HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956 Rouge Duffin Highland Petticoat Conservation Report (Province of Ontario Department of Planning and Development)
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Fourteell fJer cellt of tlie LillIe Houge Valley is Class I agricultural land. This
land does /lOt Jer/llire special conservation practices or restrictions in use to main-
tain its productivity. The reI/winder of the {ana requires some or all the practices
rpcO/lllllenaea in this report.
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DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
HON. W. M. NICKLE, Q.C. T. A. C. TYRRELL
Minister Deputy Minister
A. H. RICHARDSON
Chief Conservation Engineer
R.D.H. P.
VALLEY
CONSERVATION
REPOR-T
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1956 ,
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ONTARIO
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TORONTO
1956
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One hundred and eighty copies of
this report have been prepared,
of which this is
Number c::--c-/
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Honourable W. M. Nickle, Minister,
Department of Planning and Development;
Parliament Buildings,
Toronto, Ontario~
Honourable Sir:
I take pleasure in transmitting
herewith the complete Conservation Report for the
Rouge River, Duffin, Highland and Petticoat Creeks.
The report covers History; Land,
Forestry, Water, Recreation and Wildlife.
Yours very truly,
A. H. Richardson,
Chief Conservation Engineer
Toronto, November 26, 1956
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CON S E R V A T ION BRA N C H
TECHNICAL STAFF
Chief Conservation Engineer and Director of the Branch:
A. H. RICHARDSON, l-i 0 A'"" . , S.M.Silv., F.E., P.Eng.
Assistant Director:
A . S . L. BARNES, B. S c . F .
Soils and Land Use:
H. A. SMITH, B.A.
Forestry:
F. G. JACKSON, B.Sc.F.
Hydraulic Engineering:
C. E. BUSH, B.A.Sc., O.L.S., P.Eng.
J. W. MURRAY, B.A.Sc., P.Eng.
Hydrometeorologist:
J. P. BRUCE, M.A., A.R.Met.S.
Wildlife and Recreation:
K. M. r~YALL, M.A., B.Sc.F.
Historical Research:
V. B. BLAKE
Supervisor of Field Officers:
H. F. CROWN, B.S.A.
Authority. Field Officers and Liaison:
W. D. ADLAM, B~Sc.F.' .
R. V~ BRITTAIN, B~Sc.F.
M. CHUBBS B.Sc.F.
G. M. COUTT , B.S.A~
K. G. HIGGS, B.Sc~F~
H. G. HOOKE6 B.Sc.F.
L. N. JOHNS N, B.S.A.
A. D. LATORNELL, B.S.A~S M.S.
R. M. LEWISR-B.S.A., M. .
E. F. SUTTE , B.A.
';rJTls1Jl"tan"t in Hydraulic Engineering:
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PROFESSOR G. ROSS LORD, B.A.Sc., S.M., Ph.D., P.Eng. i
P.U THOPSH IP
Field work for the Land Use Section was done
under the direction of W.J.P. Creswick, and this section was
written by A.L. Burbidge. Forestry field work was under the
supervision of R.V. Brittian, and the section was written by
F. G. Jackson.
Field work and writing the reports for the
other sections was done by the following:
History V.B. Blake
Water C . E. Bu sh
Wildlife K.M. Mayall
Recreation W"M. Baker
Editing and format were under the personal
supervision of A.H. Richardson assisted by A.S.L. Barnes.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I
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Grateful acknowledgement is made of
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the co-operation received from the District Forester, ,
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the Ontario Agricultural College, the Agricultural ~
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Representatives and municipal officials, which has t
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assisted materially in the preparation of this report. 't
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i TABLE OF CONTENTS
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i Letter of Transmittal
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i' Conservation Branch Staff
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i Authorship
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I Acknowledgements
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i Table of Contents
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I' List of Illustrations, Tables.
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I Graphs and Maps
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, Introduction
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Recommenda tions
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PART I - HISTORY
Chapter 1 Before Settlement Page 1
1. Pre-Iroquoian it 1
2. Prehistoric Iroquoian n 1
3. French and Iroquois " 4
4. IIississaugas 11 7
5. The Indian Traders n 8
6. The Names of the Rivers 11 10
Settlement - 1794-1$37 Page 14
1. The Berczy Settlement in
narkham Township n 15.
2. Scarborough Township - 1796-1826 11 24
3. 1IWindham" and the French Royalists -
179$-1806 . 11 27
4. Pickering Township - 1798-1$25 11 30
5. Whitchurch and Uxbridge Townships -
1801-1$25 11 38
6. Markham Township - 1$00-1$25 II 40
. Chapt er 3 Transportation to 1$56 Page 45
1. Water Transportation lY 45
2. Indian Tra ils " 50
3. Roads and Travel il 55
Unrest and Development - 1$25-1867 Page 7$
1. The Completion of Settlement " 7$
2. The Troubles of 1$37-3$ H 85
3. Life in the Area before 1$67 il 93
Chapter 5 Mills and Villages Page 115
1. Mills " 115
(a) Early Mills - 1$17-25 11 115
(b) 1$25-1$61 1I 11$
(c) 1$61-1915 ,I 122
(d) Cooper's Shops, Stave and
Shingle Mills 11 124
(e) Carriage and Waggon Factories il 125
(f) Woollen Mills If 125
2. Villages II 126
(a) Markham Ii 126
(b) Pickering Ii 128
(c) Stouffville i1 131
(d) Some Unincorporated Villages i! 1.33
Chapt er 6 The Area Since 1$67 Page 137
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART II - LAND USE
Chapt er 1 The Physical Features Page 1
1. Oak Ridges " 2
2. The Rolling Plain II 3
3. The Shallow Clay Plain II 4
4. The Sand Plain 11 4
5. The Deep Clay Plain iT 4
Chapter 2 Introduction Page 5
1. Little Valleys 11 5
2. The Selection of the Little Valley i! 5
3. A Description of the Two Valleys II 7
(a) The Little Rouge Creek IT 7
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.~ (b) The Claremont Cro~k If 8
4. Methods of Survey It 8
5. Aim of This Survey and Report II 9
i 6. The Conservation Program II 9
I Chapt er 3 Soils Page 10
1. The Soil Profile IT 10
2. Catenas, Series and Types il 11
(a) Soils Developed on Water-
I Deposited Sands 11 11
(b) Soils Formed on Till 11 12
I ( c) Soils Formed by Standing Water ',i 12
3. Gleizolic Soils IT 13
I 4. Identification of Erosion II 13
5. Soil Descriptions n 14
1 (a) The Brighton Catena IT 14
1 (b) The Pontypool Catena IT 14
j (c) The King Catena it 15
(d) The Woburn Catena i1 15
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1 (e) The Cashel Catena II 16 I,
I (f) Bottomland \t 16 I
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j Chapter 4 Land Use Page'l$ .~
1. Types of Farming, Crops, Rotation II 18
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2. The Importance of a Study of "
I Land Use II 18 :
3. Present Land Use II 19
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! Chapter 5 Conservation Practices Page 21
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Ii 1. Soil Conservation II 21
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I 3. Erosion II 21
4. Estimating Erosion 11 23
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il 5. Crop Rotations and Cover Crops ii 25
6. Improved Pasture II 26
7. Contour Cultivation and Strip-
Cropping II 28
8. Terraces II 29
9. Grassed Waterways n 30
10. Gully Control II 31
11. Drainage II 32
II 12. Farm Ponds " 34
I, 13. The Run-Off Cycle IT 35
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14. Summary IT 35
Chapter 6 Land Use Capability Page 37
1. The Land Use Capability i
Classification " 37
2. Recommended Land Use Classes
according to Use Capability II 38
3. Land Use Classes " 39
4. Recommended Land Use Classes
I Compared to Present Use 11 41
I 5. Summary of Tables Ii 42
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 7 Farm Planning Page 44
Chapter 8 ~rogram Effectuation Page 58
1. The Recorrmended Land Use ~aps IT 58
2. Getting the Job Done iT 58
PART III - FORESTEl
Chapter 1 The Forest in the Past Page 1
1. ~\ t th,3 r;:'ime of Se-:.tlement ',I 1
2. Clearing the Land II 3
3. Yarest Products i? 4
Chapt er 2 Survey of Present Woodlands Page 7
1. Survey Methods " ~
2. ~orest Cover Types YT
3. C0nci~io~s of Woodland It 13
4. ScrubJ.anc.s iT 14
Chapter 3 Markets and Marketing Page 15
1. The Timber Harvest il 15
2. Tj.mber Sal.s.s ,1 17
3. Timber Sale Cont~acts II 19
4. Attemo~s at a Sclutio~ of the
j\Jli.1Tketing P:~oblem II 22
Chapter 4 Fores~ CcnseTvation Measures in Progress Page 27
1. Demonst~ation Woodlots IT 27
2. Demonstr.s.tion Plantations IT 27
3. Private Planting n 28
4. County Ferests 11 29
5. Tree-Cutting By-Laws a 30
6. 4-H Clilbs It 31
7. Tree Farms n 31
Chapter 5 Forest Conservation Measures Required Page 32
1. Woodlot Improvement Projects " 32
2. Private Reforestation il 34
3. Authority Forest iT 35
4. The Authority and Conservation
Educac.ion II 37
Chapter 6 Further Forest Conservation Measures
Required Page 38
1. Woodland Management iT 38
2. Elimination of Woodlot Grazing il 39
3. Forest Fire ~rotection if 44
4. Protection from IDsects and Diseases 11 47
5. Windbreaks and Shelterbelts ,I 50
PART IV - WATER
Chapter 1 General Description of the Watershed Page 1
1. Watersheds and Rivers 'iT 2
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I Chapter 2 Floods Page 8
1. Former Floods II $
2. Cause of Floods II 15
3. Remedial Measures for Flood Control
1 and Low Flows IT 19
Chapter 3 Reservoir Storage and Available Reser-
voir Sites Page 25
1. Available Reservoir Sites n 25
Chapter 4 The Degree of Flood Protection Page 2$
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Chapt er 5 Communities Flooded and Remedial Measures Page 30'
1. Highland Creek II 32
2. Rouge River " 33 "
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3. Duffin Creek " 34 ..1
Chapter 6 Hydrology Page 41
1. Precipitation, Stream Flow and
Run-Off VI 41
2. Maximum Flows II 43
3. Storm of October 14-15, 1954 " 45
4. Haze~ Centred on Duffin Creek Area 1t 47
5. Probable T1aximum Precipitation il 49
6. Other Areas within the Authority II 49
7. Low Flows Ii 53
$. Pollution n 54
Chapt er 7 Community Ponds Page 55
Chapter $ Summary Page 60
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PART V - WILDLIFE "~!
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Chapter 1 Introduction Page 1
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Chapt er 2 Wildlife Conditions along the Lower ;..1,
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Rouge River " 2 Ai!
1. Introduction Tl 2 "~
2. Method it 2 :i 1~
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3. Wildlife Status " 7 '.
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4. Conclusions n 11 f'l
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Chapt er 3 Improving the Land for Wildlife Page 13 :~
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1. Woodlands " 13 il..
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2. Cultivation Practices 71 13 '..~
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3. Cover Patches Tl 14 :j
4. Ponds and Streams " 15 ';'1
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Chapter 4 Fish Page 17 iil
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1. Introduction II 17 <':1
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2. Methods Tl 19 it
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3. Permanence of Flow and Summer " 21 It
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Temperatures l~
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4. Pollution 17 21 I:
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5. Fish Distribution Tl 22 I;
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6. Stream Improvement n 22 ~
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7. Ownership Tl 23 I
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PART VI - RECREATION
Chapt er 1 Introduction Page 1
1. Populations IT 1
2. Recreation Needs T! 2 I
3. Ways of Developing Parks II 3
Chapter 2 Land Types for Recreation in the
Watershed Page 7
1. The Northern Hills " 7
2. The Plains and River Valleys II $
3. The Lakefront 11 11
Chapter 3 Areas Recommended for Acquisition Page 15
1. Bond Lake hultiple-Use Conservation
Area II 17
2. Highland Creek Multiple-Use Conser- Tl 19
vation Area
3. Rouge Valley Multiple-Use Conservation 26
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4. Whitevale-Dixie Multiple-Use Page 33
Conservation Area
5. The Greenwood ~lltiple-Use
Conservation Area 11 36
6. Ajax Multiple-Use Conservation Area II 39
7. Cedar Grove Conservation Area II 43 Of
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Chapter 4 Public Beaches Page 50 "
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1. The Port Union Beach II 51
2. Petticoat Creek Beach 11 53
3. Frenchman Bay Beach II 55 !
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LIST OF ILLU~TRATION~ TABLES~ GRAPHS AND MAPS
Class I land on the Little Rouge Frontispiece
pART I - HISTORY
ILLUSTRATIONS
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:1 Dressed log house. Markham Township ) r'
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House built.. by John Eyer ) 23
Box Grove from near the Tomlinson Ktll )
I Wellington Hotel, Markham Village )
Old inn at Goodwood ) 74
I Old inn at Ringwood )
Old house in I~rkham Village )
Farmhouse Lot 5, Cnn.X, M~arkham ) 77
Truman P. White's house, Whitevale )
Hastings House )
Robb House )
William Major House - William Major ) 103
occupied this lot )
St. Andrew's Church, Bendale )
Erskine Church ) 113
Melville Church )
Bruce Mill )
Whitevale Flour Mills ) 115
Ruins of the Woollen Factory at Almira )
MAPS
Roads and Mills about 1817 41
Rouge, Duffin, Highland and Petticoat
Watersheds about 1861 114
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I GRAPHS
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I Scarborough, TO~TIship Population )
I Pickering, Markham, Township Population ) 148 ;~
Markham, Pickering, Stouffville ) 'ii
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Village Population ) ~ ~
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PART II - LAND U$E
ILLUSTRATIONS
FollolrlS
page
Overuse and Misuse of Light Land )
Class I Land left and Class III )
Land right ) 7
. The Valleys contain different kinds )
of Land )
Profile of l~lliken Loam )
Level Land may be subject to Water Wash ) 23
Cultivation up and down the Slope )
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Slopes are easily cultivated )
Cultivation on the Contour may be ) 28
impractical )
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A pleasing example of a small Pond 34
Land Class IIR requires Management )
Similar to Class I Land ) 38
Class III Land Sheet Wash )
Class V Land is subject to Flooding )
Some Class V Land needs Forest Cover ) 41
Class VI and VII may be rough )
Soil, Slope and Erosion 47
Land Use Capability 49
Farm Plan 52
MAPS
Physiography 1
Claremont Creek Valley 39
Little Rouge Creek Valley 4'
TABLES
Land Use Classes 42
Mapping Symbols used in Farm Planning 48
PAHT III - FORESTRY
ILLUSTRATIONS
Follows
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Second Growth White Pine and Red Pine 8
Overcrowding slows Growth )
White Cedar ) 11
Sugar Maple and Beech-Sugar Maple )
This Thinning has meant Revenue )
Pruning to improve Quality ) 28
Branches mean Knots )
Priva}.e Planting }.
Water causes Gullies 33
Reforestation for this Land )
The hreaking of Sod causes Wind Erosion )
Soil has gone 1rdth the Wind ) .36
Advancing Sands will destroy Farmlands )
Cattle in a Woodlot ~
The Area becomes unproductive for many
Years ) 39
A Healthy Woodlot should contain )
Io'ul.g Growth )
A Stump Fence testifies )
Protec~ive Measures should be used ) 46
Tree s sa-,~ thol.l.san~s of Dollars )
Follows
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~unicipalities and Recommended
Authority Forest and Woodlot ) Chapter 6
Improvement Projects )
Rouge, Duffin, Highland and Petticoat )
Watersheds ) ~f
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Showing - ) in Back .j
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Recommended Reforestation Land and ) Report
Existing Woodland ) ,F
GRAPHS
Per Cent Woodland )
Fuelwood Production ) 6
Maple Products )
Forest Cover Types by Townships 12
Woodland Conditions by Townships )
Forest Cover Types ) 13 .1
Woodland Condition& ) ;1
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Land Classification - Total Watershed 14 :1
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Private Flanting Progress 34
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Land Classification Recommended 37 )
Authori ty Forest '.
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Windbreak Plan for 1,000 Acre Block 51 :~r
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TABLE S ',.1
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Remaining Ty-ioodland in Per Cent 3 'j:i
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Forest Products - York County )
Forest Products - Ontario County ) 5
, Maple Products calculated as Syrup 6
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Forest Cover Types 11
Scrublands 14
PAB.T TV - WATER
ILLUSTRATIONS
Follows
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Duffin Creek at Pickering March 7,1956 )
Duffin Creek upstream from Church )
Street Brj_dge ) 10
No.2.' Highway at Pickering )
-' Riverside Drive on Duffin Creek )
, l"1arch 7, 1956 )
Dwellings on Riverside Drive ) 12
Another View on Riverside Drive )
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Rouge River north of No.7 Highway )
March 7, 1956 )
Rouge River south of No.40l Highway ) 14
Rouge River south of No.7 Highway )
Highland Creek asserts its right to the )
Flood Plain ) l
Encroachment on the Flood Plain by ) 32 ,
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Buildings ) Ja
The Floods of April 1956 )
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Temporary Dam at Woodland Park Rouge !
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IvIAPS AND GRAPHS !l
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Figo l~ Reservoir Sites and Trouble Areas I
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Figo 2: Water Level Profile 3 .~
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Fig. 3: Part Plan of Goodwood 40 ~
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Fig. 4: Hydrographs - Duffin Creek :1
at Pickering 41 !
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Fig. 5: Hydrographs - Duffin Creek :1
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at Pickering 47 1
Fig. 6: Spring Flow Hydrographs - .:1
Duffin Creek at Pickering 53
Fig. 7: Summer Flow Hydrograph -
Duffin Creek at Pickering 53
Fig. 8: Community Ponds 55
TABLES
Table I: Soil Types, Rouge River, Duffin Creek,
Highland Creek, Petticoat Creek 1
Table II: Drainage Areas R.D.H.P. Watersheds 7
Table III: Dam and Reservoir Data for Sites
on Duffin Creek 27
Table IV: Duffin Creek at Pickering 41
Check List of Floods (1$50-1956) 14
Abbreviations, Equivalents and Definitions 61
PART V - WILDLIFE
ILLUSTRATIONS
Follows
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This Trout Stream lacks depth of Water )
and Shade )
Many Tributaries are merely straight ) 20
Ditches )
This Culvert under the Mill at )
Stouffville )
Follows
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1 A spring-fed Stream )
i A 9-inch and an g-inc h Brook Trout ) 21
I Better than average Trout Cover )
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tI Duffin Creek has seve~ Cut Banks ) Map of
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4 Ponds filled with Silt ) Game Fish
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:1 Single-Wing Deflectors ) 22 and
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Ii Single-Wing Deflectors Staked ) List of
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Ii Lower Rouge River 2
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l Part of Rouge River Conservation Area 6
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I R.D.H.P. Watersheds Biological Conditions of Streams 20
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Distribution of Game Fish 21
List of Fishes 22
PART VI - RECREATION
ILLUSTRATIONS
Follows
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A View of the Lower Rouge ) 15
A very attractive Picnic Site )
An attractive Area for a large Park )
Edgelands have been taken over for )
Gravel Pits ) 21
A part of the Housing Development )
The Se.ndsp:tt from the Mouth of the )
Rou.{!8 River )
The Vurshes at the Mouth of the Rouge )
River ) '<-7
A small Dam on the Rouge above No.2 )
Highway )
Part of the unspr.iled Forestland }
An old Pav~].ion and Picnic Area ) 28
Erosion is cne of.' the chief Problems )
Picnic Site in the Ajax Conservation )
Area )
A Vielr! of Duffin Creek ) 1+0
The Lake Ontario Beach east of Ajax )
Conservat~on Area )
A part of the Beach at Frenchman Bay )
Fence restricting the use of the fine ) 55
Beach )
Follows
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MAPS
Recommended Conservation Areas 15
Bond Lake Conservation Area )
Cedar Grove Historical Park ) 17
Highland Creek Conservation Area and
Port Union Beach 19
Rouge River Conservation Area 26
Whitevale-Dixie Conservation Area 33
Greenwood Conservation Area 36
Ajax Conservation Area 39 I
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Recommended Public Beach Areas ~J
Frenchman Bay and Petticoat Creek 53
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INTRODUCTION
Conservation has long been a subject of concern
to the people of Ontario. This concern had to d~ originally
with the protection of forests because of their importance as
a source of revenue to the Province; but allied with this was ~'"
the problem of wildlife management and the protection of ,
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source areas of rivers and streams. In Southern Ontario .~
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interest in conservation was indicated first by reforestation ",
and woodlot management, but more recently this has broadened ,
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out to include flood and pollution control, improved land use ,~ I
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and provision for recreation facilities.
While the progress in these activities has been
steady up to the present, most of the programs heretofore were
initiated by government departments. Recently, however,
there has been a growing conception of personal obligation,
especially where land use problems, farm ponds and small
reforestation projects are concerned. On the other hand,
control of flooding, summer flow and pollution; large refores-
tation projects; and recreation areas have come to be consi-
dered the responsibility of the community - the community in
this case being the river valley.
With the advent of this new concept of personal
and community responsibility in conservation, the Authorities
movement was born, and the willingness of our people to under-
take conservation in this way is indicated by the fact that in
the last ten years 19 Authorities have been establishe~, with
a total membership of 287 municipalities and an area of 12,013
square miles.
The first step in establishing a Conservation
Authority is undertaken by all the municipalities wholly or
partly within a watershed. Two such municipalities must
first by resolution petition the government to call a meeting
for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not an Authority
should be established. Two-thirds of the number of repre-
sentatives which the municipalities are entitled to appoint
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(on a population basis) must be present to make the meeting
legal. If two-thirds of those present vote in favour of
establishing an Authority a resolution is forwarded to the
Government. The Authority is then established by Qrder-in-
Council and under the Act becomes a body corporate, including
representatives from all the municipalities in the watershed.
While some Authorities were brought into being
because of flooding within their areas, all were aware of the
necessity of carrying out such supplementary measures as
improved methods of land use, reforestation, proper woodlot
management, prevention of pollution, investigation of under-
ground water supplies, wildlife studies and recreation. But
the Authorities were not equipped to carry out the extensive
investigations that would indicate where such work should be
done. Consequently the Conservation Branch of the Department
of Planning and Development undertook to carry out the preli-
minary investigations as a service to the Authorities, to
appraise, by means of surveys and reports, the conservation
needs of each watershed, and to submit to the Authority a
detailed report outlining the conservation measures that should
be implemented.
The survey work is grouped under five general
headings, namely, Land Use, Forestry, Water, Wildlife and
Recreation. The scope of the studies made in each of these
subjects varies with the condition and needs of the area under
investigation. In addition to the five topics indicated
above, a study of the history of the area is incorporated.
This serves as a backdrop to all the conservation problems of
the watershed and compels the reader to understand the abuses
of the past and the need for a diversified program in the
future.
The starting point for all surveys is aerial
photography. Before the survey is commenced in the field all
such contributing data as maps, old records, photographs,
'~npublished reports and other useful information are thoroughly
(iii)
explored and recorded. While the survey is in progress
similar data are gathered locally, and agricultural repre-
sentatives, zone foresters, municipal clerks and other
officials and private citizens are interviewed for additional
material.
The results of these conservation surveys,
together with the recommendations based upon them, are set
down in the reports presented to the Authorities and intended
to serve them as a blueprint. The carrying out of any scheme
is not the work of the Conservation Branch of the Department
of Planning and Development, because it is not an operating
department. Its active participation for the most part ceases
when the planning is complete and the report is submitted,
although it stands by to interpret the report and give advice
and assistance in carrying out the plans recommended in the
report. The Authority must assume responsibility for ini-
tiating the schemes which it considers most urgent; it must
also make approaches to the government departments or other
bodies from which it hopes to get assistance.
If, for example, an Authority undertakes a
scheme having to do with land use, it must seek assistance
from the Department of Agriculture; if it involves a forestry
or wildlife problem, then the Department of Lands and Forests
is approached. In the case of flood control, however, as
there is no department of the Government doing hydraulic sur-
veys except the Conservation Branch, whose staff is not large
enough to carry through the engineering works of several
Authorities, the Authority must engage a consulting engineer
to do the final engineering and designing and to carry the
work through the construction stage. Similarly, where an
Authority undertakes a scheme which has to do with recreation,
it may have to employ men specially trained in this work.
As the work being done by Authorities is a new
approa~h to the conservation problem, in that the responsibili~
>
(iv)
of carrying it out is left entirely in the hands of the
Authority concerned, much directing and assistance have been
necessary from the Conservation Branch and, in the case of
15 Authorities, a member of the staff of the Department of
Planning and Development has been assigned to work in the
watershed.
The R,D.H.P. Conservation Authority was estab-
lished by Order-in-Council on April 1, 1954, following an
organization meeting which was held at Markham on March 10,
1954, when 14 representatives out of a total of 16 attended
the meeting and 13 voted in favour of establishing the
Authori ty. The Authority's jurisdiction actually extends
over four small valleys, from the west boundary of the
Highland Creek Watershed to the east boundary of Duffin Creek
Watershed.
As mentioned above, the Department of Planning
and Development, as a service to an Authority, undertakes to
carry out a conservation survey of the valley for the guidance
of the Authority, but the commencement of conservation work
in the valley does not necessarily have to wait until such a
survey has been made and the report presented. This has been
the case with the R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority, and much
excellent work and planning have been done independently of
the reports which have been prepared by this department.
The reports for the different sections of work
for the R.D.H.P. Authority have been issued as separates as
they became ready. These are: Land Use, Forestry,
Wildlife and Recreation. These four reports, together with
the sections on Water and History, are now presented in
one volume.
- A. H. Richardson
1
RECOMMENDA TIONS
STATED OR IMPLIED IN THIS REEQli!
That, before carrying out any project, the Authority
ascertain from the Royal Ontario Museum of Archaeology
at Toronto whether the area concerned is likely to con-
tain archaeological material and if necessary arrange l~
for the investigation of the site before operations make
this difficult or impossible. "
That where records, buildings and objects exist of suf-
ficient interest as illustrating the life of the water-
shed during the period of development, the preservation
of these relics be considered an aspect of conservation;
and that where such records and other relics are the ,
~
1
1
private property of individuals and corporations within .
the watershed, the Authority take definite measures to
encourage their preservation by their owners or their
commitment to proper care in libraries, museums, archives
and other suitable repositories.
That when sites, buildings or ruins of structures of this
kind form part of or are adjacent to properties acquired !~
, il
by the Authority for flood control, reforestation or
!
recreation, the possibility of including them in the II
I,
scheme be considered.
That in such cases sites be marked, ruins preserved and
buildings restored and used f~r some purpose in connec-
tion with the project compatible with retaining their
original character.
That this selection include the sites of all mills known
for certain to have been built before 1825; of some
later mills, factories and tanneries of particular interest
'f
-2-
and of some other buildings of historical interest which
have disappeared; some early roads and trails; and
some existing buildings interesting for their associa-
tions or age.
6. That from the large number of sites and buildings of
historic interest (in the wider sense used in these
recommendations) to be found within the watershed, a
few be selected for eventual inclusion in the scope of
the activities of the Authority, besides those connected
with recommended projects.
7. That wherever possible, the buildings be left on their
original sites and continued in their original use or
adapted to some suitable purpose in connection with the
normal life of the community.
8. That the Authority provide as part of its recreation
program an area or areas where buildings which it is
desired to preserve may be re-erected when they cannot
be retained on the original site.
9. That all these recommendations be taken as applying with
particular force to the Conservation Areas as outlined
in the Recreation Section of this report.
Land Use
10. That the valleys of Claremont Creek and Little Rouge
Creek be used as soil and water conservation demonstra-
tion areas. p. 5
ll. That the Conservation Authority co-operate with the
people on the land and interested organizations in an
effort to promote better land use on the watersheds. p. 6
l?, That the program of small valley improvement should be
aD integrated one and not comprise a series of unrelated
efforts on behalf of the forests, soils, water and
wildlife~ p. 9
-3-
13. That the Authority use the maps showing recommended land
use as a guide in promoting land use adjustments to land
capability and in promoting the use of the various con-
servation practices. p. 58 "
. i~
i
14. That the Authority consider employing a qualified man I
;
for a short time in order to obtain the co-operation of
all farmers in each little valley in a program of farm 1
p. 58 ,
planning.
.,
j
15. That the Authority promote a program of land judging ':
~..
\~
I:
contests, particularly among Junior Farmers, similar
to that carried out by the Humber Valley Conservation
Authorityo p. 59
Forestry
16. That the Authority, under agreements with co-operators
or through lease or purchase of suitable woodlots, under-
take the development of Woodlot Improvement Projects t~
demonstrate the advantages of better forestry practice.
p. 32
17. That an R.D.H,P. Authority Forest be established and
that it be expanded through a definite program of annual
additions and planting until the total recommended area
of 2,698 acres is acquired and reforested. p. 35
18. That in addition to making its tree-planter available
to landowners at nominal cost for use on land suitable
for machine planting, the Authority offer a planting
subsidy where hand planting is necessary. p, 34 I
19, That the Authority urge the adoption of a Tree-Cutting
By-Law in Ontario County similar to that now in force
in York County, p. 30 ,
20. That the Authority, by purchase of equipment, organiza-
tion of cutting crews, or direct subsidy, encourage
-4-
'I
private owners in thinnings and improvement cuttings in ~
.~
their woodlots. p. 39
i
21. (a) That the Authority investigate the Halton County .1
fencing scheme and adopt such a modified scheme as "
; ~
\
I!
seems most likely to result in elimination of wood-
land grazing. p. 44
(b) That the ~uthority publish a simple, attractive . ~~
I.
bulletin on the disadvantages of woodlot grazing. ,(
!
p. 37
"
~
22. That the Authority co-operate with schools, government 1
departments and all other groups and agencies possible I
"
"
:1
to publicize the need and the methods of reforestation i
1
,
and woodlot management; and in particular that the
Authority sponsor tours, practical demonstrations and
p. 37 ,~
field days for this purpose.
23. That the Authority act as Co-sponsor for:
(a) 4-H Forestry Clubs p. 31
(b) The Tree Farm movement p. 31
24. That the Authority assist in investigating and publiciz-
ing markets and marketing methods for woodlot products
to encourage:
(a) Maximum use of low-grade materials from
thinnings and improvement cuttings. p. 23
(b) Closer and more uniform appraisal of
ticlber, whether standing or in the log. p. 15
( c ) Marking of trees for removal. p. 15
( d) Securing of competitive bids for timber. p. 18
(e) Insistence on a written Timber Sales
Contract. p. 19
. r That the Authority investigate and urge the implementa-
~./ ,
~i0n of the best method of providing fire protection
for wooded areas within the watershed in co-operation
with the Department of Lands and Forestso p. 46
'-._0.-
,
-5- !
26. That the i-mthori ty encourage the e steblishmcnt of wind- '0
breaks and shGlterbelts. p. 52
Hater
,
~~
27. That unattended mill ponds be emptied in the fall to "
,
prevent the formation of heavy ice sheets. p, 19
2$. That, where practical, dwellings within the flood plains
be expropriated and the lands retained for recreational
purposes. p. 24
29. That no further encroachments of the flood plains be
permitted without being carefully investigated from
the standpoint of the flood hazard and their probable
effect upon the passage of flood flows. p. 24
30. That, in view of the probable future demand for
reservoirs for water supply and flood control, the
necessary action be taken now to acquire lands for
reservoir sites. p. 27
3l. That where flood protection work is undertaken it be
designerl. for at 18ast the m'lgnitude of storm "Hazel"
centred in the \II!3.tGrshed. p. 28
32. That Scheme B, consisting of a pumping system to
relieve the f~o0ding at Goodwood, be considered for
iITlInediat6 C";~'2tr':1<:,;tion at a cost of $33,000. p. 40
33. That a nu~be~ cf community ponds be constructed
thr()ugh'J,~t :.1J:3 v,l.tersheds to provide added recreational
facilities. p. 55
Wildlife
34. That one or More of seven areas described in the report
(which lie in the lower Rouge Valley) be set apart as
a natural park and wildlife sanctuary. pp. 1 and 3-12
-'
-6-
35. That the Authority encourage farmers and other land-
owners to improve their land for wildlife by the
elimination of grazing of woodlands, by selective
cutting in woodlands, by improved cultivation practices,
by the planting of wildlife food patches and by the
construction of farm ponds specifically for fish and
wildlife. pp. 13-16 and 23
36. That in order to control pollution the Authority
urge the introduction of a permit system for every
new outlet (except agricultural drains) which leads
into a watercourse. p. 21
37. That the Authority carry out an extensive educational
program concerning pollution. p. 22
38. That the Authority acquire or urge the acquisition of
one or more good stretches of Duffin Creek for public
fishing. p. 23
39, That the Authority sponsor a demonstration of an
improvement of a trout stream. p, 23
40. That the introduction of fish into the watershed be
I'
restricted to those parts of the river shown on the
map "Biological Conditions of Streams" to be suitable
for the species concerned. p. 29
Recreation
4l. It is recommended that the following lands be
acquired and developed for public use. pp. 17-19
Bond Lake Area 250 acres pp. 17-19
Highland Creek Area 2,185 acres pp. 19-26 I
U
Rouge River Area 1,485 acres pp. 26 - 3 3 ' i
White 1,062 acres pp. 33-36
Greenwood Area 720 acres pp. 36-39
Ajax Area 390 acres pp. 39-'43 I
Total 6,092 acres
.
-7-
These lands could be acquired in any of the following .
way s : . ~
.!
(a) Outright acquisition by the Conservation Authority.
(b) Joint acquisition by the Conservation Authority
and the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.
(c) Outright acquisition by the Municipality of .
Metropolitan Tnronto.
(d) Acquisition by the Division of Parks of the
"
Provincial Department of Lands and Forests.
,
42. That the Authority gradually acquire and develop the
following Public Beach Areas by one of the methods
recommended above,
Port Union Beach 7 acres pp. 51-53
Petticoat Creek Beach 25 acres pp. 53-55
Frenchman Bay Beach 250 acres pp. 55-5S
43. That the Authority gradually acquire the Cedar Grove
Community Park and historical site (255 acres) in
order to provide security of tenure for its development
by the local community organization, alone, or in
conjunction with other interested bndies. pp. 43-49 1
~
t
,
,
I
J;~
if
~
"
~
CHAPTER 1
BEFORE SETTLEMENT
~t
1. Pre-Iroquoian
The earliest inhabitants of this part of Ontario
belonged to the prehistoric races (called the Pre-Iroquoian)
which have left traces of their presence in many widely
separated parts of Ontario. They were a wandering race of !
hunters who planted no crops and consequently had few regular E
~:
camp sites or villages. Some finds have been made in this
area, but they do not compare in interest with those of the
later peoples.
Excavation may yet reveal more definite traces
of the race called the Mound Builders, who penetrated the Great
Lakes from the Ohio Valley before the Iroquoian peoples moved
into the area. They seem to have left no striking traces
above ground such as are found in other parts of Ontario. The
greater part of the Indian remains that have been found in
this area are relics of peoples of the Iroquoian group.
2. Prehistoric Iroquoian
The Iroquoian group includes most of the races
that occupied the southern part of Ontario before 1690. They
had entered the area seven or eight hundred years ago _
possibly much earlier. Some of them may have been ancestors
of the "Iroquois" of historic times; but they may equally well
have been Hurons, Petuns or Tobacco Indians, or, though this is
less likely, Neutrals.* They spoke related languages, and had'
a common culture. They all planted crops and lived in fairly
permanent villages often fortified with stockades. They built 11i
;.~:
:t
long houses, inhabited by several related families, as well as "
d
\l
I'
"
round huts. They reckoned descent through the mother, were 'I;
it,
divided into clans with a common totem or religious symbol,
* These are the French names for these nations.
-2-
and showed a tendency to form more or less permanent con-
,'i
federacies of tribes or nations. They sometimes buried their
dead in separate graves, but more often placed them on plat-
forms for some time. Later the bones would be buried in a
communal grave or pit.
The Confederacy of the Five Nations Iroquois
was by far the best organized of these leagues. It was formed
about 1570 uniting the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga and
Oneida nations. It is pcssible that some of these tribes had ~
lived north of Lake Ontario and had been driven out by other
Iroquoian nations before the Confederacy was formed. Very
early sites may therefore be actually villages inhabited by the
ancestors of the historic Iroquois; but those occupied until
a comparatively short time before the coming of the French in
1615 were probably occupied by Hurons who withdrew to the
country between Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay where Champlain
eventually found their villages.
Indian relics have been found in a number of
places in these watersheds and a fairly large group in
Scarborough Township was recorded by 1896. ~~ They are all in
the north-west quarter of the Township in the area between
Bendale, Ellesmere, Agincourt and Amber. They included
individual burials, casual finds and indications of camp sites
or possibly villages. Some of the sites gave definite evidence
of contact with Europeans, but others could be referred to
prehistoric times. Unfortunately some of the finds had
occurred in an early stage of settlement, most of the sites
were on cultivated land and none had been systematically exca-
vated. Until very recently experts hesitated to ' identify any
as village sites, but the evidence suggested a fairly heavy
occupation before 1600. The recent chance discovery of a
large ossuary or burial pit near the Old Danforth Road, at
t
,::
* David Boyle: The Township of Scarborough. "
~i
~~
-3-
Lawrence Avenue and Bellamy Road, confirmed this conclusion ,
II
;~
and identified the inhabitants as Iroquoian. This find led to ;
i'
the investigation of another location on Highland Creek near ";,.
"
"j
'-
'.
Brimley Road and Lawrence Avenue. This proved tc be a village "
I'
occupied about 700 years ago by an Iroquoian people, ~
perhaps 1,
,
the Iroquois. It possibly was connected with the burial pit
a short distance farther east, though "graves" on the same lot
are recorded in 1896.
Finds near the Rouge in Scarborough Township
indicate settlement along the portage trail and extend in to
the southern part of Markham Township in the vicinity of Cedar
Grove. Two village sites north of Steele's Avenue have been
excavated, one on Lot 1, Con. X and the other, a more recent
find, on Lot 1, Con. VIII. Both these villages seem to have
been occupied before 1600. In the interior of Markham the
recorded finds are much fewer. This might be expected for the
Indians usually lived within easy reach of a large lake or
river, unless there were special reasons for choosing an inland
location. The group of finds in the southern part of Whit-
church Township may be partly explained by the small lakes in
the morainic ridges. In historic times Indians are recorded to
have visited such lakes to take ducks and fish. But the best
known of these sites, which lies just beyond the watershed of
the Rouge, has been excavated and shown to be a village
occupied just before the coming of the French.*
It seems possible that pressure from the Five
Nation Iroquois may have forced some of the early inhabitants
to leave their homes near the lake and that they settled in
the ridges in the hope of retaining command of the portage but
were later forced to seek greater security farther north. Not
much has been recorded about Indian sites in Pickering or
* Thi s sit e seems to be the one marked on some maps "Old
Fort". Early reports mention traces of palisades and
other fortifications; but these were not found in the
excavation.
-4-
Uxbridge. Most of the finds have been near the lake. No
important portage led through these townships and there was
less inducement to settle farther inland. The finds near the
mouth of the river are probably connected with the Seneca
village that will be discussed in the next section and with the
Mississauga village or villages that replaced it about 1700.
3. French and Ir~quois
"
The historic period in Upper Canada opens with
~
Champlain's first trip down the Trent River System in 1615. At
that time the Rouge portage ran through a no-man's land between
the Iroquois and their enemies the Hurons. Champlain never
visited this area and it is not known that any of his compan-
ions did. He does not show any villages in this area, tho ugh
he does show a river that may have been meant for the Rouge.
The portage was probably little used at this period. The Trent
was a less exposed route to the St. Lawrence as the Humber
was to Niagara. There is no record that any Frenchman visited
the Rouge or Duffin Creek before 1660. Some may have done so
in the period when the Iroquois were deciding whether they
would ally themselves with the French or the Dutch, but soon
.,'~
after 1630 it became impossible for Frenchmen to travel on ,,\i
',I
;' ~
Lake Ontario. After the Iroquois had destroyed the Hurons,
~;~
Petuns and Neutrals in 1650-52, Lake Ontario was even more :!t
"
~.
;:r
firmly barred to the French. The north shore became the Five ~~
Nations' principal source of fur and fish. The northern
Algonkin* nations, Ottawas and Chippewas, had, however, de-
feated the Iroquois in one or two great battles and were soon
strong enough to threaten their control of these hunting
grounds. ),
, ~:i'
"
To maintain this, villages were established ,
,
;
along the north shore. The two villages in the Toronto region It'
* The French called some nations of this group "Algonquins",
but gave different names to the others. "Algonkin" is
now preferred as the name of the language group.
-5-
were occupied by Senecas from the area east of Niagara. One .:J'
of these villages was near the mouth of the Rouge. The first
white men to visit it were the explorers and traders, Pere and
Joliet, who crossed the pcrtage to the Holland in the summer of
1669. The earliest mention of its name, Ganatsekwyagon, seems
to be in connection with the arrival of two Sulpician priests
/ /
of the Montreal Se~inary, the Abbe de Fenelon and Father d'Urfe,
who passed the winter of 1669-70 in the village. They decided
to set up a mission there as a branch of the newly-founded
mission at Quinte (Carrying Place) and this was done in 1670
or 1671.
Relations with the Iroquois had improved since
1665 and the French were anxious to keep the Dutch out of
Lake Ont ar io e In 1673 Fort Frontenac was founded and for more
than ten years Frenchmen could pass freely over the Toronto
portages. At first they seem to have preferred to go by
Ganatsekwyagon, but in 167$ La Salle sent thG first sailing
vessel from Cataraqui (Kingston) to Niagara. This brigantine
was forced to put in to the mouth of the Humber. From that
time La Salle used the Humber route, probably because of the
good anchorages near the mouth of the river.
Much less is heard of Ganatsekwyagon after 1678
than of Teiaiagon on the Humber, but there are enough references
to show that it was still used from time to time. In 1687 a
party of Dutch and English from New York went to attack
Michilimackinac. One section under Colonel Patrick MacGregory
went "by Tarontell (Toronto, i.e. Lake Simcoe). As they came
from Oswego, they probably used the Rouge portage, possibly
the first British to visit the area.* War had again broken out
with the Iroquois. The mission at Ganatsekwyagon was withdrawn
and in the summer of 1687 Denonville, Governor of Canada, led
a punitive expedition against the Senecas south of the lake.
--
* They failed to surprise Michilimackinac and surrendered to .'.'
the French commander. .K
,,~
J
"
-6-
On his return in August he stopped at Teiaiagon and
Ganatsekwyagon and probably burned both villages. At
Ganatsekwyagon he collected "a good share" of two hundred deer,
killed by Christian Indians sent ahead to hunt on the north
shore. It has been suggested that these converts were Senecas
of Ganatsekwyagon, but it is more likely that they were some of
the Indians sent from Sault Ste. Marie. After this there is
no record of the Senecas of Ganatsekwyag~n; they evidently soon
retired across the lake.
The location of this village is uncertain. All
the French and English maps up to 1757 that show the village
(it was marked on maps long after it had ceased to exist) place
it on a large river and those that show the portage make it
begin on this river. The river is certainly not Frenchman
Bay, yet there is a tradition that the Sulpician Mission was
at Frenchman Bay. The references to this mission all place it
at 'Ganatsekiagon". A note on the Dollier-Gallinee map of 1670
against the name of the village reads
"It was here tha t M. Perray and hi s party camped
to enter Lake Huron - when I have seen the
passage I will give it; however, it is said
the road is very fine, and it is here the
missionaries of St. Sulpice will establish them-
selveslf.*
This certainly seems to connect the village with the portage,
river and mission. If the village was on the Rouge, a pro-
bable site is one about half a mile from the mouth on the east
bank. It is said that many Indian relics were found here and
that it was once known as Indian P~int. It is the kind of site
usually chosen for fortified villages which the early British
settlers called "castles". No site on Frenchman Bay has been
sugge sted.
- -
* Quoted in P.J. Robinson: Toronto During the French Regime;
p. 18. Another note on this map speaks of "villages" at
Ganatsekwyagon. There may have been another village at
Frenchman Bay.
,j;,
-7-
4. Mississaugas
The arrival of the Chippewas and Mississaugas
as settlers in the Rouge area evidently took place early in
~f~
1700. In June of that year envoys of the Five Nations reported
at Albany that the previous winter they had persuaded some of 1
it
the "Dowaganhaes (Outawas)1f to come and settle "at a place
!
called Kanatiochtiage" on Lake Ontario
l'"
" ...and accordingly they' are come and settled .~ '1
there and have sent five of their people to ;1
Onondaga to treat being sent from three Nations ~
;~
who are very strong, having sixteen castles".~1- i;,1
.1'"
These Algonkin peoples had learnt a good deal from their more
advanced neighbours. They now planted corn and so were
attached to one locality by their cornfields. They may some-
times have built "castles" at this period; but as a rule
their villages were only groups of bark lodges, frequently
shifted to a new site for sanitary reasons. They regularly
went off in a body to hunt, fish for salmon or make maple
sugar. They were good warriors but not very reliable allies,
apt to go home at inconvenient times. They caused the French
a good deal of anxiety between 1700 and 1757, though they
traded regularly at the French forts. On the whole they seem
to have preferred the British. During the Revolutionary War,
however, they were more uf a trouble than a help.
The Mississaugas sold the block known as the
Toronto Purchase to the Crown by a treaty concluded at
Carrying Place in 1785. This treaty was confirmed at Smith's
Creek (Port Hope) in 1788 and another treaty, signed at the
same meeting, ceded a deep strip alung the north shore from the
Trent to the western boundary of Scarborcugh Township. In
what is now Ontario County this purchase was extended northward
to Lake Simcoe.
~} P.J. Robinson; Ope cit. p. 49.
- -. .-.-.
-8-
The Mississaugas continued to frequent this
area for nearly fifty years after they ceded it to the Crown.
They were the Indians who were sometimes a nuisance and some-
times a help to the first settlers. Their behaviour was some-
times alarming, they often pilfered and individuals could be
dangerous. But on the whole they gave little trouble. The re
were no Indian raids on the frontier in Upper Canada except
in 1812-14. In that war some of the Mississauga chiefs
distinguished themselves fighting for the British. In peace-
time they sold the settlers venison, and small game, deerskins,
furs, baskets and maple sugar. As settlement advanced the
Mississaugas withdrew to the north, but until about 1835 they
used to return regularly to camping places such as the one on
Lot 29, Con. III in Scarborough Township. ~l- A little later the
government with the help of the missionaries was able to
persuade them to settle down on reservations.
5. The Indian Traders
After the French retired from Fort Rouille in
1759 the only white men frequenting the north shore of Lake
Ontario were illegal traders, mostly from Montreal. The French
had restricted trading to the King's posts and the British tried
t~ continue this policy. As they did not occupy the forts
north of the lake this practically confined trade to Niagara
and Oswego, where the Albany merchants soon established a
monopoly. Soldiers were sometimes sent to arrest traders at
the Humber and this probably led them to prefer other rivers,
less well supervised, In 1767 Sir William Johnson wrote from
Niagara
"I am informed tha t there are several more from
Canada trading with the Indians on the north side
of Lake Ontario, and up along the rivers in that
quarter, which, if not prevented, must entirely
ruin the fair trader".t
* Boyle: The Township of Scarborough.
t P.J. Robinson: Ope cit. p. 152.
