1854.] 



APPENDIX. 



they said they had not observed it. The question is not one of 

 importance, nor has the writer had any opportunity of verifying any 

 statement by personal inspection. 



NOTE F. 

 During the present spring the writer endeavoured to discover the 

 ancient beach of Lake Ontario, alluded to in the text. At the depth 

 of two feet, on the borders of the marsh, he found, repeatedly, a 

 washed sand, but did not succeed in finding shingle and pebbles. The 

 high state of the water prevented any search being prosecuted far in 

 the marsh, at a depth of three and four feet. 



NOTE G. 

 In October, 1S53, the writer sketched the appearance of the ridges 

 and new reef, at Lighthouso point, from the summit of the lighthouse, 

 of which, Diagram No 10, is a representation. The diagram does not 

 pretend to the accuracy of measurement. It was sketched at that 

 time with a view to illustrate, at some future period, the theory of 

 the formation of the Harbour advanced in this Report. 



NOTE H. 



The Bay subaqueous extension of the peninsula has been remodelled 

 and disturbed in many parts, this arises from a circular current which 

 sweeps round the south shore of the Bay, towards the bar at the 

 mouth, when westerly and south-westerly winds press the waves on to 

 the north shore. Equilibrium is established by means of this current, 

 which is, of course, dependent upon the force of the gales from the 

 quarters mentioned. The late Mr. Eoy, C.E., notices this current in 

 the paper before alluded to. 



NOTE I. 



The late Dr. Houghton, State Geologist of Michigan, took the level 

 of Lake Michigan, in 1819, as his Zero of Comparison, and he noticed, 



in subsequent years, the following variations in the, level of that 

 Lake : — 



Level of Lake Michigan. 



Years. 



1819 .. 



1830 .. 



1836 .. 



1837 .. 



1838 .. 



1839 .. 



1840 .. 







in. 

 

 



Zero of Comp. 



11 

 7* 



(Report of the State Geologist of Michigan, 1841.) 

 Approximate Estimate for the construction of Works for the 

 preservation and security of Toronto Harbour. 



Groyne at Lighthouse point, about 400 feet long, into 40 feet water 3000 

 Groyne at E. M., into 15 feet water, estimated length, with al- 

 lowance for Low Lake Levels, 60 chains 2000 



Groyne at mouth of Harbour, 100 chains 4000 



Total £9000 



Estimated Expense of constructing a Canal, into 40 feet water 

 at A, and 20 feet water, at G ; approximate length, 1900 

 yards, width 200 feet 15000 



Construction of Groyne from K to G, 100 chains 4000 



Total Expense, including Canal and Groynes 28000 



Amount of available Land enclosed by works between the points 



A. G. F 250 acres: 250 acres at £100 per acre 25000 



Difference £3000 



'REPORT 



ON THE PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT 



OF 



TORONTO HARBOUR, 



BY SANDFORD FLEMING, CIVIL ENGINEER. 



[ The second premium of Seventy Five Pounds was awarded to the 

 author of this Report.] 



TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF TORONTO HARBOR: 



Sir, — A public requisition has been made for information as to 

 the means which should he taken for the preservation and im- 

 provement of your Harbor, by a notice dated March 14th, 1854, 

 and a pecuniary reward has also thereby been offered. This last' 

 although perhaps insufficient in itself to an elaborate examination 

 of the subject, is doubtless an additional incentive to all who may 

 chose to compete for it ; but to one who is proud of, and takes de- 

 light in, those pursuits collaterally related to his profession, the 

 pleasure derived from an enquiry so interesting as the formation 

 of that singular breakwater bounding your harbor is in itself in- 

 ducement snfficient ; and I. am fortunately in possession, by pre- 

 vious and independent researches, of information enabling me to 

 approach it with some degree of confidence, and I accordingly 

 submit the accompanying copy of a paper laid before the Canadian 



Institute about four years ago, which you will be pleased to con- 

 sider as preliminary to this report. 



Toronto Harbour — Its Formation and Preservation. 



Read before the Canadian Institute, June 1st, 1850 ; 

 By Sandford Fleming, C. E. 



The origin of the now wealthy and flourishing City of Toronto is, in 

 common with that of many other cities and towns, clearly traceable to 

 certain natural advantages possessed by their localities. A waterfall 

 or rapid stream, the navigable termination of a river, or its junction 

 with a lake or other open navigation, will frequently account for the 

 position of a town or village in an agricultural or manufacturing dis- 

 trict ; but a natural harbour of easy access will generally, if not uni- 

 versally, point out the locality of a thriving commercial nucleus, in all 

 countries open to settlement and civilization. 



To none of these circumstances except the last can we attributethe 

 origin of Toronto. We have no waterfall, — no navigable river — even 

 the soil itself is comparatively barren, and for several miles around, 

 with a few isolated exceptions, unsuited for agricultural purposes. To 

 the last, therefore, must we ascribe the beginning of Toronto, and to 

 the unequalled excellence of this harbour forming on the north shore 

 of Lake Ontario, the most facile outlet for the productions of the back 

 country, is principally due the rapid and uninterrupted progress in 

 commerce and wealth of the western capital. To maintain this harbor 



