24 



REPORTS ON TORONTO HARBOUR. 



The canal, having thus the effect of widening the Ithsmus and remov- 

 ing all probability of its destruction, would, besides being a great 

 accommodation to sailing craft in adverse winds, and to steam vessels at 

 all times, likely enough prove of service in another respect. The purity 

 of the water in the B ay is ever liable to be impaired by the vessels in 

 dock, and its close proximity to the city. The canal would provide an 

 additional opening for the ingress and egress of the slight tidal wave 

 formerly referred to, doubtless presenting greater facilities for the 

 renewal of the water in the harbour on its occaisonal fluctuations in 

 level. 



From certain simple and well-established premises it has been my 

 purpose to draw reasonable conclusions, which in recapitulation may 

 briefly be stated as follows : — 



First, That the foundation of the Peninsula enclosing the harbour 

 may be attributed in its early stages to the debris of the country tra- 

 versed by the Don, in conjunction with a drift from an ancient pro- 

 montory at Scarboro'. 



Second, That the drift from Scarboro' has supplied and gradually 

 deposited the main part if not the whole of the materials composing 

 the more recent portions of the formation. 



Third, That the drift is in consequence of the singular progressive 

 action given to sand and gravel beaches under certain circumstances 

 by the waves. 



Fourth, That the harbour is daily being impaired by its chief agent 

 of formation, and that its only entrance is threatened with early destruc- 

 tion by the same cause. 



Fifth, That its preservation may be permanently effected by the con- 

 struction of groynes at well selected points. 



Sixth, That the dangers to be feared from the silt of the Don and 

 sewage of the city although remote, would, taken in conjunction with 

 the increasing deleterious effects of the latter on the water of the 

 harbour warrant their total exclusion. 



Seventh, That the construction of a south-eastern entrance would be 

 a great accommodation to the shipping, may improve the purity of the 

 Bay water, and, if properly executed, have no effect in lessening its depth; 

 but would only assist in the preservation of the harbour so far as its 

 piers, acting as groynes might retard the sand, widen the narrows, and 

 thus strengthen the weak point of the Peninsula. 



Although the preventive and remedial measures are founded on what 

 I believe to be correct deductions, yet, seeing that they differ materi- 

 ally from those advanced by others who have considered the subject, 

 they are presented on that account with some degree of timidity. 1 

 purpose, however, with the view of either confirming or modifying the 

 conclusions arrived at, to continue a series of observations, carefully 

 noting the various changes going on ; and will if deemed worthy, take 

 much pleasure in laying the results of such observations before the 

 Institute at a future time. 



By the perusal of that paper, it will be found to be chiefly 

 founded on a very laborious and expensive survey made between 

 August, 1849, and the spring of 1850. Without such a survey, I 

 am inclined to think any opinions on the subject would be too 

 speculative to be of much practical value, and I may therefore 

 claim that in this competition due consideration be given to my 

 previous labors, of which this Report may be considered as the 

 result. 



All the leading characteristics of the peninsula wore laid down 

 by careful triangulations — the shoals lakeward by soundings and 



angular intersections, and the nature of the bed of the basin ascer- 

 tained by boring and soundings through the ice, and chaining on 

 its surface ; these soundings amount to between two and three 

 thousand, and are reduced to an approximate mean level of Lake 

 Ontario, ascertained in conjunction with Captain Lefroy, from a 

 series of lake levels taken by his directions during several years. 

 The chart made from this survey is a necessary accompaniment of 

 this Report, and I shall be happy to submit it any time for your 

 inspection ; but since I have yet hopes of refunding myself (by its 

 publication) for the cost of its production, you will be pleased for 

 the present, therefore, to consider the copyright secured to me. 



The results deduced from the evidence set forth in the paper re- 

 ferred to were so startling, that on the occasion when I had the 

 honor of laying it before the Institute, I determined to lose no 

 opportunities of verifying or contradicting them. The promise 

 then made I have not failed to make good, having from time to 

 time instrumentally observed the various natural changes in pro- 

 gress : and since those observations were made with the greatest 

 care, and appear to be of considerable value, I am gratified by the 

 opportunity now afforded me of laying them before you. Being led 

 to believe that my views on this subject are at variance with the 

 acknowledged opinions of parties officially connected with the 

 harbour, I have been especially careful to review the grounds of 

 my decisions, and have discovered no reason for departing from 

 the opinions originally expressed by me in the paper referred to, 

 but on the contrary have been strengthened in them by subsequent 

 and very recent investigations. I therefore frankly submit to you 

 my convictions, taking leave to remark, that they are based on 

 well ascertained facts, capable of positive proof, and not at all on 

 any of the many prevailing rumors and baseless suppositions 

 which are current amongst us in relation to this harbor formation 

 and its present state. 



It may be laid down as an axiom that a right understanding of 

 the causes of the formation of the Harbour and of the continual 

 changes it is undergoing, is essential to the consideration of any 

 preservative measures. The document attached enters so fully 

 into this part of the question that it appears to me unnecessary to 

 enlarge thereon, more especially since four years additional ob- 

 servation very materially strengthen and go far to confirm the 

 opinions therein promulgated. I will first, then, explain the 

 nature and results of the instrumental observations recently made. 



My attention has lately been more particularly bestowed on the 

 subaqueous operations at the Entrance, not that they are here 

 most active, but because they are least conspicuous and most to 

 be dreaded. To ensure accuracy the following steps were taken : 



The approximate mean level was referred to a permanent stone 

 benchmark, the stone step of one of the cellar doors of the Custom 

 House, under which it was found to be six feet and one inch. The 

 mean being only approximate and subject to after corrections, six 

 feet under this benchmark was assumed as a good datum, and to 

 which all soundings were reduced. Scales were established at 

 various points with zeros corresponding in level. 



A floating chain 462 feet in length, made of long wooden rods 

 linked together with iron rings, was constructed for measuring 

 with the greatest possible accuracy horizontal distances on the 

 surface of the water. 



An iron tripod was erected on the shoal as a fixed point from 

 whence to stretch the chain and measure distances. 