-9-
Before long the authories changed their policy
and began to issue licenses to a limited number of traders at
Montreal. In September, 1770, Jean Bonaventure Rousseau was
licensed to trade at Toronto.
" ...and from thence to any markets or parts which
he should find advantageous for the sale of his
merchandise....."*
His party was to consist of one canoe with six men besides
himself, and his merchandise, valued at ;C300, included a fair
quantity of rum, a smaller amount of wine, four rifles, 300
pounds of gunpowder and 1600 pounds of shot and ball. He
posted a bond of i600, Provincial Currency (about $2400).
Rousseau made the Humber his headquarters, but could trade at
any of the rivers or harbours he passed on the way there, in-
cluding Duffin Creek, Frenchman Bay, the Rouge and Highland
Creek.
Quite a large number of other traders were
licensed at this time. Almost all were French and one of these
may have established himself at Frenchman Bay. The name
Duffin does not appear among them and it would seem that the
trader at "Riviere au Saumon" did not set up there till a
later date. This was probably between 1788 and 1791.
According to tradition he was a "genial Irishman", who welcomed
the rare traveller to his cabin near the site of Pickering.
,
One of these travellers is said to have repaid his hospitality
by murdering him. He had given his name to the Creek by the
time Augustus Jones made his survey in 1791. Jane s doe s not
mention him as he does Peter Smith at Port Hope. Probably
he was already gone from the Creek, but his name has lingered
there until today.
Interest in the settlement of "Toronto" began
in 17$8, when the Sieur de Rocheblave applied for a large grant
in return for establishing a portage service over the Humber
* Ibid. p. 210.
---'~'~
-10-
Trail. Lord Dorchester, Governor of Canada, approved this and
decided to layout a town at Toronto. Orders were sent to
survey the fronts of a series of townships between the Trent
and the Etobicoke. The proposed township of "Toronto"
(already laid out on paper) was to be called "Dublin", the
next east "Glasgow" and the next "Edinburg". Augustus Jones,
Deputy Surveyor for the District of Nassau, made these surveys
in 1791, running the base lines and the side boundaries to
the lake. He seems to have been expected to take offsets to
the shore so that he could sketch the shoreline fairly
accurately. He made a bad error, or series of error~, near the
line between Edinburgh and Glasgow (Scarborough and Pickering).
This placed the shore too far south of his base line, greatly
enlarging the broken fronts. It was not discovered and
corrected until 1799.
The Canada Act of 1791, by making Upper Canada
a separate province, delayed the other plans for the Toronto
region and gave the administration of them to the new Lieut-
enant-Governor, Colonel John Graves Simcoe, instead of to the
Governor-General Lord Dorchester. It was not until Simcoe had
made his plans for founding York in 1793 that any definite
grants were made in the area concerned. It was not until
November 1794, that the first settlers were able to establish
themselves in these watersheds.
6. The Names of the Rivers
(a) Indian
The French writers and map makers have not
recorded any Seneca names for Highland Creek, Petticoat Creek
and Duffin Creek. They use some variation of Ganatsekwyagon
both for the River Rouge and the village. The word is said on
good authority to mean "Among the birches".
On a copy of Augustus Jones' original plan of
Edinburgh Township (Pickering), made about 1793, "Keitchee
Sepee or great River" is written against the Rouge;
____ ".___~_u
-11-
"Kutabokokonk or River of easy entrance" against Frenchman Bay.
Another plan made a little later (possibly by Jones) has
"Great River" for the Rouge" "Katabokokonk" for Frenchman Bay.
Both plans give Duffin Creek its modern name. "Keitchee Sepee
or Great River" is written against part of the Upper Rouge on
Iredellts plan of Markham Township made in 1794. In his list
of Indian (Mississauga) names or rivers, prepared in 1796,
Jones calls the "Nen" (Rouge) "Che. Sippi" and translates this
"Large Creek". He omits Frenchman Bay and "Sin. qua. trik.de.
que.onk" for "Duffins" translating it "Pine wood along side".
For Highland Creek Jones' list gives "Yat.qui.I.be.no.nick"
as the Mississauga name. The meaning is given as "1st Creek
below high land", so the English name is almost a translation.
There were believed to be the Mississauga names
for these rivers in 1791-96 by the men of that time. J one s
in particular is a good authority for he was intimately
connected with Indians, both Mississaugas and Mohawks. Much
la ter, after 1870, the name Katabokokonk was transferred to
the River Rouge by some writers. There seems to be no early
authority for this, though it is possible that Augustus Jones
made a mi stake.
(b) Old French
When we look for the French names of these
rivers most of the older are of little help. They copy a few
Indian names from previous maps and leave most geographical
features unnamed. There is (or was in 1$93) in the British
Museum a chart of Lake Ontario drawn in October, 1757 by
Pierre Boucher de la Broquerie to enable sailors to get the
bearing of landmarks. An elaborate north-point is drawn in
the lake with rays from all 32 points. The shores are rather
roughly sketched but many names of rivers and other prominent
features are given in a rather eccentric spelling. This chart
gives R(iviere) au Seaumon for the eighth creek west of
"Canara ski" . It is pretty generally agreed that Riviere au
-
;j
-12-
Saumon or Salmon River was the French name for Duffin Creek.
The wo rds "de petit Ecort" are written just beyond thi s ri ver.
If they are correctly copied they may refer to a creek shown
beyond a deep inlet. Then come s a point la belled "petit Ecort If I
then two rivers, obviously the Rouge and Highland Creek. They
are not named but "grand Ecort" stretches beyond them almost to
the "Presille de Toronto" - Toronto Island.
"Ecort" is sai d to be "Ecore" meaning a steep
bank going down into deep water. It appears on a map of 1790
and some others as "Les Grandes Ecors", an incorrect plural.
This was the French name for Scarborough Bluffs. Le petit
Ecore eVidently gave its name to Petticoat Creek. The settlers
apparently confused it with "la petite cote" _ the little hill.
The name "Riviere Rouge" has not been found on any map.
(c) The Present Na~
The name Highland Creek is used in documents
dealing with Danforth's Road in 1799. River Rouge appears in
a report on the road in 1801. All previous documents use
Simcoe's name for the river, the Nen. So do the map makers
before 1820, except when they corrupt it into "River New".
The local pronunciation is approximately "Rooshlf and John
Goessrnann, the Hanoverian Surveyor, calls it the "Rush" in
1824. Duffin Creek is said to have been called "Peak's Creek"
at one time. Charles Fothergill tried to have it named
"IVleander" about 1830.
The origin of the name Frenchman Bay is
uncertain. The name is not found on maps before 1$20, nor has
it been found in any document. Rankin uses it on a map in
1845. The map of 1790 has "Pidgeon Bay" and "Big Baylf is
sometimes found. W. H. Smith in 1846 calls it "Big Bay (also
called Frenchman's Bay, from a battle said to have been fought
on its banks between the old French settlers and the Indians)u.
The tradition that it refers to the French missionaries seems
~o originate with some writers of the seventies and eighties.
--"~. -" - ----- "...---. ...--. "
'"
-13-
It may be true; but the name would have had to be handed down
by the Indians and no Indian name with this meaning has been
recorded. Another tradition that the name comes from French
bateau-men who used to sto p there to drink the liquor they
had bought at York, would refer to a period before 1830. The
name, however, seems to refer to a single "Frenchman".
"
CHAPTER 2
SETTLE~lliNT - 1794-1~
As soon as it was known that townships on the
north shore were to be opened for settlement, the Land Board
of the District of Nassau received a large number of petitions
for grants in the new area. For the present the Board simply
reco~nended that the petitioner be granted so many acres of
land. Definite locations were held over till the arrival of
the new Lieutenant-Governor. Even after Simcoe's arrival
there was hesitation about making definite locations. The
townships between Whitby and the Trent were granted to
Associate Companies, but very few specific grants were made
mthin thirty miles of Toronto and it does not appear that any
Location Tickets were issued before Simcoe arrived at York on
July 29, 1793.
Some of the petitions for land "in the Home
Distri ct" , "in the County of York" or "near York"~( were from
people who actually wished to move there with their families.
The great majority were from people with unfilled claims to
"additional lands". These were lands granted "in addition"
to the 200 acres that was gi ven without fees to every Loyalist
each ordinary settler on payment of fees. These
included "family lands" for Loyalists, military grants and
grants of 200 to 1,000 acres, made at the discretion of the ,
"
lieutenant-Governor.t These last paid fees; the first two
classes were privileged. One settler might have claims under
,
all three categories. Grants to "reduced" field officers ran
as high as 5,000 acres, so that some of these claims were
;
extremely large. In 1793 to 1795 grants of this type took
In 1792 the District of Nassau was divided into the
"Niagara" and "Homen Districts. The County of York then
included the present Counties of Ontario, Peel, Halton, ,
Simcoe and parts of other counties.
The maximum grant was 200 acres "ordinary" and 1,000
additional. Grants at discretion were normally to
unprivileged settlers who had "means to cultivate them"
or undertook special tasks. They were occasionally added
to privileged grants.
,
-15-
up most of the unreserved lots in Pickering Township. They
very numerous in Scarborough Township, but left slightly
room for grants to actual settlers. However, Scarborough
for certain reasons was not likely to attract settlers who
wanted locations near York.
For these reasons settlers entered the upper
part of the Rouge Watershed about two years before there were
any settlers near the lake. That this happened was largely
due to the fact that Simcoe found himself in a position to
place a large number of families near Yonge Street when only
the first concession of the Township had been surveyed and
opened for settlement. These settlers were ready to go to
their holdings at once. This seemed likely to hasten the
settlement of Yonge Street which was one of bimcoe's main
objecti ves. Otherwise he would not have been likely to give
a reserve on l~rkham Township to an Associated Company for he
not do so in any other township so near York. This was
"German Cow-pany" organized in New York City by William von
Berczy.
The Berczy Settlement in l~rkham Township*
William Berczy had sailed from Hamburg in Germany
sixty "Heads of Families" in 1VIay, 1792, 229 persons in
These colonists were destined to settle in north-western
New York State, on the vast tracts recently purchasedt by
William Poultney and his associates. These were being deve-
loped energetically by their agent, Captain Williamson, who
was engaged in cutting roads and founding "towns". Berczy's
This account is based on Berczy's own letters and state-
ments, on official letters and other documents and on
unpublished narratives as quoted in the excellent
Historical Sketch published by the Municipal Corporation
of l~rkham Township in 1950. Almost every statement
can be documented and some of the material used has not
been printed. References are given only where direct
quotations are used. More detailed information about
sources will be furnished on request.
From Robert Morris of Philadelphia, who had bought a much
larger tract from the Indians. The British company's
Tract included much of several modern counties, between
Lake Ontario and the boundary of Pennsylvania.
't~
-16-
Germans landed at Philadelphia in July, 1792. They made a
short stay near the city to rest and purchase equipment and
were then moved into the Company's Tract and employed in making
a road to the Genessee River. Some time in 1793 they reached
the Genessee Valley south of liochester and were allowed to
settle down for a time. Disputes soon arose over money
matters and the question of land tenu~e. News of these
troubles was reported to Niagara and was received there with
satisfaction. Simcoe disapproved of Williamson's operations
as encroaching on territory not yet surrendered by the British
Government. He also disliked the idea of a British company
spending money to settle colonists in New York State instead
of Upper Canada. In December, 1793 Simcoe wrote to Lord
Dorchester at Quebec:
" ..... In regard to Mr. PUltney's purchase, the
agent Bertzie, is now in Jail, as I apprehend for
overdrawing on his employers: and it was with I
difficulty that Mr. Williamson escaped from falling a
victimn to the dissatisfaction of the German Settlers. ,
It is more than possible that by degrees these people /i
. ..j
will emigrate to Upper Canada. ,,';c ,l
I'!
. ':~
Berczy was soon released and went to New York ,
...~
ij
City to try to find some other way of placing his settlers. '~j
:i
He says that in February, 1794 he saw Simcoe's proclamation of .'
1792 and fell in with Andrew Pierce who had been given reserves
on three townships in that province. Pierce was finding
difficulty in getting settlers for his townships and suggested
to Berczy that they form a company of associates who would buy
PierceTs rights and settle the Germans in one of his townships.
Berczy saw the British Ambassador at Philadelphia and was
encouraged to apply for land in Upper Canada.
George Hammond evidently communicated with
Simcoe after Berczy's visit, for on I~rch 16, 1794 Simcoe
tells Dorchester that:
" .....Berkzie, the l~nager under Mr. Williamson, and
the whole of the Germans have shown an inclination to
emigrate into Upper Canada ...............,..........
~. Simcoe Papers, Vol. II, p.llO.
't'
-- -
-17-
TI..............1 have hithertC'l, My Lord, taken no
measures to forward this Emigration. - To prevent it,
Mr. Williamson has long been reporting that if theft
came to Niagara, I had promised to send them back. '*
Four days later the Associates met in New York and passed a
number of resolutions appointing officers and outlining an
ambitious program of settlement. It was decided to ask for
2,000,000 acres. Two per cent of the land obtained was to
be given free in 200-acre lots to actual settlers, including
Berczy's sixty families who were to be moved to the land at
once. Another ten per cent was to be offered for sale in
Germany at ls. 6d. and twenty-five per cent was to be reserved
"for the future disposition of the Company". Each of the
eight associates was to have four hundred acres. What was to
be done with the rest is not stated.
Berczy now went to Niagara and on May 17th
presented a petition for 1,000,000 acres to the Executive
Council. He had evidently been advised to reduce his demands.
He now proposed "to bring forward Two Thousand Families".
The Council ordered a grant of 64,000 acres with leave to
apply for more "when they shall be properly settled". Early
in June Berczy went to the Genessee to bring his settlers to
Canada and by June 26, 1794 they seem to have been an Niagara.
The problem was now to decide where the lands
should be located. Simcoe seems to have suggested that the
Germans should settle near Yonge Street, but this did not
appeal to the settlers themselves. They probably did not
wish to go so far inland and a good deal of time was wasted
in discussion. It was suggested that Berczy should have a
township on the Thames or buy land from the Six Nation Indians
on the Grand. There had been sickness; one at least of the
party had died, there was a good deal of discontent and Berczy
was himself suffering from malaria. On August 12th he writes
to the Surveyor-General from the Landing (Queenston):
* Ibid. p.19l.
-1$-
"I did once more my possible to persuade the
Germans to go on the Lands back of York, but as the
Lots taken oft cannot be returned, I could not afford
"to bring them to it............."*
He was at that time proposing to set out for the "Western
Lands" and asked for a surveyor to go with him, but was at the
moment too ill. Not long after this, the offer of I~rkham
Township seems to have been accepted. Berczy made a trip
to York to examine the lands. He asked leave to buy four
lots on Yonge Street and accepted Simcoe's proposal that he
should complete the opening of the road in return for these
lands. On August 30th he sent a party of sixteen workmen
to York to cut timbers for a storehouse and dwelling house
and began to collect provisions to support his people through
the winter.
On September 1st, 1794 Berczy sent the Germans
who were not ill to York. Most of them went by water, but
a party under Frederic Sommerfeldt drove the stock round the
head of the lake by the trail that was soon to become Dundas
Street. They stayed until October 24th, in York while
Berczy's hired hands were busy with his buildings and Abraham
Iredale was completing his survey of Concessions II to VI.
Iredale finished his plan on November 2nd and it was after that,
that the Germans were able to go to their lots. In the
meantime those of the men who were not ill were employed in
opening Yonge Street as far as Asa Johnson's house on Lot 35
W.Y.S. in Vaughan Township.
The settlers also did a good deal of road-
cutting in the interior of the township with the assistance
of six hired hands. On November 30th Berczy reports that:
" .......we have a very easy communication through
the Lands, where the Germans has already built more
than 40 Houses. All the abovementioned work on the
Road was likewise performed by my Germans, to whom
,,- Survey Records, Ontario Dept. of Lands and Forests;
....
Letters Received No.2, pp. 544-45. Berczy to D.VJ. Smith,
Acting Surveyor-General.
.
-19-
"I joined only 6 other hired Hands. All the rest of
my hired hands being employed to build a Saw-mill,
the House at York and a large fr3me House for me in
the Township. ,,~(
He also says that he has begun to build and clear on Lots 53
and 51 E.Y.S. and has laid out the plan of the "Town or
Village on No. 55. And I hope that before next Spring several
Clever Houses shall be built there." He says he is constantly
receiving applications from abroad and from settlers already
in the country and asks for a list of the vacant lots on Yonge
Street. He claims to have placed 73 settlers in the township ,
and on Yonge Street and to have seven more looking for lots ,
on the Street.
Berczy had certainly added about ten settlers to
his party while at Queenston. He mentions three of these in
a later letter - John Dubrey, John "Schutze" and "Francis
Dunne" . These men were "Germans", possibly from Pennsylvania.
Balthasar Mundshaver (Munshaw) and Jacob Winter (who both
settled on Yonge Street), George Hall (who went to Whitby
Township), and Philip Eckhardt were probably all from Pennsyl-
vania and this may be true of Christian Hendricksen (Henricks).
Melchior Quantz is believed to have been a Hessian veteran.
Berczy was also including George Sigmund Liebich, wh 0 seems
to have been the clergyman engaged for three years by the
New York Company.t Three other settlers were possibly
Berczy's German associates for whom he had taken Lots 51, 53
and 57 E.Y.S.
The Germans seem to have camped near Asa
Johnson's at Thornhill while trails were being opened and
houses built. The houses were probably in most cases "Small
Huts" such as John Lyons was building in 1796-7 for grantees
on Yonge Street at i5 New York currency ($12.50) a hut.
There is a tradition that the Germans were helped on their
* Survey Records, Lands and Forests: Letters Received
No. 3, pp. 709-711. Berczy to D. W. Smith.
t This is not certain. The clergymanTs name is given as
C. S. Liebich. A. Jones spells this "Levy".
.
-20-
arrival by Nicholas Miller and John Lyons. Miller was by
trade a millwright. He probably built the sawmill at German
Mills, while Lyons, who did not move to Yonge Street until
1795, may have been one of the six hired hands. Philip
Eckhardt and his family are said to have gone by boat to the
Rouge and made their way upriver to the vicinity of Unionville
and others may have used this route, for Berczy's roadbuilding
seems to have included an improvement of the Rouge Trail.
Others who had been ill stayed longer at York; it was not till
after Christmas that Frederic Sommerfeldt reached his holding at
Cashel (Lot 25, Con. VI) .
Sommerfeldt's lot was one of the farthest north
in the settlement. The only one beyond him was John Dubrey's
who may never have gone to this holding. The settlement
began at Lot 6 or 7 in each concession and, except in the sixth,
did not extend to the Victoria Square Sideroad. Groups of two
or three occupied lots were separated by Crown and Clergy
Reserve s. To be nearer their neighbours the Germans in the
Second and Fifth Concessions built their houses on the east
end (or back) of their lot s, with the result that, until
rec ent years, there were noticeably fewer houses on the Second
and Fourth Concession Roads than on the others. Sommerfeldt
and two of his neighbours did not build their houses till
towards spring. The Sommerfeldts spent the winter in a tent.
In spring, small crops of corn, peas and pota-
toes were sown. The seed probably came from the Company,
which had provided flour, salt meat, salt and other supplies
for the first year. More land was then cleared for fall
wheat; for this the settler had to find his own seed. There
was a considerable number of cattle. Frederic Sommerfeldt had
a cow and some pigs, and Berczy had "let him have" a yoke of
oxen when he set out for his holding. He traded a sow for
Lis seed wheat, some corn and some potatoes; but when autumn
came he had not enough provisions for the winter.
-21-
Most of the settlers were in like case; some
were already short in September, Sickness had struck during
the wint er. Michael Hauser died "without heirs" in January
and by October, 1795 five others had died and left their
familie s. The wheat crop of 1795 had been poor, and flour
was scarce and dear in Upper Cana8a. Berczy's petition of
February 23, 1796 gives the situation clearly.
"Your petitioner thinks it proper to state that
many of his associates are almost starving, that since
the month of September last none of tr.em have had any
flour, from that period their principal subsistence
has been potatoes and turnips, 2nd that in a very short
time the small remains of those articles will be
consumed.
"Many of the settlers left their families and
establishments with a view of obtaining work and
provisions in the District of Niagara. These that
remain on their farms and employed in the vicinity of
this place a~ount to one hundred persons, men, women,
and children,"*
Berczy had been doing his best to help. He had
bought flour in Kingston at a high price, and borrowed ten
barrels of pork and ten of flour from the Government stores.
He was now asking to borrow another ten barrels of pork,
eighty bushels of peas and 1,300 lbs. of rice for six months
and offering a mortgage on his lands as security. In April
he made a fairly large purchase of flour, cornmeal and flour
barrels from Abner Miles of Yorke A good many of the settlers
who left looking for work did not return until after 1799; a
few stayed away permanently.
June, 1801 was an imDortant date for the Germans,
for that month they completed thoir seven years residence in
Upper Canada and were eligible for naturalization, They
could then get deeds to their lands and, if need be, sell a
portion to free themselves from debt. Berczy says that they
had been allowed to believe that patents could be issued six
months after going on their locations. They had applied more
than once before Simcoe left Canada in 1796 and had been put
* Simcoe Papers, Vol. IV, p. 198-199.
-22-
off on the plea of pressure of business. Soon after Simcoe's
departure Berczy was tola that' deeds could not be issued to
aliens except after seven years residence. This was followed
by the announcement that the reserves granted to associated
companies would be revoked by 1798. He was also told to
r8turn the supplies borrowed from the King's Stores. Berczy
had already strained his credit; the lands of the Company
were his only form of security and the value of these claims
now seemed doubtful.
The Acting Lieutenant-Governor, President Peter
Russell, and some members of his Executive Council were not so
well disposed to Berczy as Simcoe had been. They disapproved
of Associated Companies, ostensibly on grounds of public policy,
but also largely because they wished to locate some of their
additional lands in these valuable townships. They also
placed a very literal interpretation on the Proclamations of
1792. This would deprive the associates of most of the land
they had counted on for their profits. The few Associations
whose quotas were nearly complete claimed that Simcoe had
encouraged them in a very different interpretation. They had
supposed they would receive additional lands in amounts not
exceeding 1,000 acres for each settler, while Russell proposed
to limit them to 1,200 for each associate and regarded the
"grants" of townships merely as reserving an area for settlers
brought in by the associates. In very few cases had there
been any clear record of the terms or the conversations with
Simcoe.
The German Company had an order-in-council for
64,000 acres with a quota of sixty-four settlers. Berczy
claimed that he had brought more than seventy settlers to
Markham, but the Council had no difficulty in cutting down
this list by removing settlers on Yonge Street and some who
had left the province or taken land outside the township.
Even so their first count showed the quota nearly completed
and Russell offered a compromise of 600 acres additional for
~
I -23-
each settler and maximum grants of 1,200 for each of six
i
associates ~f they became residents of the province. The
I
iij Company rejected this, probably because it ignored their
z;
i
purchased rights in Andrew Pierce's three townships. These
E,
I had been very little settled.
~
AA
I Berczy now went to Montreal and appealed to the
I'
~
I Governor-General, Robert Prescott. Prescott asked Russell for
~
I an explanation. This produced a long dispatch throwing all
i the blame on Simcoe's casual methods of business. Berczy was
i
I by now on bad terms with Russoll over a building contract.
He had further annoyed the Council by issuing a pamphlet on
jj>;
~
~.
I
I the granting of land in Lower Canada and issuing caveats on
~j
Pierce's three townships on behalf of his ass~ciates. Jones's
report of 1799 was one of several intended to support the
Council's stand against the Associated Companies. When the
Home Government, in 1801, asked for a review of the case, the
Council by some juggling of figures was able to show that
Berczy had only settled 33 heads of families in Markham. The
figure may be tabulated in the following way:
Unmarried men without servants ................. 21
Joined at Niagara ......................................................... 4
Dead .................,.................................,.................... 2
In Upper Canada outside Markham ................ 12
Left Upper Canada ..................................".... 2
Heads of families living in Markham ............ 33
74
Reported by Berczy in 1797 ..................... 74
This does not include Berczy himself, though he had mills and
another improvement in the settlement.
Augustus Jones reports on June 8, 1799:
Improvements . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 0 .. .. .. . . .. .. '" .. .. .. .. .. .. . ~ ~ .. I . . . .. . .53
Saw & Grist Mill .....;J...................................................... 1
Settlers living on holdings ... ................. 32
Living with relations in ~mrkham (?unmarried)... 3
Tenant on Yonge Street ... ...... .f..... ..... ...... 1
At Ki ng s ton ..... ~ .. .. . . .. .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. . . . .. .. . . . 1
At Y or k ............................................................... 2
In the Niagara District ...... .................. .9
At Montreal (including the Berczys) ............ 3
Enli s t e d ... tI . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dead (family in Markham) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
53
Unreported by Jones ............................ 2?
7J
Reported by Berczy, 1796 (including himself) .,. 75
--
Dressed log house-Lot 1 j,
Con. VI, Markham Town-
ship. William Berczy placed
Emilius WestPhalen on this
lot in li94-no occupant.
house or improvement was
reported In 1799. West-
Phalen owned the lot until
1803. The house sug[!;ests a
Pennsylvania type. Philip
Eckhardt is said to have
built it. It is still standin[!;.
wmewhat altered.
-Conrte.'{!f of ilJarl.-ham Tou'}j.o.:hip Cor)Joratiol1.
Frame IlOuse built by fohn Byer, 1829,
on Lot 23, Con. T'lll, Markham
Township. This house was built by
Mennonites and reflects the Mel71lO-
nite type. It was built dose to Byer's
sawmill and far from the road, but
rdw stood near tht' old R0I1[!;e Trail.
1
Box (;rm1e from near the site of Tom-
linson's mill dam showing United
Church to left on hifl. A sawmill may
have stood here III 181i-Raemer's
slw'mill certainly stood here in 1824-
JosePh Tomlinson's sawmill was lun-
ning by 1836 and later his grist and
woollen mills 11'('1"(' th(' chief industries
of "Sparta".
- .......
-24-
Some of the twenty-two not accounted for
returned to Markham; Basler Munshaw was living on Yonge Street;
some were dead, but except in two cases their sons eventually
patented their lots. Most of those in the province returned
by 1804, as did Jacob Boetger, who had gone to Montreal "with
Mrs. Berczy's family". Jacob Ebers or Everson, who had en-
listed, later settled in Markham Township. The Germans
completed their seven years residence in 1801 and applied for
patents. Some were issued at once, but the many changes of
location, exchanges and sale of lots and the claims of credi-
tors necessitated an investigation that was not finished until
1804. At that time there seem to have been between forty and
fifty of Berczy's settlers in i~rkham Township.
2. Scarborough Township - 1796-1826
In the summer of 1796 David Thomson, a stone
mason, who had been living in York and had worked on the new
government buildings, set out to find a lot in Scarborough
Township. He had probably found out from William Chewett,
Senior Surveyor, which lots were vacant. Mrs. Thomson had
suffered from fever and Thomson was inclined to go back from
the lake. Besides, the part of Scarborough nearest to York and
Lake Ontario consisted of "pine plains" and these were avoided
by settlers as a sign of poor soil. Thomson evidently fol-
lowed an Indian path until he found a spring on the bank of a
branch of Highland Creek on Lot 24, Concession I. He returned
later with a few friends and built a house. To this he moved
his wife, using an ox-team and sled belonging to James Elliott.
Elliott soon joined the Thomsons in Scarborough. He located
Lot 22, Concession D, but as he was still unmarried he may have
lived for some time with the Thomsons. Others soon followed.
William Jones was pathmaster for Scarborough in 1801 and his
farm "near the 12th Mile Post" is mentioned in the report on
Dundas Street in 1802. This places him at Woburn.
~
-25-
William Cornwell was pathmaster with Jones in
1$01 and Andrew Thomson for the west half of Scarborough in
1$02. "Parmer's House" ("near the 10th Mile Post") is men-
tioned in 1802. This was James Palmer who may have bought
Elliott's lot. When James Elli~tt married the Thomson's niece,
Janet, in that year he seems to have squatted on the adjoining
Crown Reserve Lot 21. Meanwhile a group was forming near
Highland Creek. This included William Knowles, a blacksmith,
John Closson and George Post*. Archibald Thomson had settled
north of his brothers. In March, 1$05, there were 22 house-
holders in Scarborough, with a total population of 102. Thirty
of these were Thomsons for each brother had eight children.
David Thomson's daughter, Janet, born in 179$, was the fir st
child born in the township. There was a group of settlers
near the York Townline, outside the Highland Creek Watershed
and some listed in 1$05 cannot be placed, but four Secors had
settled south of Woburn and two Johnstons north-west of the
village site.
Very few families settled in Scarborough in the
next few years. In 1$09 the population was only 140. This
slow rate of settlement continued until after the war of 1$12.
There was little settlement along much of the Kingston Road as
late as 1$17. Already, however, the greater traffic on this
road was having some effect, and settlement began to spread
into the interior of the township. The Kennedys and several
others had settled near Agincourt about 1$06. James "Canadatl
(Kennedy) was constable in 1807 and Juhn "Kennady" in 1809.
Even after the war progress was not rapid. The next return,
in 1$24, shows a gain of 529 in the fifteen years since 1809 -
an average of only seven or eight families a year. There had
been a gain of 35 since 1$23 - this was only average; but in
the next two years the gain was 192.
* George Post appears as a settler in Markham also. This was
the George Post who moved to Pickering later. He was suc-
ceeded on this let by his nephews George and Jordan Jr.
Which George Post improved a let in Markham is not clear.
-26-
The reason for this was still the large acreage
of absentee holdings. Until after 1823 there was almost no
incentive to make these holdings productive or dispose of them.
Sume of the settlers mentioned rented reserves and settled on
them, like Daniel Herrick* on Lot 8, Con. D, and there is a
little evidence for squatting mostly after 1815. Before that
date squatting was rarer in Upper Canada than is sometimes
stated. In this area also the inhabitants of York had been
given a priority in locating their additional lands. They were
in a better position to watch their rights in this area than in
more remote areas. Squatting on reserve lots was not uncommon.
It was limited in Scarborough because absentees and residents,
like the Thomson, Elliotts and Johnstons, were using leases to
enlarge their holdings. The returns make it plain that there
were only a few squatters before 1820 and very few mills.
Farmingj cutting firewood, and lumbering for export were the
chief occupations, apart from innkeeping. George Post received
a licence for an inn at Highland Creek in 1811. This seems to
be the first inn recorded in Scarborough. About 1815 David
Thomson built a tavern near his first house "on the old Markham
Road". A little later Levi Annis and Jonathan Gates opened
theirs on the Kingston Road in the vicinity of Scarborough.
The first shop in the township is said to have
heen opened in David Thomson's old house by the Widow Stafford.
No date is given and the returns show no "merchants' shops"
before 1831. In 1825 there were nineteen houses of squared
timber, three had an upper storey, but only one a second hearth.
There were seven frame cottages, two with extra hearths. The
three two-storeyed houses fTof frame, brick or stone" were pro-
bably taverns, and of frame. The other families all lived in
round-log houses with only one hearth. In this alse, Scar-
borough was far behind Markham and some other townships.
* This seems to be Daniel Herrick, Jr. There was another
Daniel Herrick in Markham Township in 1805.
-27-
3. '~indham" and the French Rovalists - 179$-1$06
While Russell was disparaging the Germans in
Markham in 1797 he was engaged in preparing for another settle-
ment on somewhat the same lines and partly in Markham Township.
The idea of providing for some of the Royalist refugees from
France (who had been existJng rather miserably in England since
17$9) by sending them to Upper Canada had been proposed several
years before. In 1797 it was ann0unced that a party was on its
way and that others would follow. These were mostly veterans
of a force raised in England as part of an expedition sent to
help a Royalist rising in the district of La Vendee in
Brittany. The rising had been suppressed after desperate
fighting. The British force had been successfully withdrawn,
but some, at least, of the new settlers were experienced
soldiers. This gave Russell the idea of settling them ~n Yonge
Street as protection to York against attack over the portage.
This idea has been ridiculed, but if the refugees had come in
the expected numbers, they might have provided a useful militia
in what was then an unsettled area.
A reserve was placed on Whitchurch Township and
an investigation made of the vacant lots on Yonge Street. Mo.st
of the vacant or forfeitable lots proved to be above Richmond
Hill. It was decided to settle the Royalists between Lots 51
and 63 and to layout a "village" that would absorb the site of
Berczyt s abortive "town". Thi s was called "Windham" and took
a form not uncommon in Lower Canada. It was possibly thought
that for this reason it would appeal to French settlers. Fcrty
lots of fifty acres with frontages of $2t feet were laid out
east of Yonge Street and forty-four to the west. If the whole
$4 were eventually occupied, the houses would be less than forty
feet apart and extend for two and a half miles. These would
make inconvenient farms, but it was probably intended to give
the first settlers more than one lot in Windham. They were
expected to have other lands on Yonge Street. The soldiers
- ,......o.i
-28-
were to have the same military lands as other veterans of their
rank and civilian gentlemen maximum grants. In the end it was
not found practicable to dispossess the defaulting grantees
on Yonge Street. The reserve on Whitchurch was revoked in
October, 1799.
Some of the party wintered in Kingston, wh ere
there was more and better accommodation for transients than at
York. The Count de Puisaye, the most energetic of the three
generals who led the party, went at once to Ycrk with some
other officers including Major Quetton St. George. They soon
went up Yonge Street with fifteen men and began clearing and
building houses. It is not clear whether these were hired
axemen or whether they were some of the sixteen soldiers who
came with the party. Probably there were some hired men, for
the Royalists were not without funds.* The clearing went
forward at a good rate; by June 10, 1$01 the cutting of the
road allowance had been done better through Windham than on
any other similar stretch of Yonge Street. On seventeen old
200-acre lots settlement duty was completed or nearly so.
There were at least 17 houses, probably more and the smallest
of these would have to be 16' x 20' in the clear. Where the
size of clearing is mentioned in doubtful cases, it is more
than five acres and most of the clearings were fenced.
The party was heavily officered, with three
generals, a colonel or two, two majors and three captains.t
About ten or twelve of the party belonged to the high nobility.
Most of the gentlemen came from the lesser provincial
nobility, though they possessed elaborate names and, no doubt, ~
had once had long "preuves de noblesse" set out on parchment.
Besides the soldiers there were six menservants, four of them
~~ The officers wo uld be entitled to "Foreign Half -Pay".
t These ranks are given in official lists and seem to be
those for which they drew lands. They are sometimes given
higher titles, but these were probably not those held in
the British Army List.
-29-
English and four maidservants, all French. The majority of
the party were commoners.
It was not a satisfactory group to settle on the
frontier. The houses at Windham were occupied in 1799, but in
spite of their energy in improving, the settlement did not
pro spero The Comte de Puisaye secured a mill site and talked
of building mills, but soon gave up in despair and went to
Stamford, where he had some success as a trader. The Vicomtesse
de Chalus, who had gone to Windham with her husband and father-
in-law, was soon sending complaints to the Governor and per-
suaded her husband to leave the settlement. The Comte de Chalus
was more persevering. He was at Windham on May 24, 1805, when
he gave a combined character reference and settlement certi-
ficate to John Kennedy of Markham Township, stating that
Kennedy and "several of his children" had worked for him every
year and "Se Sont Conduits en tres honetes Gens". i*- Quetton
St. George removed to York, but kept up his connection with the
area by trading with the settlers in Markham and Whitchurch
and buying their wheat at Elisha Beman's mills in Newmarket and
"Norman Millikents Mills in Markham" (? German Mills). He
became one of the most prosperous merchants in York, built the
first brick dwelling in the town in 1805 and later had a fine
estate on Willcocks Lake which included St. George Lake.
No other Royalists were sent out and Windham
gradually dwindled. The other gentlemen drifted away to York,
Newark or Montreal. In 1806-07 they patented their lands in
Markham, Whitchurch and Uxbridge. The Peace of Amiens and
, Napoleon's amnesties made it possible for moderate Royalists
to return to France and almost all the gentry of the Windham
I settlement did so. What happened to the rank and file is not
t
~ recorded. Some had moved to Newark and none seems to have
1
j
I patented lands on Yonge Street.
f
~:'
Ii
I
~. * This seems to be the only certificate written in French.
I
-'~~
-30-
Though this experiment was a failure it brought
scme benefits to the area. This part of Yonge Street was
better cleared than it was otherwise likely to have been. The
necessity of sending government supplies to the Royalists led
to improvements on Yonge Street. The Royalists' improved
farms passed into more capable hands. Some other settlers
seem to have moved to the village. Samuel Street Wilmot was
dating letters from "Windham" in 1804. The Royalists employed
labour and probably brought trade to the one or two stores
near the si te 0 f Richmond Hill. The development of the
district was ha stened, even if the actual settlers got little
gain from their time in Upper Canada.
4. Pickering Townphip~ 17~$-1825
The situation in Pickering Township in 1793 was
unusual. There were no physical features likely to discourage
settlement as there were in Scarborough. The township could be
easily entered from the lake and near the lake was reasonably
level without conspicuous areas of "pine plains". But not
only had one definite location already been made in 1792, but
this had been located in the front of the township and was a
solid block of 5,000 acres. The lots were military lands
granted to Major John Smith, Commandant at Fort Niagara, as a
field officer who had served in the Revolutionary vJar. To
t~em were added 1200 acres for his son, Lieutenant David
William Smith, whom Simcoe was soon to appoint Acting Surveyor-
General of Upper Canada. It was unusual to give a field officer
his lands in one block and still more so to allow him to take
more than two or three lots on the "front" of a township.
Major Smith's block was eventually broken to
some extent when the Reserves were inserted in the usual
rrchequered" pattern. He still occupied two and a half miles of
Broken Fronts at the east side of the township and his holdings
extended even farther north than before - as far as the Third
Concession. His son's holdings were in the same concessions,
I,
~
,',
-31-
to the west of Major Smith's and in groups of two or three lots.
Major Smith died in 1795 and all these lands came under the
control of David William Smith. Smith took some of his
childrens' land in Pickering and advised Major Aeneas Shaw of
the Queen's Rangers to take a large part of his military grant
immediately west of his own holding. A little later Chief
Justice Elmsley was granted a good share of Concessions III to
VIII and sold his holdings without delay to Jacob Farrand, a
York merchant. Other inhabitants of York received smaller
grants that accounted for almost all the unreserved lots south
of the Ninth Concession.
Not many of these absentees showed any inclina-
tion to sell until about 1804. As a re sul t more of the fi rst
settlers in Pickering took reserved lots on lease and actually
settled on them than was usual at that stage of settlement.
Some were content to be tenants for a time on private lands, a
few made purchases and a very few got Crown grants. By 1802
it was nearly impossible to find vacant Crown lands except in
the Ninth Concession and in the western part of the Eighth,
Seventh and Sixth. For this reason some of the early groups
were located far inland, with much undeveloped land between
them and the lake.
William Peak is believed to be the first
settler in Pickering Township (excepting the ill-fated Duffin).
He came to the mouth of Duffin Creek as an Indian trader in 1798 or
1799. In 1796 he was living next to John Stoner in the south-
west corner of Hope Township. Both Stoner and Peak applied for
confirmation of these lots in 1796 and are included in Elias
Smith's list of his settlers.in Hope in 1797. John Stoner
followed Peak to Pickering* within a year or two. There were
some other settlers who came in the interval but not more than
one or two settled in this area.
-
* Later there were Stoners in Scarborough as well as
Picke ring.
~- ~ "p..-."--" ...~._.... .. -_.~._.~'.'
-32-
When Dundas Street had been opened in December,
1799, a number of settlers arrived, some settling on the Street,
others a short distance to either side, wherever they could
find locations. There were not enough in 1799 or 1800 for
special officers to be appointed for Pickering at the York
County Meeting, as was done for Scarborough and Markham in
1799 and for Scarborough for some years after. A joint Town
Meeting for Pickering and Whitby Townships was held at Samuel
Munger's on June 4, 1803. This is believed to be the first
meeting. Munger leased Lot 16, Con. II in 1801 and lived there
for five or six years before moving to the vicinity of Kinsale.
The bridge over Duffin Creek near "Munger's" is mentioned in
1802, and on August 10, 1805 the York Gazette published an
an item that gives a vivid glimpse of the early settlement at
"Duffin T s".
"Heroic action of an Upper Canada woman, Mrs.
Munger, of Duffin's Creek, in the township of
Pitcairn (sic), 23 miles from York, hearing her
neighbor, Mrs. Woodruff, holler out for help,
immediately took down her husband's gun and ran
to her assistance; when she arrive ther she was
informed that a very large bear had taken off a
sow into the bush. His route being shown her
this heroine immediately pursued and found the
destroyer in the act of devouring the sow; upon
which she rested her gun on a stump and shot
Bruin through the head. On weighing the bear it
proved to be the largest that had been killed
in that township."
.j
Mrs. Woodruff was the wife of Noadiah Woodruff, a Quaker, who
~t that time had his house on Lot 16 west of Munger's.* There
was probably a third neighbour beyond the Creek for Salmon ,
..j
Fuller had leased Clergy Lot 15, Con. I in 1802 and he is
known to have been in the township about this time.
The list of officers appointed in 1803 gives
the names of some of the early settlers in Pickering Township.
These include John ~~jors (sic), one of the assessors, Samuel
Munger, pathmaster, William Peak, David Crawford and Abraham
* He bought Lot 17, Con. I in 1813 and moved there~
-33-
Townsend, fence viewers. The locations of some of the others
are doubtful; some may have been living in the eastern part
of the township or in Whitby. Two or three are known to have
been in Whitby.
A list of location tickets issued in lS02 has
the names of 19 grantees in Pickering Township. One of these
was a York merchant and three others were probably absentees.
The Location Ticket was the settler's licence to occupy and
improve a particular piece of land. It was the fourth stage
in the process of obtaining a grant. The first was the
petition, followed by a recommendation to the Governor and an
order by the Governor in Council. After 1792 the Land Board
of the new Home District was practically a committee of the
Executive Council, so there was little delay between the
recommendation and the order-in-council if the petition was
approved. The order went direct to the Surveyor-General who
issued the Location Ticket and entered the name of the nominee
on his plan of the township. The nominee could now take
possession of his lot and perform any settlement duties that
might be required. On producing evidence that these had been .?
properly complied with, he could have the grant confirmed.
He was now safe from forfeiture for non-performance and could
sell, bequeath or otherwise assign his rights. To have a clear 4
'~:
title, however, he had to go through the complicated process :j;
of patenting and to settle any fees not yet paid. ;.",
'. .
At that time it was usual to date the grant ~~
"
'1
from the order-in-council and not the patent. This was
reasonable for the settler might be in possession of the land
for many years before it was patented. Unless the order-in- , -
-.
council gives a definite location (which was not usual), the !t
~
j
Location Ticket gives the earliest possible date of legal
occupation, but where settlement duties were not required or
not enforced it does not imply that the settler went immediately
to live on his holding. A certificate of settlement duty after
!
'~~'t:
-34-
1798 (if honest) implies at least a house and clearing, and ,~
a family in at least temporary residence. This is not always ,I
.~
the family of the grant ee. Only a certain number of certifi- ;~
'.
:f:
cates have survived and only a few of these give the name of .:
"I_
~f
; '~j
the resident and the length of his residence on the holding. ' ~ ~1
;;1
1
The patent is no use in determining the date of settlement. "
, '~
~
Information can be gleaned from some other documents, such as 'i
.
:~
the "description" which had to be issued before each patent, ,
,.
,\
.
but this information is seldom conclusive. It may, however,
serve to check and possibly confirm a traditional account of
the arrival of the settler and his family.
:1
Settlement duties had been vague until 1798
when Peter Russell issued a proclamation extending the duties
required on Yonge Street to the adjoining townships. Gene ral
Peter Hunter, Simcoe's successor as Lieutenant-Governor, added
other townships in the Home District and made the enforcement
much stricter. In these townships, of which Pickering was one,
only a few exceptions were allowed at the time of granting or
on a later petition. No patents were issued without certifi-
cates after 1800 and, as Hunter made settlers pay the full fees
directly after getting the Location Ticket, patenting was done
promptly until about 1810. The series of copies of certifi-
cates in the Survey Records is not complete. Only eight have
been found for Pickering and marked on the first map. All
but one are for locations listed in 1802. The exception is
for the lot bought by Joshua Wixon next his brother's and
certified by Joseph Wixon in 1812.
The distribution of these locations is inter-
e sting. There were none south of the Fifth Concession. ;In
''1
Cone e ssion V, John Major was given Lot 18 and directly east of .!\
:1
"
him were David Crawford and John Ryckert. Major and Ryckert ;~
moved later to other locations though they did not patent '}
,~
. ..
Crawford seems to have been a I
these lots until long after. .~
if
il
. ~;.
. j~
"
lj
;f
,.
;i:
"!f
~i
-35-
Quaker, one of the first in Pickering.* In 1824 he joined the
Christian Church. Two Crawfords were among the first grantees
in the Quaker settlement near Uxbridge Village. Caleb Palmer
was the only locatee in Con. VI. He had done his settlement
duty on Lot 23 by 1805. He sold it before long to Cornelius
Churchill. The two grants in Con. VII were to absentees. So
were two of the four in Con. VIII and the other two appear to
have moved away by 1811, In the Ninth Concession a group of
five locations between Altona and the Markham line were given
to grantees whose relations held lands in Markham. Amarilla
McKay petitioned in 1807 to be relieved of settlement duty,
but the others probably lived on their lots for a few years
before selling them. Farther east was the group near Clare-
mont, These settlers at Claremont did not swear certificates
for each other until 1812.
Some of these settlers delayed a long time before
taking their patents. J0hn Major did not patent Lot 18, Con.V
until 1828 and John Ryckert, Lot 16, until 1831. Jacob Clock
waited till 1823 to patent Lot 29, Con. IX, Abraham Townsend's
case is curious. He lived in Pickering until after 1811, but
had left Lot 20, Con. IX by 1836. In 1840 he petitioned for
a patent, stating that he was "locatedU on the lot. The note
in the minutes of the Executive Council continues;
"The Clerk is directed to place the papers in the
hands of Her Majesty's Attorney General, with a ..
view to prosecute the parties concerned for the
fraud and conspiracy appearing on the papers".
Townsend does not seem to have returned to Claremont, but he
does not appear to have been prosecuted, so possibly someone
else was at fault.t Frauds in connection with certificates
and patents were not uncommon. They were easier to detect in
this region than farther from York and the settlers were mostly
pious and honest men.
-
* His certificate was affirmed by Russell Hoag, a ~uaker.
t Townsend did not get the lot.
fI.'
-36-
Timothy Rogers is reported to have brought
21 families of Quakers to Pickering in 1$09. Ho\{ever, this
'j
probably includes the settlement in Uxbridge and some already
in Pickering, for it is hard to identify so many Quakers among
the families who settled in Pickering before 1$10. A good
many families connected with the Pickering Meeting came from
Ireland in 1$10-20. There may have been a considerable
defection when the Christian Church of Brougham was formed in
1$24. Several of the 27 families in the list of members
(about 1$31) may have been Quakers besides the Crawfords.
Timothy Rogers was organizing his Uxbridge settlement in
1804-07. In 1807 he bought about 800 acres in Pickering from
D. W. Smith. This included Lots 13 and 14, Con. I and lands
on the lakeshore and along the east bank of Duffin Creek.
