REPORTS ON TORONTO HARBOUR, 



31 



of course increase in proportion to the population, so that at the 

 end of twenty years more, taking the population at that time to 

 be 100,000, the increase of deposit may be fairly calculated to be 

 at least 700,000 cubic yards in addition. 



In Sir R. Bonnycastle's Report, this subject is also briefly alluded 

 to, as follows, and the injury to the Harbour anticipated: " I also 

 beg to remark that in making the sewers for this City, it would 

 be very advisable to construct one main sewer through the whole 

 length down to the Marsh, instead of lateral ones into the Bay." 



The difficulty of constructing a main sewer in an easterly di- 

 rection is insurmountable, in consequence of the want of a sufficient 

 fall, a sewer constructed as above described being almost on a 

 level, would be always subject to be choked up with the deposits 

 from the lateral drains, and from this inevitable result would bo 

 destroyed in a few years. 



In a letter of mine addressed to the City Council in 1853 it is 

 recommended "that a covered channel should be constructed in 

 the centre and beneath the intended Esplanade, from the River 

 Don to Queen's Wharf. 



The drains of the City to be extended to this channel, and a 

 portion of the current of River Don to be turned into it by dam- 

 ming the present channel and allowing the surplus water to flow 

 into the Marsh as at present over a waste weir one foot in height 

 above the present level of the water." This would be self-acting, 

 and would carry off the unhealthy deposits which are now being 

 made in the Harbour, as evidenced by the rank vegetable growth 

 in the stagnant water about the wharves. 



As the final disposition of this matter rests with the City Coun- 

 cil it may be considered sufficient for the present purpose to state, 

 that for the preservation of the Harbour the sewers should not be 

 permitted any longer to empty their filth into it, which if other- 

 wise provided for, instead of being an injury to the Harbour and 

 a cause of unhealthiness to the citizens, would eventually be a 

 source of profit. 



For the preservation of the Harbour the next question that sug- 

 gests itself is the strengthening, or the opening, of that portion of 

 the Peninsula termed the Narrows ; when the question of the im- 

 provement of the Harbour is taken up, it will be sufficient then to 

 show the advantage to be derived from the construction of an 

 eastern entrance, or the contrary ; but as far as regards the preser- 

 vation of the Harbour is concerned there can be no doubt that the 

 strengthening and not the opening of this portion of the Bay is 

 the safest and the most advisable plan. 



Considerable damage has already been done by allowing the 

 breach at the Narrows to remain open so long as it had been, as 

 some thousands of cubic yards of sand have been washed into the 

 Harbour during the high water and the action of easterly gales. 



Very little damage can be done to the Harbour at present at 

 this point, as the prevalence of westerly gales in the autumn of 

 last year, and the formidable barrier of ice that protected it during 

 the winter, collected a considerable deposit on the Lake side, and 

 since that time, the water having fallen about 15 inches, has in- 

 creased the width of this portion of the Peninsula considerably, 

 but from its position being a curve from the regular line of the 

 beach, it will always be subject to damage during high water, as 

 the whole force of the waves produced by an easterly storm breaks 

 on it and carries the lighter particles of sand into the Harbour. 



To strengthen it and encourage the accumulation of sand at this 

 point two rows of piles, 20 feet apart, and five feet above the sur- 

 face should be driven on the inner or Harbour side from the 

 Marsh to Privat's Tavern, the piles to be lined with plank on the 

 inside, and the space filled up with the deposit from the Marsh, 

 which is convenient, the base of a substantial bank will thus be 

 formed, which can still further be strengthened by planting, &c. ; 

 the action of both wind and water on the sand will be to form a 

 slope on the Lake side, which will most effectually secure this 

 portion of the Peninsula from further encroachment. The cost of 

 the above is also stated in the annexed estimate. 



The construction and extension of the Queen's Wharf having 

 determined the result at the western entrance as before stated. 

 The old adage of " let well enough alone" may be safely ap- 

 plied in this instance. 



If 100 feet is dredged from the point of the bar, so as to widen 

 the channel to 400 feet, to enable sailing vessels to beat into the 

 Harbour during easterly winds, as they were in the habit of doing 

 until the present, and the wharf extended westerly in a line with 

 the point of the bar, which work is now under contract, and will 

 be completed this year ; the bar cannot possibly close up the 

 channel as the current into and out of the Harbour will always 

 be sufficient to keep the channel clear ; the opinion which was 

 expressed in my letter of 1853, experience has proved to be cor- 

 rect, as the extension of the Queen's Wharf 200 feet since that 

 time has produced the very result which was then anticipated. 



It is there stated " as to the extension of the Queen's Wharf 

 westward it cannot effect the channel, provided the deposit on the 

 bar is removed as recommended, it would not increase the deposit, 

 it would merely alter its form, which would then assume a wester- 

 ly direction." 



In order to understand the subject thoroughly it will be neces 

 sary to investigate the effects of the current into and out of the 

 Harbour during the prevalence of easterly as well as westerly 

 gales. As to the fluctuations of the water on the Lake during 

 calm weather they are so irregular in their action that the result 

 is inappreciable though certainly beneficial. 



During a westerly gale the water rising suddenly in the Lake 

 by the action of the wind the surface level will of course be main- 

 tained, and the water will flow into the Harbour. The effect of 

 the force of the wind on the surface level of the water, causing it 

 to rise at the opposite point from which the wind may be blowing 

 at the time was ascertained by Smeaton to be eight inches in one 

 mile, the wind blowing a strong gale, or at the rate of 40 miles per 

 hour at the time. The experiment having been made on the water 

 in a narrow canal, is hardly any criterion of the effects that a gale 

 of wind of the same velocity might have on so large an expanse of 

 water as Lake Ontario ; but still it will afford some data to be 

 enabled to judge of its effects by comparison. 



The great damage caused occasionally at the Harbour of Buffalo, 

 and other ports on Lake Erie, by the sudden rise of water, caused 

 by severe westerly gales in that comparatively shallow Lake, is 

 also a further proof of the force that is produced by the action of 

 the wind on a large surface of water, the actual effect can only be 

 ascertained by continued observation. The records kept during 

 the last few years by the Harbour Master prove the sudden rise of 

 the water from the effect of an easterly as well as a westerly gale 

 to be from four to six inches, and even more. 



