306 



ON THE FORMATION OF A CANAL BETWEEN LAKES ST. CLAIR AND ERIE. 



[1855 



as having appeared in tlie Toronto Po^r/o^; and added tliat 

 I heartily concurred in many of the writer's remarks, thongh 

 in some instances a little too sanguine, and in others he over- 

 looked arguments in favour of the project which I might 

 perhaps take the liberty of supplying; but that in the mean 

 time I might remark that the writer was evidently neither a 

 military nor naval man, otherwise he would not have altogether 

 overlooked the great advantage that would result, in the event 

 of War with the States, from our thereby possessing so much 

 additional internal navigation, and having the control of the 

 waters of Lake St. Clair,'"in case of any hostile movement from 

 Detroit. 



I then proceeded to state that in addition to less direct 

 information, picked up at intervals, relative to the suggested 

 line of canal, and the great natural capabilities of the mouth of 

 "Two creeks" for being converted into a superior harbour, I 

 had then lying before me a minute profile of the levels of the 

 very tract of country through which the former was proposed 

 to pass, which had been in my keeping several years, and to 

 which I had, after a careful examination of the details, attached 

 the following memorandum : — 



"Memorandum regarding the levels of the country between 

 the mouth of the Thames and Lake St. Clair on the north, and 

 Lake Erie on the south ; as applicable to the feasibility of 

 cutting a canal between the two Lakes in that direction. 



" From the data furnished by an elaborate Profile (from actual 

 survey) of the proposed line of canal from a creek and marsh 

 on the north shore of Lake Erie, (inferred to be Two Creeks, 

 but not expressly so stated) to Jennett's Creek, at the mouth 

 of the River Thames, on Lake St. Clair, by A. E. Hathon, Esq., 

 Engineer, (executed about eight or nine years ago), it would 



links, and the difference of level in the waters about 8 feet (taken from 

 a Survey made some years ago. (a) By throwing the eye over a Map of 

 the district, the immense advantages which such a channel of commu- 

 nication would produce are immediately seen. Vessels navigating the 

 upper lakes would save a distance of from 12-5 to 1-50 miles, and that 

 ot themost dangerous part of the voyage. Three-fourths of tlie vessels 

 which go up the Detroit River, passing by that City, and even those 

 intended for that Port, would gain by the proposed improvement, in as 

 much as Vessels are often wind bound for days together at the mouth 

 of that River, to the great detriment of trade and loss to the owners. ( h) 

 To Propellors, which will no doubt very soon supersede the sail crait 

 on our Lakes, it will make a material difference in the article of fuel. 

 Those boats are particularly adapted to our narrow and deep streams 

 and when used by us will have the effect of adding to our inland 

 navigation some 300 miles through a country aboimding with the 

 choisest woods, with a soil unsurpassed in richness and fertility, — the 

 destined granary of the Province. The contemplated project would 

 facilitate trade and navigation, by affording a cheaper, safer and 

 speedier route, — objects of no small importance to those whose means 

 are limited. It would be a link in the chain of improvements now 

 going on in the Province ; and, instead of detracting from, woiild add 

 to their general utility and profit, by increasing the means of transit, 

 and thereby bringing the productions of the "Far West" nearer to 

 market ; a desideratum most essential to the settlement and growth of 

 the country, as well as to the development of its resotu"ces. One of 



(a) There is probably some mistake bere ; the distance according to my memorandum 

 being 1+^ miles, and the difference of level between the two lakes only 5^ feet. 

 See iS'ote R. L., as below. 



(&) This, owing to the great prevalance of N.W. and N.E. winds is often exemplified in 

 from 20 to 30 vessels being at times seen at anchor for diiys together, waiting for a fair 

 wind, both at the mouth of the Detroit and in Lake St. Clair, — presenting to the idle 

 spectator a very interesting view of these "Musquito Fleets'' taking a bustling ad- 

 vantage of the fii-stpuff of afavour.ablebreeze. — It may also be here added that so r.ipid 

 is the deposition of sediment in Lake St. Clair, from there being no perceptable current, 

 that it is inferred by many tnat it will ere long assume the form of a regular River, 

 bordered by broad marshes. How far this will tend to fill up, or to deepen the few 

 narrow navig.able ch.annels now available may be a question. — But it is a fact that at 

 the mouths of tbo Rivers that faU into it, it is difficult to discern whetiier the water 

 flows oat or in, and that there is generally a greater depth witliin their mouths than 

 outside. R. L. 