Some of these latter Rogers sold immediately to William Peake.
Rogers seems to have settled on Lots 13 and 14
near Dundas Street, in what is now the eastern part of
Pickering Village. It may have been he and not Charles
Fothergill who called this property "Monodelphia Farm", for
the name has a Quaker sound. He built the first grist mill
in the township, and probably the first sawmill. At the first
.",
"',
separate Town rvreeting held in 1811 Timothy Rogerswas elected .l
l~
poundkeeper with Joseph Wixon. The new officers or their ':...
descendants were later well known in the township. Tho ma s
Hubbard, Town Clerk, had bought the lot next to John Major's
location from David William Smith (Lot 19, Con. V), probably
in 1$06 or U~07. Thomas Matthews, Pathmaster, had patented
Lot 18, Con. VI in 1799, but may not have moved to Pickering
before 1$05. John Laurence later lived farther up the Ux-
bridge Trail on Lot 19, Con. VII. John Haight, Assessor, a
Quaker, had also bought part of Major Smith's block. The two
Town Wardens had bought lots in this block east of Ajax on
the lake. The other assessor was David Crawford; Noadiah<
Woodruff was a pathmaster and Abraham Townsend pathmaster and
collector.
-..-., ..~~ ~ ~~,-.
-37-
The opening of the Uxbridge Road and the sale of
the Smith properties made a great difference to Pickering.
With groups of settlers established in the township, other
absentees were ready to sell or to occupy their lands. In
1$09 there were 1$0 persons in Pickering, probably representing
35 families with a few other single householders. In 1$05 the
households may have numbered about twenty. By 1$20 the popu-
lation was 375, a gain of about 40 households since 1$09. The
town meetings were interrupted during the war, but from 1$15 on
a number of new names appear among the officers. A settler had
usually been a year or two in the township before holding
office. . Thus the Yakes and Casters may have been living west
of Altona before 1$0$ and the Udles by 1$13. None of them
held office until after 1$16. James Wright Sharrard, at whose
house west of Brougham the Christian Church was formed in 1$24,
came there about 1$12 and held office in 1$17.
In the early twentie s the pace of settlement
quickened. The gain in population in 1$20-24 was an even 300
persons. Settlers were coming in from other townships for
example Posts, Knowles and others from Scarborough, Stouffers,
Reesors and Millers from Markham. In some ways the township
was still backward. There were as yet not many inns. Peter
Anderson had received a licence for Pickering in 1$06 but is
listed under Markham in 1$05. "1iloodruff's tavern if near the
~
i
Duffin Creek bridge is mentioned in 1$0$. There was a tavern
at the Rouge in the 1$20's and probably Woodruff's inn was
still open at Duffin Creek, though he seems to have rented
it to others after 1$13. Francis Leys, a Scot from Aberdeen,
had the only store in the township in 1$24 and for many years
after. He put up travellers in his house at the east end of
Pickering Village (free if they were from Aberdeen), but did
not have a licenced inn. The chief inn in the township was,
by this time, George Post's, some distance east of this area.
The seven, two-storeyed houses of frame, brick or stone in 1$25
. ,
,,)
~
'--
('
-38-
probably included Francis Leys' and the two or three inns.
They had 20 hearths among them, so some were of good size.
There were a few dressed-log houses (9) and fewer frame houses
of less than two storeys (g). The population in 1825 was 760,
so there must have been about 125 round-log cabins.
5. Whitchurch and Uxbridge Townships - 1801-1825
The settlement of the part of Whitchurch drained
by the Rouge and Duffin Creek is an off-shoot of the Lundy-
Phillips Quaker settlement centring round Pine Orchard. Not
all the settlers were placed by Lundy; in 1801 John Stegman,
D.P.S. gave in the names of seven settlers for this area.
Stegman had just finished the survey of most of Whitchurch.
He received several lots for himself in Concession IV and
absentee grants took up the other unreserved lots in this
cone e ssion. On September 22, 1802, five Location Tickets were 1
issued in Con. V, six in Con. VI, seven in Con. VII, two in ~
,
Con. VIII and one in Con. X. In May, l803~ two were issued in
Con. VIII and one in Con. XI. This was not the full number of
:j
grants, but most of the rest were additional lands, some gi ven .,4
\;
to Quakers, some to children of Loyalists and some to settlers
in Markham. Some of the Location Tickets were to absentees,
but most to actual settlers.
Between 1805 and 1811 seventeen settlement
certificates have been found, most dated before 1807. They
show that there were at least sixteen houses, five barns and
a stable. One of the barns, Ebenezer COOk's, was 33' x 22'.
Most of the houses were reported as the standard size, two
were slightly larger. The smallest was Jacob Long's on Lot 1,
Con. X - 16' x 16'. George Lemon's certificate was affirmed
by Asa Randall and Isaac Davis on May 18, 1805. His house
was sixteen by twenty and he had "a go od la rge log barn If and
15 acres cleared and fenced. William Macklem and Ebenezer
Cook had fifteen-acre clearings. William Pearson had cleared
6~ acres and built a house 18' x 18'. Five had clearings
"..
III
-39-
of 9-10 acres; the rest were the standard 5 acres. Some of
these owners were living elsewhere in the township. Nathaniel
Pearson settled on Yonge Street and Osburn Cox was probably
li ving on 0 ne of hi slots (Lots 4 in Cons. V and VI}. Jacob
Weidman was probably on Lot 1, Con. VIII, granted to an
absentee. John Evans is also described as "of Whitchurchll.
Russell Hoag had been living on Lot 1, Con. IX since 1803. He
had leased the adjoining Clergy Reserve and probably sublet it
in 1804 to Abraham Stouffer. Stouffer affirmed Hoag's certifi-
cate in 1805 and is described as "of Whitchurch, farmeril . He
bought Lot One from Hoag almost immediately after the certifi-
cate was filed.
The Stouffers and Weidmans were Pennsylvania
Mennonites. Other Pennsylvania Dutch settlers moved into this
section after 1804. Settlers from Markham and elsewhere also
bought farms, some of them in the Fourth Concession, as for
example Peter Brillinger of Markham and Andrew Clubine of
Yonge 3treet. It can be calculated that there were 100-125
people in this part of the area in 1809< The nlli~ber may have
increased considerably by 1825, but it is impossible to give
figures for a small section of a township. Development in
this section was similar to that in Markham but slower, for
the area to the north around Musselman Lake and Ballantrae ,
,
was not settled until the 1840's.
There was practically no permanent settlement in ' . ~:
t>:
.'
the south-west corner of Uxbridge before 1830. Some lots be- ".
"
tween Glasgow and Altona were reserved for Samuel Jackson, '.~l
a 1
:l
~uaker who may have been the hatter brought by William Bond for '".
:.
,
, ~.~
his proposed hat factory at Bond Lake. Jackson and the other "
't'l
hatter soon went to York and Samuel Jackson was living there I
I
in 1805. "
Several Quakers were granted land in this part of .<
"
among them the 1
Uxbridge, and many absentees received grants, '(
}
.'1
Viaomte de Chalus at Goodwood, the the Chevalier de Marseuil. ..:~
The grants were not subject to settlement duty and if any ':j
.1;
8
,~
'"
'''I
"
,~
~ f,
'.
~
.Ii
..~~
-40-
Quakers settled near Glasgow they soon left. Some may have
lived near Altona for a time. Russell Hoag had a lot east of
Altona and seems to have been in the vicinity of Pickering in
1$07, when he affirmed a certificate for David Crawford. In
1$2$ there were only 228 people in Uxbridge and the settlement
around Uxbridge Village would account for all of these. In
1$31 there were no houses on the Stouffville Road between
Plank's tavern at Uxbridge and Whitchurch.
6. Markham Township - 1800-1$25
In 179$ almost the only settlers in Markham were
on Yonge Street or in the German settlement. It was only for
these settlements that officers were appointed at the York
Meeting of 1799. Melchior Quantze was constable and John
George or Schutze pathmaster "for the German SettlemenV'.
However, the opening of the township to ordinary settlers had
brought a rush of applicants. A number of Location Tickets
were issued in 1799-1$01. How many is not known, but settle-
ment certificates begin in 1$02, and give us the names of
seven settlers who were living in the township. The se in-
clude some well-known names - George Mustard, John Button,
Norman Milliken, William Bentley, Jasper Hubbard and Samuel
Moore. Some of these received certificates and had been on .,
their holdings since 1801 at least. One or two took oath
for their neighbours and are described as "of Markham".
This was not the complete list for 1799-1801,
for though the number of certificates found for Markham is
large, it does not cover all the grants. Most of the settlers
named appear in a list of Location Tickets issued in 1802.
Their certificates state that they moved at once to their
holding s. The list of tickets contains 14 names for Markham,
but some of these settlers did not file certificates until
1$15. Three settlers who received tickets in 1803 were al-
ready on their lands. The symbols on the first map simply
indicate the date of the certificate. The settler may have
_.-." ,." ~.-"
-41-
been living on the lot for several years. For 1$03 seventeen
new names appear in the certificates. Two of these settlers
also received land in Whitchurch and one, Ebenezer Cook, seems
to have settled there. He may have been two or three years in
I~rkham and been about to sell his lot there in 1$04. Among
the other name s are Ort ( 2) , Cook, (John), Miller, Clendenning,
Spring, Lamont, Rawn, Schell (2), Westbrook, Bentley (Reuben),
Hamilton and Wurtz. Moses Terry is in this list but had pro- ,
bably been in Markham since 1$00.
It will be noted that by no means all the names
are German and in fact in the later years the German names are
even less numerous. The movement of ItPennsylvania Dut ch" was
.
at its height in 1$04-06, but by then there were few vacant
lots and the nDutch" appear in the certificates mostly as per-
forming duties on lots granted to others or as giving certifi- ,
~
cates to owners. In both cases the object was to buy the lot.
"
In 1$04 the names are Holter, Beeker, Reesor, Brillinger, .'
Weiant and Hederich. Philip v~eidman is mentioned for 1805
!
"
and John Stover (Stauber or Stauffer) in 1806. Those who 1
.,;
.
bought patented lots had no concern with certificates and
many wellknown names such as Heise, Hoover, Lehman, and
Nighswander do not appear on certificates. Among the late
certicicates are those of the Keysters (Caster) and Longs .~
, l
(Lange) in the Tenth Concession. These appear on Location ..
,
"
Tickets of 1802, with Krister, Feightner and Beck. There were "
'.
,~ -.~
some settlers of Netherland origin from New York, DeGeer,
,'-~
f
DeLong, Van Horn, Vancise and Vanzante. Several Millers also ~
:!
'i,
,- ".
came from New York State. There were Scots like the two ,
Mustards, the Hamiltons, Gordins, Kenne dys , Grahams and Lamonts,
and names that suggest Welsh or English origin. Most of the I
!
,'-,
settlers, however, had lived for a time in the United States. ,.
"
Direct immigrants from Europe were few until after 1$16.
In spite of the settlement duties there would
have been many absentee grants in Markham, but General Hunter
1
appears to have adopted the practice of rarely giving more ,
~
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-42-
than one l~t to an individual. The inhabitants of York,
Yonge Street or other sections who were granted or acquired
lots in Markham had learnt to regard them as investments that
would bring a quick return or a steady inc~me, not as
speculations to be held f~r a rise in land prices. They seem
to have had no difficulty in finding settlers who would do the
duties and then buy ~r rent the lot. Prices were good in
lS04-l0 and the demand keen. The presence of established
settlement was largely the cause of this demand. The Berczy
settlement had not peopled Markham but it had opened it up.
There may have been 225 people in Markham in 1799; ten years
later there were nearly that number of families. The popula-
tion in 1809 was 1,111; by 1823 it was 2,255. The increase
had slowed down after 1816 for there was even less available
land and until holdings were divided and villages began to
form the township could not absorb a large number of new
inhabitants.
The Pennsylvania settlers came in small groups.
They often sent one member ahead to look for a good location.
The Lutherans seem to have come by Yonge Street. They mingled
with the German settlers and later built both their churches
in the Berczy settlement. The Mennonites seem to have
entered the township by the River Rouge and improved the old
trail. Their locations extend along its line from Cedar Grove
to beyond Milneville, with others along the Pickering Townline..
Peter Risor or Reesor is said to have come in 1802 and
selected a site near a spring on the bank of the Little Roug€.
He is reported to have traded his pony, with saddle and
bridle, to someone in York for a lot in Markham. The lots he
actually bought in 1804 were Lots 3 and 4 in Con. IX. Lot 4
belonged to James Osburn of Markham To\mship, who may have
been living on it since he had a house and 12 acres cleared
by Nove.mber, 1804. The larger house and five-acre clearing on
~ot 3 were most probably made by Peter Reesor himself. He
L"".........
-43-
brought his family to Markham in 1803, accompanied by Christian
Reesor, Sr. and his four married sons. The Christian Reesors
took the branch trail into Con. X, where Christian Reesor
.1
eventually acquired enough land to provide farms for most of
his sons. Jacob Reesor came later.
The \{eidmans, Byers and Stouffers had to go
farther north, even to Whitchurch Township. The few Tunkers
settled in the vicinity of Heise Hill. They were separated
from the Mennonites by a group of Scots and English settlers
near Cashel. As a rule the settlers were more mixed as they
were in the first few lots north of the Scarborough Townline.
The nDutch!l element predominated and became more marked as the
original families multiplied and spread out.
The ninety-odd certificates show that on the
whole duties had not been scamped. The great majority merely
mention the required five acres. Some may have had more and a
good many clearings of from 10 to 18 acres are mentioned.
John Cook had cleared twenty acres by 1803 and had a barn.
John Clendenning had built himself a house !lof Hewed and
Doughtailed Logs", 28' x 20', with a barn foundation and some
other cuildings. He had cleared 18 acres. Altogether thir-
teen barns are mentioned. Daniel Ee:rick' s was 30' x 20', the
same size as his house. This w~s possibly the largest house
in the li st , but some are nearly as large and several are
over the standard size. Thirty acres was considered a cleared
farm up to 1830 - as much as one man needed. It is not until
1806 that a thirty-acre clearing is mentioned in a certifi-
cate. This was Josiah Hemingway's near Hagerman's Corners.
Joachim Pingel had had such a thirty-acre
clearing in 1799. Seventeen other Berczy settlers had clearings
of from 7-16 acres. The rest who had stayed away longer or had
not returned had less cleared. Several of them had moved since
1796, so they had had only a season or two for chopping. By
1804 the Berczy settlers who were on their lands must have had
-44- 1
I
1
large clearings and settlers who bought these farms had the f
}
benefit. The Germans who had had the largest clearing in
1799 were the ones who remained in Markham, Sommerfelds,
Quantzes, Helmkes,Eckhardts, Ruhmors, Lunaus,Ritters and
Pingels.
In 1811 James Fenwick was keeping an inn at
Cashel. He had a distillery in 1820 and may have been keeping
one of the six shops in 1825. Two or three of these were
probably on Yonge Street. Of the rest one was at Markham Mills
and one may have been John Boyer's at Stouffville.
,
~
1
J
J
"._"'~""""'~...'--~--_._-_.~.,.--.,.~-~...-....,--.-- _. "_U
NUMBER OF INHABITANTS RETURNED BY THE
TOWN CLERKS OF THE HOME DISTRICT
PROVINCE OF UPPER CANADA,
TAKEN IN MARCH, 1809
Mal es Females
TOvJNSHIP Men Women under 16 under 16 TOTAL
years years
I
Town of York 195 162 137 83 577
Township of York 175 126 167 150 618
Scarborough 34 24 44 38 140
Etobicoke 32 27 34 44 137
Pickering 40 35 51 54 180
I Whitby 63 43 42 45 193
Markham 294 234 320 263 1111
Vaughan 75 60 99 99 333
Whitechuroh and 123 127 258 218 726
Uxbrid.ge
East Gwi11imbury 79 69 149 128 425
. West Gwi11imbury 13 12 29 20 74
t
North Gwil1imbury 16 15 18 24 73
King 45 30 58 42 175
Toronto 37 26 65 47 175
Trafalgar 55 45 71 62 233
I Nelson and East 80 70 75 70 295
I F1amboroT
i West F1amboro t 55 52 109 98 314
I
Beverley 26 23 55 37 141
, Block No.2, G.R, 64 48 71 58 241
Number in 1809 1501 1228 1852 1590 6171
Number in 1805 1080 870 985 849 3784
Increase 421 358 867 I 741 2387
--
. -- .-- ~
CHAPTER 3
TRANSPORTATION TO 1856
1. Water Transportation
Water transportation was of the utmost
importance in Upper Canada until 1856, and after the building
of the first railways its use declined very gradually. Land-
ings and harbours on the lakeshore helped to determine the
course of the main roads and the site of some villages. The
absence of landing places west of Highland Creek was one of
the reasons for the slow development of Scarborough Township.
The fact that boats could be taken some distance up the Rouge
had an effect on the settlement in Markham. If the presence
of good landings and some not too good harbours did not pro-
duce rapid settlement in Pickering and the east part of
Scarborough, they did at least help such settlement as took
place before 1805.
The harbours were at first of little use for
sailing vessels because, like most inlets on the shores of
Lake Ontario, their mouths were closed by sandspits*, formed
as much by wave action as by alluvial deposit by the streams.
This did not prevent the use of the rivers by boats of some
size, but kept schooners to exposed anchorages outside. The
landing place on Duffin Creek is said to have been near the
railway bridge, not far from Roger's Mills. We are not told
how far boats could go up Highland Creek; probably they
could be taken close to Cornwell's Mills, just below the old
Dundas Street bridge. This was a great advantage to settlers
bringing their grist. The French document quoted below says
the Rouge was navigable for two leagues or about five miles,
probably for bateaux as well as canoes. Berczy says he took
his "bateaulT four miles up the river before he was stopped by
l~gs and other obstructions.
\,
* These are shown on the plans of Scarborough and Pickering
Townships in 1796.
-46-
Four miles up the present vandings of the Rouge
would be close to the bridge in Lot 5, Concession III, in
Scarborough Township and five miles close to the western side
of Lot 6 in the same concession, There was a landing place
in Lot 6, Concession III, in 1796. These estimates are proba-
bly accurate for the length of the easy navigation when the
river was in its natural state. Canoes could probably be
taken far beyond this point without too much trouble, but
Indians and furtraders usually preferred to carry from free
water on one river to free water on the other. They did not
care to be continually carrying over beaver dams and small
rapids.
Sometime after 1800 Berczy wrote to someone
who was in York in September, 1794 giving a long account of
his (Berczy's) improvement of the Rouge River and his pro-
posal for a canal to the Upper Holland River. This account
was in print before 1893 and easily accessible to the public.~~
The part referring to the Rouge is too long to quote in full.
Berczy says that when he was exploring Iillarkham Township "for
the purpose of laying out the roads" he came to lIa river,
which was afterwards called the 'Nen'," at a point i?in a direct
line eighteen miles distant from Lake Ontario". He says he
found that for some distance upstream to tho north-west the
;
river was deep enough for itlarge boats or bateausi!. He then
,
went IIwithout delayll to York and went "in a bateauil along the
shore till he came to the "third river". Berczy thought this
.
large enough to be the Nen and found the inlet deep enough
for schooners. He went up about four miles in his bateau.
iT ......1 was prevented by fallen timber and drift-
wood from persisting in my navigation, I, there-
fore, left my bateau, and continued to follow on
~
* Published in the Toronto Telegram and reprinted in
J. R. Robertson; Landmarks of Toronto, Series 3,
pp. 18-21. No indication is given of the source, and
addresses and date are omitted. The spelling, etc.,
has been revised. The letter was not to Simcoe, Russell
or D. W. Smith. It may have been to Major Aeneas Shaw,
Captain Samuel Smith or some other military officer who
took charge of the Berczy settlers while Berczy was
delayed in Queenston by sickness.
-47-
foot the shore of the river until I came in the
evening of the second day to the very same place
where at first I had met this river. Having
observed all along the way that it continued in a
gentle course, to keep without interruption the
same depth as at first I observed} and having after-
wards continued to walk along it or about 20 miles
higher up to the north-west, I observed it always
capable of a good navigation."
Berczy then says that he told Simcoe that the
river seemed to him capable of being made navigable almost to
the Holland and that the short portage might be eliminated by
a canal. He says that Simcoe "very anxiously encouraged" him
to attempt to clear the river and offered him a tract at the
outlet of the Nen on which to build storehouses if he made a
harbour there. He says that "early in the spring of 1795"
the "Deputy Surveyor of the district" gave him a Location
Ticket for these lots and that he was urged* to make a wharf
and build storehouses. He was canny enough to put off doing
this until he was sure of his title to this land and was told
to go ahead with the clearing of the Rouge. By the beginning
of July he had cleared the Rouge.
"......so far that I could pass upon it for about
24 miles, from the lake upwards, with a boat of
about a ton burthen..........1T
There are some difficulties in accepting this
account. VJhatever method is used to measure 18 miles in a
direct line from Lake Ontario, the point where Berczy met ~he
river, would be a little above the Victoria Square Sideroad
and not very far from Yonge Street. This is a likely enough
place for Berczy to be exploring, but it would be impossible
to walk twenty mile~ farther ~ the Rouge to the north-west
or in any other direction. As the whole river is less than
28 miles long, he wo~ld have to start from not more than eight
miles from the mouth. Box Grove is about eight miles from
the lake and BerczyTs farm at Unionville about eleven. It
-
* The wording of this passage makes it doubtful who did
the urging and wished to use the wharf. It was proba-
bly Simcoe not, as Berczy seems to say, the Deputy
Surveyor.
--. .. -~
.
-48-
might well take him more than a day to struggle along the
banks of the river to one of these points. From this he
might well think he had walked twenty miles to above Headford.
Twenty-four miles up the Rouge would make Berczy take his
boat well above the Victoria Square Sideroad and nearly 800
feet above sea level or nearly 255 feet above Lake Ontario.*
This is the branch of the Rouge meant, for it was here that
Berczy \Idisposedll his settlers to aid the clearing of the
river as he says he did. The Little Rouge was outside his
settlement.
D. W. Smith wrote to Augustus Jones on
July 17, 1795, telling him to complete the survey of
Scarborough between York Township and the River Nen. This
order certainly was connected with Berczy's clearance of the
ri v er . So was the instruction to look for 230 acres on the
Rouge that Simcoe could take to complete his military lands.t
Simcoe did not patent these lands, but the rush to take addi-
tional lands in Scarborough may have followed the improvement
of the navigation. Certainly most of the land near the Rouge
was taken by absentees.
The lands Berczy wanted at the mouth had been
given to someone else. He found this out when he went to
Niagara to get a proper Location Ticket from the Surveyor-
General. Simcoe, however, intended to give him Lot 34,
Ranges II and III, in Pickering Township (about 230 acres** ),
and a "small point" of about 20 acres at the mouth of the
Rouge in Lot 31, for his IItrouble in opening the riverll.
~
* For more exact distances and elevations see the "Water"
section of this report.
t Simcoe had already taken a block of land on the Humber
near Weston through which ran the trail he had followed
to the Holland in 1793. Iredell was sent to survey this
block directly after Simcoe's return. His notes give
two points on the trail.
-l'r* This may have been the lots reserved for Simcoe. Simcoe's
intention is mentioned by D. W. Smith in 1798.
-49-
The new navigation may have proved of little use. In 1796,
when Berczy was collecting provisions for his settlers, he
was evidently anxious to control landings at the natural head
of navigation. He wrote to the Surveyor-Genaral about this
on September 22, 1796. David William Smith replied on the 27th:
"I have received your Letter of the 22nd Inst. The
Lots No. 2 in the Second Concession, and No.6 in
the third Concession of Scarboroughi having been
represented to me as good Landing p aces, on the
Nen, those were the Lots I kept for you; I have
now entered them in Wm. Eadus's name as you desire."
William Eadus, Eadies or Eades patented these
lots in April, 1797. It should be observed that the "Old
Masting Road" reached the river not far from the lower of
these landings.
The "proposed canal" appears on some maps of
1805-l2, perhaps based on information furnished by Berczy.
As the Headford branch was evidently the one intended to be
followed, it may have been proposed to join up Philips, Bond,
T1Vilcocks and St. George Lakes and use them as part of the
sc heme. Much less is heard of this proposal in later years
than of the one from the Humber to the Holland (or Schomberg)
River. It may have been examined in the 1820's, when many
canal routes were under consideration, and rejected as too
expensive or because of lack of water - as much in the Holland
as in the Rouge.
Almost nothing has been recorded in writing
about the navigation of the Rouge; as far as can be judged
it was not much used by settlers. There are traditions of
boat and scow navigation as high as Stee1es Avenue on the
Little Rouge. However, the Reesors are said to have brought
their goods in waggons up the river road. The existence of
this road seems to point to a downstream navigation. This is
often meant when a river was said to be navigable for boats
and barges. The rafts or rough scows might be sold for lum-
ber at the end of the trip. or, if it seemed worth while, the
boats or scows could be teamed back with the timber-tugs used
for bringing large timbers to slack water. Slides for logs
-50-
and rafts were supposed to be left open in mill dams, but the
dams spoiled the upstream navigation. In any case it was a
toilsome business, and as soon as there was a road it was
given up.
2. Indian Trails
In a region so thickly settled by Indians
there were bound to be many Indian paths crossing the area.
These would change little from the earliest times, for in the
matter of trails and camping places the Indians were obsti-
nately conservative. They could travel anywhere in the forest,
but unless they saw good reason for it they preferred to fol-
low the accustomed route. In this way the great trails would
become clearly marked and the paths connecting villages be
used long after the villages had vanished.
(a) The Lake Trails
There were three great paths across this area -
the two lakeshore routes and the Rouge portage trail. There
were two lake trails because of the impossibility of crossing
the rivers near their mouths when the ice was thin in spring
or autumn and the necessity of swimming or wading in summer.
Indians were usually good swimmers, but deerskin does not
take kindly to water. It was easier to take a route from one
ford to another than to stop and make a canoe, The inland
route would be safer from enemies coasting along the lake shore
in canoes. From Burlington to Toronto the course of the
inlcnd path is easy to trace. It was used for parts of
Dundas Street and was marked on maps. Part of it is still
followed by Davenport Road in Toronto. It crossed the Don
near Pottery Road and probably climbed up to Todmorden, but
from this point there is nothing to indicate its course except
the line taken by Jones for his "horsepathYl. This will be
discussed later. If Jones was influenced by the Indian route,
the latter probably was heading for the village near Bendale.
From Bendale the inlend path probably followed
Danforth's road until it crossed the path from the mouth of
--
-51-
Highland Creek. From this point it is idle t~ speculate as
tn the line ~f this path. It is not likely tn have cr~ssed
the Rouge as l~w down as Danforth's bridge. There is n~ well-
defined bluff for it to follow, as there was until it reached
Poplar Plains Road in Toronto, This is true of its cGurse
across Pickering. No road following it lasted l~ng enough to
be recorded on the rather late maps, which are all we have of
this section. Dundas Street was straightened out along a con-
cession line just where it might have rejoined the Indian path.
The lake shore path probably ran close to the
Kingston Road. There was little point in keeping closer to
the lake across the Highland. It probably went back to the
shore at Highland Creek and then followed the lake, as the
Lakeshore Road does still east of Newcastle. We know that
this road once continued across the front of Darlington
Township, @n land, some of which has been eroded away long
ago. No sketch plan of Whitby and Pickering Townships has
been found like the one of the front of Durham County made
by Samuel Street Wilmot in 1829. Goessmann's plan of 1824,
which is one of the same set, leaves Scarborough blank and we
do not know what Ttbye paths" were travelled in that township.
(b) The Rou~e Portage Trail
The trail from the River Rouge was, until 1678,
as frequented as the Humber Trail and continued to be used by
the Indians after the latter had become the established route
for most white men. Though a little the longer of the two,
this portage led over easier country, and for travellers
intending to coast eastwards along the north shore it had the
advantage of shortening the dangerous lake navigation, making
it unnecessary to round both the peninsula (Toronto Island)
and the Scarborough Bluffs, which once extended much farther
into the lake. Travellers to and from Niagara or the Head of
the Lake would find the Humber Trail more convenient for the
same reasons.
It is just possible that some adventurous
F['~n~hrnan mcq hav'8 gone with Indian bands over the Rouge Trail
---
1
-'\
-52- ~l
~~,
..~
i
between 1615 2nd 1630. This route was probably safer for ,
"~
ii
small parties than the Trent, which was the favoured war path "
~
'u
for Iroquois rnids on Huronia. As the attitude of the Iroquois '~
ti
to the French gradually hardened, both Hurons and Frenchmen '~
,I!
.,
were entirely excluded from Lake Ontario~ In 1635 Father 1
i
,
'il
, ,.t
Breboeuf speaks of the route as Yfunfrequented" and Father t~r
r:
i!
.;1
L21~mant six years later implies that it was impossible to I
Ii
;;1
J;
use it to Montreal. ~I
~!
~
During the years when the French were excluded ~
~
.
~t
from the Toronto Portage, there was nothing to prevent the ";;
~
Dutch from using it. They became thoroughly familiar with
this route and later passed on their information to the English
when New York became a British Colony. By that time en uneasy
poace had been established between the French and the Iroquois .
Ii'
and it was possible for the former to 2scend the St. Lawrence. ;'i
;;
It was now the Rouge Trail that attracted the attention of
the explorers and usually appears on their maps. Most of
these give few details that are of help in determining the
course of the trail. Two maps, of about 1674, attributed to
Joliet, give more information. They show that this trail
began a little way up the river, where it was flowing from
the north-west or west, and led off nearly at right angles to
the valley. Raffeix's Map of 1688 has the rivers drawn on a
far lerger scale than the rest of the map and gives some
intoresting details, probably intended as ~ guide to travel-
lers. It shows the forks of both the Holland and the Humber,
but unfortunately not those of tho Rouge. The bend in the
river is clearly shown and the beginning of the trail some
distance above the village of Ganatsekiagon. The trail is
shown ending on the East Branch of the Holland some distance
above a sharp bend to the west. That the trail ended as high
up as this latter point is possible but unlikely for, as a
rule, the Indians preferred to carry straight from slack water
to slack water, avoiding even the first rapid. But, like the
Humber Trail, the Rouge route had probably more than one start-
ing point and termination.
\~
-53-
Raffeix gives the length of the t~ail as 1115
lieues" or leagues. If the league is taken at its later
length of about 2i miles, this is.far too long for the dis-
tance from one river to the other. It is closer to the
distance from one lake to the other, But apart from the
difficulty of estimating distance in bush country, the length
of the "computed league!t varied as widely in seventeenth- and
eighteenth-century Europe as the !tc?mputed mile" in different
parts of England at the same period. Raffeix's estimate is
much closer than Gallin~e's of 1120 or 22 lieus" (20 to 22
league s) . A description of 1730 says:
!tIt is 15 leagues from Quint4 (Carrying Place) to
the River Camestiagon. At the mouth of the said
river there used to be an Iroquois Village; after
them the Mississaugues; the said river is navi-
gable for 2 leagues; at the end there is a portage
of 12 leagues through good country of low hills.
The route is northerly and at the end of 12 leagues
is the River Escoyondy. The said river runs north-
east about 10 leagues and falls into Lake Toronteau... "
This has been accepted as referring to the
Rouge Trail. The description of the portage is accurate and
the length not far out for a carry to Holland Landing from a
point five miles by river up the Rouge; but the distance
given from Quint~ suggests that the writer was confusing
Ganatsekiagon with Ganarask~ (Port Hope) and his information
about the Holland was vague.
This description shows that the trail con-
tinued to be used in the eighteenth century and it is shown
on later maps. From the introduction of sailing vessels into
Lake Ontario in 1678 the French preferred to use the Humber
Trail because it had better anchorages near it. The founding
of posts at Niagara in 1720, at Toronto in 1729 and again in
1750-1 confirmed this preference even for the Indians.
The Mississaugas were probably using the Rouge
Trail after 1793, and it has been said that some of Berczy's
Germans reached Markham by this route, but this was not the
case with the main body, who went by Yonge Street. Berczy's
probable connection with the settlers' Rouge road will be dis-
Cussed later. The line of this road, as shown on the first map
-54-
in this chapter, probably comes as near to the line of the
old portage as any that can be laid down at present. It must
be remembered that these trails had alternative routes and
many branches. The trail would certainly pass near the two
villages near Steeles Avenue. It probably passed between
them, for ~ndian villages were apt to be a little off a
main trail.
(c) Local Paths
That a trail led up the east bank of Highland
Creek from the mouth is indicated by the existence of the
settlers' road later established for a time as a legal road.
This with its probable continuation is shown on the first map.
There are some Indian finds that confirm the idea of this path.
David Thomson was certainJ.y .foJ.lowing an Indian
path when he made his way to the spring near Bendale, whether
he was aware of it or not. This led from the lake to the
recently discovered Indian village site and it continued on
to the village site at German Mills, on to the Don Trail near
Yonge Street and beyond into Vaughan Township. Here there
was another concentration of Indian sites south of Maple.
Some of these may have been sugaring camps and it was in this
region that the remains of a "deer fence!? are mentioned by an
early surveyor. It must have been an important path and
probably had many branches. The road that replaced it is
marked on the map.
We know less of Indian paths in Pickering. One
probably led northwards up Duffin Creek. It will not have
been a main route, for there were better routes on both sides
and the ridges are at their highest in the southern part of
Uxbridge. Wherever there were beaver there would be paths,
and many must have led across this country also.
The Stouffville Road to Uxbridge, on the other
hand, looks like a fairly important trail. It would be a
branch of the Rouge Trail and perhaps a short cut to the Trent
system. The old road that connected it to Newmarket may have
. .
-55-
used Indian paths in part also, The lakes and beaver ponds
in the ridges would attract hunters, and this region would be
safer than those nearer the lake when the Iroquois began to
be dangerous.
The French used the lake trails for winter
couriers between the forts. The British did the same until
roads were made. Even the highroads owe something to the
Indian route. For the settlers the trails were the easiest
way into the back country. They drove cattle over the lake-
shore trail and up the Don and Rouge Trails, and where it
suited them they made waggon roads. Few of these have endured;
landowners do not like slanting roads across their lands. But
the old roads are not all forgotten and they help to show
where the Indians travelled.
3. Roads and Travel to 1900
The roads in the early period fall into three
classes: first the highroads or highways, made and largely
maintained by the Provincial Government; second the roads
opened by settlers for their own convenience, often with lit-
tle regard to the surveyed road allowances; third the roads
"by law established", selected by the magistrates in Quarter
Sessions or by District Road Commissioners and maintained by
statute labour. These classes later tended to merge into
two - County Roads and Township Roads. Provincial roads in
this region disappeared for more than fifty years to be revived
in this century. As the population grew, more and more roads
were established on the road allowances and most settlers'
roads went out of use. By the 1820' s the .Government had
established the practice of giving help to the commissioners
for improvement of main roads not provincial property. The
commissioners began, even earlier, to let contracts for main
roads, leaving statute labour to the townships.
The order used above is roughly the order of
date, since Yonge Street was the first road to cross any part
of the wat~rsheds, but all three classes were in use soon
after 1800.
-56-
(a) Yonge Street
The line of Yonge Street had been surveyed
from Holland Landing to Eglinton Avenue by Augustus Jones in
February and March, 1794. In May, Alexander Aitkin was sent
with a party of the Queen's Rangers to layoff the lots on
each side and cut the road. By May 18, 1794, they had opened
four miles north of Eglinton, at a cost of ~5.l9s.7~d. Cut-
ting implied felling the larger trees and some clearing of
brush, but little else. No bridges had been built. Such a
road must have looked much like a township line in Northern
Ontario today, or the right of way of a Hydro power line where
it crosses a woodlot. Both these, however, are a good deal
wider.
A little more progress had been made before
August when the threat of war called the Rangers to military
duty on the Niagara Frontier. By this time William Berczy
had arrived with his settlers and in September he undertook
to layout Yonge Street "in the same manner a.s Dundas Street"
and complete it within one year as far as Holland Landing.
What this involved is described in a letter of Augustus Jones
in reply to an inquiry from the Surveyor-General. It was less
elaborate than Danforth's later contract, since there seems
to have been the minimum of "causewaying" with logs. Brush
and small timber was first cleared from a strip nearly fifty
feet wide. Trees "under eighteen inches or there abouts" were
cut in the actual roadway "as near the ground as possiblell.
Any larger trees seem to have been left standing. No grading
is mentioned except some terracing with logs along hillsides.
Berczy had visited Yonge Street and reported
at some length on the difficulties. He began work on
October 24, 1794 and reported progress on November 30th. He
says he has "finished on Yonge Street only till Lot No. 36",
that is to Langstaff, where the road turned off to the German
settlement.
ltThat Piece of Road from York to Johnsons I have a
good deal altered, and till now reduced so far that
'-
-57-
I could already send three Waggons loaded with Goods
& provisions till Johnsons. i keep an exact account
of the Expences which I laid out on that Road, in
order to make a Repartition of that work between
the proprietors of the Lands, accordingly to the
regulations of the Le~islative Assembly. It was a
great deal work to do, and I hope that with some
not great Expences, that piece of Yonge Street can
be entire perfectioned next Spring.
In the Township I have made about 30 Miles good
Waggon Road, with all the necessary Bridges, of
which some are from 30 to 70 feet long, so at
present we have a very easy communication through
the Lands, where the Germans has already built more
than 40 Houses. All the abovementioned work on the
Road was likewise performed by my Germans, to whom
I joined only 6 other hired Hands. All the rest of
my hired hands being employed to build a Saw-mill,
the House at York and a large frame House for me
.in the Township. n*
He had said earlier in the letter that he would continue
beyond Langstaff as soon as things were settled in the
township.
Il........the more asI have already begun to build,
and clear on Lots No. 53 & 51 East of Yonge Street,
of which the Settler opens now the Road so far as
to bring through a Sleigh.il"f
The part from Lot 29 to Holland Landing, flwhich I have engaged
to open on my own Expences", he would finish as soon as
possible.
At that moment Berczy was at the height of his
optimism about his operations. He was only able to open the
road as far as Bond Lake and even that distance was unfinished.
He was stopped there by sickness among his workmen and other
troubles. By midsummer it was obvious that he would not be
able to fulfil his contract. He had been promised four lots
on Yonge Street, which had been reserved to pay for opening
the road, and because he was thought to have done his best to
carry out the undertaking, the council recommended that these
be sold and the money applied to Berczy's expenses.
Yonge Street remained as Berczy had left it
for six months. Then, between January 4 and February 14, 1796,
* Survey Records, Lands and Forests: Letters Received,
No.3, pp. 709-711, Berczy to D.W. Smith, November 30,
I 79 4.
.~ Ib id .
I
)~
-5$-
Augustus Jones with a party of 30 Rangers ilopenedil the whole
road, cutting the trees and making some improvements. These
probably did not go beyond the method he had used on Dundas
Street. Berczy seems to have done some grading of hills and
his road to Langstaff probably was a passable waggon track.
Beyond that point Yonge Street was not much more than a irwinter"
road until 1798. The Government carried out a number of
improvements in that year, partly because of the difficulty
of sending stores to "Windham" for the French Royalists.
These chiefly concerned the "Road to Yonge Street" below
Eglinton Avenue, but work was also done on the rest of the
road and by 1799 the waggon road extended at least as far as
Aurora. Settlement on upper Yonge Street was tjoing ahead
rapidly in 1793-1800. By I$Ol Timothy Recer] and his Quaker
iffollowers" hRd arrived on their holdings between Ne'VIJ111arket
and Holland Landing. The whole road was probably passable
by 1$02 and Yonge Street was really itopenedlt at last.
Each time a party was sent to do anything to
a road they were said to be 11 opening it il . Yonge Street 'VIras
ifopened" four times before lSOO~ The cutting required from
settlers was also called ifopeningi? the road. This use is
confusing for med0~n readers. At first) it vmuld appear from
Berczy's letter, the settlers on Yonge Street were to con-
tribute to the cost of the road, but by November, 1794 cutting
,I
half the road allowance of 66 fest in f~o~t of thAir lots and
burning the logs and brush was all the "road work" demanded
from settlers on Yonge Street. Stumps were to be cut so low
that a waggon might pass over (the axles, not the wheels) and
as Berczy indicated this pronuced little more than a sleigh
track. After 179$ this duty applied to all lots not speci-
fically freed from it. It was better enforced after 1800 and
an inspection in 1801 showed that the part of Yonge Street
from Richmond Hill to Bond Lake was better cleared them most
of the rest. The first if opening1t of a government highroad
was usually little better than cutting a line, but more was
-59-
expected of contractors. The settlers were not relieved of
all duties when a highroad was "openedlY, for the width of the
strip was reduced after 1794 and they still had to clear the
verges.
In 1804 the Legislature passed a bill to pro-
vide for the improvement and maintenance. In 1807 it was
suggested that Yonge Street be "turnpiked". This usually
meant clearing out boulders, stumps and large roots, and
ditching and crowning up the road with the plough. It was
probably carried out before long, for traffic on the road was
steadily increasing. Greater opportunities for profit and
stricter enforcement of road duties were inducing some absentee
landowners to move from York to Yonge Street between 1802
and l812. This is reflected in the numbers of tavern licences
issued.
In 1805, four taverns were licensed on
Yonge Street. The number gradually increased and in 1812
eight new licences were issued, bringing the number to about
twenty on the street and two in Markham. The war proved the
utility of the Y?military communicationl1. Most of the stores
for the naval posts on Georgian Bay went by Yonge Street,
Lake Simcoe and the Severn River. The dirt road probably
suffered from the increased traffic, but Yonge Street was one
of the highways for which special funds were voted in 1814
and by 1816 Yonge Street was one of the best roads in the
Province. The traffic was said to have declined since the
introduction of steamboats on Lake Erie, but the dust from
the many waggons was annoying to a pedestrian.
In spite of the revival of the Niagara route,
the demands on Yonge Street grew steadily as the northern
townships were settled. The road was probably kept up to the
standard reached by 1816, but great advances in road construc-
~ion had been made in England after 1800 and these were being
adopted in the United States. Yonge Street was falling behind
contemporary standards end more and more complaints of its
condition were to be heard after 1825.
"'"1
-60-
It was obvious that the roads were inadequate,
particularly Yonge Street on which the summer traffic was much
heavier than on the others. In January, 1830 Seneca Ketchum,
James Hogg and other inhabitants of Yonge Street petitioned
the Assembly for leave to set up a Road Company, raising the
capital by loans on the security of the tolls to be collected.
The scheme was investigated by a Committee and it was agreed
that a system of tolls appeared to be the only way of keeping
the roads in condition. However, there was some unwillingness
to set up private companies on the flmilitary" roads and the
committee reported that it might be a useful experiment
lito allow a sum sufficient to macadamize four miles
of that road to be expended, and afterwards to place
a toll-bar with moderate rates of toll for two years,
within a mile of Yorki!,
The tolls were to be let by auction and the profits to be
applied to the upkeep of the road "under the direction of the
freeholders in the vicinity".
The scheme was not carried out exactly as
recommended. Funds were granted in 1833 and Rowland Burr was
given a contract for improving Yonge Street, Burr graded the
hills by means of cuts and embankments across some valleys.
He followed the straight survey line and the old detours became
alternative roads. Most of them passed gradually out of use.
This grading was considered at the time a marvellous achieve-
ment as it was in preparation for macadamizing, but this pro-
gressed very slowly. In 1837 Yonge Street was only macadamized
as far as Yorkville, where the first toll gate stood at Bloor
Street. The rest of the road is described as l1tolerable", but
"in good weather" should be added. In December, 1837 much of
Yonge Street was still in a very bad state.
In 1836 trustees were set up for the highways
of the Home District. "For the Yonge Street Roadil seven were
appointed. They were empowered lito erect such number of Gates
on or across the said Road...and fix such toll as may be found
d. t " There was probably already at least one toll
8xpe len ... .
gate on Yonge Street, for one on Dundas Street is mentioned
,A
~
""""""'l
-61-
,in the Act. Others were now set up farther up Yonge Street
and the macadamizing was carried on during the next ten years.
By 1846, when the Provincial Government had taken the roads
back from the Trustees, the "stone roadll reached to
Richmond Hill.
Up to 1841 the Government had spent more than
$400,000*on the three "Toronto roads" _ that is, on Yonge
Street to Holland Landing, the "West York Roed" (Dundas Street,
No. 5) as far as "Springfield" (Erindale), and the "\'lest York
Road" (Kingston Road, No. 2) as far as the Rouge.
All three were toll roads and in 1846 brought
the Provincial Government a gross revenue of about $10,245.
Expenses were only $300 in that year, but as the improvements
were pushed farther up Yonge Street and traffic in all the
roads increased, the expense multiplied faster than the
receipts. In 1848 the gross revenue was about ~49,775, but
expenses were so heavy that the net receipts were only $9,335.
In 1849 the receipts were greater and the expenses somewhat
less, so that the average for 1846, 1848 and 1849 is about
~11,000, and this is probably close to the yearly average from
lS45 to 1850. Both receipts and expenses would be greater on
Yonge Street than on the two other roads.
In 1850 the three main roads were sold to a
private road company for ~75,100. This did not recoup the
Province for all expenditures, but seems to indicate that
profits were expected to increase.
"Whether the Government has acted wisely in so
doing remains to be proved; the roads were for-
merly in the hands of Commissioners, and many
persons were of the opinion that the Government
acted without much judgement in taking them into
their own hands. They were certainly very badly
managed, and whoever loses by the present transfer,
the public at all events are likely to be the
gainers, as they will never submit to pay tolls to
private parties for travelling on such bad roads
as they have been condemned to use for the last
year or two.nt
* ~J. H. Smith: C::ln['.da, Pnst, Present and Future, 1~51.
t Ibid.
- -., -_....~..~. -----. .-"~'~.--"-_.- .. '-"~ " ....~. --~ .......:
-- - -~~-
- -::O;;'_y. "~ ..','""_.....^-"_,, j '.. .... _.~-.-"""".--..-- - n_ .__..__
-62-
This last seems to refer to stretches on Dundas Street and
the Kingston Road, for the same writer says in another pas-
sage that, with these exceptions, the roads of the "Upper
Province" were on the whole very good in 1850. The macadam
road now extended to Holland Landing.
Whether or not the public gained by the sale
of the road, the purchasers were almost certainly losers in
the long run. The opening of railways in 1853, 1855 and 1856
reduced the tolls on the roads, and when the County of York
purchased these three roads and also the Lakeshore Road in
1865 the gross yearly revenue was only about $32,000 for all
four. The purchase price was then fixed by arbitrators at
$72,500 - less than a fifth of the price of 1850. The County
continued to collect the tolls, farming out the various gates
to the highest bidder.
The tolls were never popularo They were evaded
whenever it was possible to use a sideroad, and in this way
the improvement of the sideroads, which were free, was hastened
by the existence of the toll gates. Pressure was put on the
municipalities to improve the free roads and people did their
statute labour willingly, paid their commutation, with less
grumbling when it meant having an alternative to the toll roads.
The system of tolls was certainly the only one that could have
produced the sums needed to bring the main roads up to the
modern standard of 1840. It survived in York County long after
other methods had been found successful elsewhere and was
only abolished in 1$96.
