 



As before remarked, these terraces run into one another on 

 Mr. Crone's farm, that is to say, the second or highest terrace trends 

 here so much to the South thai a portion of it has fallen into the 

 waters of the Lake, as shown in section No. 4. The slope of the 

 second or highest terrace has been denuded by the fall of its 

 materials to the extent of about 100 feet, so that the perpendicular 

 altitude of this, the highest denuded portion of the Scarboro' 

 heights, does not exceed 260 feet, upon the basis of Mr. Murray's 

 altitudes, which, for the total height of the first arid second cliffs 

 are the same as those given by Mr. Fleming, namely, 320 feet. 

 About 60 feet of the cliffs of the second terrace still remain clothed 

 with heavy timber, and have not contributed any materials to 

 increase the deposition on the shore of the peninsula boundary of 

 Toronto Bay. It is highly probable that the present generation has 

 witnessed the fall of the first contribution of the second or highest 

 terrace to the sand shoals of the Lake, and it may confidently be 

 asserted that 50 years ago the second terrace was separated from the 

 first by a narrow plateau several yards in breadth, and conse- 

 quently quite unaffected throughout its entire developement in 

 the township of Scarboro' by the waters of the Lakes. On the 

 next farm to the westward, that of J. Thom, the second or highest 

 terrace has been still less subject to the effect of the' encroach- 

 ments of the Lake, and remaining portions of the first terrace can 

 be seen forming projections in the sides of the crater like cavities 

 produced by the land slips which have caused these extensive and 

 destructive removals. 



The next farm to the west belongs to D. Pherill, there the 

 second terrace is attacked to a very trifling extent, and the pro- 

 jecting remains of the first terrace are more distinctly seen. On 

 the junction between the farms of A. Pherill & A. Ashbridge (the 

 next succeeding to the west,) the second terrace leaves the Lake, 

 and retires into the interior, as shown in the diagram No. 2. 



It thus appears that the amount of materials derived from the 

 destruction of the second terrace is inconsiderable, and might be 

 altogether embraced in a dozen gullies similar to that represented 

 in fig. 3, which was sketched this spring, and of which there are 

 great numbers equalling it in capacity, along the first or lowest 

 terrace, between Gates' Farm and a mile or two to the east of the 

 commencement of Ashbridge's Bay. Mr. Fleming's ingenious 

 speculations with respect to the original form of the Scarboro' 

 heights, and . their relation to earlier developments of Toronto 

 Harbour, as exhibited in his diagrams numbered 9, 10, 11, 12 and 

 16,* become imaginary, and the section number 16 assumes the 

 probable form exhibited in diagram No. 4, in one spot only ; the 

 highest cliff contributing its materials to the Lake, not exceeding, 

 50 years ago, the height of 160 feet. Although Mr. Fleming's 

 account of the past history of the Scarboro' heights, and, as will 



be shown hereafter, of the marshes, or Delta of the Don, is not 

 borne out by existing topographical conditions, yet it happens 

 that its failure in this respect does not interfere with his views of 

 the formation of the Harbour in its present condition and develop- 

 ment. The first or lowest terrace, from the nature of the 

 materials entering into its composition, and its altitude, (in some 

 places 160 feet) affords abundant supply of detritus to explain the 

 formation of the sand and shingle beaches constituting the penin- 

 sula boundary of the Harbour and of Ashbridge's Bay. 



The first terrace is composed of stratified sand and gravel, 

 and of blue clay. In one of the gullies adjoining that represented 

 in fig. 3, the following order of stratification was observed by the 

 writer. The same order of stratification was frequently noticed 

 along the cliffs of the first or lowest terrace :f — 



Yellow clay and vegetable mould, about 2 feet. 



Stratified sand and gravel 16 ,, 



Blue clay, 25 „ 



Stratified sand 50 „ 



Blue clay and concealed measures to the water's edge. 

 Diagram number 5 shows the stratification in a gulley near 

 Gates' farm. 



A layer of two feet of small water worn boulders from one inch 

 to six inches in diameter is very persistent about 10 feet from the 

 surface of the lowest terrace ; coarse and fine sand, beautifully 

 stratified, occur in vast quantities ; in fact the cliffs now present 

 every requisite feature for rapid destruction. 



They did not present these features fifty years ago, and there can 

 be no question but that the operations of the settler have 

 exercised a vast influence upon the recent rate of progress with 

 which the destruction of the cliffs has taken place, and (as a not 

 very remote consequence) the alarming rapidity with which the 

 peninsula boundary of Toronto Harbour has increased during late 

 years. In 58 years upwards of 30 acres have been added to the 

 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 the direction of 

 Humber 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 the peninsula, as indicated on the 

 Map No. 6, and which only requires a period of low water to 

 develope 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 forces or supply of materials, for they have occurred in 

 deep water, and involve the removal of many million tons of 

 shingle and sand. 



It is now proposed to consider the relation of the Scarboro' 

 cliffs 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 be 

 one of the utmost importance, as it seems to lead at once to those 

 remedial measures which the preservation of the Harbourdemands. 

 It points to a power which has been slowly and beneficially acting 

 for centuries, but 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 the partial union of the two terraces takes 



See " Canadian Journal," Vol. II., page 228. 



f Note C, Appendix. 



