David Gibson
Prov. Land Surveyor
To The Honourable A. N. Morin
Commissioner of Crown Lands
&c., &c.
Quebec
York Mills, 23rd March 1854
Sir,
Pursuant to your instructions of 4th February last, I have now the honor to report the result of my examination of the matters to which these referred.
1. On the entrance of the Saugeen River into Lake Huron, the depth of water within and without the entrance, and the material of which the bottom is composed, I would beg leave respectfully to observe,
(1) That as large bodies of ice had accumulated in the mouth of the River, and an ice extended into the lake as far as the eye could penetrate, to cut through this in such a vast number of places as would be necessary to obtain the soundings in a proper manner would have involved a very great amount of time, labour and expense. These soundings, however, I ascertained were taken by Provincial Land Surveyor Linn (?) on the survey of Southampton, and, so late as 1853, they were also minutely made by Mr. Fleming, Engineer for the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron Railway Company, with a view to the formation of a harbour at the mouth of the Saugeen. I have no doubt that these soundings were correctly taken, and would now be found to be the same, with the exception, perhaps, of those about the bar at the mouth of the river, which appears liable to change from time to time under the influence of floods in the river and gales on the lake. In these circumstances I considered that the soundings by Mr. Fleming would serve the immediate purpose in view, and that the Department would feel satisfied with them in the meantime at least, and until the disappearance of the ice admits of fresh soundings being more easily and accurately obtained. I have accordingly marked on the accompanying plan the soundings as taken by Mr. Fleming, and a copy tracing of these by that gentleman is sent along with it.
(2) The River Saugeen cannot be regarded as navigable. It has not sufficient depth of water and it besides abounds in rapids. Even rafting in the present state of the river is practicable only during the prevalence of high water in spring and fall; and serious accidents are then not of infrequent occurrence on the rapids, from rafts, skiffs and canoes, owing to the shallowness of the water, coming in collision with large stones in the bed of the river.
(3) Other rivers in Upper Canada of a similar description are dammed for mill purposes, and I see no reason why a dam may not be constructed on the Saugeen at or about the position of that projected by Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross, provided proper slides or aprons are placed in it. These might be provided with a double set of slash-boards, one set to open up stream, the other down stream, as employed on the wash weirs of some of the canals in France; so that, during low water, when there is not a sufficient current in the river to fill the slide, the slash-boards could be opened to allow rafts to be carried through and again shut. By such means the lumber from the mill above could be rafted down to market even in a dry season when rafting otherwise could not be performed, and the more expensive mode of drawing by teams dispensed with.
From the limit of the purchase by Messrs. Lines & Hamilton to where the dam is proposed to be built by Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross, there is a fall in the river of nine feet one inch. There would be some small flats a little above the projected dam partially overflown, but nothing of any value. At the upper flats the water would not by this dam be raised more than two feet eight inches, and the larger and more valuable flats would remain three or four feet above its surface. By forming a sort of slack-water navigation as the dam of Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross the water would be raised to the tail race of the mill of Messrs. Lines & Hamilton, and would be of advantage in enabling them to erect a boom for securing logs near to their steam saw mill, which is situated on the bank of the river a little up from the projected site of the dam to be erected by Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross.
In this dam I would beg to suggest that the Government should reserve a power to place and use a proper lock, lest it may at any future time be required.
(4) As Lake Craft do not ascend the river above the production of Grosvenor Street, a dam built above it and below the production of Albert Street would in no way injure the navigation or harbour; but would, I believe, rather tend to improve the latter, by collecting in the dam the silt which is now carried down to the mouth of the river and there, by the operation of the current and gales on the lake, formed into a bar.
2. The reserved land to the west of Front Street, being the piece marked on the plan as that applied for by Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross, is a sandy beach, formed of the deposit of the River Saugeen and the sand washed up from the lake. There are on it several log houses erected and inhabited by certain squatters. Before these parties took possession they were duly certiorated that the ground was a Government Reserve. This tract of land together with that suggested as a Custom House Reserve, both marked red, and the ground beyond the northern limit of Street to the water’s edge, marked yellow, delineated on the plan, would in my humble opinion be required for the construction of proper mills and works in connection with them.
Mills might be built on the north of the Custom House Reserve, and the water there discharged into the river. The cost of constructing a proper dam and mill race for such may be estimated at £2,500.
I would not however recommend this, but would suggest that the head raceway be carried on through part of the Custom House Reserve and the land to the west of Front Street towards the line of High Street, in such way as to enable mills to be constructed along its whole line. So this case a tail-race would also require to be dug through the Custom House Reserve and the said land west of Front Street to discharge the water into the lake at the line of High Street, all as delineated on the plan. The cost of constructing a proper dam with such head and tail raceways may be estimated at £3,000. This is an amount of capital greatly beyond the compass of ordinary settlers and parties in this district, and its expenditure could only be justified by ample limits being conceded for constructing the mills and for works and yards in connection with them.
I may be here permitted to take the liberty of mentioning that there is no grist mill within a range of 30 miles of Southampton, and that the want is greatly felt by the settlers.
3. In regard to the tract of reserved land of 560 acres in the Township or Saugeen on the lake shore, I regret that that from the depth of snow lying on it I was unable thoroughly to examine it. There is no occupant on it, nor is there any improvement. I was informed by the agent, Mr. McNab, that he had reported to the Department its value at 12/6 currency per acre, which I should think a fair price for it.
4. With respect to Lots 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 in each of Concessions A & B of Elderslie, consisting in all of 1000 acres, I would beg to report as follows.
(1) Samuel S. Rowe is in possession of Lots 12 & 13 in Concession A, and has about 35 acres cleared and about 40 acres slashed, with a good hewn log house and log stables. This makes a comfortable resting place for many a weary traveller. Rowe has been in possession for a number of years. He said he had been informed by Messrs. Vidal & Philips, Provincial Land Surveyors, that no reserve had been made there in the survey of the township; and he went on as the pioneer of that section at a great sacrifice of labour and expense. I would beg to recommend that his claim be duly respected. His improvements may be valued at about £300. He offers, on reasonable terms, to surrender such a portion of Lot 13, through which flows Greenock or Muel River, as may be required for the construction of a grist mill
(2) Samuel Orchard is in possession of Lots 14 & 15 in Concession A. He has a good log house and barn, and about 25 acres cleared and 20 acres chopped. He also went on in good faith, supposing they were farm lots. He is likeways willing to surrender such portion of Lot 14 as may be required for the construction of a grist mill. His improvements may be valued at £250, and I would beg to report favourably of his claim.
(3) The five lots of Concession B are no better than the average of Government land, and may be sold at the usual price. Lot 11 and those possessed by Rowe and Orchard in Concession A have the road from Elora to Saugeen running through them. This enhances their value, which may be stated at 12/6 currency per acre.
5. On my arrival at Southampton, I was informed by Mr. McNab that he had sent an application to the Crown Land Department from Messrs. Lines & Hamilton, for leave to dam the River Saugeen at the rapids where they purchased last spring, and that on it I might be called on to examine and report at a future time. I would now, therefore, beg, most respectfully, to report in favour of extending to Messrs. Lines & Hamilton the privilege of damming the river, on condition of their placing in their dam a slide or apron similar to what may be put into that of Messrs. Wallbrige & Ross, and reserving power to put a lock with.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most Ob. Humble Serv.,
David Gibson
Prov. Land Surveyor