appear that the .surface of Lake St. Clair is 5} feet higher than 

 that of Lake Erie, and that the direct horizontal distance between 

 the two Lakes is 1,140 chains, or about 14} miles,* and that 

 from Lake Erie the land has a gradual ascent for between four 

 and five miles, until it has attained its greatest elevation or .sum- 

 mit level of 384- feet above the lakes, when it descends gently 

 for more than four miles to a black-ash swamp and creek (not 

 named) about sixteen and a half feet above the lake ; after 

 which there is a slight sudden rise of about three feet, after 

 which it resumes a continued gradual slope during the remaining 

 third of the distance until it meets Jennett's Creek (at a point 

 not definitely explained) on the same level with Lake St. Clair. 

 The nature of the surface soil is nowhere particularly noted ; 

 but it would appear to be free from rocky impediments ; and 

 its general superior character, as regards agriculture, may be 

 inferred from the forest with which it is described to be clothed, 

 consisting of varieties of hardwood, indicative of fertility, such 

 as black-ash, elm, red and white oak, maple, hickory, and beech." 

 Having thus furnished the data from which I had been led 

 to assume that the opening of a canal or cut between Lakes 

 Erie and St. Clair, at a moderate expense, was quite practicable, 

 I next referred to the following memorandum respecting the 

 equally easy conversion of the mouth of Two Creeks into a 

 "first-rate" harbour for any reasonable number of vessels, as 

 gathered from two highly intelligent friends residing in the 

 neighbouring Township of Gosfield, who were familiarly ac- 

 quainted with itsloctdity; adding that there were not a few 

 other well informed persons in that quarter who regarded Two 

 Creeks as not only superior to the Rondeau as a safe and suffi- 

 ciently commodious harbour, but a far more eligible site for a 

 village, the latter sheet of water being so very extensive as to 

 partake more of the character of an open road-stead than a 

 shelter harbour, and at times agitated by waves of such magni- 

 tude as to place small craft in no little jeopardy; and the 

 neighbouring land being in general low and marshy; whereas 

 the proposed harbour at the mouth of Two Creeks is described 

 as well sheltered on all sides, and the village site on the point 

 of land at the junction of the two branches high and dry, and 

 otherwise of a very agreeable aspect, as demonstrated in the 

 following "Descriptive Sketch : — "f 



" The name of Two Creeks is derived from two branches 



the difficulties which its present inhabitants have to contend with 

 would be removed, encouragement would be held out to the indus- 

 trious, and new energy ic parted to every part of the province. Capital 

 would be safely invested in a thousand w.ays, with the certainty of an 

 ample and sure return ; and the Farmer would not only obtain a better 

 equivalent for his labours, but the necessaries of life, being cheaper 

 would be more available, and the luxuries of life would sweeten its 

 cares. — The Municipal Council have addressed His Excellency on the 

 subject, requesting that a Survey may take place, and a report be 

 made thereon, under the control of the Board of Works, A question 

 of such moment, it is to be hoped will not be lost sight of by the Mer- 

 chants of Toronto, and Kingston ; but that on the contrary they will 

 canvass its merits and demerits. Several eminent Engineers have 

 pronounced the work practicable ; and thh t it would be profitable there 

 is no doubt. Trade is every year increasing. The project is not 

 visionary, but real ; and all that is wanted is a united effort to con- 

 sumate it. (Signed,) Y. Z. 



* This is about two miles less than from Chatham to Shrewsbury, 

 on the Rondeau, which by the plank-road is about sixteen miles. 



j- It may be proper to add, with regard to the Rondeau, that the 

 large natural basin, so called from its being of a round form, is situated 

 on the western side of a long projecting point of low land, named Point 

 aux Pins, and consists of about 6,000 acres, with a depth of from ten 

 to eleven feet, but so unsheltered— the surrounding marshy tract being 