(b) "Dundas Street" - Old Danforth Road and Kingston Roag,
Simcoe had conceived a single road from the
Thames to Kingston, with a branch road from Burlington to
Niagara, in 1793. It was to be one of the great military roads
of the province and was called "Dundas Street" after Henry
Dundas1 Viscount MelVille, in 1793 Home Secretary and in 1794
~
-63-
Secretary at War. The first section of Dundas Street was
opened from Coote's Paradise to the Thames in 1793. On July 1$,
1795 D.W. Smith gave Augustus Jones instructions from Simcoe to
II ...,.open a Horse path from York to the Bay of
Quinte, as a Ground work for the continuation of
Dundas Street, you will proceed upon this work,
as soon as you have completed the Survey Westward
of the River Nen.
In tracing this Road, you will have general
regard to the proper Situations for its crossing
the Creeks, which His Excellency conceives will
be at about 2 Concessions distant from the Lake,
in the several Townships - leading off & on that
Concession line as a base or direction according
to the Nature of the Ground, Creeks &c. so a s to
make the whole as near a right line, a s the Curve
of the Lake will admit - and should you find any
difficulties to this object, in your progress,
you must be guided by existing circumstances on
the spot, having especial regard to the principal
view, namely of continuing Dundas Street towards
Lower Canada by the shortest and at the same time
most eligible route".
The survey mentioned was the one in Scarborough
already referred to. Pressure of work kept Jones from carrying
out this commission until at least the latter part of 1796. He
evidently began his line at the point where "Coon's Road to
St. John's" crossed Yonge Street, that is near the present cor-
:
,
ner of Roxborough Street East. \.Jhy he went so far north-east
before crossing into Scarborough can only be guessed. It is
not likely that Jones did much cutting along this line or that
a horse path (bridle path) was opened or used. However, the
existence of Jones' line influenced the course of the road of
1799, and for this reason it has been entered on the first map.
From Duffin Creek eastward the road departed very little from
this line and until very recently Queen's Highway No. 2 followed
it even more closely. Some detours around hills were
straightened about 1$50.
In March, 1799 the Executive Council considered
a proposal from Asa Danforth for opening the whole of Dundas
Street to the River Trent by contract. Asa Danforth was an
American contractor who had successfully exploited salt springs
and had been concerned with some equally successful mills at
-64-
Rochester. He had had a good deal of experience in building
roads. He asked twenty dollars an acre for a road cleared
33 feet wide, taking four acres to the mile. The Council
accepted his proposals with alacrity, only changing the price
to $20.50 per measured acre and adding a few details to his
proposal.
"Council Chamber 9 April 1799
(received 9 August 1799)
(An Extract from
the Hinutes)
Read the Proposals of Mr. Asa
Danforth for opening a Road from York to the
Mouth of the River Trent, thirty-three feet wide.
Labour to be completed as
follows -
To be surveyed and marked at the Expense of
Bovernment. Mr. Denforth will then proceed to cutting
& clearing the said Road, taking care to cut sixteen
feet and half within the 33 feet, smooth and cut even
to the Ground, and as near the center of the road as
the Ground will admit, and the Bridges & causeways
shall be made in such way & manner, as shall be
all0wed sufficient, taking care to place the Buttments
& string pieces a proper height to prevent the high-
water from taking the covering off. The Bridges
& Causeways to be the same width of the cleared
part of the Road, or 16 feet & ! wide, and such
places as are sideling, and such as are too steep
for passing, are to be plowed down a proper space
for Slay or Carriage to pass; and that the above
labor shall be done the first day of July 1800.
The Road shall be passable to Smiths Creek by the
first day of January next.
Labour & Expences, calculated as follows -
Twenty two Dollars & a half for each Acre, said
Road shall contain.
Payments in the following Manner -
When Ten Miles shall have been inspected, receive
payment for five.
When Twenty Miles are completed, receive payment
for Ten Miles, and when the Road shall be finished
to Smiths Creek, receive payment for one half of
that distance.
The Remainder, when the whole is compleated.
( si gne d ) Asa Danforth
Unanimously approved
( signed) J. Small
The SurvTr Gen'l"
.
-65-
The Surveyor-General was told to send a Deputy
Surveyor to fix the line for the road. He was to start from
the end of King Street (near the present junction of King and
Queen Street East) and to be given discretion to depart from
line laid down when necessary to avoid "wet grounds and Ravinesll
but was to follow it in general. The Surveyor-General issued
instructions to John Stegman on April 29, 1799 and added the
rider
" ... . . · a Road forced into Scarboro ugh by the
Exertions of a few Settlers, is to be an
object of your research, as I think it
possible that may prove a favorable situation
for the Highway - but should this appear never
so eligible, your opinion on it, must not be
concluded until you have explored the other
parts of this Tract".
Stegman was to blaze this line and then survey
it marking the 33 feet of width. Danforth was allowed very
little discretion to depart from it and was even expected to
keep his road in the middle of the strip. He was allowed to
IlJcate 200 acres in the name of "each good and industrious
labouring man" employed and to draw three tents and two grind
stones from the public stores, "as they are articles that
cannot be obtained without much trouble and expence".
Stegman had finished as far as Duffin Creek by
June lOth, 1799 and reported
"The road forced into Scarborough have fount to
be Eligible, according to the nature of the Country,
for which reason have made no alterations except
where I fount it necessary to make the Road shorter,
the Distance from this town to Duffin's Creek, has .
been carefully chained & mile posts erected, and .. ;1l
1~
the greater part of the said road is on a pine ,.
n
.,
ridge & a favourable Situation for a high Way ql
" Ii
excepting a few hills which were impossible to ,.
~.
!'
avoid..." " f~j
. .1
"
, it
After a little prodding Danforth began work early in August and jj;l
'ii
.1f
He was reported to have reached Smith's Creek . ;~;
worked rapidly. ;~':
{Port Hope) by November 27, 1799. William Chewett had in- ,.
!~
spected the first ten miles about November 8th and three weeks ill
it
,.
~
later he set out to inspect the whole to Smith's Creek. In ,'I
i\i
,
tL
the first ~en miles Chewett had noted several items that must " ;~;!
i~
\~
;}'
-66-
be "ammendedlf before Danforth could be paid his first payment.
Chewett's full report was not entirely favourable but he did
not put all the blame for this on Danforth.
If The Hills in general are too steep and must be
ammended, but the contractor has followed the Line
of the Surveyor, who should have staked of (sic)
parrallels in a Zigzag manner up the face of the
Hills, in order to make the ascent, and descent
easy for his guidance. The Hill on the East side of
the River Nen, which is the most difficult to pass
on the whole of the Communication, the Contractor
has taken as much pains as lay in his power to make
good, but with all that he has done, or can do it
is too steep. I saw a loaded Ox Sled go down with
ease, but then there was from 16 to IS Inches of
Snow on the ground, to go up this Hill in my opinion
Oarriages must unlcad, and when the said Hill is
covered with a glair of Ice, I doubt much whether
Oxen, or Horses to Carriages could either go up or
down, yet I am induced to think that a Chain across
the Runners of a Sled, or a Wheel Stopped by a Chain
might answer, but to be hoisted or lower (sic) by a
Tackle would be much better. I therefore conclude
it to be a good Winter Road, as a loaded Sled drawn
by Oxen, may travel from 16 to 17 miles per day, and
a Sled with Horses from 35 to 40 miles per day, that
is to say from the break of day, to the parting
thereof.
:
,
" But with regard to a Summer Road for Wheel
Carriages going Post - In my humble opinion nothing
can effect that but a good Settlement thereon to
keep the Road in constant repair, by cutting out
the fallen logs, Timber, and the Brush which will
grow up at every Stump, and in every part of the
road. "
This passage has been quoted at length for the
picture it gives of conditions on a better pioneer road, "
con- ,
I:
~;
ditions that still prevailed to some extent on Yonge Street ;.,
,!
,
';j
"
1
where the beam for hoisting and lowering heavy waggons could ,
..
'I
still be seen across a cut below St. Clair Avenue about 1832 'I
I
~
"
and gave its name to "Gallows Hilllf. Chewett implies a good ,
:1
~l
deal of criticism of Stegman (probably cf his inexperience) I;
.;,
"
I
If
and of the Council for trying to make the road without taking "
I
steps to see that it was settled and for giving the contractor ,\;
"
"
~!
"
too little discretion. He says they can not lose by paying II
Danforth for half the 63 miles, as otherwise he cannot con-
i
tinue, Except for the hills the faulty parts could be set " i~
right in the spring. :i
~i
,i~
,.
tit
."
'~~
,:,\
,It
'11
. -' ,:~
-67-
There were only four settlers on the road in
63 miles and a few new improvements near ~mithrs Creek. On
July 20, 1800 Lewis Grant found some things to be done, in-
cluding three miry places to be corduroyed near the tenth mile
(south of Sendale) and the bridge over the west branch of High-
land Creek near the p~int to be raised as Mr. David Thomson
said the water had run over it that spring. These had been
done when Grant inspected the 63 miles a month later and Grant
gave a favourable report. The "precipices 8r sudden descents"
had been cut down and zigza~ with l~g retaining walls.
The road could now be described as passable and
was certainly better than h~ne; but the Council was not
satisfied and Danforth had difficulty in getting his mnney.
P')ssibly there had been complaints from the "inhabitants".
Settlers were beginning to locate along the road and they had
been doing some repairs. Two or three f1causeways" had been
built "by the inhabitants" by 1802. A commi.ttee of three had
been appointed to report on the road and estimate the cost of
putting it in shape. They reported on October 2, 1802 that
Danforth had not fulfilled his contract and gave a long estimate
of repairs totalling t2100 (Currency - $8400). Their remarks
certainly show that the road was going to pieces.:;;
ii
,I
" The East end of the Bridge over the River .~
Nen or R~uge, the string pieces having failed'j
will in a short time be impassal"le. :..j
,';i
.".
MRny Bridges & Causeways are in the same ,I
predicarn.:mt. ..1
"
. '~
The Eastern Hill at the aforesaid Bridge, the]
upper part of the log work having been burnt by j~
the late fire in the Woods, will in a short .~
time be impassable. m
:ff
The Communication in many places from the;t
lath Mile Post to the Trent is almost impasEible :l
being overgr'1wn with Brushwood & Brambles] and .,i~
many Trees which have fallen since it was first .~
opened except where it is settled.1I .~
'~1
It was very little settled; this report names . Ii
, In
'.~I
'::,'w'ee sett-..lers in the first thirty miles - Palmer at the lOth!!!
~J,
rrd.le. pvs~, .J\)h8~ at t,he 12th and Munger near the 23rd. The ~::.
\~:
. 'm
jl~
Ii'
...N........'...
"
It!
\
. ~J
ii'
iil
,;.;' ,"
..~....,
-68-
second report, a month later, adds George Post between the
16th and 17th and Mr. Woods near the 26th. There were at
least two or three more on the road in this area. Some faint
attempt was made to enforce settlement and road work. It was
unsuccessful; everyone had unimproved wild lands and no one
wished to invoke forfeiture against their neighbours.
Councillors like David William Smith were among the worst
offenders.
An estimate of i2,100 was too high for the
Council to allow. The committee was given i300 to spend. They
prepared the second estimate on this basis. They proposed to
spend i25 on the Don bridge and i50 to build a fr~~e bridge at
the Rouge and another i50 for the hill east of this bridge
"being a very dangerous precipice". This money was spent in
1803-04. On September 14, 1803 William Chewett writes to a
contractor who had offered to build a new bridge over the
Rouge at a place suggested by Samuel Munger north of Danforth's
bridge, and to Munger to learn the details of the location.
Two days later he writes again to Munger, as pathmaster of
Pickering, for estimates of the cost of clearing the road
across Pickering and Whitby and of replacing "the two Bridges
which have been carried away between your House and the River
Rouge" - Petticoat Creek and Dunbarton Creek.
The Legislature voted funds in 1804 to be spent
on repairing roads and bridges. This Act changed the course
of Dundas Street in several places but not in this section.
In 1806 the Road Commissioners for the Home District advert-
ised for tenders for work in aid of statute labour on Dundas
Street. A similar advertisement appeared in the Gazette of ,
June 9, ISlO, soon after another more general Act had received
the Royal assent. This call for tenders specifies the town-
ships of Pickering and Whitby, indicating that the Cornwell
20ad was in use across Scarborough Township. This advertise-
ment is repeated again about eleven months later. This time
the work is to be done without statute labour.
~
":.,,,.
-69-
The Cornwell or Front Road is said to have been
opened by William Cornwell in 1800 by contract at the cost of
$1100. At that time Danforth's road was not finished and
there were no Road Commissioners to let a contract. It seems
more probable that this is a misprint and that the work was
done under the Act of 1804 instead of improving Danforth's
roa d . This road was at once preferred and the Danforth Road
fell out of use. The traffic in 1812 to 1814 was extremely
heavy. Troops were continually passing over the road with guns
and baggage and quantities of stores were teamed over it when
the enemy was in command of Lake Ontario. The roads were
destroyed and in 1814, while the war was still going on, the
Legislature was forced to make a grant which was to be used
only for repairing Dundas Street.
The Commissioners for the Home District were
placed in a difficulty. They found that Dundas Street was the
Danforth Road, that parts of it were so overgrown that to clear
it would cost almost as much as a new road, that in any case
it would be more expensive to repair than the Front Road and
would not make so good a road. They placed these facts before
the Governor in 1815 in a memorial supported by a petition of
the inhabitants. They asked to be allowed to spend some of
the money on the Cornwell Road "(which has been established
according to law)". This was allowed and from this time the
Cornwell was regarded as the highwayo It was already being
shown on maps of 1813 instead of the Danforth Road. It began
to be called the Kingston Road and the name r'Dundas Street"
was dropped east of York.
In 1816 the Kingston Road was a reasonably good
dirt road. It continued to be impro~ed from time to time and
in the thirties the part west of the Rouge became one of the
"York Roadsll in the 1830's. The Rouge Bridge and hills con-
-:irl'J.ed to give trouble. The bridge was out in 1829 and the
only ferry was a small canoe, paddled by an even smaller boy.
-70-
Waggons had to be "swum" acro ss, their watertight boxes
keeping them from sinking. A good deal of money was spent
before 1841. In 1843-44 the Kingston Road was planked and
macadamed as far as the Rouge. In the next few years the
hills were carefully graded, a new bridge built and the plank
road carried to Rouge Hill. This section had become a toll
road in the 1830's~ The rest of the road seems to have been . ), J:~
treated as an ordinary District or County road. It was not
gravelled until after 1860, when most main roads were gravelled
if not already macadamizede It remai n ed a pretty good gravel
road until 1919 when widening and grading began in preparation
for paving. Since then it has been Highway No. 2, until the
building of No. 2A and L~OI, the main highways east from
Toronto,
The Danforth Road remained in use as a
travelled road from the Kingston Road to Woburn. It ism en-
tioned in 1829-31 as the termination of certain roads from
Markham, though these probably continued beyond it. In the
fifties a plank road, the Don and Danforth Road, was made
along what is now Danforth Avenue and connected vnth the
Kennedy Road using part of the old "Danford Road". This was
not extended beyond the Kennedy Road and the rest of the Old
Danforth Road remained a country road, the part beyond ~{oburn
being used only by local traffic. Some of it is still in
this condition today. It is not likely to remain se long and
before it is altered a marker might be placed to record one
of the oldest roads in Ontario.
( c ) "Duffin's Creek tC2-Newmarket"
A "Schedule of Roads in Upper Canada" made for
the Lieutenant-Governor in l821 lists another Government road
in this area. In this list "Dundas Street" is called a
"Highroad", Yonge Street and a number of other roads running
north and south are called "Crossroads". They are roads
opened by Government and among them is "Duffins Creek to
-71-
N ewmarket". This road was evidently opened to connect the
various Quaker settlements in Whitchurch, Uxbridge and
Pickering Townships. The road was probably opened in 1808-09
and improved as a Government road under the Act of 1810. It
ran fairly directly from Dundas Street near Duffin Creek to
Uxbridge Village, but probably did not conform as closely t~
the survey bef0re 1830 as the Brock Road does now. Map s of
1809-13 show it starting from the left bank of the creek and
at first inclining a good deal to the north-north-east. These
maps are to a very small scale, sometimes badly drawn and
without township lines so it is hard to say whether this was
actually the original line.
From Uxbridge the road swung to the south-west
to a point near the site of Stouffville, and then ran north-
westerly to the Lundy settlement near Pine Orchard. Then it
ran westerly to Newmarket and Yonge Street. The dip towards
the ~furkham Townline shows plainly on the 1813 map and the
direct road from Pine Orchard to the Ninth Concession east of
Lemonville was still in use in 185l. By then the lower part
had been straightened along this concession, but earlier it Ian
IrDr8 di rectly tn Stouffer's Mill s. So did the Stouffville-
Uxbridge Road. By 1829 this road had been continued through
Brock Township to Th~rah Tnwnship. A grant of ~15 was made in
1829 "in aid ~f the road between Thora and Markham, leading
through Brock and Uxbridge". The road from Duffin Creek came
to be called the "Brock Road". The maintenance of these roads
seems very soon to have been turned over to the District
authori ties, with occasional "grants in aid" such as were made
for other main roads, not opened by Government.
Cd) Settl ers' Roads
There were many of these unsurveyed roads
before 1812. The ones shown on the first map are those for
which some evidence exists besides tradition and which were
cert~inly or probably in use as travelled roads in 1817. For
.....
.i. ,o!
-72-
the roads in Markham in 1817 the evidence is reports on roads,
mills and churches or meeting-houses, made by James Miles,
James FenWick and George Mustard, and a plan of Concessions
I-IV, made by James Miles to illustrate his report. To con-
firm these there is the report made by John Goessmann, D.P.S.
in December, 1824.
Miles gives more "bye roads" than Fenwick or
Iv1ustard; the two Captains seem to have considered trails that
did not follow the survey of no interest. Miles remarks that
besides those shown
". . . .. . there is many tempo rary Roa ds or paths from
one neighbour to another accrost their lots for
their own convenience and frequently shut again up
as best suits them. Some of the Principal ones I
have doted on the sketch which I have drawn of the
Township according to the best of my Knowledge and
for the other travelled roads I have made a large
mark though at the creeks and bad places they Vary
frnm the Straight line".
Miles reports a road from Yonge Street alcng
Steeles Avenue almost to Bayview Avenue "and from there acrost
luts to the German Mills". He shows a road a little north of
German Mills "acrost lots into Scarborough"; there is other
evidence for this road in connection with a disputed landmark
in the 1830' s. It may have been opened by Norman Milliken
when he was operating these mills around 1805. In 180$ some
inhabitants of East York and Scarborough petitioned to have
the Dawes Road (Victoria Park Ave.) opened because they could
not get to German Mills. The by-road connecting this road
with the mills was surveyed by David Gibson in 1829 and 1831
and established in a straightened form as a legal road.
Gibson's first survey used more of the old road and gives us
its general line. The road as surveyed in 1831 is still in
use as a public road.
There is evidence for the connection by part
of the Kennedy Road with the old trail by Bendale and Agin-
court in 1817, but this "Ridge Road" should have been shown
eontinuing in a direct line towards German Mills and Yonge
- ~--- -- -- -- - -- --
-73-
Street, for later some evidence was found that the part in
Ynrk Township was in use in 1837. The great anchor now in the
Holland Landing Park is said to have been teamed up this road
in 1815. There are conflicting traditions, but thi s seems
not improbable for the anchor was brought in the winter of
1$14-15, if it was abandoned at Soldiers' Bay when the news of
the peace was announced, and this would be a possible shortcut
in winter from the Kingston Road to Yonge Street. This road
followed an Indian path and markers should be placed at
Bendale, Agincourt and Steeles Avenue to record its existence.
Before this is done the line should be better established, if
possible, than it is on the map.
The road from the mouth of Highland Creek (now
called in part "Old Danforth Roadll) was surveyed in 1833 by
John Farquharson, Superintendent of Highways, as far as
Concession IV in Scarborough. At that time it was only re-
quired as a connection with the Markham Road, but there is
some evidence that the old road continued directly to Union-
ville. Thi s road was "confirmed and ordered to be opened at
the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, 28th February 1833".
It had been closed by 186l if not earlier.
The road up the Rouge is the most interesting
of these roads but tracing it is made difficult by the frag-
mentary evidence and by the fact that the traditions of signs
of old roads in the area south of Cedar Grove point out the
existence of several roads or trails along the Rouge and Little
Rouge. These traditions are reliable but those gathered
cannot be combined into anyone road. The early maps, and
especially the fine map published by C. Smith of London,
England in 1813, all show a main road running from Dundas
Street at Rouge Hill, north-west at a little distance from the
Rouge to a point semewhat east of the centre line of M:1rkham Town-
ship where it meets the road across that township from Yonge
Street. As has been mentioned, the scale is too small for
.. ~' '". J i~
--. '--..-. - ~-"-'--~--------"-~~-~-'--'-'-"-~,-,."._.-----,.,..,--,--_...__ ...w.-.,...____~__...._
-74-
accurate detail of roads and rivers, but the map is well drawn
and seems to be based on accurate information obtained from
America.
That this road continued to the mouth of the
river is indicated on some maps and by the fact that a small
part across Lots 34 and 33, Range III, Pickering Township, was
surveyed by Farquharson in 184l and trconfirmed in court 7th
Oct. lS41 no opposition being made". There are reliable
traditions for a road through Lot 2, Con. III in Scarborough
as shown and for a road across Lot I, Con. X in Markham. The
section past the mills at Cedar Grove to Lot 5, Con. IX is
still cpen at each end on nearly the old line. A sworn certi-
ficate dated IS08 for settlement duty on Lot 7, Con. IX of
Markham says "that a good Waggon road is cut through the centre
of the said lot". There is a tradition that the line of a
road could be observed across a woodlot on the north-east
corner of Lot 10, Con. VIII. Anyone l~oking at Tremaine's
map of York County, 1861 and familiar with the names of
Mennoni te families in Markham Township would be convinced that
the trail continued north-west on much the line shown, but
there is some confirming evidence of this. John Goessmann in
1824 reports and shows on his map a road from Holter's grist ,
,
mill on Lot 26, Con. VII to the front of that concession at
1~
Lot 29. The road has been carried on to the Townline near
j
the site where an early Baptist Church was built some years
after l817; it could not unreasonably have been continued to
Peter Brillinger's in Concession V of Whitchurch and on up
the Fifth Concession Line.
It seems very probable that there was another
road on the right or western bank of the Rouge and that it
crossed the river and ran between the two branches. This is
not the one shown on the maps and no evidence has been
collected as to its course. The "Old Masting Road" certainly
ran down the ridge between the Rouge and Little Rouge and
.
rrdliJlglolI Hold - '\/10/:/111111
I'tflage-IJ//ill by (;11/)1. lI'illllllll
AllI/Slrollg III){)II I uno - dl'-
,I/rrved SOOIl IIfler 1900. i"
"
'-<!..
, '.
,
. ,
--Co'urtei-f.ll of iUarkham 'T01('n.~hip Corl'orat'101l.
Old illll III (~oodwood - Uxlnidgl'
Towllship. As there were 110 houses
on this road ill 18H Ihis illll will dale
from al){)lIt I 840-iHirlwel Clw!mwlI
was i11I1/:eef)er and f)()st 111 aster at
(~oodwood in 18;7.
Old 11111 at Rillp:ll'ood - iVlarhllll1ll
Township.
.~.- '''. .~
-75-
reached the Rouge near the F~rks. The great squared timbers
for ships masts were teamed down with timber tugs - pairs of
wheels with their axles arranged so that the sticks could be
supported at each end. They were then floated down the river
and made into rafts for the trip tn Kingston, where the rafts
were reassembled for the trip tc Quebec. However the great
days of this trade came after 1825 and there was not much
masting before 1817.
(e) Legal Roads
All the surveyed roads eventually became legal
roads except where they could not be opened because of
natural obstacles and a good many were open in 1861 that are
partly closed today. In the first days of settlement, however,
the amount of money or labour available for the roadwork was
limited. It has been shown that some of it was applied to the
highroads. The use of statute labour and public money for
roads was determined by the magistrates in Quarter Sessions
and after 1$04 by appointed Road Commissioners for each
District. Statute labour was carried out under pathmasters
elected at the yearly township meetings by the freeholders.
As settlement grew and more labour was available the number
of roads on which work was done was increased. These roads
naturally became travelled roads and a good many are reported
in 1817 and a few more in 1824. The ones travelled in 1817
are those shown on the first map, with one exception to be
discussed later. Goessmann's report of 1824 does not change
the pattern to any great extent. By 1835 a great many more
roads were passable, but those most travelled remained the
same. W.H. Smith shows a selection of travelled roads in
1850, but Tremaine does not make any distinction from ordinary
roads in 1861 except for those planked or macadamized.
There is much less information about such roads
in Scarborough and Pickering before 1$40. A road from
Markham to the Brock Road is shown in 18l3. It probably
~
. ,
-76-
followed the Fifth Concession Line in l817 and may have
ccntinued to the other Brock Road in Whitby Township. The
Eighth and Ninth Concessicns are mentioned as having been
opened by settlers in the wrong place (north of the line sur-
veyed) before the survey of Uxbridge in 1805. They had
probably become travelled roads by 1817. They would connect
with a travelled side road in Markham and serve as roads to
the Markham mills and to connect groups of Quaker and Baptist
settlers with similar groups in Markham and Whitchurch. For
the same reasons it seems likely that the Eighth Line of
Markham was probably continued through Scarborough. This was
certainly the case in the 1820's. There would be many more
roads that would be opened after a fashion by settlers along
the road allowances but they are not reported even as by-roads.
Captain George Mustard said that there was "almost nothing
done" on the Ninth Concession of Markham in 1817.
Lieutenant James Miles does not show the road
between Lots 10 and 11 as travelled across Concessions IV
and V in 1817, nor does Goessmann in 1824. George Mustard
says this road was passable but may mean only from Concession
VIII to the Townline. However this is the road opened by
Berczy in 1794 from Yonge Street at Lots 35 and 36 (now High-
way No. 7). This is shown as continuous to the Brock Road in
Pickering in leI]. The map shows this road curving con-
siderably to the north and this may mean that travellers made
a circuit to the north for some reason and returned southwards
farther east. This is what is indicated by the 1817 and 1824
report s. Goessmann in 1824 takes the travelled road up the
Fifth Concession and along the Mountjoy Sideroad to the Eighth.
He shows only this short part of the Fifth as travelled and
Fenwick omits it altogether. It must have been used before
1817, if not much travelled by non-residents.
Berczy says he opened 30 miles of road by the
end of November, 1794; he had no reason to open the road from
~6i
-77-
Yonge Street beyond the Fifth Concession. Jones mentions this
road in 1796 and no other in Markham leaving Yonge Street
farther south. Berczy probably opened a road from it to
German Mills and perhaps parts of other concessions. It is
not easy to account for 30 miles of road in the Township in
1794. Berczy may well have opened the road down the Rouge
in 1795-96 when he was clearing the river. The accounts of
the arrival of later settlers seem to indicate a road that
waggons could pass by 1803.
After 1$25 it became the practice for the
Legislature to make small grants in aid of District roads.
Grants of this sort were made to repair lithe road from the
eighth concession of Markham to the Danford road" in 1829 and
for_ improving the "Kennedy roadll, again to lYlarkham and for
improving the road between Lots 34 and 35 in Scarborough
"from the four mile tree, on t he Danford road It to Markham in
1831. The Second Concession through Whitchurch and Adelaide
was improved a s a main road in 1827 and name d "the Queen Street"
in honour of Queen Adelaide. It was a good road in 1850.
Before 1849 road companies could only be
formed by special Act of Parliament. In 1$49 an act was
passed to make this possible without special legislation.
The Markham Road was planked by one of these road companies
about 1850. The work was probably finished by ~~y, 1853 when
Thomas A. Milne paid Peter Milne (Jr.) ~66 on behalf of the
Markham and Scarborough Plank Road Company. Later the
Victoria Square Sideroad was macadamed by a similar road
company.
.
Old house in Marhlul1fl Village Ilea)"
Milne's i\lills-probably built around
1830. Although much repaired this
house shows the length and low eaves
of the early type. The end window,\
retain their small panes. Some houses
were built here after iVIilne's store was
opened in 1824.
FlIrllllllJ1lse Lot i, Con. X, 1\1([1111/(lIn
- occupied lJY t lip Villi 1111/ family
since lJefore 1840. Vill/lnas lume lived
here since befOlP 183(,. TIle h OUS{'
probably tooh on its present ap/Jear-
Ilncc about that timp, though there are
signs of two stages of IlIIilding.
Tr1l111{/Il P. l'Vhite's IlOuse IVhit('lillle
- proiJalily built about 1845. when
Truman White moved to "Nlajor"
now TVhitevale. Such small panes were
p;rowing old-fashioned in the 1840's
Imt jJersisted in this area. The {Idded
le{/Ilto helfJs to IN/lance the doo/"lNIY.
CHAPTER 4
YNREST AND DEVELOPMENT - 1$2~-1$61
1. !he Completion of Settlem~n~
Until after 1812 the number of settlers of
British origin in this area had been comparatively small.
Only a few individuals had come to the watersheds direct from
the British Isles. The most notable exceptions were the group
of Irish Quakers who have been mentioned as settling in
Pickering To~ship. Most of the settlers of British birth
before 1816 had already lived for longer or shorter periods in
other parts of British North America or in the United States,
like the Mustard brothers in 1801-02 and the Milne brothers
in 1824.
After 1815, however, the number of immigrants
to Upper Canada from Great Britain and Ireland steadily grew.
Bef.re 1830 a large proportion of these settlers were men of
some substance, induced to emigrate by the pressure of
changing conditions at home. The se nlen were able to buy im-
proved land from the original owne 1'.3; to build houses and
mills and to set up businesses at likely locations. The cash
which they paid for their purchases was a welcome addition to
the small amounts of ready money accumulated during the war
years. Many more of the early settlers or their sons built
mills about 1820 or opened taverns and stores. Almost all of
the mills in Markham in 1825 belonged to families established
in the township or the town of York, or to Canadians from
other parts of the Province. The price of wild land was
rising and even more in proportion was being paid for slightly
improved farms. An account of settlement in Scarborough,
written in 1$47 says:
It From 1805 till 1814 good land in the township
could ha ve been bought in the town ship fo r seven
shilli~gs and sixpence per 2~re - and from 1814-
1824 for fifteen shillings - but after that there
..[ ~--",--" ~
-79-
lIwas a great immigration for several years and
land rose rapidly".*
This probably refers to land on which the settlement duty at
least had been performed; such land in Markham was probably
a little higher. A Pennsylvania ilDutch" settler bought such
a lot of 200 acres in Vaughan in 1$06 for ~100, or 10 shillings
an acre, but this lot contained a "millseat" though a mediocre
one. In the Home District in 1$23 the average price of wild
land was found to be lOse per acre, and this became the upset
price when the Crown Lands began to be sold by auction a
little la ter. Uncleared land near Newmarket was reckoned in
1$33 to be worth $3.00 or 15 shillings Currency an acre.
Improvement would raise the price in proportion to the amount
carried out. Prices in Markham would be similar, for the
Newmarket area was reckoned very desirable for settlement.
Prices in Pickering would be rather lower in 1$05 but by 1$20
they would have improved. By then the township had been
opened up to a considerable extent and between 1825 and 1840
a great many new settlers located there. In Scarborough a
Clergy Reserve inspector in 1845 estimated that 14 reserves,
scattered through the township, were ~orth unimproved from 15
to 30 shillings an acre; but only David Thomson (Lot 25, Con.I)
and James Maxwell (Lot 12, Con. IV) were willing to pay the
full price listed for their lots.
Settlers of moderate or small means could buy
land at these prices because both the Crown and private owners
were accustomed to take the price in three or more instalments.
Patrick Shirreff in 1833 thought this system of more advantage
to the seller than the settler, at least in the case of wild
land,
* Ontario Archives; Miscellaneous Manuscripts, 1796. "A
few historical notices regarding the Presbyterian Congre-
gation in Scarborough and the first settlement in the
Township", The manuscript appears to have been written in
1846-47, possibly in preparation for the dedication of the
new church, but some names of communicants were added up
to 1874.
-80-
lf There is never any hesitation in selling land
to a man without capital, as the rights of it are
withheld. Every tree which is cut down enhances
the value of the property, which is unproductive
while they are standing. When a settler absconds
after some years' residence, a case by no means rare,
the proprietor derives great advantage from his
operations. An agent to a very expensive and wild
'property, informed me he had sold twenty-five lets
of land, consisting of about 6000 acres, and
received in all of purchase-money f300".*
Shirreff thought the system plunged the settler hopelessly
into debt and that the high prices it made possible were re-
tarding settlement as compared to the United States, where
Government land was sold at 6s. 3d. Halifax Currency ($1.25)
an acre. H0wever, this scientific Scottish farmer had a low
opinion of Upper Canada and wished to induce British settlers
to go to Illinois in spite of the much longer journey and even
more primitive condition in the prairies. Like many Scots of
that time he thought poorly of land that was covered with trees.
Nevertheles s, settlers had been coming to
Upper Canada in steadily increasing numbers since 1818 and in
1830-32 the immigration reached its first great peak. From
1$25 more of the newcomers were poor, often without the few
hundred pounds that would set them up on a bush farm and make
it unnecessary to find work during the first few years after
they reached Upper Canada. During the 1820's there had been
a large immigration from Scotland and Northern Ireland, some
of it by way of the United States. By 1830 the Southern Irish
were beginning to form the majority. Failures of the potato
crop had brought distress and local famine in some parts of
Ireland and many of these immigrants were destitute on landing.
Those who were not going to Government-assisted settlements
worked their way up from Montreal and swelled the labour force
in the Home District. A good many of these Irish workmen
* Patrick Shirreff: A Tour through North America, 1835.
Shirreff went up Yonge Street to Newmarket in 1833. The
estimate of the price of land in that neighbourhood is
also taken from his account.
---' ,,~
-$1-
signed receipts in Peter Milne, Seninr's, book in the l830ts
and 1840's. They seem in many cases to have moved on to take
lands in new areas; but the account s of "early" settlers in
all these townships often begin by saying that the family
came in the 1830's after working for a time elsewhere, and
then took the farm on which the immigrant or his son was living
as a prosperous farmer 50-60 years later.
The less prosperous immigrants who wished to
settle in the area leased farms on a share system, set up as
craftsmen in the ~learances where hamlets were growing up, or
found employment on the large farms, in the mills and other
new enterprises. A great change was coming over the watersheds
in the 1820's and 30's. The older inhabitants were aware of
this. To the Reverend Isaac Fiddler's landlady at Thornhill
jt seemed in 1$32 that she was living in a different country
from the one she had known, peopled entirely by unsympathetic
strangers. This was an extreme view; the families of 1801
were still very much in evidence on Yonge Street and in
Markham they continued to hold many of their Crown grants for
f at least another generation. To the younger generation and
f
~ many of the new arrivals the rate of progress seemBd all too
I slow. They grumble d about the state of the roads, the delay
r,
i'
Ii of some owners in clearing their land and the effect of the
l
[ Reserves in retarding settlement.
i
r As far as this area was concerned this last
~ complaint had little justification by 1830. The remaining
I,
t
i
~ reserves were all let before 1820. Many Crown Reserves were
[
~ sold to the occupying tenants in 1826~ the remainder were
F
t
sold to the Canada Company or granted to King's College. The
Canada Company sold its l0ts as soon as possible, allowing
three years for payment, Those in Markham, Scarborcugh and
Pickering were mostly disposed of before 1840, but the Canada
",'Jffip8.r.y owned a number of lots il"i Uxbridge Township in 1$60
and a few in the eastern part of Whitchurch. Many of the
-$2-
College lots were sold before 1835 and, though some continued
to be rented for a time, the evidence is that the improvements
on these lots were about as extensive as on those occupied by
~ their 0 wners. This also applies to the Clergy Reserves, for
i'f good tenants were not hard to procure in this part of York
,
I' County. A large part of the Clergy Reserves were sold before
;
~. 1$45. Certain circumstances, however, prevented continuous
s;'
I settlement and preserved large stretches of forest. It was
,
the custom to clear only a third or half the farm and to
place these clearings on the frontage of the concession roads.
For this reason the sideroads often ran through considerable
stretches of bush and the presence of occasional unoccupied
lots limited the settlement on the concession to separate
"clearings" containing from ten to fifteen houses. These
averaged about a mile wide and usually stretched for a mile
or less on either side of a "corners" where there might be a
,
tavern and smithy and perhaps a church or schoolhouse. A
grist mill generally attracted settlers and stood in a
clearance, but sawmills were often "back in the bush".
The war had entirely checked the flow of "Dutch"
immigrants from the United States. An Act passed during the
war made it illegal for Americans to acquire land in Canada
and this was not repealed until 1$29. Unnaturalized aliens
could not vote or sit in the Legislature. The position of
those born British subjects before the Revolution was a matter
of debate for some time. Before the war it had been possible
to argue that they could resume thi s status if they had given
no definite adherence to the new Government. But this claim
was rejected after 1815 even before it was definitely settled
in a test case in the late 1820's, based on an earlier judg-
ment of the Privy Council. The German element in Markham was
not much extended by immigration after 1815 (as it was in
'~Jaterloo and Wellington Counties), but it wa s considerably
increased by the expansion of the families already in the area.
-83-
These were now in a position to buy more land and the younger
generation often preferred to settle in the district. By
1825 they had already begun to settle in the adjoining town-
ships and this went on to a greater extent up to 1860.
The population of Markham Township was over
4,000 in 1833 and with more than 5,000 in 1837 it may be con-
sidered to be fully settled. Such a population would be large
for a purely rural township at a much later period, when the
village population was much larger than it can have been in
1837. The population of Pickering Township was large for the
period, but was about 2,000 less than that of Markham and
left room for much further settlement. Scarborough Township,
with a smaller area, was by 1837 about as well settled as
Pickering. There were still some unimproved lots but few
vacant Crown lands and almost no unoccupied Reserves. There
was a large undeveloped area in Whitchurch Township, but the
part drained by the Rouge and Duffin Creek was as well settled
as m.st of the township and not much behind Markham.
It was apparently after 1833 that there began
to be any real settlement in the vicinity of Goodwood and
Glasgow. M~st of the names given as those of early settlers
in this area belong to families already established for a
generation in Whitchurch, Markham or Pickering Townships -
'~Jiddifields, Mordens, Milliards, Vanzant s, Munros, IVIillers,
Longs, Browns and, la t e r , 8harrards. Elisha Miller, who is
mentioned in 1907 as a survivor of the early settlers near
Glasgow, was born in 1813 and was living in Pickering Township
in 1836. This settlement was chiefly in the south-west corner
of the township. East of the Brock Road settlement seems
t. have been scanty until after 1840 when the Sharrards began
operations at "Glen 8harrard" (Glen Major). Even in 1860
there were some non-resident owners in this section. There
cannot have been many settlers by 1837; the whole population
of Uxbridge Township was less than 600, mostly concentrated
farther to the north-east.
-$4-
It will be seen from the table that the
population of Uxbridge Township increased rapidly after 1842
but was still comparatively small twenty years later. The
large gains in the other township between 1842 and 1851 and
in the next decade were only partly due to the occupation of
vacant lands. In Markham they are accounted for partly by
subdivision of holdings, which was also going on to some ex-
tent in Scarborough and Pickering, but a great deal of the
gain was due to the growth in the number of families who held
Ii ttle land. These were chiefly, but not entirely, to be
found in the villages and hamlets that were growing steadily
more populous. Some were farm labourers, most did a little
farming or farm work as a secondary occupation, but a great
many were engaged in some form of industry or in commercial
wo r k . After 1850 this began to apply to Pickering and
Scarborough, and even, to a lesser extent, to the part s of
Whitchurch and Uxbridge in these watersheds.
POPULATIONS OF TOWNSHIPS - 1823-1861
Township 1823 1825 1832 1835 1$42 1851 1861
Markham 2255 2371 3578 4349 5698 7752 8658
Pickering 675 830 1718 2642 3752 6737 8002 .; ~
l'
Scarborough 634 758 1562 2047 2750 4244 4854
,
Whitchurch ) 1951 2454 3836 4758 6795
) 1291 1476
Uxbridge ) 337 431 810 2289 3933
I
Populations 1823-35, from assessment returns made to
the Legislative Assembly by the Clerk of the Peace
for the Home District.
Populations 1842-61 from the Provincial Census for
Canada vilest.
For all these townships except Uxbridge the
populations returned in 1861 are the largest recorded before
1921. They must be taken with some reserve for the Census of
1861 was acknowledged to be inaccurate. However, the error is
not likely to be large enough to change the general picture.
The greater part of this area was near a temporary peak of
I
;1
, If
, h
~
' ,.j.
'" .
.;": ;i,.
~~
-85-
population in 1867, and even in Uxbridge settlement was
practically completed.
2. The Troubles of 1837-38
Dissatisfaction with the administration of the
province was not uncommon before 1812. It produced occasional
outbursts of opposition that sometimes went beyond the legis-
lature. In these agitations the inhabitants of Markham
Township sometimes took a prominent part. A large number of
names connected ~dth l~rkham, and a few from other parts of
the area, appear on a petition criticising Lieutenant-Governor
~' Gore at the time of his departure for England in 1811.
~
~ However, the signatures on this petition are open to some
f
i
suspicion. On examination it appears that the same name is
repeated more than once, and that several settlers in lv1arkham
sign with their mark who probably were quite w~ll able to write
their names.
f, Before 1817 this opposition was directed against
~
Ii
I particular policies of administration and against supposed
favouritism on the part of the Governors. There was no
~
! organized demand for a sweeping program of constitutional
I
~ reform. The prominent objectors were usually members of the
I
l governing class, often officials, and some of them were
I influenced by private grudges or family feuds*. .:)everal of
Ii<
~ them went over to the enemy during the war which brought their
r
[
~ ideas into disrepute for a time. The war also affected the
~
~ official group, and made the new generation more determined to
I
I retain its control of the administration and deny any influence
to "radicals", which for them meant much what "bolshevick"
signified a century later.
In the 1820's, however, demand for reform was
part of the spirit of the times, as strongly agitated in
Europe, Britain and the United States as it began to be in
-', Such as those of Joseph Willcocks in 1802-12 with his
,,,
cousin, Peter Russell, and of Robert Gourlay in 1$17 with
his cousins the Dicksons and Clarks of Niagara.
-$6-
Upper Canada. 'rhe opposi ti on found new leaders among the
British immigrants) In particular, William Lyon Mackenzie,
a Scottish immlgrant, after some unsuccessful attempts as a
businessman, started a newspaper at Queenston, the "Colonial
Advocate", which he made the organ of the dissatisfied group.
A definite Reform Party came into being, and in 1828 first
obtained a majority in the Legislative Assembly. The
parties were, however, not unevenly divided. Before 1850
the R~formers seldom retained their majority for more than
one Parliament~ They had other leaders besides Mackenzie
and in political opinion were divided into three main groups.
One, probably the largest among the voters, was unswervingly
loyal to the British Crown. It had come to belleve that
constitutional reforms, placing power in the hands of the
elected Assembly - Responsible Government, were the only hope
of redressing grlevances and securing good government.
Another, which tended to grow larger in the 1830's, would
accept self-government under the Crown; but came more and
more to favour an independent republic, and to regard consti-
tutional reform as hopeless. A third small, but influential
group favoured union with the United States. These people
were at first astute enough to keep their intentions more or
';1
less secret. The Tories were more united, but they also .~
included a large group of moderates who were anxious for
reform in such matters as land granting, "',he school system
and the arrangement of roads, but rejected agitation for
responsible government as disloyal and dangerous.
The Reformers were strong in the Home District~ 'I
where their leaders were well known. The father of Robert
Baldwin~:C , leader of the first or moderate group, owned the
mill lot at Buttonville in Markham Township. Mackenzie had
.
->. Dr. William Warren Baldwin, also a leading reformer,
'I'
He had lnherited this property from his father-in-law,
William Willcocks. It later came to the Hon. Robert
Baldwin himself. See below Cha pter 5.
.
-87-
many ardent supporters in the northern part of Markham, in
Whitchurch and Pickering. He had come to represent the more
extreme Radical section of the party. These supporters
included recent arrivals and members of long-established
families, even some of Mennonite origin like Ludwig Weidman
of Ringwood. The stricter Quakers, Mennonites and Tunkers
held aloof. They might vote for Reformers, but their
principles enjoined submission to the magistrate in indifferent
matters and forbade any form of violence. As we shall see
some of the Baptists in Pickering took a more conservative
attitude. The Lutherans in I1arkham had been incensed by
a disgraceful attempt to make them Anglicans by stealth. The
Methodists were the most active in attacking the management of
the Clergy rleserves, but were more divided on secular reform.
However, the parties did not represent any particular group,
class or locality. There were plenty of Tories in Markham
and some Orangemen, the most violent supporters of this party.
In Scarborough the Tories seem to have been numerous, but in "j
'.
Pickering the influence of Peter Matthews and his family and ,
connections was strong on the Reform side.
By 18)) the less moderate Reformers were
becoming impatient. The heavy immigration of the last few
.11
"
years had brought them some supporters, but on the whole had . I
done more for the moderates and still more for the Tories.
Most of the immig~ants were of British origin and, for one
reason or another, were at first inclined to support the 'Sf
. .
Government against the opposition. 'l
Something had already
,
been done in the 1820's to remove some of the pressing grie- ' ,
~ >,'
This had as often been the work of the Government 'i
vances. ,
or of moderate Tories as of Reformers. It did not satisfy
the demand for reform, but there was SOIDe danger that if
the Reform Party could not retain control long enough to
force constitutional reforms, the other grievances would r
i
gradually be removed as the country grew more populous and
prosperous.
.
'I
-8$-
This feeling of impatience was strengthened
;
by the election of 1$36. This followed a session in which
the Reform majority had been able to pass some legislation
implementing its program. The new Lieutenant-Governor, Sir
Francis Bond Head, had dissolved the Legislature and now most
improperly proceeded to identify himself with the Tory party,
The Tories resorted to violence to break up Reform meetings
and to intimidate voters at the election, they used, or were
accused of using, other doubtful tactics, with the apparent
support of the Governor. The Reformers were able to say
and believe that they had been defeated not by votes but by
clubs and fraud. Actually the result probably showed a
i
genuine reaction against Reform. The violence and tactless-
ness of some of the leaders had alarmed the "neutral" voters
and lost the party much support.
~
Meetings began to be held at which resolutions '(
were passed advocating the resort to force. Rebellion broke
out in Lower Canada and more resolutions were made in favour
of giving this outbreak support. As the Tories continued
to try to break up meetings by force, the Reformers armed
themselves in self-defenGe. Mackenzie made a tour of the
northern part of the Home District with guards of horsemen,
holding meetings at which these seditious resolutions were
passed One such meeting was held at Stouffville on
September 18, 1$37, with Ludwig Weidman in the chair. William
Doyle, the postmaster, had entertained Mackenzie the previous
ni ght , He now brought a rifle tied to a pole and placed it
over Mackenzie's head saying
II ..... he wished the Governor and the damned Tories
were there to see it; and they wnuld know by looking
thereat what they had to depend on before the lapse
of many mont hs . II *
After Mackenzie's speech the resolutions were passed, according
,', IlSpectator" in the "Patriot", 1837 - Qunted by Edwin
'...
C. Guillet: Lives and Times of the Patriots, 193$.
Another accnunt had appeared in the "Constitution" of
August 23, 1$37.
-89-
to this Tory account with a certain amount of difficulty.
i~ackenzie was again in 3touffville on December
2nd, "delivering sealed letters to the captains of townships
for December 7th". Sir Francis Bond Head had sent all the
~ regular troops in Upper Canada to help put down the rising
in the lower province. This had decided the Radical leaders
t to arrange a demonstration against Toronto for December 7th.
f"
I Some of the leaders and a good many of their followers were
! allowed to believe that this was to be a peaceful show of
strength, but some certainly intended that the capital should
,
t be seized; five thousand stand of arms taken and the Government
turned out. While l~ckenzie was at Stouffville Dr. Rolph
and Dr. Morrison moved the date forward to the 4th, and sent
out instructions to the Township Branch Clubs to meet at
Montgomery's Tavern (Eglinton Avenue and Yonge Street). This
gave little time for assembly and the comparatively small
force that met at Montgomery's was drawn chiefly from the Home
District.
The story of the indecisive actions of the next
three days is well known. The rebels made two half-hearted
attempts to advance on Toronto. The first reached Yorkville,
after being delayed by some fruitless negotiations with the
Government. Later a party pushed as far as Wood Street, but
was fired on by a patrol and retreated in panic. The defence
of Toronto was being organized. A miscellaneous force was
collected and armed. These were jnined by 100* men from
Scarborough under Captain lVIcLean and by 65 other lVIilitia
.1
Volunteers from the Head of the Lake, who came by steamer.
Later some men came in from the townships west of Toronto.
On December 7th a force of 920 men was ready to march up Yonge
Street. '.
;::t "Past Years in Pickering" has "400", but as this was
almost the whole population of Scarborough in 1837, '1
this must be a misprint.
-90-
Captain Peter ~~tthews and about sixty men
were sent by the rebels to make a feint against the city
from the east. ~~ny of these were probably from Pickering.
They stopped the westbound mail and set fire to the Don
Bridge and toll house. Advancing beyond the bridge they
met a militia patrol and retreated hastily, setting fire to
other buildings as they went. Some of these fires were
put out and the bridge was not burnt. Meanwhile the main
body had been defeated near the Paul Pry Tavern (Davisville).
They had stood long enough to have a few casualties.
Lieutenant Ludwig Weidman was killed and one of the Shell
family wounded at the same time. About ten others were
wounded and some died later in hospital. The rebels were
outnumbered more than four to one and were badly armed and
despondent.
Militia from other Districts were now marching
to Toronto. They advanced as fast as they could over the
hea vy roads. Those who left Cobourg on December 7th, reached
"LeeTs Tavernlt in Pickering Township on the 9th. At
Bowmanville they had captured Dr. Hunter of Whitby, who had
escaped one party of militia by hiding in the big oven at
Gates Tavern near Scarborough. Peter Matthews had struck ,.,.
,
northward towards German plills and taken refuge at the Duncan
farm just south of Steeles Avenue. Unfortunately the party :;.i
;.1
.
had taken a short cut up what was probably part of the Ridge I'!
i',~.!
.:1
'~i
Roa d . Their footprints in the snow were noticed by a )J
:J
i
'"
:,
Loyalist neighbour. He sent his daughter to borrow a darning '!
"1
needle from the Duncans. When she reported strangers in 'i
".~l
the house, he informed the authorities. l~tthews and his . ~'
"
'j
party were surprised in their beds and after some resistance j
:
were handcuffed and marched off to Toronto.
The militia now spread out through the country,
seizing arms and horses, searching cupboards and attics and
probing haystacks for lurking rebels. A good many of those
actually engaged in the rising escaped, but in the Home
-91-
District a great many were arrested on suspicion. Some had
had nothing to do with the rising and were released after being
examined. A large number were marched through the snow to
Toronto. Some of these were also soon released, but others
were kept in gaol on short rations until the general amnesty
in 1838.
In the list of those arrested in the Home
District are the names of a number from this area. Most of
the men of the Wixon family from Claremont were arrested.
As the Wixons were leading Baptists the following entry in
the records of the Baptist Church in the Eighth Concession
of Pickering is curious.
"Dec. 8th, 1837.
A Dark Cloud has for some Days Been suspended
over the City of Toronto, Devoted to destruction by a
misguided faction Led by the unprincipled McKenzie,
the tool of a few influential Democrats. Today the
Cloud had Burst and overwhelmed the Assailant~with
Confusion and Dismay. Prayer has been heard; the
City is spared and we are called upon to Bless God
that tho surrounded by the Disaffected not one
individual connected with this place of worship Has
taken any Part in their Rebellious proceedings and
to Record our Humble Hope that Peace and tranquility
may be speedily Restored. II~,
Either the Wixons had been wrongly arrested or there was
disagreement between the church in the Eighth Concession and
that in the Ninth in this matter. One group of refugees
escaped by cutting a schooner out of the ice in Frenchman's
Bay. Another including David Gibson, who had made his way
across Scarborough and Pickering to Whitby Township, escaped
in a schooner from the mouth of the Rouge.
A curious incident of the troubles was a
panic that seized many of the inhabitants of the northern
part of Markham directly after the fight at Montgomery's
Tavern. The militia from the Simcoe District brought a
small party of Indians with them on their march to Toronto.
Rumour magnified this into a great band, coming to scalp and
burn. This story was current in Tecumseth Township on
December 6,1837. A merchant named Joseph Walker, told
-'- W. R. Wood: Past Years in Pickering, pages 31-2.
-I'
-92-
this tale to a member nf a survey party working in the
western part of King Township. The man had been sent for
supplies and on his return started a panic among his com-
panions. They deserted the surveyor and fled to their
homes. Probably some of these men brought the story to
Yonge Street. There it was picked up by a youth who had
been sent to the tavern on the site of Elgin Mills for news.
This seems to have been on December 8th, when Ludwig vieidman's
body was at Elgin Mills on its way to Ringwood. The boy
carried this news to his home east of Gormley and that night
the settlers in that vicinity gathered in two houses, one to
the west and one to the east of the Bruce I~lls, prepared to
defend themselves and their families.
By morning the news was shown to be false;
no ferocious Indians were being let loose on the countryside.
But the memory of this alarm lingered among the families
concerned and this tradition has lately been confirmed by
the references in the Diary of ~urvey now in the Ontario
Department of Archives.
Peter Matthews was tried with Samuel Lount
for treason. As they pleaded guilty they were inevitably
condemned to death. Sir George Arthur, the new Lieutenant-
Governor, felt he was not justified in co~~uting the sentence,
although he received petitions signed by thousands asking
for clemency. These came from people of all parties; one
deputation consisted of Egerton Ryerson, the leader of the
Wesleyan Methodists, a moderate Reformer, and Charles Brough,
an Anglican Clergyman of strong Tory views. Among the
reasons given for this refusal was Lount's presence at the
shooting of Colonel Moody and ~~tthewls conduct at the Don
Bridge. They were hanged in Toronto on April 12, 18)8.
None of the others condemned to death for their
part in the outbreak of 1837 was executed, though some of
those concerned in the later raid on Windsor were hanged.
-93-
!
! The Home Government was inclined to be lenient in 1838.
l
t Lord Durham was sent to report on the situation and late in
!'
!
i
, the year issued an amnesty that pardoned most of the prisoners
I
i
L
I and allowed most of the exiles to return to their homes.
l For this area the rebellion ended with this amnesty, for few
I
r
i or none of the . inhabitants were concerned with the later
),
t raids. In 1841, after the union of the Canadas, the process
I
i
! of administrative refor.m was begun and carried on in the
,
i
f succeeding years. After the Great Session of 1849, little
t.
t
! remained of the grievances of 1837, except the matter of the
r
i Clergy Reserves. Even this had been dealt with in the
.
i
"
I settled townships. The struggle for responsible government
I
t had gone on during these eleven years. As a rule this part
r
of the Home District had elected Reformers, often men promi-
i'
r'
r nent in the party. Politics retained some of the bitterness
I
I
~ and violence of the earlier period. However, elections in
I this section were not always so fiercely contested as they
I
were in other ridings. In 1$47 the eastern riding of
~'
F York County returned a leading Reformer with a good majority
~,
i'
[\
If while he was absent travelling in Europe.* The struggle
~
~ ended in 1849 and after 1850 there was a new alignment of
r~
~ parties. Interest in political matters was as keen as ever,
li;
I:
I but the bitterness of party feeling had abated.
~
3. Life in the Area before 1867
In order to avoid repetition very little has
been said of the daily life of the settlers. In many
essentials life on a new bush farm differed very little in
1845 from the daily round of fifty years before. Besides in
much of this area there was a tendency to conservatism in
.... William Hume Blake, appointed Solicitor-General for
.....
Canada West by Robert Baldwin in 1848. Blake did not
return intil late in 1848. While in Paris he and his
sons, Edward and Samuel Hume, witnessed the almost
bloodless revolution that drove Louis Philipe, King of
the French, from the TUileries Palace.
~
' ;. ~',
'~'---_._~'---_._-_._-- ~-~
-94-
customs, often deliberate and partly religious, that made the
changes come more slowly than in some other areas. Neverthe-
less, it is a mistake to disregard altogether the changes that
were taking place, and, as has often been done, to treat the
whole period as one without any distinction of different
phases of development. To quote from sources of the 1830's and
1840's beside those of abovt 1800, without any distinction of
time or locality, tends to produce a confused picture. Such
confusion is sometimes very apparent in the mounting of
"pageants", in historical exhibitions and above all in
"historical" pictures, when made without much study of the
subject. It is more serious when restorations are attempted
without the clear notion that what is nauthenticU for 1837
may not be so for 1807 or 1817.
Owing to the great number of descriptions of
Canada published between 1825 and 1850, thi s period is very
well documented and the sources are easily found. It is not
so easy to come at sources for the earlier period and the
material is far less complete. Many of the material relics of
the pioneers also date from after 1$25. While, owing to the
"time-lag;1 referred to, these may be valuable evidence for an
earlier time, they must be used with discretion. Farming
changed very slowly before 1840, but in other aspects of daily
life the change was quicker. The first phase may be called
the "frontier" period, the second the "backwoods" period. The
frontier stage was almost over in Markham by 1$20. It lasted
rather longer in other parts of the area and was just beginning
in this part of Uxbridge in 1835. In these sections the back-
woods phase was correspondingly shorter. It was over in
Markham before 1850 and soon after in most other sections of
the area.
(a) 1800-1825
The progress of improvement was slew during the
frontier phase. This was the time of the small clearing, full
~
,_:-// .
.
-95-
(')f stumps; of the little log house, overshadowed by trees and
often "two whoops and a holler" from the next neighbour; of
farming that aimed chiefly at providing food for the family
and was carried on more with the spade or the harrow than with
the plo'ugh. It was a time when a shortage of deer or salmon
meant a lean table; when wolves and bears preyed upon the
stock, and passenger pigeons whose flocks darkened the sky
threat~ned the little fields of grain; when the way to mill,
church or store was a winding trail, almost too rough and
narrow for a waggon, and the "highways" were more like wind-
fall strips than roads. It was a time of toil and hardship,
but even then there were some things that distinguished this
area from those not far off and made life less difficult than
it had been in the frontier settlements of ten years earlier,
or than it was no farther away than Darlington Township at that
very time.
Except Berczy's Germans, almost all the settlers
in the watershed had owned farms in other parts of Canada or
the United States and brought with them the value of this land
in stock and stores or, more rarely, in cash. They al so
brought with them the experience of backwoods farming acquired
in their former homes, and the inexperienced townsman, whether
from Europe or the United States, was extremely rare in the
York settlements until this phase was over. Even the Germans
had brought more stock and had been given more supplies and
equipment than were issued to the Loyalists in 1783. The
latter had far less experience and when their supplies were
exhausted an ordinary bad season brought a local "starving
time" similar to the general one of 1789. The Pennsylvania
settlers came with trains of waggons and with flocks and herds,
though these were probably small enough.
When a few acres had been cleared a single good
season could, under favourable circumstances, bring the farm
into production and make the family self-subsisting. The fields
.
j
-96- 1
l
~
or rTpieces" were small - 3 acres or less - so that ten or i
i
twelve acres would allow some variety of crops. A go ad 'I
location might reduce the amount of chopping, If the fa rm "
J
included some river flats, there were hayfields and pasture
almost ready made and corn-ground that could be ploughed at
once. Wheat would bring a little credit at the store to buy
salt, ironware and gunpowder and a little cloth or linen if
the settler had not yet provided himself with a few sheep and
a patch of flax. If wheat was too cheap it could be made into
whisky, fo,r which there was a steady demand at York. No doubt
some of the settlers had stills before 1812, licensed or un-
licen sed. James Fenwick and Abraham Reesor took still licences
in 1820, but these were for the larger type, used by innkeepers
or by millers and storekeepers who took wheat in taIlor trade.
If the settler and his family were capable, the
farm, after a few good seasons, could provide the raw materials
'I
for almost all their necessities. A few sheep and a patch of '"
flax would give them cloth and thread. Buttons could be carved
from wood or bone, or be moulded from lead like the bullets
for their rifles. Hides and deerskins could be tanned or
dressed to make shoes, gloves and even breeches, waistcoats i'
"
or hunting shirts. Caps could be made of fur, and hats or
bonnets plaited from straw. "Utensils" (the word then covered
all the apparatus of house and farm) could be made chiefly of
I
wood; iron was needed only for the points of spades and f
\
'>
ploughs, Axeheads, knives and scythe blades had to be bought, '!
I
,j
as did a few pots and pans, but the settler could dispense !
]
'I
with crockery if he was willing to substitute vessels of wood i
'I
,;
or bark.
I
i
Few settlers in this area were forced to be !
I
.J
Ii
self-dependent to this extent. Most could afford to buy some 1
;l
crockery, a little linen, a felt hat and cloth for one best 1
'1
i
suit or gown at least. Homespun, however, was in general use. I
I
All housewives used the spinning-wheel, even Mrs. Simcoe, and :!
!
I
-97-
often wove the yarn themselves. In better-off households the
homespun was used for work-clothes and blankets, but for most
it was the only wear and among the Mennonites and Quakers
homespun continued to be the usual dress for generations~ At
first all the labour of cleaning, carding and spinning the
wool, weaving the yarn and fulling and dressing the cloth had
to be done at home. Before long a few professional weavers
were to be found in York who wove the homespun yarn in their
own houses for so much the yard of cloth, but they were not
numerous till after the war.
Where the clearing could not produce a surplus
for trade, something could be made from the surrounding forest.
Furs could always be sold and deerskins were often in demand.
Like maple sugar, deerskin was apt to be too plentiful. There
was as yet little trade in firewood, for the soldiers cut
their own on the reserves and most townsmen got theirs from
their farms. Ashes were perhaps the most reliable product of
"
,.
the woods. The settlers had plenty at hand; it took little
J
H
trouble to collect them, and though the price might be low,
,.
the merchants were usually ready to take any quantity. Until i.
stores and "asherie s" were opened in the area settlers would
have to take their ashes and other produce to York, or depend
on merchants like Quetton St. George who sent waggons to the
:i'
mills and on "horse pedlars", who also sometimes had waggons
and would take produce in trade. There are stories that
mention pedlars who made regular rounds in Markham and
illustrate the shortage of cash, and especially small change,
that plagued pedlars and customers alike. 'I;
, "~
Most settlers built their own houses, though 1
1
this was less the universal rule in this District than else-
where. Carpenters were available, for many crossed the lake
in the summer, attracted by the demand for public and private
building in York. There were contractors who would undertake
to build a well-to-do settler's house and thus shorten the
,~
!
,~
.,
-98- '~
time needed to fulfil settlement duties. Something has already
been said about the size of these houses, and their assessment
by "hearths" and by type rather than by size or cost. Until
1812 taxable houses were comparatively few in the country, al-
though at first there seems to have been a class of round-log
houses with more than one hearth, assessed at 52 15. This was
high, for in 1841 a "comfortable log house II of one a nd a half
storeys, 16 t x 24 f , could be bull t fa r 5212-5214. After 1818
dressed-log houses are returned as the lowest class. These
were assessed at f20, with more for each extra hearth. Hearths
included stoves, favoured by settlers of German origin before
they were much used by the rest. Storeys appear to have been
calculated by the rows of windows visible on the front. An
attic lighted from the gables placed a frame house in the
i'less than two storeys" class. A medium house of this type
cost 5250 in 1841 and the price seems to have been little more
in the earlier period. Two-storeyed houses of frame, brick
or stone paid taxes on 5260 and on f 10 more for each extra
hearth. ~f-
Some early log houses are still standing in the
area, mostly, like the old Lemon house in Whitchurch, con-
cealed behind some later wall-covering. As might be expected
these usually represent the houses built when the settler
was able to improve his living conditions, but even so some
date from before 1$12. j' ,.,
The exceptionally fine dressed-log : l
house illustrated stands on land allotted by Berczy to Fred-
erick Ulrich Emelius Westphalen. No house is reported on this .,
lot in 1799 t, so it seems best to assume that it was built by
Philip Eckhardt in 1800-01, when Westphalen would be
I
I
I
-- i
~~ Prices in this paragraph and elsewhere in the section are
in "pounds Provincial Currency" at five silver dollars to
the pound, unless otherwise stated.
t There is a strong tradition that this house was built by
Philip Eckhardt before 1799. But in 1799 the Eckhardts
were living on Lot 7, Con. VI, south of Unionville and
this lot, No. 17, was apparently unimproved. That
Eckhardt built the house during Westphalen's ownership,
by contract or some other arrangement, seems very
probable.
-99-
contemplating applying for his patent. To do this there had
to be a house on the lot and Westphalen probably arranged with
Eckhardt to build it. He got the patent in ISO) and may have
sold the lot immediately as many other owners did at that time.
This house shows some peculiarities that may be due to
Eckhardt's Pennsylvania origin. The house built on Eckhardt's
original lot was of the more usual type.*
There was less opportunity in this early period
to follow particular types brought from the settler's old home.
All the houses were comparatively small and resembled each
other in the essentials of their plan. One large room, with
a very wide hearth, took up most of the space. One or two
small bedrooms were sometimes partitioned off at one end away
from the hearth. Above was a large loft or attic, doing
double duty as a weaving and work-room, as well as a dormitory.
If a "parlour'! was required, the main bedroom might double as
an eating- and sitting-room, but this would mean a second
hearth. A few frame houses of one or two storeys would be
found scattered here and there before the beginning of the
war, but masonry of brick or stone was limited to chimneys and
founda ti ons e
These houses could be made comfortable by the
standards of the time~ A well-chinked log house, even of one
room, was a warmer and drier home than the croft and cabin
of the Irish peasant or the Scottish Highlander. It was easier
to keep clean and sweet than the combined cottage and byre
still to be found in the north of England. There was plenty of
firewo od ; the great hearths threw off a terrific heat when
well piled with "fo~esticksll and the great backlogs kept the
fire going through the night. The "Dutch" settlers were used
to stoves and some brought these with them, but stove s were
-
* This house was standing not long ago and a picture of it
is in the Tweedsmuir History preparei by the local
Women's Institute.
~
-100-
heavy and bulky to transport and expensive to buy in Upper
Canada. The majority had probably to use the open hearth for
a time, though as soon as they could they replaced it with the
more efficient stove.*
The other arrangements differed little from
those cornman to all but the richest and most luxurious. Com-
fort and cleanliness depended in those days on the expenditure
of labour in the house, and small houses and large families
put a fairly high standard within reach of most who desired
it. If the houses were crowded and stuffy in winter and hot
in summer, so were most houses of the time. They were well
furnished (also by the standard of the time and class) before
the early period was over. Inventories of losses during the
war show that in more remote parts of the Province well-stored
houses were not unknown. The carpenter-made furniture, now
known as "Loyalist" was less universal than some people would
like to think was the case. Many families had a few "heir-
loom" pieces and these could soon be supplemented by others of
good quality made of natiVe woods by cabinet-makers in York or
brought across the lake. Pine would do for the kitchens, but
for parlours and best bedrooms cherry tables and maple chests
and bedsteads were the proper thing. The "Dutch" were noted
for the neatness and cleanliness of their houses. They
favoured an oldfashioned plainness in dress, which was some-
times due to religi~us convictions. In their furniture they
would avoid costly ornament. Howeve r, they appreciated fine
woods as much as their neighbours and the Mennonites used
attractive traditional patterns to decorate furniture and
textiles.
---
* Stoves were in common use in Lower Canada before 1759, but
houses were usually provided with several open hearths.
Until about lS40 it was usual to have one such hearth in
the main room of the typical French Canadian farmhouse4
By that time settlers of German origin were building
houses with no fireplaces.
~ ..",........
-101-
Until the School Act of 1816 the burden of
primary education fell entirely on the parents. Melchior
Quantz is said to have taught school in his neighbours' house s
in the vicinity of German Mills. There were one or two very
early schoolhouses on Yonge Street outside this area. A
school is said to have been built on a corner 0f the old
ce~etery in Unionville, but the date is uncertain. However,
J.P. Radenmuller signs himself "schoolmaster to the Lutherans
in 'Markham and Vaughan" in 1810. Radenmuller had lived long
in England and could teach in German and English. Similar
arrangements were made in the other townships, members of a
church often combining to provide some sort of teacher.
There was a District "Grammar School" in York, but this was
under control of the Church of England and, apart from the
cost, would not appeal to most settlers. What schoolhouses
existed could be used as churches. Although several congre-
gations were organised before 1$17, there seem to have been
no church buildings until that year and ministers Were rarely
available for the denominations that required them.
The outbreak of war brought many changes. Men
were called from the farms for active service or for transport
and road work. The life of the countryside was dislocated,
though the Government tried to lessen the evil, exempting some
heads of families with only young children, releasing the men
when possible to help with the harvest and using conscientious
objectors for road work and transport. Quakers and Mennonites
were exempt from fighting but had to pay for substitutes. The
York Militia suffered heavy casualties resisting the landing
of 1$13, and after the surrender the Americans sent foraging
parties up Yonge Street, requisitioned animals and supplies
and, no doubt, did some pilfering. No serious plundering is
reported outside the town and there were no systematic
burnings of mills and houses as in the Niagara and London
districts. Some inhabitants of the area were killed in action
-102-
in other engagements and the war brought the usual share of
suffering, loss and inconvenience.
There were, however, some compensations. The
demand for all kinds of produce was so great that the country
could not begin to meet it. Prices rose steadily until they
had to be "pegged" before the war was ended. Naval supplies
passed steadily up Yonge Street, bringing Government gold to
the farmers near the road. Millers are said to have worked
night and day grinding imported grain. There can be little
doubt that the war hastened the development of the area and
before long a steady increase in population enabled this
development to continue.
(b) 1825-1867
Most of this area was no longer on the frontier
of settlement by 1817. There was unsurveyed land north of
Uxbridge Township, but beyond Markham Township settlement
already stretched a long way towards Lake Simcoe. Ten years
later settlers were beginning to move into townships around
this lake; the frontier period was over south of the ridges.
The change was gradual in the twenties. There was still a
great deal of uncleared land and new settlers might easily
feel that they were in a primitive wilderness. Unless they
had visited a newly-opened township, they did not realize how
much benefit they derived from the presence of established
neighbours and all the conveniences of roads (of a kind),
mills, stores and, before long, villages.
The improvement in the older clearances was
becoming very marked in the later 1820's, and after 1830 it
was still more noticeable. This backwoods phase was one of
sharp cant ra st s. On one part of a concession new settlers
might be living in rough cabins set in tiny clearings, while
a little farther on would come a stretch of well-cleared
farms, whose owners had progressed to dressed-log or frame
houses. In places the cleared land was spreading back from
.
-103-
the roads and joining to form large areas instead of groups
of isolated clearances. Picket fences were replacing rails
around sume dooryards, gardens and even orchards. The front
fields were often free of stumps, though there were plenty in
sight farther back. The road allowances had been cleared and
main roads were losing the look of trails through the forest.
At the crossroads were groups of houses, some already becoming
villages, with taverns, stores and blacksmith shops. These
were soon dominated by the taller frame inns and store
buildings, with their characteristic two-storeyed verandas.
Such buildings were very common in the 1830Ts and lingered
somewhat longer in this area than in some other sections.
By 1850 they were considered a little oldfashioned.*
Here and there a miller, merchant or well-to-
do farmert was building a brick or stone house. The full
number of these is concealed in the returns,** but some
certainly were built in the late twenties, though they must
have been few before 1840. The proportion of better houses
in Markham advanced from less than a third in 1825, to nearly
half the total in 1840, although the number of round log
houses was steadily growing in that period. The advance in
the other townships was rather slower in proportion to the
total, but the increase in the number in these categories
nearly as rapid. In the Census of 1851 squared-log houses
are no longer distinguished from those of undressed logs. At
that time there were 475 log houses in Pickering Township,
423 frame houses, 40 of stone and 19 of brick.
-
* In 1851 it was remarked that these porches gave Newmarket
an oldfashioned look. In the l860Ts wooden ilawnings" over
the sidewalk, on posts or brackets, became the fashion.
About thirty years later, such awnings were thought to
make Hamiltnn look oldfashioned!
t The three occupations are often combined as was the case
with the Milnes. Businessmen often ran farms before 1870.
** Because the highest class includes all houses of two
storeys not of dressed-logs and the class for brick or
stone, 1 storey, included frame after 1827.
"
I
j
Hastillp,s H OIl.lf', [,ot 2-1, COli. f".
Picherillg Towlls/tiIJ-Nathalliel Hast-
i IIgs tool: /I IJ this 101 ill /828. The
Hastillgs fall/il)' /11/.1 lived !/{Te eVt:I
si 11 ce-t his stolle /lOuse witl, lnid:
I ri III was IJrohalily 1m ill 110 t 1I/ll/e
thall twelltv years laler.
Hohb HOl/sI'-Lol 2, COIl. I'll!. Mar/:.
ham Township-dated over door 1853
- Compare the masonry., greater 11.11'
of Inict: Illld larger windows with the
Hastings House. The modeI'll dormer.1
have been well desiglled.
Hl/l!iam jHajor HOl/se-Lot 26, COli.
V. Picherillg. Willialll Afajor occuPied
th is lot hefore 18M}. The recessed
dooJ"lvay is tYPiml of Ihe 1850's but
the Cot/lie willdow is a type popular
in Nlayhhm/l ({lid Pi('/a:ring hut rare
elsewhere.
-104-
Building a good house in the 1830's took time.
Peter Milne, Senior, at Markham Mills seems to have begun
operations in 1834. In October he paid William Pearson of
Scarborough Township $61.25 for making 61,000 bricks, probably
on the si te^ In December Joseph Tomlinson is paid $116.23 for
lumber from his sawmill* and the following March John Wilson
received $18.00 for 45 barrels of lime. The stone for the
foundation was possibly brought from the river bed. In July
George Wilson, a bricklayer of Markham, receives a large pay-
ment and by November his account has totalled $107.21. On
the same day William Burns receives a "first payment for work
at his House from Peter Milnelf. A much larger payment is
made to Burns on December 26, 1835 and on August 1, 1836 his
final account is paid, making $443.75 in all. This probably
covers both the rough carpentry and the finishing It joiner' s
work", but mason's work, plastering lath, shingle s, fittings,
excavation and cartage remain unaccounted for. The house
probably cost about $1500 but not much more.'
The Milne house is still standing and contains
nine rooms, a basement kitchen, two parlours, two chambers
and two smaller rooms on each floor with ample central hall-
ways.** Some larger two-storeyed houses had been built
earlie r, such as Peter Reesor's massive stone house near
Cedar Grove (1830-32) and the even larger frame built beside
Byer's sawmill near Milneville in 1829. Th e s e , however, were
farmhouses of the roomy Pennsylvania type, with some Mennonite
* Probably at Sparta (Box Grove).
t The blank book in which Peter Milne wrote these and other
receipts is in the possession of Mr. John Lunau of
Markham, who most kindly lent it for the preparation of
this section. By no means all payments made were included
in this book.
** A small wing has been destroyed. This may have been part
of the house as built but was not essential. At this
time sitting-rooms were often called "parlours" even if
used for eating in. "Dining room" and "Drawing room"
were rather fancy terms. Contemporary plans often show a
"Drawing room" and "parlour" but no dining room in modest
houses.
-105-
peculiarities.* Such houses were the exception in Markham
and not the rule as they were in Waterloo Township. The Milne
house was more typical of the aspirations of the ordinary
settler and most of those built in the 1830's and 1840's are
versions of this type. The smaller houses followed the larger
as nearly as means allowed. Most builders preferred the "less
than two-storey" class and the storey-and-a-half farmhouse had
become the usual type by 1850, as it was to remain for nearly
a century.
Inside the houses the changes were also marked.
Windows were larger, rooms were plastered and papered, f 100 r s
boarded. There were more separate rooms and less need for
"doubling-up" . The crude furniture was disappearing from the
main rooms and by 1$45 walnut was replacing the earlier maple
and cherry. Imported W80ds were becoming more common.
Cabinet-makers were to be found in most villages by 1850,
while in Toronto their workshops had developed into factories.
By 1860 these factories were producing excellent furniture by
a partly mechanized process and were cutting into the trade
of the local cabinet-maker. The latter continued to produce
well-made furniture, but many of the walnut and mahogany
"antiques" of today came from Toronto factories of the 1860' s.
Honest workmanship and good materials were still the rule in
factory or workshop. The taste of the time can be criticized,
but shoddiness was not yet hidden by showy elaboration.
The trDutch" settlers continued to prefer stoves.
Many of the large houses had only the two hearths allowed to
this class after l827.t They could hardly have been kept to
a livable temperature with only two open fires. Other settlers
* Besides a general "plainness", these include two or more
"front" doors and a large room near the centre of the
house. This probably held the main heating stove.
t This is implied in the classification in 1827 and
definitely stated for some years after 1829. It may partly
account for the increase in large houses in the 1$30's.
,
-106-
adopted the stoves more slowly. With ample supplies of fuel,
they grudged the extra chopping needed for stovewood and
valued the firelight when good candles were dear and coal-oil
lamps unknown until the late 1850's. The usual light was
from home-dipped tallow candles and in ordinary households it
was an extravagance to have more than one or two lighted at
a time. They were eked out by primitive types of lamp that
gave a flaring light from some kind of fat. David Bibson, in
1827 notes that "every farmer has an oven built of brick....
....they make as good bread as any Scotch Baker".* Before
long the cookstove was coming into use, but did not altogether
replace the fireplace for cooking until the end of the period,
when it had long been ousted from the bedrooms and even the
parlours. The box stove or franklin took its place in the
body of the house by 1950, though some people liked an open
fire in one sitting-room. Fireplaces lingered in the summer
kitchens or basement stillrooms even after they had been
given up everywhere else. By 1950 furnaces were being adver-
tised in Toronto papers, but were still a luxury in 1967.
This was also the case with inside plumbing of all kinds. It
was available by 1$51, but was found in few country houses and
not many city ones in 1867.
In 1827 stores and taverns were multiplying in
the watershed. Money was still scarce and farmers were still
glad to "get a little whiskey, Tea or Cloth"t in exchange
when they took their ashes to the "potash". This scarcity of
cash did not improve much until the 1840's. Business was
carried on by barter, but it was no longer necessary to make
and mend everything at home. Gibson emphasizes the independ-
ence and self-sufficiency of the Canadian farmer, but he was
* David Gibson, D.P.S.,to a friend in Scotland, 1827. Onto
Hist. Soc. Papers and Records, Vol. XXIV. Gibson was
writing from his cousin's house, Alexander Milne's, in
York Twp., but had got much of his information while
staying with Peter Milne at Markham Mills.
t Ibid.
-"'-~".,.~
-107-
thinking chi efly of the .f\1arkham farme r who followed a Ttplain"
way of life by choice and religious conviction. Even if the
farmer still dressed in homespun, much of the labour of cloth-
making had been taken off the hands of the housewife. The
wool was still spun at home, but it could be carded and fulled
at the mill and travelling weavers were more numerous. They
charged a high price - 12 to 15 cents a yard for plain cloth _
and wove 8 to 10 yards a day, demanding their board and
lodging as well. Tanneries were also within reach and shoe-
makers were to be found at some of the crossroads~
"Hudden Gray (undyed homespun) is a very common
dress of the farmers in U.C. particularly the
Dutch, there are a great many Dutch farmers that
have excellent farms in the Township of Markham
.....They are an industrious set of people and
attend to the improvement of their farms very
muc h, indeed more so than any other set I have
met in Canada."*
Farm methods had changed very little since the
first days of settlement; they were not much altered before
1850. If possible new land was cleared each year for wheat.
Other crops were grown without system on the land from which
the stumps had been cleared. Gibson describes the method of
clearing new land, of getting out stumps and of sowing the
wheat ~ He goes on
"I donft think they have any regular rotation of
cropping here, it is very common to sow Timothy
grass with the first crop of wheat and let it
lie in the grass as long as it will cut for hay.
They seldom drive out their dung from the barn
although the land would be much better of it,
they consider it to be more expense than profit
to carry it far from the barn so lay it on some
place near that they think stands in need of it.
They generally keep sheep so as to have wool
fo r thei r own clothe Sff .
Gibs~n might have added that the farmers in
Markham were already keeping more than the average number of
cows and other cattle. This had been true before 1812, as
may be deduced from the references to barns in the settlement
certifica tes. Though small by later standards, some of these
* David Gibson in the same letter, 1827.
-108-
were evidently bank barns of the Pennsylvania typej The size
of Peter Reesor's barn*, built in 1831, shows that some
farmers were keeping stock almost on the modern scale. When
Gibson wrote, the average number of milch cows per family for
the Home District was rather above the Provincial average;
I it was about three cows to two families. In Markham there
were about 9 cows to four families; the average in Pickering
I was slightly over two cows per family;
t, in Scarborough it was
~.
, less than two cows to three families.
t The Markham farmers
t
raised fewer calves than was the rule in the other townships,
I
indicating a tendency to prefer dairying to the sale of "neatft
I
cattle. They kept about the same proportion of draught oxen,
r
but had more horses. There were four stud horses in Markham
f
I and only one in each of the other townships.
It was at no time safe to make general state-
! ments about the condition of farming in this part of York
! County, for local conditions produced a wide variation of
!
t methods. In any period some farmers were to be found who were
in advance of the standards usual in the Province. Many of
! these had other sources of income, but were still keenly
I.
r interested in their farms and in a position to "plough back"
~
t
! more of the profits than was possible for the average settler.
t In the 1820's and 30's many keen and experienced farmers were
!
t
,
! coming into the area. Some came by way of the United States,
I
f bringing with them the capital and experience acquired during
i
,
f their stay. Others came direct from England Scotland with
I or
,
I
the latest ideas of modern farming. These various types of
, up-to-date farmers were active in importing stud animals to
t
I improve the local breeds, in experimenting with new crops and
I
new systems of cropping, in manuring, liming and draining
their land. They gradually influenced their more conservative
-
* Near Cedar Grove. The date is cut in the south gable.
This is a fairly large frame barn of Pennsylvania type
with the stable in the foundation and a deep over-hang
on the east side.
-- d.~
-"..-
-109-
neighbours, and even when Gibson wrote, a change was beginning
in the farming of the area. Progress continued through the
next twenty years and by 1846 the system was well established
which was to continue through thirty years of agricultural
prosperity.
The most prominent feature of the new system
was the growing of heavy grain for sale - usually for export.
Wheat was already being exported from Toronto in considerable
quantities in lS45. The quantity of wheat shipped was less
than that shipped from Port Hope and some other ports, but
153,226 barrels of flour were exported in 1$45. The system
made considerable use of summer fallow, with crops of peas
used as an alternative before planting wheat or included in
the routine with oats or other grain. The land was retired
at intervals into hay or pasture, but roots and most fodder
crops were still grown on separate fields and there was no
regular rotation. Peas were already available for export in
1$46, but the quantity was much greater in 1850, showing tha t
the system was in wider use. In the 1860's barley was in
demand for brewing, both at home and in the United States, and
the distillers used considerable quantities of rye. These
grains were often grown in preference to wheat, but rather
less in this area than in neighbouring districts.
The average numbers of milch cows declined by
1830. This was partly because of the increased emphasis on
wheat, and partly because of the influx of new settlers, who
had little stock and were inclined to follow the fashion of
wheat-growing. Wheat had always been the most certain cash
crop. It wa s, in the early lS30's, considered to be pro-
fitable to clear land and plant wheat by contract or with
hired labour. Some people thought this a delusion, and the
depressions of 1833 and 1837 had a restraining effect. Wheat
growing increased again in the 1840's and reached its peak
after 1854. A Reciprocity Treaty was signed in that year
..M"
"'"'- .. ._-- ...,.-- -.
-110-
with the Unit ed states and war broke out wi th Russia, barring
Russian wheat from the British market. The export trade that
had grol~ under favourable tariffs in the mid-forties, now
boomed heavily only to drop abruptly in 1857~ It soon re-
covered and continued, with fluctuations, for another ten or
twelve years; but by then local demand and the uncertainty
of the grain trade had already turned farmers in this area to
a more varied type of agriculture.
It is obvious that the farmers were keeping more
stock and growing a wider variety of crops to meet the demands.
of the city market. Potatoes, oats and corn were being grown
in larger quantities. Fenced pasture was in much higher pro-
portion to cropland in Markham than in Pickering and Scarborough
in 1$50. The southern townships were still growing more wheat
and rather less oats, though the crop of 1850 was high in
Scarborough in proportion to the smaller area of cultivated
1 an d . However, it would appear that the change to mixed
farming had gone much farther in Pickering than in Markham.
The Pickering farmers were pro ducing more hay, potatoe s,
cheese and butter; they produced more wool from only a few
more sheep and kept more "neat" cattle. If there is no mis-
print in the figure for 1$50, they grew far more turnips than
was usual in Canada West. In proportion to acreage, Scar-
borough was also ahead of Markham in most of these items and
of both townships in production of cheese and potatoes.
"Regular rotations" were probably still in the
fu ture; peas were grown in about the usual proportion to
whe at. However, such a variety of crops can hardly have been
produced without a more intelligent use of manure, lime and
gypsum.* The conditions in Pickering reflect the influence of
the old-country settlers, whose methods were as advanced for
1850 as the Pennsylvanians had been fifty years before. It
* The only chemical dressings used at this time.
-111-
also indicates the importance of water communication, for the
city market was now important and most farmers in Pickering
were farther by land from Toronto than most in Markham. Much
of the produce of Pickering Township must have gone by water
from Frenchman Bay and the mouths of the rivers, both to
Toronto and for export; but as these were not ports of entry
no figures are available. The "Pickering Harbour Company"
had only begun its improvements at Frenchman Bay in 1851.
They cannot have been finished long before the railway was
completed in 1856. This port did a thriving trade in the
sixties when lumber and produce were being exported to the
United States.
The practice of teaming produce to points on
Yonge Street or the Kingston Road, where buyers waited to make
their bargains and load their waggons for the rest of the
trip to market, had probably begun before 1855. It lasted
through much of the century, for even the later railways still
left some farmers at a distance from a station. On the
Kingston Road the meeting place was the T!Halfway House" at
the end of the Kennedy Road in Scarborough. Buyers are said
to have gone up Yonge Street to Hogg's Hollow or Lansing.
In either case the farmer (who had started long before day-
light) could, if he did not sell his load, continue to the
market itself. Those from the east used the Don and Danforth
Plank Road (Danforth Ave. and Winchester Street) so that both
lines converged on Jarvis Street above Carlton. Even after
1900 households in the big houses on Jarvis Street wakened on
Saturdays to the tramp of loaded hay waggons and the pro-
cession lasted well into the morning.
The figures for 1850 show that most of the
area had already passed beyond the backwoods economy, tho ugh
this must have continued in parts of Uxbridge Township for
some years longer. In many other ways this change was taking
place in the thirties, forties and fifties. Horses werE:
>
-112-
replacing oxen on the farms and roads. In the 1840's a wide
range of ploughs and cultivating implements was available and
the threshing and cleaning of grain was already mostly done by
horsepower machines, soon replaced by steam tractors. Never-
theless, a great deal of farm work was still done by hand in
the old way and many of the ingenious hand-made tools found in
museums are less than a century old. Grain was cut with the
scythe and cradle in the sixties, in the same manner that David
Gibson had thought such an ingenious improvement in 1827.
Reapers and mowers (usually combined as one machine) were
available in the fifties, but in spite of some early experi-
ments no satisfactory binder was evolved until much later.
Travel had become much easier after 1840; the
plank roads were good at all seasons and macadam or gravel
roads usually good except at the break-up. The second map
shows the macadam and plank roads in 1860-61, but it must be
remembered that the use of gravel had already improved many
other stretches of main roads. The stages on the Kingston
Road, which had begun as f1stage waggons" in 1816 and been
replaced by 1830 by Weller's coaches, passed out of use when
the Grand Trunk was completed. The Yonge Street "omnibuses" ~
'~i
,
continued to run to Richmond Hill and the connecting lines on :1
~
the other roads gained in importance. In 1857 there were a ~
number of these crossing the watershed. It was possible to ~
~
travel by stage from Uxbridge Village, by Goodwood, StouffvilJe, ~
and Markham, to Scarborough or to reach Yonge Street by way of . ~
.~
.:\
several lines across Markham Township. In Pickering stage ~
1
.]
lines ran up the Brock Road and across the Sixth and Ninth 91
j
fl
Conc e ssions, connecting with lines in Markham, Other places :l
."J
1
had connecting lines and these had much to do with the growing ~
~
number of post offices, though mail was sometimes carried in ~
tOil
..,
:j
gigs or buggies as it had been earlier on horseback. Far .1
:1
'j
more "pleasure waggcns", gigs and carriages are returned in 1
d
:~
1850 than in 1840 and in the sixties most farmers had some ,t]
~
j
as well as a cutter for winter. ::~
kin~ of carriage, r~
~
,.
.
-113-
A number of "common schools" were opened soon
after the passing of the School Act in 1816, so many that
they cannot be listed here or any attempt made to determine
priority. This Act gave little financial assistance, but
authorised the election of trustees, who engaged teachers and
enforced the payment of fees. The School Act of 1841 went
farther, allowing some taxation and contributions to teachers'
salaries by the District School Boards. A great number of new
schools were opened under this Act. Fees were still charged
until 1846, when a new act set up the present public school
system. Still more schools were opened under this Act, and
by 1867 practically every modern school section had its
schoolhouse. A few of these schoolhouses are still in use.
It was in the first common schools in Scar-
borough Township that John Muir, father of Alexander Muir,
first taught in the 1830's after his arrival rrom Scotland.
Because he moved frequently from school to school, before
acquiring a permanent home near Woburn, the birthplace of the
writer of "The Maple Leaf Forever" is uncertain. It was pro-
bably in the vicinity of Lamoreaux or Ellesmere. Alexander
Muir himself taught in several schools in Scarborough Township
both before and after 1850.
There were no churches or meeting-houses in
thi s area in the middle of 1817, ~f- though a number of congre-
gations had been organized and were meeting in private houses.
It seems probable that a Mennonite Meeting-house was built at
Milnesville before the end of 1817. In 1819 Lutheran churches
were built at Unionville and Buttonville. All three are shown
on Goessmann's plan of Markham in 1824. In 1819 also the
first church of St. Andrew was built at Bendale in Scarborough
Township. In 1814 Timothy Rogers deeded seven acres of
* This is definitely stated by Miles, Fenwick and Mustard
in the reports of 1817 mentioned above in Chapter 3 and
again referred to under "Mills".
St. Andrew's Church-Bendale-Scar_
horough Township-built in 1849 by
Presbyterians to rePlace one of 1819.
St. Andrew's was the heart of the set-
tlement begun by David Thompson in
1796. An old Indian trail led past a
village OCcuPied ahout 700 years ago.
To the left stands the old "Alecl/(wirs
Institute Li!J/"fI1)'''. still in use.
Erskine Church - Lot 26, Con. l!,
Pickering Township - 1854. Built to
serve Presbyterians who did not wish
to go so far as Dunbarton every Sun-
day. The church stands in a beauti-
tully hept yard and has its old fittings.
but the overgrown spruce trees hid,.
its good j))"oportiolls.
M clui I [,~ C Il/lI"cI'-Lot 2Y, COil . V.
i\1m1dwJil Townshij)--fou nded /845
by a grouj) seceding fmlll t h" oldn
hirh at Cashe!.
-..".
-114-
Lot 13, Con. I in Pickering to "Nicholas Brown and others"
and in 1820 he bought back five acres of this parcel. It
seems likely that a meeting-house was built between these
dates,* near the site of the existing brick bUilding. St.
Andrew's Church was rebuilt in brick exactly thirty years
after the building of the first church. The others were re-
built more than once after 1850 and the Lutheran Church at
Buttonville was finally tryrn down. It is possible that a
Presbyterian church was built at Crosby's Corner (Cashel)
about 1827, for the old cemetery there was given for the
purpose in that year. However, in 1837 large subscriptions
were being collected from members of the congregation, in-
cluding Peter Milne, Senior, t so it is possible the church was
built or rebuilt in that year. This church has also been
destroyed.
No other churches seem to have been built in
this area before 1830. In 1851 there were seven church
buildings in Pickering Township, twenty-seven in Markham Town-
,
ship and eight in Scarborough Township. Most of these were in
the watersheds discussed in this report. It is hardly :'1
.,
possible to give the history of all these churches, some still '.
.
.,
standing and in use, or to discuss some and omit others. ,
.1
...
The earlier ones have been mentioned as having some general .,
'i
.;:.
interest and illustrating the development of the area. ::z
'.'~
1
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~~ One is returned in the Census of 1851-52. ":;
t Peter Milne gave a little over f20 Currency ($100).
;0
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CHAPTER 5 'I
MILLS AND VILLAGES :1
:1
1
,
,
,I
l. Mills '!
-- II
(a) Early Mills IS17-1825
l
,
,'1
It seems very probable that the first miils in "
,
!t
.- ;
r.
any of these watersheds were built on Highland Creek by J
!~
William Cornwell in lS04 or lS05. The first mills in Markham I
Township were of course on German l~lls Creek, a branch of I
A saw and grist mill was planned in Pickering ~
'~
in 1797. There are three letters in the Survey 'I
Records of the Department of Lands and Forests dealing with :~
this plan of David William Smith's and ~ copy of the order to ]
the Hon. John McGill, Commissary-General, to issue Smith the J
;.,~
i ,
necessary equipment from the government stores. Although
is no evidence that these mills were even begun, this
is interesting as showing what was needed for early
of this kind.
n For the purpose of erecting l~lls in Pickering
please to issue to D. W. Smith Esquire _
One pair of Mill Stones with the necessary Iron
work for a Grist Mill, and the necessary Irons for
a Sawmill to carry two Saws; a Boulting Cloth with
appendages; and the usual proportion of Seives -
Shingle nails for Roofing, and in case of deficiency
of Iron Work, iron to be issued in lieu there of -
taking his receipts for the same -". "
~i
Smith still had these articles at the end of 1
;~
"
It is not known what he had done with them or what .
!~
of them after he went to England in lS04. It is <~
t:
'"
possible that his agents turned them over to Timothy Rogers
in leO? and that they were used for the first mills in Picker-
Township. Smith had said he was building the mills at
the request of the inhabitants of Whitby, Darlington and
Clarke Townships. The inhabitants of Darlington Township
were not using these mills in lSOl. In lS04 there were
settlers in Scarborough and Pickering and there is nothing
unlikely in William Cornwell building mills on Highland Creek
at that time. The mills stood just below the old bridge on
.-'-~..;...,'
l
"
1
~1
j
",
'I
J
'"
Bruce Mill-Caspar Shir/l built the "1
I
first grist mill heTe ill 1829-it was 'I
:I
rebuilt in 1858. The overshot water- ii
wheel is in Place to left and the frame j
I
of 1829 in storehouse to right. Owned j~
~
,;
by Bruces since 1843. NOll' a chop mill .,
)
-on the Rouge River. ,
'1
'~
1
,
I
,
t
~I
I
u
.1J
',~
'~
(.l
ill
'~
Whitevale Flour Mills - formerly 11
White's Woollen Factory. The old ~
flour mill stood farther north until fl
burnt in 187-1. Later a fire gutted thi,\ j1
{actor)' and it 11'11.1' converted into fI '''~
Ii
f/our mill-possibly ti,e last ill tl,I'S{' lJ
11'1/ tersheds,-oll Dllffill Craft. .~
.t
~
:11
~'I
"
~"
t
,
.
~,
,
i
..,'
Ruills of Tf'oollell Fal'/lJlY lit A l//J ii'll. :~
A II early wool-dressillg //Jill /l'IIS fno- 'j.
I
llllM)' lIloved here fro//J fartlter east 1.
j~ ..
he/wel>1I IS2::; I/lId ISJ::;-ill the ISH)".\ '~~
it helllllle BOll'//Jall's fJ'oollell Factoi'\ .~ s'
,\~
--- tltI' rllill\ hlil'e llel'lI (,ollverted into ~l
a sI/11'll/ilf-ol/ tf,(' ROllge Rive!'. ; !
.~
1~
il
':;:
,,:~:i
"
.,
..
,
. ~
;t
.~
J
:I
'.
~',~-
-116-
the Kingston Road. The lot on which they stood had been
patented by an absentee in 1799 and so was available for sale,
but the pond must have extended onto the adjoining Clergy
Reserve to the west (Lot 8, Con.I) and William Cornwell
leased this lot in 1810 or ISll. The mills were probably
a saw and grist mill such as was usual at that time.
. It does not seem likely that there was a
second mill in Markham in 1805. Quetton St. George adver-
tised in that year that he would buy wheat at "Milliken's
Mill in Marl-:ham", but the indications are that Norman Milliken
had leased the German l~lls. Peter Reesor's saw and grist
mill on Lot 3, Con.IX was probably the next mill built in
.t
Markham. It may have been finished as early as lS05, for !J
the settlers near Cedar Grove would be in urgent need of <..~
j
mills. Martin Holter's grist mill on Lot 26, Con. VII may 1
1
have been built at about the same time. There is reason to '\
'j
I
think that Isaiah Wilmot's saw and grist mill was later and, ;1
,1
1
while the mills on Lot 9, Con. VII may have been built by ij
'1
.
Nicholas Miller between 1806 and ISla, it seems probable ~
~;j
-jl
they were not built till lS14, when the property passed to 11
James Osborne and Thomas Forfar. Timothy Rogers bought the I
.1;
11
site of his mills from D. W. Smith in 1$07, but probably did i
not finish them until 1808-09.
~:
11
In Scarborough Township Archibald Thomson is ?:!1
'I'
:.
said to have built a sawmill on Lot 27, Con.II in la08 and :1
t
his brother, David, one on Lot 25, Con.l about lSll. One or 'I
two other sa~~ills in Markham may have been built before 1812j
the other two were probably built during the war. It can be \1
if.
,
said with certainty that there were six grist mills on these :~
'J
rivers in lSl? and probably 11 sawmills. ]
,1.
:~
Fairly exact information about the mills in 'l
;;~
:~
l~rkham Township in 1817 is contained in reports made to 1
..
~illiam Chewett, Senior Surveyor and Clerk in the Surveyor-
G~neral's Office. In this case Chewett was using his ..
,
authority as Colonel of the First York Regiment of Militia
,.
l"J
~
~~
:$
-117- ~ ~
. ~
~
to get from his junior officers information on mills, roa ds ~
;,
and churches that was needed in his office. Lieutenant I
~
James Miles, who commanded a company cover~ng the southern
pa.rt of Vaughan and of the first four concessions of Markham,
also reports for Lieutenant Schutze whose area lay north of
his own. He gi.ves full information and illustrates .his report
with a pl~m. G2ptain James Fenwick's area covered Concessions
V, VI and VII. His report is less full, but he locates the r;
mills ~y lot as well as concession. Captain George Mustard
gives only the mills in each concession for the remaining
part of the township. More information is given by a report
I made in December, lS24 by John Goessmann D.P.S. in response
I
to a circular letter from the Stlrveyor-General~ Geossmann~s
I
report is full, if sometimes incorrect in details. He made
,
l
a map of most of York County which has survived, but unfor-
I
I
I
I
! tunately he left Scarborough and Whitchurch blan~ and omitted
;
i
! Pickering and Uxbridge from both map and report.
i
i
i
i The information from these reports is tabulated
,
i
I
I
~
on the next page. Some explanation is needed of the names of
owners given by Goessmann. He was a Hanoverian and possibly
i a little deaf. He always wrote distinctly German English and
usually mispelled names in his letters. "Dr. Baldwinlt is
; William Warren Baldwin, an absentee~ He had inherited this
,
property from his father-in-law, William Willcocks, who bought
it from Francis Schmidt in lS04. Miles gives Captain John
j
Large as the occupant in lSl7 and he was living there in la37~
i
I "Mr. Tumbleson" is !-1r. Tomlinson. A "Joseph Tumbleson"
I
! signed the ISll petition with his mark, but the owner of th1S
I
I
i mill east of Brown's Corners was Emanuel Tomlinson in IS6l.
I
f
Peter ~lilne had bought the mills on Lot 9, Con. VII a few
months before Goessmann made his report, and' nMr. !VIi.llerby"
probably refers to him. Martin Holter appears as "Hotter" in
MARKHAM AND WHITCHURCH TOWNSHIPS
"
MILL~ ON ROUGE RIVER AND DUFFIN CREEK ,'" lS17 AND lS24 ~
Coni Tvpe, lS17 Ovmer , lS17 J'ype. 1821+ Owner, 1824
-
3 S. ItCapt.Large" Saw "Dr. Baldwin" ~
(Occupant) (John Large .. . h
occupant in lS36)
, rd
3 s. &. G. "Isaiah Wilmot" S. &. G~ lIMr. WilmotH ,,,
r
/1;
2 - - S. 1tMr. Eyer'. .~
~
~;, ~1
"Mr. Tumbleson" '.
4 - - S. ~
(Tomlinson) ;;
~,;
l~l
.~
30 6 C. "iVlr. Hu be rt" L;~
- - f:
(Jasper Hubbard) .~
,~
9 7 s. &. G. - s. & G. 1t1'Jir. Mi llerbylt ~~
C. &. F. (Actually Peter "
lVJ:ilne, Sr.) ; ~
J:l
11
26 7 G. G. "lvlr. Hotteman" ;.
- ;~
(7 Martin Holter)
:!
',~ ,
~:
30 7 s. - - - \'
~l
5/6 S s. - S. "Mr. Peter R.oemer"
r~,
22 S S, ItMr. Daniel Bayer" j
- - ;
"
(Byer) 1
24 9 S. &. G. - S. &. G. "lVlr. Peter Reesor" 1~
,
15 In S.F.&. C. S.F.&. C."Mr. Christian ,
- ~
Reesor" ,
..
,I
:i
DUFFIN C Hl:'.E K .,
~ .
35 9 - - G. "Mr. Staufferll
1 9 - - S. " "
(~~hitchurch )
S. - S~v.mlill
S. 8c G. .. Saw &. Grist Mill
C. - Wool Carding Machine
F. - Cloth Fulling Machine
lSI7 H~?4:
7 Sawmills on Rouge River 8 Sawmills on Rouge River
4 Grist Mills on Rnuge River 1 " on Duf:'"'in C!'Aek
4 Grist II.1ills Oil Ecuge Ri. ver
1 " t! on Duffi n Creek. 0-
3 Carding Machines on Rc:.:ge River
2 Fullir-g Machines on if II
-llS-
some documents. It would be easy for Goessmann to turn this
into "Hotteman". "lVIr . Hubert" is probably Jasper Hubbard.
The other names are fairly correct, though Raemer and Stouffer
are given German spellings.
Gnessmann gives the number of "run of stones"
for each grist mill. Peter Reesor's was larger than the
.
average with three run of stones; Holter's and Wilmotts had
only one run; Miles'and Stouffer's two. From the assessment
returns for IS25 we learn that Rogers's mill on Duffin Creek
had an extra pair of stones, but that the mill on Highland
Creek had only one. The returns show that no new mills were
i~
built in I~rkham Township between December 1$24 and September
IS25 and probably none in Scarborough. Three sawmills were
'1
t'
returned in Pickering Township. One of these was below the i~
I
~
old Rouge bridge, but the other is hard to locate. '1:1
It has .1
r'~
been included among those on Duffin Creek, but may have been ',~
~
;0.'
'~
on the McGowan millsite near Audley and so not in this area. :J
I
(b) lS25-lS61
The second table gives a selection of the :}
"
figures from the returns of 1825-50. They must be regarded \j
"
';.,
'<1
'1
as probable approximations, for allowance must be made for ;]
I'
I
:j
possible errors in the returns and it is difficult to decide 'j
'l"
,~l
how many mills were outside the area. This is not ,very hard in 1il
\'
:1;
';1
Markham, for there is fairly full information about the mills l'
.r
,:1
In Scarborough there were two sawmills built :,.;
on the Don. I
J
on Taylor Creek about lS16. One of these was probably given i
~
,
up in the lS20's and the other by 1$30, but the dates are ~
1
,
.
~
uncertain. There were so few mills in Uxbridge Township ,J
I
)
before lS40, that the figures given are probably correct. It I
,
is more difficult to be sure about the mills in Whitchurch.
There are more fluctuations in the returns
than the table indicates. Some cannot be explained but in
the case of the grist mills they sometimes agree very well
with what is known from other sources. The fluctuations in
l~rkham are largely due to the changing fortunes of the German
-119-
Mills until they finally disappear in lS3S. But when another
mill is dropped in lS28, it can be assumed that it is the old
Holter mill. New mills on the Don account for the additions
up to 1840; the new mills built in l840-41 and 1843-44 were
on the Rouge. Four grist mills had survived from lS25 to
.
lS51; there were two new grist mills at l~rkham Village,
making eight with the Bruce mill. The first grist mill at
Unionville probably dates from 1840-41. One of the others
was probably at Buttonville. There are several possible
locations for the eleventh.
In Pickering the Rogers mill seems to have
closed in lS27. In 1829 a smaller grist mill is returned,
possibly the one built by Joshua Wixon in the Ninth Concession
east of Claremont. For two years this was the only grist mill
in the township. A grist mill built or rebuilt in lS30,
proved short-lived. It was gone by 1833, but the saw and
grist mill built in 1831-32 on Lot 15, Con. V by a Mr. Sicely
lasted about ten years. In IS33 this was the only grist
mill returned in Pickering. It was sold to Henry Howell and
formed the nucleus of the village of Howell's Hollow. The
mill built by Charles Fothergill on Rogers. millseat in lS34,
was gone bylS41. James Elliott built his mills above
Kingston Road at Pickering in lS3? They were sold to Peter
Head, the innkeeper, by lS46. The first grist mill at
Greenwood was built in 1$40 by an Englishman named Cockerline
who sold it to Frederick Green in 1843. Soon after, Henry
Howell built a new grist mill immediately above Green's and at
about this time John Iuchell built a grist mill on the east
side of Lot IS, Con. VIII south of Claremont. Head's,
Howell's, Green's and Michell's mills would account for ~he
four grist mills returned in lS44.
The second grist mill in Scarborough was probably
the Secor mill on Lot 19, Con. D between Scarborough Village
and Woburn. If so it was built in lS26, earlier than has
-120-
been supposed. Thi.s lllill WciS burned in 1833 and rebuilt in
1834. The mills at Highland Creek were evidently given up l
q.t this time and the John P. Wheeler grist mill half a mile
west of Secor's was the only one in IS33. Secor's grist
mill appears to have stopped running in lS3S and until after
\,
1845 Wheeler's was the only grist mill in Scarborough Township. 'JI
:',
'1
Francis Squair, a millwright, who later owned a mill near .~
I",'
"
'I
:'-;
Orono, worked for "lJlr. Webster at the Rouge Ri verlt from r<1ay ~
"
.i:
'r,
r:
';
1$44. ';~
to July, He was building a grist mill, probably on .,;1
(:
:\:
Lot 1, Con. II north-east of Rouge Hill. This mil~ was not ;,
ij
, ~:
finished until late in 1$45. An inspection of Clergy Reserves {i
,1
"
in Scarborough Township in 1$45 shows that there were no grist .~
,
'J
.-t
mills on the Rnuge or Little Rouge in Scarborough at that time.
f
The distances "to a mill" all point to Cedar Grove or Bendale. .'
,
~ ;
There may, however, have been some sawmills. i
'"
J
,1
j
The number of sav~ills was growing more steadi- ' ~
).J
d
,;~
ly during the 1830's and forties and the fluctuations are i~
'1
less apparent. MOst of the grist mills had sawmills attached
to them, but this would account for only a few. A number of
settlers who arrived in Pickering Township in lS32-37 are
I
recorded to have built savvmills soon after their arrival. ,
This is borne out by the assessment returns. IVlore were built 1
in the 1840's and the number given for lS4S is the highest
recorded in this period, but the peak in Pickering and ,
"
Scarborough Townships came later. The slight decline in ~
~
IS50 reflects the depression of lS49, when the tarriffs giving "
i
i
1
Canada a favoured position in the British market had been ~
,
,
repealed. While the railways were being built in lS51-57 "
,
the demand for lumber was stimulated and there was again a
demand for plank for new roads.
The number of sawmills returned for l~rkham
Township in IS50 agrees pretty closely with those shown on
Tremaine's map of York County in 1861. There must have been
a few more water mills for not all the steam mills are likely
to have been running in 1850. The map shows most of the
-121-
! available mill sites still in use. 00me mills are recorded
I in Scarborough Township that do not appear on the map. They
ri were probably built between lS45 and lS55. They may not
r
f
i have been running in le60, but one or two were certainly
f
,c
~
t running later. It seems likely that there were 90-95 saw-
i
r .
r mills in the area about 1857, including steam mills.
t
,
F Already in the lS30's grist and flour millers
f
f
!
. ~ seem to have been giving up the lumber business, though some
[
I, kept their sa\^md.lls going for custom work. Peter Milne,
1
t Senior, when he required any quantity of lumber, bought it
!
i
!
t from Joseph Tomlinson, though there was still a sawmill at
!
f Markham llills. In the fifties a number of millers cease to
!
! be listed as Hsaw mill owners". In some cases they had
I
I
I
!
fi- rented their sawmills. A good many of the sawmills returned
I
!
e
! in 1850 were run as sidelines by farmers and millers. Most
,
,
i of them operated only in the spring and late autumn. St eam
t
!,
f sawmills began to appear in this area in the late lS40rs.
.
i
~ Tremaj.ne's maps show eleven in this area in 1860-61. There
~
I
i may have been one or two others, and there were several just
!
I'
t outside the area.
I~
.
f
f In preparing the second map in this chapter
r
l
t Tremaine's maps have perhaps been followed too strictly. On
~'
l
K
~. the map of Yo~k County Tremaine sometimes shows a mill pond
I
~
!
r with buildings near it but omits any symbol to indicate that
i'
~
! the mill was in operation. He sometimes shows one symbol
f:
Ii where there should have been two. Besides the symbols are
!
.
! often very faint and it is often hard to distinguish "S.M."
!
I
I
i from "G.M." or even from "S.H." signifying school house. In
.
~
1
f Markham the chief omissions seem to be in the grist mills.
~. Crosbyrs flour mill at Unionville was certainly running in
~
r
i.
f IS61 and probably Brownrs mill at Buttonville. There was
.
I,>
one, and possibly two, grist mills at Markham Village besides
the two shown. In Scarborough Township W. D. Thomson's
grist mill on the Little Rouge on Lot 2, Con. III was built
about 1850. It may not have been running in lS61 for some
t-3 ~ c:: (/) ." :s: t-3 .". c:: (/) >-0 'C;'
,~ .....,
0 >< () 1-" III 0 :;:r' >< () ,...., III
ct ,...., 0- III () "1 ct ,...., 0- III () *
III ct "1 "1 ~ ~ III ct "1 "1 ~
I-' () ,..... 0- <D ~ I-' () ,..... 0- (1) ~
en ~ p.. 0 "1 ~ en ~ P. 0 "1 ~
~ (Jq !-"$ ,...., ~ (Jq Ii ,....,
"1 <D 0 ~ "1 <D 0 ::l
(') ~ au. () ~ (Jq
l:J (fq ::r (Jq
::r ::r
0 0
. .
\,() I I I-' VI \.n ---J I I I-' I-' \.n
:s: :s
. I-' . I-'
():;). ():;).
+- N
0 \.n
(/) (/) :;to
+- I-' I-' I-' . I-' . (j)
+- \.n I-' N I-' \.n (J'\ N I VI VI ():;). v
~ :s: ::0
. . t~
~
c::
::v
>-
cC.,
0 t<J v
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I-' .
+- I I I-' +- \,() (J'\ I I N I +- :s: ~
:S:I-' . I-' C
. 0+ CQ. ::0
+- N
+- CQ. :;to
(/) (j) v
(/) . (/)
G1- I-' N N . I-' tr
\.n ---J N (J'\ 0 0 \,() N I +- \.n CQ. :s: CJ)
:s: . CJ)
. l-
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t<J
:z
t-3
~
0 0 I-'
I-' I-' . I-' I . CQ.
CQ. I I N a- 0 0 I I N VI \.n 1\)
~ :s: V1
. I-' . i->
0+ CQ. I
+- VI
CQ. N I-'
(/) (f.l 00.
CQ. N N N . t3 I-' . V1
VI ---J N VI (J'\ \.n +- I \.n ---J +- 0
:s: :s:
. .
0 0
I-' I-' . I-' .
\,() I I tN \.n I-' 0 I-' I N N \.n
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>-'<
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CQ. CQ.
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0 (J'\
(/) (/)
---J N N N . VI I-' I-' .
CQ. ---J +- VI N N .......1 \.n I ---J I-' +-
:s: :s:
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l J .__.- - .... _. . ---.....-.. ..-
-12 2-
reason, but a few years later it was being operated by James
Maxwell. A sawmill should possibly have been marked near
~J
the oatmeal mill (Aitkins) on Lot 3, Con. III. There were
sawmills there both before and after lS61. The totals given
below.have been corrected to give the largest probable figure
for 1$61. The map of Ontario County in 1$60 is badly worn
and stcdned. A blot concealed the symbol for Tripp's sawmill,
built about lS37, near the mouth of Petticoat Creek. This
was only deciphered after the map was printed.
( c ) lS61-1915
The number of sawmills began to decline fairly
ra,pidly aft er 1$60. The highly selective cutting of the
early days was still in use. The sawyers rejected logs that
would now be considered very large. The supply of such
timber would be exhausted very quickly, especially as in the "
fifties a great deal was still going out as squared timber. "
The lumbering trade had moved farther back from the lake by
IS7S. The County Atlases of 1877-7$ show far fewer sawmills
than Tremaine in IS60-61. It is probable that some are
omitted, but the directories show that a good many sawmills
were given up, at least for a time, after lS70. About ISBa
there was a revival of lumbering in this area, especially in
the Ridges. Clear-cutting had become the rule; there was "
~
a demand for smaller second-growth timber and even for timbers .,
,I
,
from the old log barns. "
Much of this sawing was done in
steam mills, many of them portable mills. Permanent steam "
"
sawmills were, however, built in several villages and a good ,.
,\
many of the old water mills were still in use.
MILLS RECORDED 1861-1893
lS61 1$7S lSS7 1$93
Grist & Flour 2S 30 27 IS
Sawmills S9 37 34 21
117 67 61 39
-123-
There were 11 steam sawmills in lS61; the
i number was smaller in lS78 because some of these mills had
been moved outside the area. Some sawmills had been replaced
:t
by grist mills, others were converted into specialized wood-
working mills. Many were given up altogether. The
proporti on ' of steam mills was higher after 18S0. A few
grist mills were converted to steam in the sixties; the
Wheler mill at Stouffville was a steam mill in 1$69. As a
rule steam was only installed as an auxiliary source of power.
The grist and flour millers usually kept up their ponds.
Some grist mills had become chop mills by the nineties. In
some cases a woollen mill was turned into a flour mill in
the eighties. This happened to the large factory at White-
vale, at Lemonville and possi bly at Almira. It is possible that
some of these were not reported in 1$93. The floods of the
seventies, eighties and nineties were responsible for the
abandonment of some mills. After lS7S it was often not worth
while to rebuild the dam. This is even more true of more
recent floods in the 1920Ts and 19301s,
Some of these mills had a long history. The
Ratcliff sawmill was operated by the same family for more
than a century. The Bruce ml11 has been operating on the
same site since 1829 and for 110 years has been owned by
the Bruce family. There has been a mill at Buttonville for
more than a hundred years. As a rule there was less conti~
nuity of ovmership and still less of operation. A good many
owners employed hired millers or leased their mills. Richard
Snowden worked for Peter Milne as miller in lS32-33. He
was succeeded in lS34 by Frederick Green who was employed
to lS3S, and possibly until he moved to Pickering Township and
gave his name to the village of Greenwood. Snowden was again
miller at Markham lfdlls from lS40-44 and from 1849-IS53.
Peter Milne paid his millers $IS a month, but Snowden was
getting $20 from Thomas A. Milne in the 1$50's.
i
j
'l
I
-124- 1
(d) Coopers' Shops, Stave and Shingle Mills I
,!
All these industries began as handcrafts, i
,J
though sawmills began very early to turn out "junks" or
"chunks" of the proper sizes for the diff erent types of staves,
and blocks to be split into lath and shingles. As flour,
pork, whisky and a variety pf other produce were shipped or
stored in barrels, coopers'shops were the first industry to
be started near the mills. There were five coopers in the
village of Duffin's Creek in 1853. These shops were often
attached to the grist mills and the coopers paid by the millers.
There were about twenty such shops in the area in 1$64. After
lS70 the number declines rapidly and few large cooperages or
barrel factories seem to have been set up in this area.
There was a stave mill at Balsam in lS64 and
two near Claremont. These were probably water mills and did
not last into the lS70's. The stave factory at Greenwood
(Saltor's in lS64) lasted for about twenty years. These
wood-working mills were noW usually steam plants. They
appear for short periods at different places. There was a
large stave, heading and barrel factory at vJhitevale in the
1860's (Spink Bros.). It was burnt before lS74 and not
rebuilt. In the eighties there were stave mills at Woburn
and Green River, but there do not appear to have been mo~e
than two or three in the area at one time.
Shingle mills do not appear until the late
lS60's. There were at least six in the area in 1869. The
two mills at Box Grove are not reported in the eighties, but
Kelly's factory at Buttonville and Ramer's at ~~rkham lasted
until near the end of the century. After lSSO there were
shingle mills near Armadale, Ringwood and Bethesda. Until
the turn of the century there were usually three or four
shingle mills in the area.
"
I
-125- .
( e ) Carriage and Waggon Factories I
("
!~
'II
This was an important industry in most parts of ,II
,
't
Ontario from 1$50 to lS90. ?l
There were already a large i ~
"
~ ~
\\
J
number of waggon shops in the 1850's and by 1857 a fair 'I
0;
.
~I
number of carriage factories. Some of these were already
large establishments, like those in Markham, Stouffville,
Unionville and Brougham. Almost every village, large or
small, had a carriage or waggon factory or both. Carriage- I
:i
makers often made waggons and waggonmakers sleighs. In the
sixties there were more than twenty carriage shops in the area
and between 25 and 30 waggon shops. The numbers did not
alter much until the eighties, but after that they declined
quickly. The railways had reduced the demand for waggons and
the carriagemakers had to face competition from large factories
outside the area. Besides they suffered from a difficulty
that does not trouble the makers of motor cars. With better
roads a good carriage would last a lifetime and more. Fashions
changed very slowly and there was little need for frequent
replacement, though some refurbishing was needed from time
to time. By the turn of the century very few vehicles were
being made in the area.
(f) Woollen Mills
The carding and fulling mills of IB17 have been
menti one d. A few more were built before 1830. There vias
one at Howell's Hollow, and later one at Greenwood for a time-
Rowland Burr built a carding and sawmill on the Rouge in the
1840's (Lot 3, Con. III Scarborough Township), but like some
other mills of Burr's this did not last long. Martin
Baderow's mill south of ~~vern was built a little later and
like some of the early mills became a woollen factory by the
le50's. Most of those shown on the second map were in
existence in the fifties, some, such as the ~lilne factory at
Markham, the Bowman mill at Almira and, probably, the Tomlinson
mill at Box Grove, were weaving cloth in the 1840's. The
large factory at Whitevale was built in 1867, but was burnt
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out less than seven years later. The Kirkham mill at
Highland Creek was built about lSSO. There were still four
or five woollen factories in the area in the lS90's, at
Markham, Lemonville, Highland Creek, Altona and possibly
.
Almira. None of these has survived to the present day.
2, Villages
About thirty-five village names can be counted
on Tremaine's maps in this area, and two or three more are
indicated without being named. A good many were already
thriving in 1857. Some were old settlements, but very few
were recognized as villages in 1851 and still fewer in IS46.
It is impossible to say much about each of forty different
places. Something will be said about the three incorporated
villages and a few of the others will be mentioned briefly.
(a) Markham
Two houses are mentioned in a settlement
certificate for Lot II, Con. VIII in 1804, which suggests
that one of these may have been a tavern. But who was
keeping it if it existed in lS12 can only be conjectured.
There must have been some cottages in the valley near the
mills by 1$17. In lS24 these mills were bought by Peter
Milne, Senior, who turned over their management to his brother
Alexander, devoting his own energies to running a store.
With the building of ~ilne's store, probably on the Markham
Road near the turn to the mills, the present village of
Markham may be said to have begun. But it was about two
years later that Joseph Reesor laid out the plot of "Reesor-
ville" on Lot 11, Con. VIII. Here Sinclair Holden is said
to have built the first house in IS26. Holden's house was
also a store and others were probably opened in the next two
or three years. In one of these, James Johnston's, a post
office for l~rkham Township was set up in lS29. About 1$30
William Armstrong built a large tavern and set up a distillery
north of Milne's i~lls. Within a few years he was selling
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. a
considerable quantities of whisky in Toronto.
l
'l
In IS)3 there was a schoolhouse in the village :1
,
~'':l
..,-j
.:1
where church services were sometimes held. In IS36 Markham ,j
,
,"
.
is spoken of as a large village with "two or three taverns, :1
'.i
some stores, good private houses,". No estimate of popula- -j
j
. ~ I
1
tion is given but Walton's Directory shows so many people
living near the crossroads that the estimate of )00 in lS46 ,
seems conservative. There were by then three churches and
a circulating library. The new industries were a brewery,
Robinson's tannery, the making of pumps, fanning mills and
threshing machines, a foundry and the usual blacksmiths,
waggonmakers and so forth. By IS51 the population had in-
creased to 650 without much change in the occupations of the
villagers. There were now a bnys'and.a'gtrls' school,
apparently private schools. In lS57 the list of trades is
already very long. The "extensive manufactories" are men-
tioned "especially some for the construction of agricultural
implements, carriages &c." Cloth-weaving, tanning and wood-
working were equally important. Through the sixties the
.
population of Markham was estimated at about 1,000. In spite
of its early start as a thriving manufacturing village, there
i
was not much growth in f~rkham until after ISSO. The Census
of 1881, the first after the village was incorporated in lS72,
showed a population of 954. Incorporation had probably been
applied for in the hope of a "boom" when the railway was
finished. This hope was not realized in the 1870's, but
in the eighties there was some advance and Markham contained
, .,
1,lOO.people in 1891. "
During the nineteenth century the industries
of the village remained much the same as in the lS60's. The
number of individual firms grew rather less and in some the
scale of production tended to increase. There was little
chance for any village less than thirty miles from Toronto
to grow into a town and I~rkham had to compete with large
and thriving villages on each side - Richmond Hill, Newmarket
-12S-
and Stouffville. After 1$90 the influences that were !
causing a decline of village prosperity in Ontario, began to
show their effects in Markham. The village population
I
declined and by 1911 had fallen to 909. Some of the small
industries had closed down in the face of growing competition
from larger plants and others were becoming obsolete.
Possibly more important during this period I
was the village's position as a local centre. Markham was I
I
the administrative centre of a flourishing township. It
had a secondary school from the 1850's, an active Agricultural
Society and a newspaper of some local importance, the Markham
"Economist". The first agricultural exhibition was held in
IS55 and annual fairs have been held ever since. Among
the acquisitions of the 1860's was a curling and skating rink.
The village had always done a considerable "country trade"
and from the early lS70's it has been a shipping point for
produce.
Like many villages in the early days of motor-
ing Markham seemed a quiet place just after the First World
War. The village had been growing and the population was
now slightly over 1,000. There was not much change in the
next ten or twelve years. Commuting by car was only begin-
ning, and Markham, without a good train service, \~as.still
rather far from Toronto. By 1940 Markham was feeling the
influence of the expansion of the city population and this
has become more marked in recent years. The Census of lS51
gives the village 1)606 inhabitants, but the limits have
recently been enlarged, a great deal of building has been
going on and the population reported by the municipality in
1956 is 2; 706.
(b) Pickering
The most recently incorporated of the three
villages is as old a settlement as either of the others.
There was a tavern there before lS12 and probably a group
of two or three houses near the bridge over Duffin Creek and
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another by lS20 near the Quaker Meetinghouse, where a road
led down to the first mills. Francis Leys had opened his
store by lS24, a little farther east. He also kept some
kind of an inn and it was here that a post office for Pickering
Township was set up in lS29. However, the real start of the
village followed the arrival of Charles Fothergill about lS34,
and of James Elliott a little later. By then there was a
school near the post office where Anglican missionaries (and
possibly others) sometimes held services.
The mills Fothergill began to build seem to
have been unsuccessful. His natural history museum was the
most remarkable thing near Duffin's Creek in IS36. Elliott's
grist mill, some distance north of the bridge on the east
bank, was running by 1837. In that year there were 10-12
households at Duffin's Creek, most of them living north of the
Kingston Road within a quarter of a mile from the bridge.
In lS46 the population of "Duffin's Creek or Canton" is
estimated as 130, a figure that may be low, judging by the
number of householders listed in Brown's "Directory of Toronto
and:the~_Home District". There were now a tannery, a brewery,
several stores and workshops:, and four churches are listed:
Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, British Wesleyan and Quaker.
A fifth church, St. George's Anglican, was built in brick in
lS4S* and is still in use. The chief secular addition before
lS51 seems to have been Payne's new hotel with its t1careful
hostlerslt. There was an increase all round in the number of
craftsmen. There was a good-sized cooperage, and three new
sawmills had been built in the vicinity; Post's, Palmer's
and Haight's. Dr. Burns had been practising medicine at
Duffin's Creek since before lS46.
The opening of the railway was not altogether
an advantage. It gave Pickering importance as a station
but ended most of the road traffic that had brought the village
* This church has been dated to 1841. A report of Arch-
deacon (laterBishop) Bethune's in November, IS47 shows
clearly that the church had not been begun at that date.
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into being. The population had increased from 250 in 1851
to 300 in 1857, and this remained the usual estimate through
the IS60's. There was some extension of carriagemaking at
this time and two of the blacksmiths began to make agricul-
tural implements. After lS65 Moses Smith built a second
grist mill near the old Rogers site. As the Hoover mill
this lasted to about lS90, when it was burnt and rebuilt on !
a larger scale. Elliott's mill had been sold to Peter Head I
before lS50. It was also burnt about lS74 and in 1875 Spink
Brothers built a large brick flour mill a little south-west
of the old, close to the Kingston Road on the north side.
These two flour mills were the chief industries
in the village during the last part of the nineteenth century.
The Spink mill was a large plant, important enough to have
a spur line built from the Grand Trunk Railway. In 1905 a
large grain elevator was built beside the mill and the
buildings~mained in use until they were torn down in the
1930's, though for some years before that they had been used
chiefly for storage by the company owning the mills. The
building of the Hoover-Brokenshire mill was burned in 1956.
The Friends' Seminary, a boys' boarding school
founded near Picton in lS41, was moved to Pickering in lS77.
and became Pickering College. The school was closed from
lSS5 to lS92 and was then reopened as a co-educational school~
During the lS90's it was very well known.
The population of Pickering was estimated in
the early seventies at 500 inhabitants. It is not likely
that the village was ever larger than this, though, as
Pickering was not incorporated until 1953, no figures are
available. Just before and during the Second World War the
population of the village began to grow larger for rather
similar reasons to those affecting the growth of Markham
Village. In this case Pickering was in a position to serve
as a dormitory village for Oshawa as well as Toronto especially
during the war. This growth continued after the war and in
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1953 Pickering was incorporated as a village. The return
of the following year showed a population of 944. The
return of 1956 gives the village 1,056 inhabitants.
( c ) Stouffville
Though there were settlers on the site in lS04,
the village of "Stouffersville" did not come into existence
until after the building of Abraham Stouffer's mills in lS17-24.
The village was given this name from the first and as the name I
was pron('lunced "Stoffer" or "Stovertt, hStoversvilletf was
e,asily shortened into if Sto' villetf. What was the official name
of ~he post office opened in John Boyer's store in 183t is
uncertain. "Stoffersville tf and "Stoufville ,f are both used in
lS36, but ten years later the post office was called
lIStouffville" .
Stouffville seems to have grown rapidly. In
1835-37 it seems to have been a centre of the Reform Party in
this section. At that time there was at least one tavern and
more than one store. The first village seems to have been
near the mills, east of the creek and on the Whitchurch side
of the road. In lS46 there were thought to be about 70
inhabitants. Stouffville was then a road village with two
taverns but not many workshops or any other industry besides
the mills. A Congregational church was built in l84S. There
was one doctor in the village in the 1840's and a second by
lS51. The number of inhabitants was about 350; it had
increased to about 500 by lS57. Steer's tannery and Spedding!s
foundry had been opened in the late 1840's. The number of
stores and inns had doubled by lS47. Lumbering, cabinetmaking
and waggonmaking were being carried on, but Edward Wheler's
flour mill and Von Busach's harness factory seem to have been
the most important enterprises in the fifties and early
sixties.
Stouffville was much less a manufacturing
village than Markham and much more a place of general business
with "a good local trade". In the early days it ha,d lacked
-lJ?-
really good waterpower. This was less important after steam-
engines became common, and Stouffville had its share of the
small industry of the time. But the great advantage to the
village was its position near the junction of roads from
Uxbridge and Whitchurch to Markham. The village was steadily
spreading eastward along this road. By IS51 Hiram Yakes
had opened his inn where the Uxbridge road joined the
Townline and a hamlet soon grew up there. In the next ten
years the village was extended to these corners, at any rate
on the north side of the road. There were stage lines to
Whitby,and Newmarket in the sixties and seventies, and to
Markham and Uxbridge until lS70. At least one of these
lines was owned in Stouffville, and the village catered in
every way to horse-drawn traffic.
One of the things that struck people about
Stouffville in the mid-sixties was its association Itfor the
apprehension of felons". This had been founded Itmore than
twenty years" earlier, that is before IS46. It .had ~.
probably been formed to protect the neighbourhood from the
"Markham Gangtt which had terrorized this district in the
early lS40's. This gang seems to have been made up of brutal
and sordid ruffians, though most of them belonged to families
who had been early settlers in Markham, Pickering, Scarb orough,
Whitchurch and Uxbridge. Most of the gang lived in these
townships, owned some property and were outwardly respectable.
Like all such gangs they tried to protect themselves by
blackmailing possible witnesses. Nevertheless, a number of
them were brought to trial in lS46 for burglary, robbery with
violence, forgery and other larcenies. They were reported
to have had connections allover this pr,ovince, in Lower
Canada and in several parts of the United States, but this may
be exaggerated. Horse stealing does not seem to have been one
of their specialities.
A short time before 1866 the Stouffville Asso-
ciation had won praise from the Grand Jury for bringing to
justice a gang of horse-thieves. Disposing of stolen
-133 -
horses was a fine art in those days and this gang was probably
much more intelligent and courageous and less brutal than the
Markham gang. Such gangs could be dangerous when their
safety was threatened. It took courage and cleverness to
bring them to book.
The building of the narrow-gauge Toronto and
Nipissing Railway was expected to bring a great deal of busi- I
ness to Stouffville. In lS70 the population was about 700
and it was thought that this would be doubled within ten
years. This did not happen. The village was incorporated
in lS77 and the next census showed S66 inhabitants. There
had been a considerable increase in business and when the
Lake ~imcoe Junction Railway (now abandoned) was built north
from Stouffville, this line brought more trade to the village.
The built-u~ area was extended westward some distance beyond
the railway, and in 1901 there were ~,223 people in Stouffville.
In the next ten years there was some loss of population for
much the same reasons as at l~rkham, but not lasting so long.
By 1921 Stouffville was again growing. The last census return
in 1951 was 1,695. The latest municipal return is 2,165.
(d) Some Uninco~22ratedVillages
In Markham Township, Unionville is the largest
of these villages. Its name celebrates the union' of the
Canadas in lS41, for the present village owes its existence to
mills built soon after that year. The earlier centre of the
Berczy settlers was some distance to the north, near the site
of the churCh of lS19. In lS47 the Unionville mills were
leased to a Mr. Gillespie, ,In 1850 Ira White was the owner
and miller. Later in the fifties they were sold to H.P4Cro5by.
The property remained in the possession of the Crosby family
who gave the memorial park to the village. There was a
second sawmill by 1$60 and the village had its share of the
usual small industries, many of them owned by the Eckhardt
family. It remained a small place with 250-300 people in
-134-
the 1$60's and early lS70's. After the building of the
Toronto and Nipissing there was some expansion and the
snuthern part of the village was occupied. The winding
main street of the older part is very picturesque and some
of the buildings along it are worth preserving. Unionville
has one of the few surviving sa~rrllills in this area, a steam
mill which replaced the Ecl:hardt water mill of lS60.
Claremont, in Pickering Township, was the centre
of the early settlement in the Ninth Concession. However,
the first bu.ildir:.g in the village was the stone store built
in 1847 on the south-west corner of the crossroads. It was
kept by a man named N0ble and the settlement was called
"Noble's Corners" until lS51, when "Clarel7lo~t Post Officelt
was opened. There was then a frame hotel on the north-east
corner. Later in the lSS07s the existing frame store building
was moved from Greenwood and John C. i~chell moved his business
from the location to the south where he had started it in 1844.
He built the fine brick store still in use on the snuth-east
corner. The hotel is gone, but there are three buildings on
the corners at Claremont that have probably stood for a
century or more. The village bad about 250 inhabitants in
v~6 5 . In lS90, after the Canadian Pacific line had been
built, it was believed to have doubled that number. A second
village grew up at North Claremont Station, about a mile from
Claremont and the two villages together form a place of fair
size and still in a fairly flourishing cnndition.
Much of the story of Whitevale has been told
in connection with its mills. The village began with a
sawmill built by John ~~jor in the lS20's. It was first
called ltl"1aj or" or ''lvlaj orville" . There can hardly have been
a village there before Trueman White built his grist mill in
1850 and later added a cooper shop, planing mills and a sash
and door factory. Finally in lS65 or lS67 he built his large
woollen factory. In the sixties there were a steam carriage
factory, a cheese factory and the stave mill already mentioned.
I
I
i
-135- i
I
Up to IS70 the village was thought to have about 300 inhabi- I
I
tant s . A few years later most of these industries were i
I
I
destroyed by fire and snmewhat later the woollen mill was i
I
burnt. Since then Whitevale has depended chiefly on the
!
flour mill installed within the walls of the woollen factory.
I
I
It is still a fairly large village and a remarkably
I
I
picturesque one. I
I
I
The first Brougham Post Office was opened in I
I
1$36 at Howell's Hollow, south-east of the present village,
and this is the village mentioned in that year as having been I
I
named after Lord Brougham. It was moved later to "Bentley's
I
Corners", where William Bentley is said to have built the
I
I
first store in lS35. Brougham had no waterpower and was a
crossroads village. In IS57 there were abnut 150 inhabitants.
The chief industry was Bentley & Co's patent medicine factory, ,
later Woodruff, Bentley & Co. Later there was a "Jnint
Stock Lumber Company", a wooden-ware factory, a planing mill
and carriage and waggon shops, but the village depended more
on its stores and hotels. In 1854 the Pickering Township
Hall was built in Brougham and township meetings were held
there instead of at Thompson's Corners. The hall is still
standing, but the municipal offices have been moved into the
brick store built by William Bentley soon after his arrival.
The village seems never to ha ve cont~ined more than 400
people and was possibly smaller after lS90, when the railway
drew some traffic from the Brock Road. The headquarters of
the Township Agricultural Society was established at Brougham
and fairs began to Qe held there after being held in several
different locations in the lSSO's. Brougham is still a good-
sized village and is growing larger as the population of the
township increases.
The villages in Scarborough Township were
never as large as those in the other townships. Agincourt
until lS70 was a small crossroads village on the nOld Markham
Road" near Elliott's sawmill. Some steam sawmills had been
./
!:
~:~
..~
':;t'
;.v
-130-
built in the village and near it by lS65. After the opening
of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway it developed some
importance as a shipping point. A steam grist mill was
built and the village extended westward. By 1930 Agincourt
was beginning to be suburban. Like all the Scarborough
villages it is now in the metropolitan area.
,
Scarborough in ISSO was a straggling hamlet I
I
along the Kingston Road. Within a few years of the opening
of the Grand Trunk line a considerable village had been laid
nut near the railway and in 1870 this became Scarborough
Junction. Its population was then about 200. This was
largely a railway village and, until the expansion of the city
after 1920, never a large one.
l~lvern, a crossroads village serving a number
of mills at a little distance, was also a small place of
about 100-125 people in lS7l. Ten years earlier Malvern
Post Office had been at Brown's Corners a mile and a quarter
to the north. l~lvern has continued to serve the same
function as in the seventies and will soon be surrounded by
modern subdivisions.
Highland Creek was older as a village settle-
ment; the first hamlet was in the valley near the mills,
where a fine frame inn was built in the IS40's and torn down
about ninety years later. The village originally included
the settlements that grew up in the fifties on both hills.
Later the western section became the separate village of
West Hill. Highland Creek and West Hill have long been
suburban and are now definitely part of Greater Toronto.
Goodwood in Uxbridge Township grew up after
the improvement of the Stouffville Road. By 18S7 it had
about 100 people but only Chapman's inn, some stores and a
blacksmith's shop are listed. In the sixties there were
steam sawmills in the village and the viCinity, a wood and
willow-ware factory, carriage and cooper shops. In lS71,
when the station was still newly opened, Goodwood was
-137-
estimated to contain 90 people. Some of the sawmills had
been closed and the village was more dependent on its stores
and hotel. However, the railway brought improvement.
Goodwood became to some extent a railway village and is still
a fair-sized place.
Glasgow farther south was a mill village and
when the mills were closed down it shrank to a hamlet. The
mills were built in the late lS50's and ran for some forty
or fifty years~ Glen Major, another mill village, began in
the fifties as "Glen Sharrard", changing its name when the
mills were sold about thirty years later. Its mills were
running after 1900, but the mill ponds have now become the
property of a fishing club and the area has for some time been
popular for winter sports.
Lemonville in Whitchurch probably had mills in
the 1840's and a woollen factory by the late lS50's. Its
population seems to have remained at about lOa until the
nineties, though there was some fluctuation of the number
and type of mills and other businesses. It is now a small
place, prettily situated and the area seems to be developing
as a location for semi-suburban estates.
I
CHAPTER 6
THE AREA SINCE 1967
The year 1867, in spite of its importance in the
history of Canada, is a rather arbitrary date at ~nich to
break off the story of the development of this area. Much of
the old life went on into the seventies. The memories of the
very old people of today go back to 1867 or a few years
earlier and the stories they tell show that in their youth the
old ways had not been entirely given up in some parts of this
area. There had been many changes since 1860, but in the
seventies much farm work was still done by hand labour and a
good housewife still prided herself on her storeroom, stocked
to a large extent with the products of the farm, orchard and
garden processed in her own kitchen, dairy or stillroom. In
addition to the preserving and jam-making that continued up to
the present day, apples were still dried or made into apple
butter, meat was smoked, pickled or salted. Butter was always,
and cheese occasionally, made on the farms and the surplus
sold in the city and villages. Maple sugar and syrup were
still being made in some quantity and fats were still sometimes
saved to be boiled into soft soap.
Some wool was still spun and woven at home, now
more for bedspreads and rugs than for plain cloth. The custom
weaver was still found in some villages up to 199O. In some
homes wine and cider were made and cordials distilled from
ginger, cherry or dandelion. Good-sized orchards had become
the rule by the sixties. In the seventies there was a cider
factory near Cedar Grove that is still making pasteurized
apple juice. William Helliwell had a cider mill at Highland
Creek in the nineties and there were, no doubt, many others in
the area. Some of these activities were carried on in
village homes as well as on the farms.
However, the influences that were to bring about
a change in the life of the area were already at work in the
I
-139-
late 1860's, The seventies, eighties and nineties were a
period of difficulty and change for Ontario farmers. In the
late 1860's, while grain-growing was still at its height,
complaints of loss of fertility on Ontario farms already began
to be heard. Farmers had suffered heavily from various pests;
some now found that they could no longer grow as heavy crops
on their grain ground or produce wheat of as good quality.
These deficiencies became more marked after 1870, when
Ontario wheat was already feeling the competition of the
American West. Before long the Canadian Prairies were also
exporting wheat and the price of Ontario wheat began to decline
on the Toronto market. One effect of lowered production was
an increase in the area of cultivated land achieved by clearing
of bushland, and by draining wet lands. In 1863 it was still
taken for granted that a settler would clear only about two-
thirds of the land he took up, and this was about the average
on farms until 1865. In the seventies the proportion of wood-
land was reduced and underdrainage began to be more common,
increasing rapidly in the next twenty years. At the same time
there was an increase in the demand for cordwood and, after
1870, an increasing demand for sawlogs of smaller diameter.
The old selective cutting had been given up but until after
1880 it was hardly worth while to cut immature trees for
lumher or to buy second-growth stands. In the 1870's and
1880's the scarcity of pine was forcing lumbermen to go
farther and farther away for their supplies, and a number of
other factors combined to hasten the exploitation of the re-
maining woodlands in the long-settled townships. It was in
this very period of the early 1880's that many farmers were
feeling the effects of uncertain markets and were, therefore,
more ready to sell their woodlots, which had now had time to
recover from the lumbering of the fifties. A somewhat similar
state of affairs occurred in the 1890's and led to further
cutting of woodlots. Where the cut-over land was not taken
I
-140- I
into cultivation it now often became part of the permanent
pasture and the stock were now sufficiently numerous to
restrict the young growth. In many of the older townships
there was probably less woodland in the 1890's than at any
other decade.
This does not mean that the land was entirely
stripped of trees. The "Dutch" settlers had not altogether
shared the common pioneer attitude that regarded a tree as
a cumberer of the earth. There were some landowners who
cherished their woodlots. Some land was too rough or swampy
to be of much use for farming and was kept in bush. In the
southern part of Uxbridge Township around Glen Major a good
deal of land was evidently never fully cleared and this is I
true to some extent in the Ridges farther west. Still by I
1890 the majority of farms were fully cleared and planting,
even of shade trees and windbreaks, had hardly begun.
In this area the effect of these influences
was less marked than in other parts of the Province. Ex-
haustion and erosion of the soil would be found only in a few
small areas and on individual farms, but the practices in-
tended to correct them were adopted very early. The
dependence on one type of crop had never been complete in
Ontario, and in this section it was even less so. The area
certainly shared the agricultural depression responsible for
the setting up of the Royal Commission on Agriculture of
1880-81. However, the kind of mixed farming, with specializ-
ation in one line or another, that was being substituted for
grain-growing, had already made considerable progress in the
Toronto region before that date. The introduction of cheese
factories in 1866 had rather less effect in this area than in
most of the Province. Some factories like the one at White-
vale were built, but they were never very numerous. The
dairy farmers of the area already had some market for whole
milk as well as butter and cheese. Creameries are found in
-141-
one or two villages in the 1880's. The farmers already had a
good local market for their beef, pork and mutton before 1860.
The ke ep ing of sheep grew less common, for very little of the
area was especially adapted to it. The local demand for
horses, horse-feed and hay was already considerable when other
parts of Ontario began to turn, in the 1880' s, to horse-
breeding for the American market. When the electrification of
street railways reduced the demand about ten years later the
need for dray-horses and delivery horses in Toronto was already
very great. The thousands of horses in the city continued to
require great quantities of feed and bedding.
There were still a great many horses in Toronto
at the end of the First World War, but the number dwindled
rapidly during the next ten years. The outlet for this type
of produce was gradually reduced, but its place was taken by
others. Market and nursery gardens were to be found very early
in the Don area, though some of the best known ones lay just
out side. By the 1880's some of these had become important
and small-scale truck farming was making progress in some
places. Poultry farming was another activity encouraged by
the city market. Subdivision of farm land, already noticeable
in 1860, was partly the result of a demand for the products of
intensive cultivation.
Competition for markets forced the most con-
servative Ontario farmers to adopt better practices and, as
befo re , this change came earlier in the Toronto area than in
some neighbouring regions. Good farmers were the rule in the
area, and the standard continued to be high. Something has been
said of the activities of the early Agricultural Societies.
These began in the 1830's and 1840's. By 1850 they were re-
ceiving help and encouragement from the Government and this
continued into the seventies when it took a rather different
form. Annual ploughing matches were held in Pickering Township
from 1849. They were held at different localities, Greenwo od
-142-
often being chosen in the 1850'S and developed into agri-
cultural exhibitions. The location of these fairs was finally
fixed at Brougham. Similar exhibitions in Markham Township
became fixed rather earlier at r~rkham Village. The efforts
of individual farmers to improve the breeds of stock continued
in this period. The names of a number who distinguished them-
selves in this way were recorded in all the townships about
the turn of the century. By the seventies many farmers were
specializing in purebred animals and the keeping of good herds
became more comnon in the next fifty years.
By 1871 a decline in rural population begins to
be noticeable. Except for Uxbridge Township, which had its
highest recorded population in l871 (4,762), the peak of town-
ship population is recorded in the provincial Census of 1861.
Even allowihg for the acknowledged inaccuracy of this census,
all the townships lost heavily in the seventies and still more
heavily in the two following decades, though the loss in
Markham Township in the 1870's can be largely accounted for
by the incorporation of villages. ,
The widespread decline in rural population in
Ontario during the last quarter of the nineteenth century is
,
often set down to the emigration to the West. This played a . .
considerable part in the movement, but in this area the
attraction of the city must have been at least equally strong.
Neither of these influences would have produced such a marked
effect if it had not been for a decline in rural prosperity,
a change in farm economy and a definite reduction of lumbering.
~
The decline in prosperity made the support of part of the
population difficult at the same time that the increased use
of machinery reduced the number of hands needed on the average ~
farm. Mechanization did not have its full effect until after
1880, when the binder came into general use, but the shortage
of labour was already developing in the 1870's and increased
,
the use of machinery on the farms. After 1890 decline of the
-143-
village population hastened the trend, which continued until
after 1911. The rapid growth of Toronto after 1920 soon began
to affect Scarborough Township. There had been some recovery
in the other townships by 1941, but it was not until very
recently that the population of Markham and Pickering Townships
equalled that of 1$71.
This decline had been more marked in Pickering
and Whitchurch Townships and the recovery slower. In Uxbridge
Township the loss of population began some ten years later and
lasted ten years longer. Even in 1951 the population recorded
by the Census (2,033) was less than half that of 1881 ( 4,081) .
Recent municipal returns indicate a slightly faster growth in
this township since 1951. In both Uxbridge and Whitchurch
there were unexplained gains between 1911 and 1921 and a
corresponding drop in the 1920' s. These fluctuations can be
followed on the graphs at the end of this chapter, which also
indicate the extremely rapid gains in some of the townships.
Some of the causes for the decline of village
population have been mentioned in connection with the larger
villages. It was even more marked in the case of villages
with 50 to 100 people~ These villages maintained themselves
into the 1890' s, in spite of the reduction of lumbering that
was one of the causes of the decline of the rural population.
As more of the mills were closed these villages depended more
on their stores and the partial depopulation of the surrounding
area was depriving the storekeepers of some customers. At the !
same time they were beginning to feel the competition of large
city firms before the motor car brought the city within easy
reach. The mail-order catalogue was already to be found in
most houses before the turn of the century.
On the whole the smaller villages have fared
better in this area than in some others parts of Central
Ontario. Signs of former prosperity were more noticeable
thirty years ago, before the motor-car and the expansion of
-144-
the city had had much effect on the area except in Scarborough.
Very few village sites have been entirely abandoned. Some
crossroads villages dwindled almost to nothing when the last
store was given up and the post office replaced by rural
delivery. Among them were the two "Brown's Corners" and
Cashel, possibly the first village in Markham and, as "Crosby's
Corners" the second post office. It is possible that the
, decay of the villages would have been more marked in a more
purely rural area and one where fewer mills survived into the
motor age. Besides,the decline of farm population, though
marked, was less here than elsewhere. In most of the area
there has not been much increase in the size of farms since
1875. There has been a reduction of manpower per acre of
cultivation and in the size of the average family, but in most
of the area empty house shave never been numerous.
While life in the city was changing rapidly in
the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the change in
rural living was much slower. There were many small improve-
ments, but the fundamental arrangements were little altered.
Social life was better organized and the steady improvement of
communication gave greater opportunities, but the occasions
for social intercourse were much the same as before. After
1895 a good deal of "modern comfort" was available to the
average city dweller of moderate means, though in a rudimentary
form, but its installation in a country house was still costly
and the upkeep very troublesome. Most people, even in the
villages, still had to do without gaslight, central heating and
inside plumbing. The rural telephone was the first great
improvement, to be followed in this century by rural electri-.
city. It was electricity and the motor-car that largely
closed the gap between the living standards of the city and
country and made possible the great suburban development of
the past twenty-five years.
\)
I
-145- I
The steady expansion of Toronto into the
southern part of the area poses a problem in regard to the I
relics of the past, that is not felt so urgently by most
other watershed authorities. This area is especially rich in
such relics. A certain amount remains from the early period
before 1830, and still more from the period of expansion in
1840-67. A great wave of building was going on at that time
and has left buildings of all sorts, but particularly houses.
Some of the houses and churches still in use are in little
danger of destruction or of serious damage. Some might be
preserved on their present sites; others must inevitably be
destroyed to make way for new development.
As has been indicated in the Recommendations, I
the preservation of such relics is to be regarded as a form
of conservation. At present a Oonservation Authority is almost i
the only body in a position to do anything effective in this
matter, though it is to be hoped that this situation may
soon be altered. An Authority can make a site available in
one of its conservation areas, to which buildings can be moved
that cannot well be preserved in their original locations. It
can contribute a large share of the cost of establishing and
maintaining a "museum village", and of providing buildings to
house smaller relics and documents concerned with the history :t
of the area. It can often make a building or group of buildings
of this kind the nucleus of a conservation project and it can, .-1.1
,'.
and should, see to the preservation of any objects it may .
..
I'
acquire in purchasing land for such projects. ,
~~
It would be desirable and quite possible to set
up one or two such sites in the area, preferably at least two,
for a building loses much of its significance if moved too far
from its location, and becomes a mere museum exhibit. The
object of such projects is to maintain an interest in local
history and to attract visitors to different parts of the area.
especially "
This would be defeated by too much centralisation,
<
-146-
by moving objects from Markham and Pickering Townships to a
site within the Metropolitan area.
Certain sites immediately suggest themselves to
anyone familiar with the area. In Markham Township, the most
obvious is the Bruce Mill, the only early flour mill surviving
in anything like its original condition and containing one of
the few mill wheels still in place in Ontario. There is
reason to hope that some arrangement to preserve this mill may
be arrived at before long. The Authority should do all it can
to further this project, either by acquiring the property, or
assisting any other body that may be willing and able to do so.
Another location is to be found at Cedar Grove.
Here there is a long stretch of the beautiful valley of the
Little Rouge, quite unspoiled and surrounded by farmland also
in an unspoiled state. The whole area is of historic interest~
It contains some Indian sites and part of the Rouge Trail. It
was the location of a colony of Mennonites, whose descendants
have retained some of the customs and many relics of their
ancestors. The mill site at Cedar Grove was one of the first
mills on the Rouge. This stood on part of the old Rouge Road.
The mills are now only marked by some embankments, but on the
hill to the north stands the stone house built by Peter Reesor
about 1830, with the frame barn dated 1831. These stand near
the crest of the steep and high bank, looking over the valley.
A little thinning and pruning of the trees would produce
beautiful views. Behind the buildings there is reasonably
level ground, where other buildings could be l~cated. The
house itself is of considerable interest, representing a type
not common in this part of Ontario. It is occupied at present~
and could be restored without excessive cost. The barn is in
even better condition and would serve admirably to house farm
implements and vehicles. Around the house are many fine trees,
some of rather unusual species. The garden to the south needs
only a little pruning and planting to be made most attractive.
-
-147-
Paths could easily be made along the banks through the
woods.
Though the Peter Reesor house would itself make
an admirable pro je ct, it should be combined with a larger
scheme to protect much of the valley and some other items of
historical interest in the vicinity. This might include some
refo resta tion. Another site in Markham Township is the site
of the Milne Mills. As far as the site of the mills them-
selves is concerned, this would be a recreation or flood-con-
trol pro ject, out if the old Milne house on the hill to the
west could be included in the scheme it would preserve a
building of great historic interest. In this case, unfortun-
ately, decay has gone so far as to make the project more
difficult. However, if the house cannot be restored at
reasonable cost, the interior trim, mantles, do 0 r s , sash and
other fittings should be saved and used in a new building.
The grounds of this house might also serve for a museum
village.
In Scarborough Township the most obvious group
of buildings in need of protection are St. Andrews Church,
Bendale, and the adjoining buildings, including some houses
west of the church. The church, with the buildings
immediately surrounding it, is probably not in danger; but
the area around them is definitely threatened. To preserve
what is left of this old "givenU road and the little valley
along which it runs, seems desirable in itself; but this
unique group, which includes the old Mechanics Institute
Library, can be combined with a scheme to preserve the Indian
village site not far off, and incidently the site of one of
the early sawmills. Such a project would form a monument to
the early history and settlement of the township.
There are, of course, a number of alternative
sites in Markham and Scarborough that might be used for this
purpose. There are perhaps fewer obvious sites in Pickering
-148- l
Township, though some could be found where an early building
might be included in an attractive conservation project. One ,
possible site, should it become available, is the stone house
'.
.-
east of Cla remont , in the Eighth Concession, where the artist, "
I
Tom Thomson, was born. This house stands a little south of
the Ninth Concession Line. It dates from around 1850, possibly
a little before, and was built by Thomas Thomson, grandfather i
~
of the artist. It is not much altered and the stone cottage, I
to which Thomas Thomson retired before his grandson was born, '1
is also standing north of the older house, although the :~
~
.~
interior has been removed. These buildings would make the ~
:,~
~
,
nucleus for an historic project. There is a fine view from ,
~
,
the site and a small stream to the east. A good deal of ~
"1
fj
reforestation might be included in the scheme. This house and .
~
~
buildings are not likely to become available immediately, ~
~
possibly not for some time, but the Authority should be on ~
,
!
the alert to acquire them if this becomes possible. I
, ~,
I
!
These schemes are put forward as suggestions ~
i
~
rather than actual recommendations. There are other ~
.
~
activities in this connection that might be carried out by I
\
i
the Authority. Sites of local historic interest should be I
marked, particularly the older mill sites, roads and trails.
The marking of sites of more general historical interest
might be left to the Provincial Government, which has made a
beginning of this work. A study of the area to discover and
record historical material is badly needed and might be
carried out with the assi stance of the Authority. To make a
.
beginning of the preservation of documents, the Authority ,
might acquire two or three steel cabinets (one with a small
safe) and let it be known that papers and some books and
pictures would be welcomed and placed in safekeeping. A
location for these cabinets might be found at little or no
expense to the Authority.
--...--.-- ,~- .__.~.- m___......
":
i
I
1805 1825 1845 1865 1885 1905 1925 1945 I
I
I
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
SCARBOROUGH
I
60,000
50,000 -
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
-0
1195 1815 1835 1855 1815 1895 1915 1935 1955
TOWNSHIP POPULATION
1795 1815 1835 1855 1875 1895 1915 1935 1955
14,000
12,000
10,000 -
-
8,000
6,000
4,000
PICKERING
2,000
-0"""
12,000
I
I
10,000 f---
f---
8,000 f--
f---
6,000
4,000 I
MARKHAM
2,000
-0
1795 1815 1835 1855 1875 1895 1915 1935 1955
TOWNSHIP POPULATION
1815 1835 1855 1815 1895 1915 1935 1955
3,000
MARKHAM
2,000
1,000
0
3,000
PICKERING
2,000
1,000
0
3,000
STOUFFVILLE
2,000
1,000
0
1815 1835 1855 1815 1895 1915 1935 1955
VI LLAGE POPULATION
"""'!I
l
CHAPTER I
THE PHYSICAL FEATURES
The area encompassed by the streams included
in the R.D.H.P. Authority lies chiefly in the townships of
Whitchurch, Markham and Scarborough in York County and in the
to~mships of Uxbridge and Pickering in Ontario County and for
the purposes of this report the whole is defined as a water-
shed.
The watershed has a maximum elevation of about
1,100 feet in the north-east and it reaches a minimum of 245
feet at Lake Ontario. The land features that lie between
these two extremes in elevation are almost entirely the
result of glaciation occurring some 25,000 to 30,000 years
ago.
During this glacial period two separate lobes
)
of ice occupied this portion of Ontario. The one lobe had
its centre in the present Lake Ontario basin, while the other
lay to the north of what is termed the Oak Ridges. The latter,
an extensive belt of sandy and gravelly hills which stretches
from near Orangeville to Rice Lake, is an interlobate moraine
which resulted from an accumulation of material between the
two lobes. A considerable proportion of the interlobate I,
materials is outvJash; the meltwaters from the ice carried
,
heavy loads of sand and gravel which they deposited in the i
,
inter-ice area. ;,
South of the Oak Ridges glacier action resulted
in the formation of a till plain of relatively small relief.
The till is unstratified and composed of ice-ground rock
powder interposed with coarser rock fragments of various sizes.
Subsequently this area was modified greatly through lake action
and stream dissection.
As the Ontario lobe retreated the meltwaters
accumulated between the body of ice and the Oak Ridges" This
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PHYSIOGRAPHY ~
~
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'1
-LEGEND- ~~
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Ii
KAME MORAINE DRUMLlNIZED TILL PLAIN :i
ij
,
BEVELLED TILL PLAIN SAND PLAIN ;)
~
.......... CLAY PLAIN BOULDER PAVEMENTS ~'~""::;')',1
~ BEACHES AND SHORECLlFFS DRUMLINS C) 0 G) 'j
'J
SCALE-M'LES~l
' '" 0 ".,., 'j
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-2-
ponding was re12tively shallow but existed for a long enough
time that the basal till could be modified or covered by
further water-laid deposits.
Continued recession found the ice lying athwart
the St. Lawrence in the vicinity of the Thousand Islands. At
this time the Ontario basin was ice-free but occupied by the
waters of Lake Iroquois, a considerably larger lake than the
present Lake Ontario. Iroquois existed for a long time and
created a well defined shoreline. On the R.D.H.P. Watershed
this shoreline runs from the Scarborough Bluffs to a point
approximately two miles south of Greenwood. Along this shore-
line sandy beaches and offshore bars were built. Further
off shore a layer of clay was deposited in the bottom of the
lake.
With the disappearance of ice from the St.
Lawrence valley the waters of Lake Iroquois receded because of
a lower outlet and the stage was set for the creation of pre-
sent Lake Ontario. The disappearance of ice and water from the
lands of the R.DoH.P. Watershed also allowed normal stream
dissection to take place and the present valleys were subse-
quently formed.
From north to south the lands of the watershed
may be divided into five sections or belts, each of which is
different \rith respect to origin and form. The portion of the
watershed within York County contains all five of these belts,
while that portion lying ,rithin Ontario County possesses only
four.
From the north the five belts are: the 0 a k
Ridges, the Rolling Plain, the Shallow Clay Plain, the Sand
Plain and the Deep Clay Plain.
1. The Oak Ridge~
The Oak Ridges are a series of ridges and
tumbled hills of gravel and sand with few streams and steep
-3-
slopes. This is the source of the Rouge River and the Duffin
Creek. The soil is sandy, well drained, subject to drought
and relatively infertile. Consequently the area is used
chiefly for grazing, forestry and as a source of gravel.
In York County the Oak Ridges takes the form
of a high east-west ridge rising abruptly from the plain to
the south, while in Ontario County it is a jumble of hills
extending from just north of Claremont to the northern
boundary of the watershed.
2. The Rolling Plain
The materials of the Rolling Plain were formed
from rock materials ground up by the ice and then redeposited
subglacially. The region is characterized by low whale-back
hills so distributed that their long axes point in a north-
west to south-east direction. These hills have smooth slopes
suitable for contour ploughing. The south part of this region !
~
is the source of the Highland and Petticoat Creeks. ~
The soil of the area is fertile, loamy and
usually well drained. It is used for general farming but is
susceptible to erosion.
In York County the Shallow Clay Plain forms a
i,Y
deep, broad, eastward-extending embayment in the Rolling Plain
which flanks it on the north, east and south. At the foot of .
the Oak Ridges there is a belt of swamp land which is the
source of some of the tributaries of the rivers. There are
few abrupt slopes and few deep valleys.
In Ontario County the drop from the Oak Ridges
"
to the Sand Plain is twice as steep as that in York County. .
.
For this reason the Rolling Plain is deeply dissected, slopes
are steeper and thus more open to serious erosion. The steep-
sided valleys are usually wooded.
.1
-4-
3. The Shallow Clav Plain
..
The Shallow Clay Plain is much flatt er than the
Rolling Plain but occasionally the underlying materia.l pro-
trudes through its surface veneer to form low hills. The clay
soils are inadequately drained and, where sloping, are subject
to serious erosion. Dairying, beef and general farming are
to be found in the area.
This region is located almost completely in
York County.
4. The Sand Plain
The Rolling Plain is separated from the Sand
Plain by a shore cliff forme d in gla cial time s and the change
from one to the other is startling. The latter area is wild- ,_!
looking, with boulders and sand scattered over the surface.
Trees and scrub cover much of the area. Many shallow gravel
pits have been excavated in the beach deposits left by Lake
Iroquois. The area has also become important for Toronto
suburban development.
The Sand Plain has been deeply dissected,
especially by the Rouge River and Highland Creek whose valleys
are used for recreational purposes.
5. The Deep Clav Plain
The Deep Clay Plain lies entirely in Ontario
County and through it Duffin Creek flows sluggishly from
Pickering to the Lake. Heavy, poorly drained clays predom-
inate. General farming and urban growth are characteristic.
The recent development of the Town of Ajax may be taken as an
example of the latter. The few low hills protruding above
the general level are the best land for agriculture because
of improved soil drainage and a variation in the soil type.
CHAPTER 2
IWI.'RODUCTION
...__._~ ...............
,.,
1. Little Valleys
Soil and water are shared by many people~ The
water of a small stream may flow down a big river many miles
away and the products of the soil may be sold in cities
hundreds or thousands of miles away. The use of the water
and the soil is a local matter. The land of a small community
and the water in a sQall stream are shared by the people of ,
one small valley. Improving soils and streams is a community
project as well as a private program. Therefore a good
starting place for a soil and water conservation program is
in one Little Valley.
Improving one little valley has several ad-
vantages. First, the results can be shown directly, partly
"
in the better production on the land and partly in the better !
,
,
flow in the stream which is shared by all in the valley;
therefore it provides a good demonstration to people in the
whole region. Secondly" the accummulated result of conser-
vation measures is greater when they are applied on neigh-
bouring properties. Thirdly, as new methods are introduced
people get skilled in applying them and can help their
neighbours. Fourthly, people sharing a task are more enthu- ~
siastic than individuals working alone. A fifth advantage I
I
is that some conservation measures require sharing special
equipment, such as grading machinery for healing gullies or
grassing waterways, or pooling labour as in tree planting or
cleaning out a woodlot. These things can be done more effec- j
tively where there is a concentrated effort, especially if
someone is brought in to advise on technical matters.
2. The Selection of the Little Valley
The control of any river system, like the Rouge
or the Duffin, starts at the headwaters with the little
tributaries ~ A demonstration project should be in an area
-6-
which is typical, or nearly so, of conditions found throughout
the larger watershed. How, then, are the little valleys
chosen?
First, they must be in areas where the people
are aware of soil and land use problems and are keen to work
together to do something about them. Then they should contain
a good cross-section of typical conditions, not necessarily
the most extreme problems. Finally, they should be of a
convenient size to work with.
The little valleys chosen to represent typical
conditions and to suggest and denonstrate corrective measures on
the R.D.H~P. are Little ~ouge Creek and Claremont Creek. These
two valleys belong respectively, to the Rou0e River and Duffin
Creek, the two major streams of the R.D.H.P. The former lies
in York and the latter in Ontario, the two counties which
contain the R.D.H.P. The two little valleys also contain two
quite distinct types of land surfaces; in the one case it is
level to gently rolling; in the other it is deeply dissected
and quite hummocky.
It is hoped that the people on the land, the
Conservation Authority and all agencies carrying out scientific
work in land use will co-operate in an effort to extend or
create good land use practices and adopt methods of improving
the soil, checking soil depletion and erosion and husbanding
the water resources of the valleys.
Before a little valley scheme can be inaugurated
it is necessary to make an inventory of the soil and water
resources. Until this is done no fruitful plan of develop-
ment can be made. Such a survey was carried out in the
summer of 1954 by the Conservation Branch and from the findings
certain recommendations are made. The next steps will be to
acquaint the people of the valley with the project and begin
to carry out some of the proposals.
-7-
3. A Description of the Two Valleys
(a) The Little Rouge Creek
Little Rouge Creek embraces, in this Report,
the Little Rouge Creek and all of its tributaries north of
Highway No.7. The main stream rises at 1,000 feet above
sea level in Lot 10, Concession VI, Whitchurch Township, and
reaches the highway ~ mile VTest of Locust Hill at an elevation
of 625 feet.
The stream is 11 miles long, "Jhile the water-
shed itself is approxilnately 9 miles lone by 4 miles wide at
its widest point. It has an area of 21,31S acres and lies
entirely within the boundaries of Markham and vfuitchurch
Townships of York County.
The stream and its tributaries rise on the
southern slope of the ,tOak Ridges". This is the local name
for a series of gravel hills and ridges which extend from
Oran~eville on the west to Rice Lake on the east.
From their sources the stream and its tribu-
taries drop 120 feet in the first half-mile and then flow
across a rolling plain. This plain is characterized by
whale-back hills, the long axes of which lie in a north-west
to south-east directionL
The roll~n~ )lain is terminated on the south-
west by Little Rouge Creek itself. South-west of the Creek
there is a plain, much more level, the surface of which is
composed of clay laid down in the bottom of a shallow post-
glacial lake.
Some idea of the surface of each of these three
physical features can be gained from the fact that the gradient
of the stream is approximately 240 feet per mile on the Oak
Ridges, 40 feet per mile on the rolling plain and about 20
feet per mile on the flat plain.
The Little Rouge Creek is fed by springs on the
side of the Oak aidges and by a broad belt of swamps and
springs in Lots 6 and 7 of Concessions V, VI, VII and VIII,
\fuitchurch Township.
Oz!erllse and misuse oj light land ran produce serious wind erosion and crl'eping
encroachment on neiyhbourin.IJ property, Tn cases ld'e this strong measures arc
railed jar, and the land should be returned to per/nanent vegetation.
; ~
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Class I land, left, and Class II D land, right, may appear the saml' on the surface,
~Vith adl'quate drainage the Class II D land might be treatl'd as Class I land,
The 7'tllleys (ontaii!
differolt f,'inds of land,
each of 'z,'hiclz may
I/eed d iffcr"llt fornl.\'
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of IIse or il/tcnsities of
usc to /'C farJ//ed safel:l'- I
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The valley is 70.5 per cent cultivated,
26.3 per cent uncultivated and 3.2 per cent in residential use.
In 1954 the major crops grown were spring grain (26.5 per cent
of the area), hay (21.3 per cent), pasture (17.8 per cent),
winter grain (12.0 per cent) and woodlots (7.8 per cent).
(b) The Claremont Creek
Claremont Creek is the name given to the
tributary of Duffin Creek which meets the main stream in
Lot 12, Concession VII, Pickering Township. Like Little Rouge
Creek, Claremont Creek also rises in the Oak Ridges; in Lot 1,
Concession III and IV, Uxbridge Township. From the Oak Ridges
the stream and its tributaries flow across a rolling plain
similar to the one to the west.
Though Claremont Creek is only 5 miles long, it
has a total drop of 425 feet, or 85 feet per mile. Due to
this the land surface is deeply dissected by the stream and
its tributaries.
This feature, in part, explains the fact that
only 49.9 per cent of the total area of 6,200 acres is culti-
vated. Here the largest uses are pasture (30.6 per cent of
the total area), spring grain (19.3 per cent), hay (18.2 per
cent), woodlots (12.4 per cent) and winter grain (6.4 per cent~
4. Methods of Survey
The survey was carried out using a combination
of detailed and reconnaissance mapping. The base maps used
for the survey were large-scale aerial photographs. On the p~
graphs cevering Little Rouge.CreekJ survey teams mapped soil
types, drainage, approximate slope and estimated erosion, and
present land use. From this detailed information a Land
Capability Rating was worked out. This rating was then
applied to Claremont Creek on a reconnaissance basis. Later
the mapping of Little Rouge Creek was consolidated into the~
Land Capability Rating.
-9-
5~ Aim.. of This.2.u.rYll. and Ilcport
The primary aid of this survey is the identi-
fication and mapping of land of varying c?pabilities~*
If the residents of the little vall~ can work
together to improve their most important assets, soil and
water, they will provide a valuable demonstration to all other
residents of the R.D.H.P. as to what might be done in the rest
of the watershed.
6~ The Conservation Program
Soil and water are resources in which most
people are vitally interested. The relationship between the
two is a close one; good soil management improves water j
.:-:
resources and good water management improves the fertility
!
of the soil.
Soil kept at its best has a good structure, r
and this is maintained by supplying adequate amounts of organic
material. This organic material~ in turn, acts as a sponge
in absorbing surface water, thus decreasing surface run-off.
Increased moisture in the soil improves fertility and also f
ensures recharge of the ground water. If ground water tables ~
are raised, the flow of springs and streams will be more .~,
;~
permanent and the habitat for fish will be improved. :
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The use of terraces, contour cultivation or
;d
cover crops helps retard from run-off the unabsorbed surface ~li
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water and gives it greater opportunity to soak into the soil. I
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This means that little soil will be carried from the surface :1
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of the fields and deposited in neighbouring fields or in ponds. ~!
11.
The conservation program should not be a series ;rl
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of unrelated efforts on behalf of forests, wildlife, soils and "1
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water. In fact, the proper conservation of forests is bene- aj
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ficial to soil, water and wildlife resources) the proper con- \~
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servation of soil helps water resources and the proper manage- I:
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ment of water is important to soil conservation. "I'
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".- Now that this has been done it is hoped that an even closer ,;~
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correlation of land use to capability will result on the t\~ ,~
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little valleys. This closer relationship should improve ti,
the interrelation of man, soil and water. '~ ~
CHAPTER 3
sOIl&
l. ThE' Soil Profile
The soil is illnCe un of distinct levels called
Ilhorizonslt . These horizons have developed from the inter-
action of climate~ plants and anima.ls on the surface mineral
matter which, in Southern Ontario, is of blacial origin~
Different types of soil are identified by the varying physical
and chemical characteristics of their horizonsc A vertical
section throueh these layers is termed a soil "profile". The
profile extends down to the unweathered and unaltered material
from which the soil above was formed9 This unaltered parent
material is termed the C horizon and generally lies at a
de,th of several feet below the surface. The profile of a
typical well drained soil in Southern Ontario is here described,
Horizon
AO - Decayed vegetation
Al _ Dar~{ broi'!n or gray material - loose, friable,
containing hu~us and mineral naterial.
Slightly acid in reaction.
A2 _ The leached horizon has no humus. The iron,
lime, organic matter and clay have been
washed out, Light gray to yellow in colour
and dusty in texture. Acid in reaction.
B _ This is the zone of deposition in which the
materials washed or leached from the A2
accumulate. r.'iay be acid to slightly alkaline
in reaction. Bro~~ colour and blocky or nut-
like structure. Free lime carbonates are
found at the bottom of the B horizon,
C _ This is the unweathered parent material, The
colour is grayish, and there is no structure
as in the B. Free lime carbonates are found.
Decayed plant material or humus is incorpore.ted
into the topsoil. Acids are formed during the process of
decay and are washed co~m through the soil by the rain. Lime,
iron, organic matter and fine clay particles are leached from
the A2 horizon by the acid solutions and redc?osited in the
B horizon below. The B horizon} a s are s ul t , has a higher
clay content and is dark brown to reddish brown in colour.
Under cultivation the Al and A2 may be mixed together, The
-11-
horizon may be cal:ed the Ac (culti'lated) horizon,
In imperfectly drained soils the Al is deeper
because the humus dues nut break dovm so ra~idly when wet,
Moreover~ when the water table fluctuates near the surface
action of water washing down is not so great. As a result,
A2, or leached layer, tends to be shallower and often is
,entirely absent. When the soil is wet the iron oxides are
chemically reduced and have a blue-gray colour instead of the
characteristic brown colour of a well drained soil, Thus the
subsoil is a blue-gray or a mottled broVll11 and gray.
Catenas, Series and Types*
The origins of the various parent materials of
valleys have already been described, Soils that
formed on the same type of parent material belong to the
"catenavt. The drainage of the soil, however) makes certain
differences in the profile of the soil< A catena usually
contains a well-drained member, an imperfectly drained member
a poorly drained member~ Each member of a catena is named
the location near which it was first identified and des-
e.g~, Cashel, Milliken, King. The well-drained member
of a catena is usually used as the name of the catena.
The genesis of the three distinct physiographic
types within each of the two little valleys has already been
Each of these three regio~s has characteristic
(a) Soils Developed on Water-Deposited Sands
These soils are to be found in and on the flanks "t
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of the Oak Ridges Moraine. They fall into two main groups, f}
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the well-sorted sand and the poorly sorted sand~ Generally il;
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speaking, the well-sorted stratified sands and gravel were ,
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-,- The soil maps of York and Ontario Counties were kindly made
'"
available by the Ontario Soil Survey at the Ontario Agri-
cultural College, Guel ph ~ The terms and names used here
are the same as those used by the Soil Survey and by the '~
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Soils Department at the College when doing extension work ~;
< ~
on farms. -,
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deposited on the ground by meltwater from the glacier. The
poorly sorted sands were deposited by water either on or in the
glacier and were dropped to the land surface when the ice
melted.
The Brighton catena has been formed on the well-
sorted sands whiie the poorly sorted sands are the parent
material for the Pontypool catena.
( b) Soils Formed on Till
Till is the name given to the mixture of sand,
silt and clay deposited under the ice by the forward movement
of a glacier. This material vlas moulded by the ice into long
flutings or whale-back hills which lie in the direction of
ice movement. Till, in 'I.'lhich silt and clay particles predominate,
forms the parent material of the King catena while that in which
sil t, sand and gravel predominate has been the site of the
development of the Woburn catena.
,
These catenas are found in the Rolling Plain in
both the Little Rouge and Claremont Creek valleys.
( c) Soils Formed by Standing Water
In the Little Rouge Creek valley there is a large
area of the Shallow Clay Plain. As explained before, this was
the site of the ponding of melt'l.';ater from the retreating glacier.
As a result, clay was laid down over the till in this area.
Thus the soils found here are predominantly clay but in some
areas where the clay is shallower the subsoil is till. The
chief catena in this area is the Cashel catena.
The following table outlines the chief soil
types found in the two valleys. ~
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TABLE OF SOILS OF LITTLE ROUGE AND CLAREMONT CREEK VALLEYS
Parent Material Catena Series Drainage
well-sorted sands Brighton Brighton Good
Brady Imperfect
Poorly sorted sands Pontypool Pontypool Good
continued
-13-
Table of Soils of Little Rouge~and Claremont Creek Valleys (conta)
Parent Material Catena Series Drainage
Fine-Textured Till King King Good
Monaghan Imperfect
tfudium-Textured Till \Joburn Vloburn Good
Milliken Imperfect
Lyons Poor
Clay underlain by Fine Cashel Cashel Good
Ti,ll Peel Imperfect
Malton Poor
3. Gleizolic Soils
Gleizolic soils are the series of the above-
mentioned catenas which suffer from imperfect or poor drainage.
This may be caused by flatness of the soil surface, impe rmeabili t:
of the soil materials, or a high water table.
Excess of ground water in the soil fills up the
air spaces needed for good plant growth and prevents the escape
of organic acids which in excess are harmful to plants and to
soil organisms. These soil organisms are extremely important
to the soil in that they break up organic matter, help keep,'
soil friable, and make certain minerals such as nitrogen avail-
able to the plant s ~
Gleizolic soils may be recognized by the colour
of their lower horizons. In the imperfectly drained soils the
B horizon may be discoloured by orange and reddish mottlings,
The poorly drained soils may lack an A2 and B horizon and have
in their place a brownish-gray mottled, mineralized layer
topped by a black to dark gray Al horizon containing a large
amount of organic matter.
4. Identification of Erosion
Soil erosion is the removal of the topsoil by
wind or water from the place in which it was formed. In any
soil a certain amount of erosion necessarily takes place under
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natural conditions. However, the amount of topsoil lost by
this geologic erosion is easily replaced by soil-building
activity at lower levels. It is when surface erosion exceeds
the speed of soil building that the situation becomes serious.
On all land this can take place when the soil is cleared of its
vegetation cover and is cultivated.
!
The easiest ~ay to identify erosion is first t;
to find an undisturbed corner of a field or woodlot and there
measure the depth of the topsoil. Then all that is required is
to compare this depth with that of the topsoil in cultivated .,
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fields. In the types of soils found in these valleys a little .)
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dilute hydrochloric acid will indicate the parent material. 'j
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The acid will not fizz when it comes in contact with the top- 11
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soil but will fizz when it is dropped on the lime-rich parent ii
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material. i'o
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5. Soil Descriptions ;n
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(a) The Brighton Catena 'ft
[1
d
Small areas of this type are found at the foot "
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of the Oak Ridges in the Claremont Creek valley. The surface ri
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is smooth to gently sloping and the profile consists of four ~
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inches of dark gray-brown sandy loam over well defined sand ~!
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horizons. The parent material is a gray calcareous sand. The ~~
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chief difficulty with this soil is the droughtiness, due to ~;
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excessive internal drainage, lack of organic matter and the ~ i .
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danger of wind erosion. .~
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(b) r
The Pontypool Catena j:
f!
This is the predominating soil of the Oak Ridges ~
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portions of both valleys. The surface is irregular and steeply ,
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sloping. Like the Brighton it has a four-inch dark grayish .f
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brown Al horizon underlain by well developed A2 and B horizons.
t
The parent material is sand with occasional pockets of gravel.
This soil has the same disabilities as the
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Brighton and too freouent cropping can result in areas of blow
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sand. The chief uses of this soil are for reforestation,
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pasture, potatoes, and some hay and grain.
( c) The King Catena
King clay loam is found mixed with Woburn loam
in the Rolling Plain. It is topped by six inches of grayish-
brown clay loam over a well developed profile. The B horizon
is block~ and chocolate brown in colour.
The chief problem with this soil is water erosion
on sloping land. Spring grains and hay form 63 per cent of the
present land use of the cleared area of King clay in a sample
area of the Little Rouge~8reek. Eighty-seven per cent of this
area is cultivated.
Monaghan clay loam, the imperfectly drained
member of the King catena, is found in depressional areas and
differs from King clay loam in that the B horizon is mottled.
Despite the imperfect drainage 77 per cent of
the cleared fvlonaghan in the sample area is cultivated, vllith 52
per cent in spring grain and hay.
(d) The vvo bnrn C3t elli!:
The prevailing catena on the Rolling Plain in
both valleys is the Woburn catena, Its well-drained member,
Wo burn loam, contains fGW stones and has a six-inch dark brown
loam A horizon over we:l-developed horizons.
Though this scil is closer in texture than the
King clay loam it is still susce~tible to erosion on steeper
slopes. The coarse texture ensures good drainage and makes the
soil ideal for early working in the spring.
Seventy-eight per cent of the sample area of
cleared Woburn is cultivated and 57 per cent of this area is
in spring grain and hay.
The imperfectly drained member of this catena
is Milliken loam which has a very dark bro~~ Al horizon and
mottled A2 and B horizons. Erosion is not a major problem in
this soil and internal drainage, though imperfect, is not
restrictive. As a result its use is almost identical to that
of the Woburn,
-16-
Lyons loam, th2 poorly drained soil type, exhibits
a poor horizon development, a black Al and extrem~ mottling in
the B horizon. It is found in depressional areas of the Rolling
Plain and for satisfactory use renuires artificial drainage.
Only 52 per cent of the clear8d land is cultivated and spring
grain and hay make up only 37 per cent of the cleared land.
Pasture, the major use, occupies 45 per cent of the cleared
portion of this soil.
( e) The Cashel Catena
The Cashel Catena is found chiefly in the shallow
clay plain. Its well-drained member, Cashel clay loam, has a
six-inch Al horizon of very dark grayish-brown clay loam over
well~developed stone-free A2 and B horizons. Gray-bro,^ID till
is found at depths of three feet. On slopes there is some
erosion of this soil type~ Only 79 per cent of the cleared
area is cultivated but a fairly large area (7 per cent of total)
is in intertilled crops such as tomatoes~ Spring grain and hay
make up 52 per cent of the area.
A slightly deeper and darker Al and a mottled
A2 and B indicate Peel clay, the imperfectly drained member of
the catena. The surface is predominantly smooth so that erosion
is not a serious problem, but tile drainage is necessary in
many areas. Eighty-four per cent of the cleared area is cul-
tivated and 54 per cent is in spring grain and hay. Like Cash61,
Peel has an unusually large area in intertilled crops.
Malton clay shows an eight-inch Al horizon of
very dark gray clay over poorly defined and extremely mottled
A2 and B horizons~ It is found in depressional areas and must
be drained for use. Sixty-eight per cent of the cleared area is
cultivated with only 40 per cent in spring grain and hay, but
7 per cent is in intertilled crops.
(f) Bottomlard
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Bottomland designatES de?ositional material
along the streams which has not yet completed the processes of
-17-
soil forrration. Much of it is imperfectly and poorly drained,
It is used chi~fly for pasture, which covers 73 per cent of the
cle3.red area~
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CHAPTER 4
LAND USE
1. Types of Farming, Crops, Ro ta tion
(a ) Types of Farming
The two valleys are in an area of mixed farming
which has been strongly influenced by the nearness of Metro-
poli tan Toran to. Some of the farms are extremely large; the
balance are average for Ontario. The smaller operators carry
on general farming and sell some milk, eggs, ho gs , ca ttle and
tomatoes or potatoes. Some may gain revenue chiefly from the
sale of milk while others are mainly interested in raising
beef cattle. These farmers divide their cultivated land
roughly into 38 per cent spring grain, 31 per cent hay, 16 per
cent winter grain, 6 per cent inter tilled crops and the rest
in fallow and other uses. This distribution seems to indica t<::J
a three-year ro ta tion of hay, spring grain, winter grain,
fallow or intertilled crops.
Superimposed on this system of small farms ar~
the large landowners from the city who possess ample funds
and are able to try new methods of farming on a large scale.
One of these has located in the Little Rouge Creek Valley \/hen;
he raises Hereford cattle. The predominant land uses on this
establishment ere pasture, hay and spring grain.
Another effect of fuetropolitan Toronto is the
building of houses on lots along the roads. These lots are
sold by the farmers to people wanting the advantages of
country living along with jobs in the city.
2. The Importance of Q Study of Land Use
It may be said that there is not much point in
mapping and recording the present land use of an area because it
will all be changed in succeeding years. However, most farm
operators recognize limitations of slope, erosibility, tex tur to
and f8r tili ty . Thus, if an operator hos level land and steep
land he will not normally put intertilled crops on the slope
while he grows hay on the level land. The present land use
-19-
picture shows, for a small valley, the types of crop most
farmers favour for a certain soil type with a given slope.
This reflects either one or both of two things: an adaptation
of crop to land capability, or an adaptation of crop to the
prevailing economic system. The latter mayor may not be
in harmony with the land. If it is not, soil problems may
become many and acute. From the results of a present land
use survey a land use capability rating may be drawn up to fit
the area. For instance,if a soil type with a certain slope
and erosion is used by a majority of operators for 50 per cent
hay, 25 per cent spring grain and 25 per cent winter grain
then the reco:nmended use for that partic~lar type of soil
would be a fou~-year rotation with two yeurs iYl hay and two
. .
1n g:'cl:1n,
Of ~ourse, when an operator1s best land is
worse than ano+-,her operator's worst laud. t~8re can be a too
intensi"le use of poor land in one case and not intensive enough
use of good l~J.d in the other. However, cases like this are
rare and on marlY fa:~rrs a slight rearrangeLlent of land use may
benefit both so:.l and water. The am~unt of erosion resulting
from the c~ltivation of the major c~cps increases in the
f ollQVli.:1g ordeY': hQ:r~ wi.nter grain~ spring grain, fallow,
intertilled c~ors.
3. rresp.!lL~~,~g Use.
1'1::e follO'.J:5.ng table sU1'!;marizes the use of the
land in the two valleys in the crop season of 19540
From the figures it may be seen that on the
average there is a three-year rotation with one year hay,
one year spring grain, one year either winter grain, fallow
or intertilled crops, with the frequency of winter grain twice
every 12 years and intertilled crops and fallow once every
12 years each.
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This short rotation is sufficient for the level
land of the valleys but a longer-term rotation with more soil-
building and erosion-preventing crops is necessary on the
steeper slopes.
PRESENT LAND USE ON LITTLE ROUGE AND CLAREMONT CREEK VALLEYS
Little Rouge Claremont Total
I Use Creek Creek
Ac-.res % Aores % Acres %
Intertilled
Crops
(mostly toma toes
and po ta toes) 872 4.1 178 2.9 1,050. 3.8
Fallow 1,236 5.8 176 2.8 1,412 5.2
Spring Grain 5,646 26.5 1,191 19.4 6,837 24.9
Winter Grain.
(whea t ) 2,545 12.0 396 6.4 2 , 941 10.7
Hay 4,547 21.3 1,119 18.3 5,666 20.6
P9sture 3,804 17.8 1,885 30.7 5,689 20.7
Woodland 1,660 7.8 763 12.4 2,423 808
Built-up areas 659 3.1 299 4.6 958 3.5
Idle 140 .7 140 2.2 280 1.0
I o th e r 209 .9 17 .3 226 .8
To ta 1 21,318 100.0 6,164 100.0 27,482 100.0
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CHAPTER 5
CONSERVATION PRACTICE~
1. Soil Conservation ~
Soil conservation is the best use of the land
for the greatest advantage of all of the people on the land for
all time.
Intensive use of low-capability land will deplete ,"
its fertility and increase the danger of era sion. At the same
time less intensive use of high-capability land is wasteful,
though sometimes necessary.
2. Soil Fertility and Organic Content
.
Organic content of the soil is important because ,
it increases the ability to hold water and because it makes the j
soil better able to hold and release mineral nutrients for i
plant use.
High fertility levels not only give greater crop
return for the same amount of effort but indirectly improve -I
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or maintain the organic content because, with higher yields
of crops, more residue is returned to the soil.
3. Erosion
When water or wind removes some of the soil it
is called erosion. Before cultivation exposed the soil by
removing the vegetation, wind erosion was rare and water erosion
only slight. The soil-building processes merely developed
deeper to make up for what had been lost. Since the soil has
been cultivated the rate of erosion has been speeded up. It is
this accelerated erosion which is referred to as llerosion" in
00 il conservation.
The question of erosion is always connected with
that of water loss. If water penetrates the soil it cannot run
overland and erode soil on slopes, or conversely, if ero si on L:;
checked there will be more penetration of water into the soil.
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The holding of vTater is jus t as important as holding the soil.
Control of run-off means control of erosion; one ne ce ssarily
involves the other. Erosion-exposed parent material can some-
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times be successfully cropped. But it nearly always is much E
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poorer and of tell is practically worthless for some crops. e
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The susceptibility of a soil to erosion is
dependent upon a combination of factors. Not only is the
amount of run-off important but also its velocity. The latter
l
depends upon both the nature of the slope and the vegetative I
cover protecting the soil.
Soil bared by cultivation is exposed to the fj,
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maximum effort of eroding water. lntertilled crops such as ~
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corn provide very little protection. Dri lled crops, such as U
i
the grains, impede run-off to a slightly greater extent. Al- I
most complete protection is afforded only by a permanent sod ~
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or tree cover. Grass, in most cases, appears to be as d
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,it
effective as trees in holding soil. The average results of a t
thousand measurements in the United States show that under the .~
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exposure of clean tillage and fallow, soil is lost at a rate .'~.
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nearly 100 times as rapidly as from corresponding areas safe-
guarded with a dense cover of vegetation, and that nearly seven
times as much of the rainfall is lost as run-off from cultivated ~
land as from land protected wi th vegetation. Observations made J
in Ontario at Ottawa and New Hamburg confirm these conclusions.
t
Obviously the greater the slope, the greater
will be the run-off and erosion. The length of the slope is I
also important. Long smooth slopes are more susceptible to
soil wash than are short hummocky ones. .(
There are several soil characteristics that i
t
influence the ease with which water can penetrate a soil.
Coarse sandy and gravelly materials are extremely pervious to
water and, if all other factors are constant, will not wash or ~
gully as seriously as will a heavy clay. Sands, however, are ~
more subject to wind erosion. The higher the organic content ,~
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of a soil, the greater the downward percolation of water. If
the friable organic topsoil is lost a heavy B horizon with a
high clay content may be exposed at the surface. Tillage is
rendered more difficult and water penetration is impeded. At
the same time the loss of organic matter and consequent water-
holding capacity increases the hazard of drought.
The part played by groundhogs in erosion should
not be overlooked. In addition to impeding the use of imple-
ments with their burrows and mounds, they bring loose earth
to the surface where it is subject to wind and water erosion.
The destruction of vegetative cover around the burrow facilitates
soil wash. The burrow may also provide the starting point i.n
the development of a gully.
The soil in this area has now been exposed by
cultivation for about a century. Only a small percentage has,
as yet, undergone really severe erosion. Considerable wash
has taken place on all sloping land, however. Looking to the
future, one realizes on the basis of past experience that,
unless adequate protection is provided, wi thin the next lOO
years a large part of the valuable agricultural land is going
to be very seriously impoverished by this insidious process.
4. Estimating Erosion
The most obvious evidence of erosion is in
gullies. These, however, represent the most advanced stage
and it is obvious that a great deal of sheet erosion ( so i 1
wash) must have occurred before the gullies formed. Small
gullies, or rills, are easy to see in the spring or during
heavy summer storms in fallow fields or on slopes sown to
intertilled crops. Because they are obscured by tillage
implements the rills tend to be forgotten. They are, neverthe-
le ss , certain evidence that erosion is taking place.
The effect of erosion is clearly seen in the poor
crop response, due to drought, on eroded spots on knolls or
on the sides of hills. If severe soil wash has taken place,
I
~
~
a
Frofile of iIllPerfecl(\' drain- F,
I'd Millikeil loalll. The dark f
l
haild of the H hori'::oll IS
clearly seeil, 7.L,ith the hyhtN ..
col()l(rcd L"L ahm'e it and the i
I'areilt lIlaterial helmL'. This !
~
trofi!e illustrates thc depth ~
of soil that lIlay Ilc relllo'l'cd !
7.c'h e iI crOS101l IS iilto the
pareilt materia!. I
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,
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,
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1
E'llcn allllost levcl laild lIlay hc
sui) jcct to 7.mtcr 7.L'ash.
Cultivation up aild dmt'n the slope aild unprotected 7.l'ater-
7.L'ays CIlil lead to serious soil erosioll aild ullProductive lalld
-24-
patches of gray C horizon may be exposed at the surface. When
ploughed, patches of this lighter-coloured grayish material
will be visible on the steeper slopes. In areas where this is
seen other superficial evidences are usually available. These
include the piling up of sediment at the bottom of a hill,
accumulation of soil on the uphill side of a fencerow and
cutting away of soil on the downhill side.
To get a more certain determination of erosion
the soil profile must be examined. In an area of one type of
soil it is possible to get a fair sample of the soil in old
woodlots or along old fence lines. The horizons of an undis-
turbed profile can thus be examined. Such a profile, for
instanc e , may exhibit one foot of topsoil (AI and A2) and two
feet of subsoil," On an adjacent cultivated slope on which
erosion is suspected, subsoil may be recognized under 6 inches
of A horizon. It is safe to assume that sonEthing like 6 inches
of topsoil have been eroded away. In a more serious case one
might find the subsoil exposed at the surface, and the C horizon
or parent material at a depth of only 12 inches. All of the
topsoil and one-half of the sub-soil have been er'oded.
If the recognition of horizons by colour or
texture is difficults a simple chemical test can be used. It
has been shown that there are, characteristically, no free lime
carbonates in the topsoil or subsoil but that they exist in
the parent material. A dilute solution of hydrochloric acid
gives effervescence with lime carbonate. In an undisturbed
profile it may be possible to get a fizz at three feet, but on
an eroded site at two feet. It is then estimated that one foot
of the original soil has been eroded away. If the surface soil
is a grayish colour and effervesces vrith acid, all topsoil and
subsoil have been removed.
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-25-
5. CroE Rotations and Cover Crops
A crop rotation means following a regular
sequence of crops on a field with the same sequence repeated
every three or more years. Cover crops are those crops which t
are planted mainly for the purpose of protecting or re-
1
bu i lding the so il.
The need for building up soil, keeping fields
clean, adding nitrogen and making the best use of soil nutrient,~
~
is fairly well tmderstood and these measures are commonly
pra cti sed.
This system of farming has two advantages: one
is directly related to yields and quality, the other advantage
is related to building and protecting the soil, Repeating I
certain crop and tillage practices rapidly depletes the soil ~
nutrient s, destroys its tilth, reduces organic content and e
~
exposes it to erosion. ~
f
The advantages of a rotation system include: ~
,.
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the drawing of plant nutrients from different levels) th e use -t
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of deep-rooted crops to bring up nutrients from lower levels, i
addition of fibre by ploughing-under crop waste, and improve- j
I
ment of tilth by alternative systems of tillage~
1
In thi s report, in which conservation is being
I
stressed, the value of crop rotations and cover crops depends i
I
on their ability to rebuild the soil, protect it from erosion,
f
maintain organic matter, add nitrogen and keep the soil in
good tilth". The soil is required not only to provide a good !
medium for the roots of plants and a generous supply of
nut rient s, but should be the best possible medium for absorbing I
I
and retaining moisture.
Crop rotations and cover crops, therefore,
become one of the most important tools of the conservationist.
Crops may be classed as soil-building (the grasses and the
legumes) and so il-depleti ng (grain, corn and root crops) . Of
the latter the intertilled or hoe crops, corn, beans and roots;
-26-
exhaust the soil most rapidly and expose it the most to
erosion and droughto The conservation farm planner arranges tho
era pping systems fi eld by field, so t ha t the land of lower
capability, subject to erosion, has more of th e soil-building
and less of the soil-consuming crops. Lffild subject to serious
erosion has the hoe crops excluded from it almost entirely.
To get the greatest advantage of this sy stem,
the farm must be carefully planned, so that the land of highest
capability is able to carry the necessary amount of grain, corn
and ro ot s. Wise use of the best land is, th ere fore, an important
feature of conservation.
In extending a rotation from, say, three years
to five years, so that there are three years of soil-building
crops and only two years of grain or co rn, the proportion of
grain or corn on the farm may be much lower. The yields,
however, may be higher per acre because the soil is in better
condition.
Extended rotations and the use of cover crops
such as winter rye ,following summer ploughing, keep the soil
under a protective covering throughout that time of the year
in which erosion is most serious.
6. IE.~proved Pasture
A long-term improved pastu~e is one which is
seeded to grasses and legumes &ld left for five years or more.
It may be renewed by reseeding with or without the use of a
nurse crop such as oats. Actual production of field crops
is eliminated or kept to a minimum. Thus, the soil is kept
under protective cover at all times and is carrying soil-
building crops, namely grasses and legumes.
Too much stress cannot be put on the use of
good pasture. In both beef and milk production, the grass of
the field is the basis of the largest part of production. The
carrying capacity in animals per acre or the yields, in tons of
. .'
-27.-
forage, pounds of meat, or ~;a lions of milk, can be increased
very considerably over what is commonly accepted as ordinary
pasture. Pasture should never be considered as merely a lesser
use of land but mlould be considered as a crop which gives
generous returns for the capital and labour put into it" The
improvement of pastures for the sake of higher production is
being carried out, in many instances, strictly for economic
reasons - chiefly the shortage of labour.
There is no need to dwell on this aspect of
pasture in a report on conservation, but the importance of
pasture to c;ontrol erosion and to improve the moisture relatiolls
is overlooked and needs to be stressed here. Grasses and
legQmes rebuild the organic matter in the soil, prote ct it al-
most completely against erosion, and do as much as any other
Ire asure in making the rainfall go into the soil so that it is
protected from droughto Ground-water levels of water are thus
maintained to the advantage of springs and streams.
Specific recommendations for the preparation and
seeding of pastures can be obtained from bulletins distributed
by the Department of Agriculturec Soil tests and application
of fertilizer are just as important as they are for any field
crop or cash crop.. A point which has been overlooked has been
the use of improved pastures on land of lower capability. They
may g:. ve as good a return in grazing as th e best fi elds and tl1 e
best land and, at the same time} protect the soil.
Management of pasture after seeding and in the
years before it is renovated is extremely important, not only
to maintain production but to get the best return from the
initial expense in working, seeding and applying fertilizer.
Repeated clipping of pastures is an important
feature of pasture management because it ke eps the turf thick
to give protection to the soil, keeps down weeds and maintains
the grass in the most palatable and nutritious condition.
Another feature of pasture management is applying
fertilizer" This may be in the form of a dressing of manure or
-2$-
the application of a commercial fertilizer, particularly those
high in phosphates. Ocaasionally raking a pasture to spread
out the animal droppings makes the pasture more agreeable to the
animals and makes the best use of their droppings for
ferti lizer.
VJhere possible, it is an advantage to rotate
the herd in a pasture so that a fevl acres are grazed intensively
while other acres are recovering their growth. This may be
done by using electric fencing, and about the only limit to
this practice is the availability of water for the stock. With
respect to the watering and the location of salt licks, they
should be arranged, particularly in hilly country, so that
cattle do not follow the same path regularly, for such paths
can soon turn into gullies.
In good pasture management, the animals are not
left out to the very last thing in the fall. If the grass is
allowed to grow a bit before frost comes, the soil is better
protected during the winter and the grass gets off to a better
start in the spring. Grazing thus sacrificed late in the year
can be made up for by browsing on wint er grain or by use of
silage or other fodder.
7. Contour Cultivation and Strip-Cropping
Strip-cropping on the contour consists of laying
out row crops (grain, corn and roots) with al ternate strips of
close-growing crops (grass and legumes), with all strips laid
out at right angles to the slope, or non the levelll. Contour
cultivation is a simplified method in which a field may be sown
to one crop, but cultivation is all done around the hill rather
than up and dovm the slope.
Soil wash, rills and gullies show obvious
evidence of soil erosion. Wheel tracks, furrows and drill rows
tend to concentrate overland flow of water. Not only is
valuable topsoil lost and the field scarred by gullies, but I
rainfall which might have replenished soil moisture and recharged
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Slopes such as this (lrc casily culti'vated 011 the cOlltour. Contour cultivation on land jjl
suited to it helPs reducc erosioll alld 'i.L'ater rUil-off. promotcs grmtcr yields and d
sm'cs time and fuel. .~
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011 land li/?e this, cultivation 011 the contour may be impractical. Exteildcd rotatioils
".ill aid in the eliminatioil of soil loss and provide the h//IlluS the soil requires.
1 , ~
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- -. ". .".- ~._"'-
-29-
ground-water levels is lost. The eroded soil is less able to
absorb moisture and the results are seen in drought and lower
yields.
Each furrow on the contour acts as a little dam.
Water is induced to go into the land and leave the soil in
place. There are no erosion scars to be worked over and the
soil keeps its tilth, its moisture and its productivity.
Where there are strips of grassland alternating
with fallow, drilled or hoe crops, a further check is provided.
If any soil or water is washed from exposed soil it is trapped
by the grass on the sod strip. The soil under the sod does not
become sealed and compacted by the impact of rain, and
moisture can go into the soil more easily.
(
The increased yields, measured in dollars and
cents, due to more moisture, better soil and greater fertility,
are not the only benefits of this kind of farming. Ease of
operation and lower fuel costs for power make it a worthwhile
system. Yields have been proven to increase 10 per cent, all
other things being equal, by contour cultivation, due mainly
to better use of moisture. Fuel costs in tests have shown 17
per cent savings in working on the contour.
S. Terraces
Terraces are broad, shallow ditches running
across a slope with side grades gentle enough to allow imple- ;
i
men ts to work over them. They may be cultivated or left in
gra ss . Their purpose is to break a long or steep slope so that
overland flow of water down the slope is checked, forced to
penetrate the ground, and the surplus is diverted at lower
speed acro ss the slope. They have a slight downhill gradient,
just enough to carry the water away. They empty surface water
into a watercourse or structure in Which it can be carried safely
away.
Terraces prevent serious ero si on on lower slopes
where water otherwise attains great velocity and erosive power.
~...
-30-
They get more water into the ground. Terraces deliver heavy
flows of water harmle ssly to natural waterways.
Terraces may be combined lNl th contour strips and
or may stand on their own. Once a long slope has been
into two short ones by means of a terrace, there ma. y
be no need to carry out other intensive practices of contouring.
Some broad-based terraces for diverting run-off
have been built in Ontario, using special equipment such as a
road scraper or an implement called a Whirlwind Terracer. A
few demonstrations of terraces should be arranged by the
AuthoritY9 using these methods. Actua 11y, they can be con-
structed with a farmer t sown equipmen t, such as tractors nnd
ploughs or di sc tillers. Once a few farmers in a district
oove learned the technique of making them, and any good
ploughman can do so, all that is necessary is a little technical
assistance in laying them out with a level and some consider-
ation of the amount of water they may be expected to carry.
Once established, terraces must be checked for
faults or failures and must be properly maintained. Pro-
nounced low spots should be filled in and the flow of water
kept uniform. Cultivation is on the contour. Any sediment that
collects in the trough is turned upwards to the rim by
ploughing.
,I
Before terraces are const ructed, a safe outlet ' it
I
must be provided. In many cases this will be a permanently !
.
'I
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grassed waterway. Meadowland or woodlots which resist erosion il
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can be useful discharge places for surplus water. ;' 1 ~
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9. Grassed Waterways .q
,
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A grassed waterway may be a natural intermittent 1
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watercourse '\'lhich is left in sod or seeded to grass, 1
or may '1
\1
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be specially graded to receive overflow and seeded to grass. "
.,
The simplest grassed lmterway is established by
tripping implements as they cross the sod on a watercourse
-31-
when the hay or pasture in a field is being disced or ploughed
under.
A grassed waterway may be established by grading
or filling in a gully" If this is done, care must be taken to
prepare a good seed bed by thorough cultivation, ferti Ii zing.
and packing.
The grasses used should be those which form a
iliick mat and will lie flat under running water. Kentucky
blue grass is successful on rich soils. Timothy is adaptable
to a wide range of soil conditions, but is a bunch grass and
must be used with other grasses such as red top~ Brome grass
with its deep roots is suitable for deep, ferti le soils. Reed
canary grass will grow in poorly drained soils as in a deep,
well define d waterway, but should not be used on well-drained
soils because its dense growth collects soil and dams up the
\'iater.
It is important in establishing grass waterways
to get a good dense sod as soon as possible. If this cannot
be done, a cover crop, sudan grass, oats or rye, may be seeded
to give protection until a more permanent turf is established.
In some cases it may be necessary to protect the so i 1 wi t h a
mulch of straw manure, straw or wood chips.
Grassed waterways stop erosion, make better use
of water and ensure delivery of clear water into the streams~
A further advantage is that they may produce a good stand of
hay year after year. For this purpose, it is wise to have
gentle slopes which can be worked, and a width sufficient to
allow a mower to go down and up the waterway.
10. Gully Control
Gully control may be achieved by vegetative or
me chanical methods or a combinat ion of bot h. They hinder
cultivation of the land, allow water to run off rapidly, and
their formation often is the cause of silting of good fields
lower do,m"
-32-
,
There are three ways in which a gully may be
controlled: ,j.
First, by a series of check dams. These make :1
the water ~'lalk instead of run. Gullies serious enough for 'I
this treatment are not common on the R.D.H.P. \'fatersheds.
The second method is by diverting the water to "
some other channel by means of a di ke, terrace or dit ch. By .j,
this method water is diverted from the head of the gully before :,
it reaches it) and is carried off on a gentle gradient for .1
;!
safe delivery elsewhere. When so treated a gully may be filled 'i
.1
and cultivation alloV"led acro ss it. This method may be worked Ii
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into the farm plan, along with contour culti vation, terraces \1;
\:
and gra ssed waterways. ,~
IIi
The third method is to conduct the water safely ~
down a channel and spread it out so that it do es not attain (I
erosive velocities. In small gullies, the sides may be
ploughed in and the channel shaped and treated as a grassed I
waterway. For small gullies, this is the most effective and
least expensive of the three methods. More serious gullies may
call for a combination of all three.
I!
Gullies cannot be controlled by filling them '
with garbage, old machinery and other trash. These create an
~esore on the farm and the erosion still continues underneath
the pile of debris. ;
11. Drainage
Artificial drainage is the removal of the surplus
~ater on the surface or within the soil to root depth and its
redistribution to a channel whore it does not in.terfere with !
,
top growth. This is the most widely practised conservation '
measure at the present time. It has two advantages: it makes
soils of high inherent fertility capable of carrying the full
range of crops that are carried on the well-drained soils of
the regiono It has a further advantage of creating storage
!
-33-
capacity for moisture within the soil. A water-logged soil
cannot store excess precipitation either of a heavy rain or of
the spring tha\'l ~ Open drains are effective for the removal of
wrface water and as outlets for tileo Any problems connected
with drainage are largely those of ditch maintenance. A ditch
built with gentle slopes and well spread spotl banks may be a
:..it tIe more expensive to build, but the cost of rraintenance is
lllt:ch lower and it remains effecti ve for a long er time ~ Gentle
banks with slopes as low as one in three do not slump in or
erode as badly as steep slopes. Vegetation which may plug a
ditch can be controlled in a gentle slope by using a moweru
The bank and spoil, if they are smoothed out, can be made
useful for hay, rather than wasted land if they are left rough.
Under-drainage by tile is, as was noted above,
beneficial in two ways~ tile at depths of two to four feet
creates storage capacity for water in the soil and allows the
j,
penetration of roots to those depths into the open soil. I,
warm, J
Some tile systems may be inadequate, but rather than add tile ,
!
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more closely spaced, much can be done to improve the natural
drainage of the soil by using deep-rooted crops which improve
the structure of the soil and allow the water to move through
it.
Strangely enough, poorly drained soils can be-
come seriously subject to drought 0 Crops in the early wet part
of the season cannot root deeply. In the hot, dry season,
moisture does not move readily upwards in the characteristically
massive: poorly drained soils and the shallow-rooted crops
suffer from droughto
The faults found in a tile drainage sy st em are
usually associated with inadequate or poorly constructed outlets.
To provide good outlets, the last few feet of drain should be of
vitrified tile or corrugated metal pipe extended a few feet out
into the ditch or stream. A head wall will prevent cutting back I
'i
and an apron will prevent scouring and ero sion of a gully by tho
-34-
water issuing from the outlet. Surface water should not be
allowed to concentrate and discharge over the tile as this vdll
cause a gully. A simple hinged gate permeable to water should
hang over the outlet to exclude animals which may otherwise
climb up the tile and plug it.
i
There is some land on the watershed which is
,
,
poorly drained and on which it would not be economical or
possible, for one reason or another, to establish drainage.
The best use of this land can be made by establishing hay and
pasture mixtures of species tolerant of wet conditions. Reed I
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canary grass is one such grass. Thus, poorly drained areas now I'
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covered only by ,rillow scrub and sedges, which offer a refuge I;
for cattle during the dro ught season but which produce very
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little, may be ~ade to yield a good production. Grasses t,
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tolerant of very wet conditions, which can compete successfully U
t j
with sedges, are usually quite succulent but tend to grow rank, .
ooarse and unpalatable. To ke ep them in good co nd i tion for
use later in the season, they need to be clipped to keep the 1
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grolJlTth firm, succulent and palatable for the cattle when they
need this grazing. Thus, these lands can be used to good J
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advantage to relieve the pastures on the better drained lands
of overgrazing during the dry season and better use is being
made of the moisture which is stored in these wet locations. I I '; ~
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12. Farm Ponds
Small swampy or springy areas on farms which I
.,
, ,
constitute water-storage areas should be protected and shaded
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by trees. To make use of the water for stock watering, ponds, i (.,
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properly constructed, will give ample use of water and preserve :i.
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natural storage 0 Indeed, some old springs which are now merely it
.,.:
areas of seepage might be restored by tree-planting and pro- o! j:
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tecting the moist area from cattle or soil wash from eroded "
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slopes. ; ~
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Farm ponds are a useful conservation practice.
,
The water stored in a farm pond will provide water for livestock,
,
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A Pleasing examPle 0.1 a small pond, in this case one of the by-pass type. Ponds lil~e
this, with the spoil graded back, and properly fenccd, can provide recreational OIld
stocl~-7.l'l1terinrJ facilities and, dependinrJ 011 the location, fire protection. l'
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-35-
fire protection, orchard spraying, garden or field irrigation,
fish production, recreation and a breeding place for wildlife.
Farm ponds should be properly planned and con-
structed if they are to fill their intended purpose and certain
basic principles of design and construction must be followed.
A descriptive bulletin on fann ponds is available from the
R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority.
13. The Run-Off Cycle
The run-off cycle is the cycle of water movement
from evaporation, through water vapour in the air and preci-
pitation, to run-off and ground water. When precipitation falls
there are two destinations for the water. It may run off the
surface or it may percolate through the soil to the ground water.
Eventually, of course, the water reaches a stream either way.
If the water runs off the surface it runs off only during the
precipitation. Thus, the soil is eroded and saturated during
rains and dried out during dry periods. If the water percolates
down through the soil to the ground water it is held in the
roil and let out slowly to streams, causing them to have a more
even flow. At the same time, the water in the soil is available
for plants.
14. Summary
All of the above-mentioned conservation
measures except drainage and farm ponds are important in that
they hinder surface run-off and promote percolation of water
into the soil. The increase of moisture in the soil aids
plant growth through dry periods and makes plant nutrients
available to plants in the only form in which plants can use
them, in soluti on. An increase in plant growth incr€ases the
amount of organic material available to the soil. In turn, the
organic material acts as a sponge to hold more \"ater and thus
~rovents run-0ff.
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-36- ~,
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Drainage increases the ability of imperfectly
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drained soils to hold water and thus decreases the amount of ;~
j. !
run-off. Ponds, on the other hand, store water that has found ,j
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its way into streams and they help raise the ground water table. ,
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CHAPTER 6
LAND USE CAPABILITY
The Land Use Capability Classification
To plan the use of land for a soil and water
conservation program, it is necessary first to classify it in
terms of its use capability. The system of classification
which has been used here was devised by the Soil Conservation
Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. This
same system has been adopted by the Soil Advisory Service of
the Soils Department of the Ontario Agricultural College in
laying out plans for conservation farming on individual farms.
i1River Valley Development is the wise use of all
the natural resources of a river valley fo r all the people
li ving in that valley for all time n. With respect to the soil
and agricultural use this means adopting crops and tillage
methods which will get the most out of the soil without
destroying its fertility, it s a bilit y to absorb and hold
moisture, or allowing it to erode.
The capability of the soil is rated in three
main groups a s follows:
A - Suitable for Cultivation
B - Suitable only for Occasional Cultivation
C - Suitable only for Permanent Vegetation
The features which downgrade the soil are low
inherent fertility or droughtiness, slope and susceptibility
to erosion and water loss, inadequate drainage, and
boulderiness and rough topography which limit the use of
tillage implements. These were observed in the sample area
mentioned in a previous chapter.
The three main groups are divided as follows:
A - Suitable for Cultivation
CIa ss I - Without any special practices over
and above good farming
Class II - With moderate restrictions in use
or simple practices
-38-
Class III - With severe restrictions in use
or intensive practices
B - Suitable Only for Occasional Cultivation
CIa ss IV - With limited use and intensive practices
..
C ~ Suitable Only for Permanent Vegetation r
~
Class V - With no special restrictions or
special practices
CIa ss VI - With some restrictions in use or
special practices
Class VII - With severe restrictions in use
or special practi ces
Recommended Land Use Classes according to Use Capability
The land use capability classes may be con-
verted into classes of recommended use by indicating which
s~cial practices and restrictions are required to adapt the
of the land to its capability. The recommended classes
indicated by adding the symbols C, R or D to capability
classes II and III, and T or P to Class IV.
The recommended Class C applies to land whose
capability is reduced by erosion (or susceptibility to
erosion) which can be corrected by mechanical means, that is,
oontour tillage, diversion terraces, strip-cropping, buffer
strips and the like. (Qontour tillage is the most easily
recognized, and hence the use of the letter C to designate this
type.)
Land subject to erosion, drought or fertility
depletion which calls for vegetative methods of control or
restrictions in use is indicated by the letter R. Wet land
whose productivity can be improved by artificial Qrainage is
indicated by the letter D. Class II D requires simple
practices such as field drains and III D requires tile drain-
age or, if left in its natural state, is seriously restricted
in it s use.
Class IV land which is too rough or eroded to
be put under regular rotation is indicated as IV T. Land
which is too wet for regular rotations and on which artificial
drainage is not feasible is indicated as IV P.
Land Class I I R re-
qUI res watercourse
manauelnent and. us-
ually. lon[JC'r rotations.
Topouraphically Sli 11I-
lnr to Class I land,
Class Il n land re-
quires imprmJed draill-
aue to mal;:e it more
productive.
i
I
!
i
On Class III land sheet 'wash may become serious and result in Hnproduc- I
ti've land. The incorporation of organic material. the use of extended rota-
tions and elimination of hoe crops can help tn'7'ent this sort of thinu.
~
-39-
3. Land Use Classes
(a) Land Class I
This class is found only on the Little Rouge
Creek where it comprises about 14 per cent of the valley. It
occurs chiefly on Hoburn loam or Cashel clay in the Shallow
Clay Plain where slopes are between 0 and 2 per cent and there
is little or no erosion. It may be freely cultivated in any
regular rotation with no special practices over and above
what is now understood in the area to be good farming.
(b) Land Class II C
Hoburn loam and King clay loam are the
principal soils on which this class is found. The smooth
flanks of the whale-back hills of the Rolling Plain are ideal
for conservation practices which require long smooth slopes of
from 2 to 6 per cent. Only 3.8 per cent of Little Rouge Creek
and 4.3 per cent of Claremont Creek are in this class. Contour
cultivation, strip-cropping and diversion terraces are recom-
mended for these slopes.
( c ) Land Class II R
Thirty per cent of Little Rouge Creek and 31 per i
cent of Claremont Creek are in the II R land. This is hummocky
land with slopes ranging from 2 to 7 per cent and is unsuitable
for contour cultivation. iJoburn loam and King clay loam are
the chief soils in this class, but gently sloping Pontypool
and Brighton suffering from low inherent fertility have also
been included. Extended rotations, winter cover crops and
restrictions on intertilled crops on the steeper slopes are
the practices recommended for this class.
(d) Land Class II D
Most level, imperfectly drained land and a
little poorly drained land have been classed as II D land. The
principal soils are Peel and Milliken. Simple methods of field
drainage are necessary. The greater flatness of the Little
Rouge Creek is shown by the fact that this class covers 27 per
cent of this valley and only 7.6 per cent of Claremont Creek.
~
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-40-
( e) Land Class III C
With slightly steeper slopes than II C but on
t he same so i 1 s , this class requires intensive control measures
such as contour tillage, strip-cropping, diversion terraces
and grassed waterways. Only 2.0 per cent of Little Rouge and
2.4 per cent of Claremont are in this type.
( f) Land Class III R
This land type is found on moderately eroded
Brighton, Pontypool and Woburn in the Oak Ridges area. The
topography is hummocky and slopes range from 7 to l5 per cent.
Twenty per cent of the land in the Claremont Creek is in III R
as compared to 4.4 per cent for the Little Rouge.
Intensive vegetative conservation measures
are suggested. These measures include long-term rotations
with 3 or 4 years of soil-building grasses and legumes and one
~ar in corn,roots or, preferably, grain. Winter cover crops
should be grown on exposed slopes.
(g) Land Class III D
Malton and Lyons soil types are the location of
this class 'Vrhich makes up 4.7 per cent of Little Rouge and 8 per
cent of Claremont. In this class outlets are available for
drainage but the cost would be high.
( h) Land Class IV T
Smooth slopes of over 10 per cent and all slopes
of more than 15 per cent should be sown to permanent pasture
mth reseeding being the only time at which the sod should be
broken. Class IV T covers 2.2 per cent of Little Rouge and 1,1.6
per cent of Claremont Creek.
(i) Land Class IV P
This type comprises only .5 per cent of Little
Rouge and .3 per ceritof Claremont Creek and occurs on the very
poorly drained soils of the Woburn, King and r.asbel catenas.
It is sui tablA only for permanent, pa st'll'e.
.
0
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-41- Ie
,
( j ) Land Cla ss V r
I
r
Land Class V is confined to the flat floors jf
r
of river valleys and is imperfectly or poorly drained. Much t
i
I
i
of this land is at present in forest or pasture and should be I
r
r
I
kept in those uses with no special practice. Little1Rouge Creek l
i
I.
I
has 3.8 per cent of its cleared area in this type while f
i
I
Claremont has only 2.8 per cent.
I
I.
( k) Land Class VI and VII I
I
t
These classes are of increasing steepness and I
I
I"
I
erosion and should be kept in permanent vegetation at all times. r
i
I
About 1 per cent of the cleared part of Little Rouge Creek is I
i
i.
Ie
r
in these types, compared to 2.4 per cent of the cleared portion I
I
l
of Claremont. j
I
Ie
4. Recommended Land Classes Compared to Present Use t
i
; I
: {:
PROPORTION OF RECOWffiNDED LAND USE CLASSES ' ,
I
IN THE TWO VALLEYS I
I'
I:
(Wooded and Built-Up Areas Excluded)
f:
1:
Percentage of Total Acreage I,
1
Class i
i.
Little Rouge. 1
Claremont Creek r
I
Creek . - r
,i.
I
i
I Il.7 !
j
1
:
1
I
II 61.3 42.8 't
C 3.8 4.3
R 30.4 30.9
D 27.l 7.6
III ll.l 23.3
C 2.0 2.4
R 4.4 20.1
D 4.7 .8
IV 2.7 l3.9
P .5 .3
T 2.2 l3.6
V 3.8 2.8
VI .8 1.6
VII .l .8
Forest 7.8 l2.l
Ot he r .7 2.7
Class V lalld is sU{J-
ject to periodic floDd-
illY and !lorJlUllly best
suited to Pi'rIlUlIICII!
yrass or forest C07!er.
.\"0 special practices
arc usually lIeeded. but
'i'atcrcour.l'e protectioll
lIIay be desirable to
pro'l'ide better habitat
for fish alld 7i'ildlife
and an i/Jlf>roz'ed, less
f'ollllted 7l'ater sl!pply,
Some Class V land
7('ollld be better ullder
a forest C07'er.
Class r T I alld V II land
is stccply sloping, may
be rOl!yh and is sub-
ject to severe erosion
llnles.i' properly IlWIl-
ay I' d. /1 per/IUlllellt
1'07'1'1' of r;rass or trees
IS indicated. to[Jcther
7i' i t /z strollp restric-
tions as to lIse.
-42-
PR,~3ENT LAND USE COMPARED TO LAND USE CLASS
IN THE T\W V ALLEYS
(Wooded and Built-Up Areas Excluded)
1 I
I Little Rouge Claremont Creek
creek
CIa ss
Cultivated Pasture Cultivated Pasture
% % % %
I 81.3 l3.9
II C 8l.5 l2.7 7l.l 23.9
II R 81.4 14.6 72.7 22.7
II D 79.0 l5.8 3l.5 63.8
III C 85.6 8.6 65.5 25.3
III R 72.3 2l.4 67.3 28.7
III D 58.0 39.4 18.5 77.8
IV P 50.9 43.0 23.1 76.9
IV T 68.9 26.2 51.0 42.9
V 27.2 70.2 12.6 86.4
VI 53.4 46.6 l3.3 63.3
VII 13.4 86.6 21.9 37.5
I, II & III 78.9 16.4 65.3 30.l
IV 65.2 29.5 50.3 43.8
V, VI, VII 23.4 74.3 l4.4 76.4
Total 70.5 17.8 49.9 30.7
Watershed I
i
5. Summary of Tables i
(a) Little Rouge Creek
From the first table it can be seen that 84.1
per cent of Little Rouge Creek has been. classified as land suitable
for cultivation. The second table indicates that only 70.5 per
cent of the valley is actually cultivated. This means that on
the average 14 per cent of the area is being used for a lower
capability than has been recommended.
The average, of course, does not indicate the
true picture. The area recommended for cultivation is 78.9 per
cent cultivated but under-use is not detrimental to conser-
vation. It is in the areas that have been recommended for
occasional and no cultivation that improper use may cause a
serious situation. Class IV land should be not more than 20 per
~ ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~g
~ ~ -@ ~ ~ ~ b
0 8 0 8 0
0 0 0 otTl
I/)
I
I:
r
J>
z
0
n
~ ~~ ~
! ~II ~
~
-<
ITI
~ ITI
~
~
Cr- r-
::01>
cuZ ~I )>
1>0 2
Zo 0
/TI
~~ I c
,....
/TI OC ~ (J)
(ii0 cz fTI
z-i !:io ~
00 _c 0
~[f
i~ ~- ~ r-
f'T1~ I )>
0-1 (J)
~5 f'T1 (J)
O~ 0 fT1
/TIC/)
oi (J)
i5 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ..~ -@ ~ :P or '" tl;
0 0 0 "0
8 0 0 8 8 8 0 8 8 0 0 0 8~
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1-4
~
r-
J>
~ a (")
r-
(') J>
r-
J> :u
(/) ITI
IJ) ~
(') 0
J> Z
-1
", -t
(i)
0 (")
::0
-< :u
~ ITI
IS ITI
~
IS
t
I
I
,j
-43-
cent cultivated whereas actually it is 65.2 per cent cultivated.
The last three classes are 23.4 per cent cultivated and should
not be cultivated at all.
Considering the fact that classes IV to VII
comprise only 7.4 per cent of the valley there is no real need
for cultivation of this land.
(b) Claremont Creek
On Claremont Creek, land suitable for culti-
vation is 30 Jer cent under-used, while class IV is 30 per cent
over-used and V to VII is 14.4 per cent over-used. In this
valley 19.1 per cent of the area is in classes IV to VII so
there is a greater problem in fitting actual to recommended
land use.
(c)
TABLE TO SHOW ACREAGES OF CULTIVATED AND UNCULTIV.ATED LAND
IN RECO~~NDED LAND CLASS~S .
~ .
I I i
Littl:e RO\lge Claremont Creek
I
I Creek
I
CIa ss Over- Under- Over- Under-
I
I Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated Cultivated
(Acres) (Acres) (Acres) (Acres)
I,ll, III 2,937 722
IV 259 154
V, VI, VII 212 28
471 2,937 l82 722
I
The above table gives a better picture of recom-
mended land use as against present land use. It can be 2een
that on both valleys only 653 acres are being used more in-
tensively than was recommended and 3,659 acres are used le~s
intensi vely.
Most of the over-used 653 acres are in the Oak
Ridges while the under-used land is in the remainder of the
area.
CHAPTER 7
FARM PLANNING
To most farmers the idea of planning is not
something new; in some measure or other they plan the use and
management of their land so that they know a year or so in
advance ,,,hat cultivation sequence they are going to folloH.
They plan for repairs to buildings, equipment, fences and so
on. They plan so far as they can the day to day and month to
month work they are going to do, and much of it becomes routine.
Planning, in short, is an essential feature in the life of the
farmer as it is with anyone concerned about his future.
Although many farmers have a plan regarding the
use to which they put certain or all of their fields, relatively
few have had their farms planned so that the maximum use, con-
sistent with the best use, is made of each piece of land. The
object of a plan of this sort is to enable the farmer to get
the most out of hi s land and at the same time to do it in such
a manner that no damage to the land occurs. When a farm is
planned each piece of land is judged according to its capa-
bility to produce, and various use recommendations are made.
These may include pasture management, crop rotations to follow,
woodlot management and reforestation, farm drainage, fence line
removal or relocation, or any other works and practices which
would benefit the farmer and his land.
Planning does NOT need to be so rigid that there
is only ONE recommended use or management for a piece of land
of one cIa ss . Alternative recommendations may be made for a
piece of land in a certain class. The first rule is to apply
the easiest and cheapest remedy. The next thing that deter-
mines the choice of use is the relation of the field to the
rest of the farm. Other factors apply, such as suitability for
using powered mechanized equipment, or the distance from the
0:)1'::' and ease of access. The final determination depends on
the ~:r:'rjV'~ :CHid 8xJimAl f) thp., farH,er ~hoof)es to carry. The final
-45-
plan, therefore, is the end result of a good many compromises
and at each stage of preparing the plan certain choices have
to be made.
In this section an actual farm plan, prepared
by the Soil Advisory Service of the Soils Department of the
Ontario Agricultural College for a farm on the R.D.H.P.
Watershed, is presented, The soils are typical of those found
over much of the watershed.
In developing the plan a farm planner goes over
the farm field by field and maps the soils as he finds them.
He uses an aerial photograph as a base map. The soil series
and types are identified and an estimation of the degree of
!
erosion is made by examining vertical sections of the soil.
The slope of the land is measured, using a hand level which
gives slope as a percentage. A rise of four feet in a run of
one hundred feet, for example, is a 4 per cent slope.
The occurrence of watercourses, either permanent
or intermittent, with or without a definite channel, is noted,
as are fencelines, stonepiles, springs, seepage areas, gullies
or any other items of importance.
. :1
All of the information gathered is marked on ~
the map, using symbols, and each piece of land of the same type ~
h
with respect to soil, slope and erosion is delimited by a ,:.1
.-1
boundary line.
From the map of soil type and conditions a map
of use capability is prepared. Each piece of land is assigned
to one of eight capability classes. These classes are the same
as those used for the watershed and are included here as part
of the plan. All classes will not necessarily be found on
anyone farm.
The plan of the farm is then worked out with
the farmer so that each field, or each piece of land, is put as
nearly as is practicable to the use which fits the capability.
Any systems of tillage or cropping or special practices to
'I'
I
i
I
I
I
-46- ,
!
I
control erosion and water loss are applied where necessary. ~
i
The fields and rotations are worked out so that there is the l-
I
i:
correct balance of pasture, fodder and grain to meet the f
i
I
I
1c.
requirements of the herd which the land can carry. i
r
!
Before the planned rotations are put into effect r
I
it may be necessary to arrange a transition period in which I
I
the change-over from present cropping to the planned rotation :r
.,
is made \Qthout losing a year of cropping. Also, it may take 'i
. ,
> ~
a year or two to get special devices like grassed waterways t-;
and terraces in stable condition. A time of transition such as t.-
this may also prove useful in providing a period during which
any desired changes in the plan may be implemented.
In adjusting use to capability it may not be
possible to outline fields exactly according to natural soil
conditions. The inclusion of a small area of, for example,
Class II land in a field which is predominantly Class I land
may mean that this small area of land of lower capability will
be worked as intensively as the Class I land. This is not
strictly following the principle of tlusing each acre according
to its ability", but is a compromise weighed against the
possible cost of fence removal, difficulties of tillage and so
on. In a plan, therefore, there may be found one or more
small areas of one land class within a larger area of another
land class.
I:
I:
Ii
Ii
[
'I
. .
, I
I,
.,
I'
i
i
,
-47-
FARM PLAN
for
CLARENCE McDrnVELL
R.R. 1, Stouffville, Ontario
County - York
Township - Markham
Concession - X
Lot - 22
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Prepared by r
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T.H. LANE f
The Soils Department, r
Ontario Agricultural College
In co-operation with Mr. Clarence IvlcDo'\'fell
SOil, SLOPE AND EROSION
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MAPPING SYMBOLS USED IN FARM PLANNING
MAPPING SYMBOL (EXAMPLE) SOIL TYPES ON YOUR FARM
382 sil-Soil Type 382 sil - King slit loam
3B1- Degree of Erosion 384 sil - Monoghan silt loam
\'----- Slope Group 386 sll - Jeddo slit loam
Per cent Slope 516 sll - Granby sandy loam
5 sl - 800klon sandy loam
'182 i'J
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SLOPE GROUPS ,it
UNIFORM SLOPES IRREGULAR (HUMMOCKY) SLOPES ;~
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A-0-2 per cent E -15- 20 per cent M- 0 - 7 per cent , i
8-2-6 " " F - 20-30 " " N - 7 - 15 " "
C - 6 -10 " " G - 30 t " " P-15-25 " "
0-10-15 " " R - 25 t " "
DEGREE OF EROSION
WIND AND WATER EROSION INDIVIDUAL GULLIES
0- No noticeable erosion Shallow _______1111__
1 - Up to h of Ihe "A" horizon Into subsoil ~II---
removed by erosion, Into parent mole rial ---
2 - Some" B" horizon material
in the cultivated layer.
3 - Some "c" horizon molerial
in the cultivated layer.
4 - Gullies too deep and too
frequent for the land 10 be
cullivated
+- Accumulallon of eroded
materials.
STONINE SS WATERCOURSES
0- No slo~e Permanent streams =-=-=
1 - A few stones but not sufficient to Intermillent streams _111___
Interfere wilh cultivation. Spring ~
2 - SuffiCient stone 10 be 0 nuisance 10 Sod waterway ~
cultivation but land con be used for Proposed tile 0 . .
regular rolollon
3 - Too much stone for cultivation but
land suilable for posture
4- Too much slone 10 be used for
poslure but suitable for trees.
SOILS DEPARTMENT, ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, GUELPH I ONTARIO.
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OBJECTIVES FOR FARM PLAN
The following plan for the use of the land on 1
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your farm is designed to: t
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(a) Be a practical working unit. ;t,
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(b) Use the land according to its capability without '<;
serious deterioration. "
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( c ) Maintain the soil at an economically high level of I
productivity.
(d) Produce an approximately equal acreage of each crop
each year.
( e ) Minimize soil and water losses.
In preparing the plan the following procedure
is followed. First, the soil, slope and erosion are mapped
on an aerial photograph. Second, the capability for agri-
cultural use is then worked out on the basis of type of soil,
stoniness, drainage, steepness of slope and the tendency of
the soil to erode. Third, in co-operation with the farmer the'
farm layout and crop rotations are worked out on the basis of
the land-use-capability units (described in the following pages).
Suggested cultural, management and fertility
practices ?re outlined. The location and acreage of any crop
in any year is readily found by referring to the cropping
schedule.
Discussions on cropland, permanent pastures and
woodlots should be supplemented by material found in various
bulletins dealing with the different subjects. The material
found in such publications is based on years of experience and
experimental work and should be adapted to your farm in so far
as is practical and applicable.
LANDS WHICH MAY BE CULTIVATED
Class I ( Green).,1-
Class I land is suitable for cultivation with-
out special conservation measures. It must be nearly level,
~~ These classes are not found on the farm described here.
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LAND USE CAPABILITY
IEJ
II
III
IV EJ
VEJ
VI EJ
VII EJ
VlII EJ
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workable, productive, ~rell-drained and not subject to erosion
or overflow. This land requires the addition of plant foods
that are used by crops or lost by leaching. These plant
foods are returned by barnyard manure, green manure crops or
commercial fertilizers. Crop rotations to assist in main-
taining the productivity are recommended.
Class II (Yellow)
Class II land is suitable for permanent culti- ,
vation with some simple practices often required. Chief
types of practices are erosion control, water conservation,
correction of moderately low fertility and the removal of
boulders. The practices to conserve soil and water include
contour cultivation and strip cropping with crop rotations
that include legumes and grasses. The various sets or com-
bination of practices must always be practical and useful in
maintaining soil productivity.
Class III ( Red)
Class III land is suitable for permanent I
cultivation with intensive conservation measures. This land
requires careful and intensive application of practices to
conserve soil and water. The type of practices are similar
to those applied on Class II land but their use must be more
intensive and widespread. Class III land requires longer
rotations of legumes and grasses, cropping in narrower strips,
buffer strips, grassed waterways, diversion ditches and
greater use of cover crops. Class III land is generally
characterized by one or more of the following features:
steeper slope s, greater degree of erosion, lower fertility or r
This land ;
handicapped by stones, boulders and poor drainage.
requires additional treatments to maintain the soil at
adequate fertility levels for the production of moderate to
high yields of good quality crops.
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Class IV { Blue)-1!-
Class IV land is suitable for occasional or
limited cultivation. This land is generally handicapped by
one or more of the following: steeper, more severely eroded,
more susceptible to erosion, more difficult to drain, less
fertile, droughty or restricted in use by stones, boulders,
or scrub tree growth. The types of conservation measures
applied to this class aim at removing, in so far as possible,
the limiting features. To reduce soil losses and conserve
rainfall on the steeper slopes, five- to six-year rotations
consisting of one year grain and the rest in clovers and
grasses are frequently used. Class IV land may be set aside
as a pastured area to be broken up and reseeded every fifth
or sixth year.
LANDS ~JHICH SHOULD BE KEPT IN GRASS OR TR~ES
Class V (Dark Green)*
Class V land is not suitable for cultivation
but is suitable for a permanent vegetation that may be used
for grazing or woodland. This land is not subject to erosion
but is generally too wet or stony for cultivation.
CIa ss VI (Orange)*
Class VI land is suitable for permanent
vegetation that may be used for restricted grazing or woodlot.
Most of the land is moderately eroded or steep droughty soils
of low fertility. When used for grazing such restrictions
as carrying capacity, deferred grazing and rotation of
grazing must be practised.
Class VII ( Brown)-1!-
Class VII land is not suitable for cultivation
and requires severe restrictions if used for grazing. Pastures
generally require liberal applications of fertilizers and
careful regulation of the grazing. A large part of this land
~!- These classes are not found on the farm described here.
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should be reforested or kept in woodlot and fenced from live-
stock. Most of the land in Class VII is steep, rough, eroded
and highly susceptible to erosion.
Class VIII (Purple)*
Class VIII land is not suitable for culti-
vation or the production of permanent vegetation. The land is
chiefly rough, extremely stony barren land or swamps and
marshes that are permanently wet and cannot be drained.
,i- These classes are not found on the farm described here.
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FARM PLAN
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CROP ROTATIONS AND ANNUAL ACREAGES
Xfulli
Acreage 22- 2.2. 2.1 2] 22. ~
Pasture
Rotation
1 8.5 SGs Hl H2 H3 H4 SG
2 8.5 H4 SG SGs HI H2 H3
3 7.0 H2 H3 H4 SG SGs Hl
Four Year
Rotation
4(a) 9.5 SGs Hl H2 FW
6(a) 9.0 SGs Hl H2 FW
4{b) 7.5 H2 FW SGs HI
6(b) 9.0 H2 FTiV SGs Hl
5(a) 17.0 FW SGs HI H2
5(b) l8.0 Hl H2 FW SGs
7 13.0 C C H H
8 13.0 H H C C
Fall Wheat (FU) 17.0 16.5 18.0 l8.5 17.0 16.5
Sprinf Grain (SG) 27.0 25.5 25.0 25.0 25.5 25.5
Corn C) l3.0 l3.0 13.0 13.0 13.0 l3.0
Hay (H) 63.0 65.0 64.0 63.5 65.5 65.0
Cropland 120.0
Permanent Hay 2.0
Pond Area 3.0
Homestead and Lanes 3.0
Additional Acreage 6.0
Woodlot 5.0
Reforestation 5.0
Total Acreage 144.0
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The farm is operated as a dairy enterprise
with grain corn as the major cash crop. Practices recolnmended
are based upon the soil conditions existing in relation to
the livestock enterprise.
C ro pI and
This plan presents suggestions for soil manage-
ment and crop rotations that meet the aims and objectives of
good land use, conserving soil fertility and controlling soil
erosion while maintaining a high level of production.
The preceding map of the farm gives the field
layout, number of fields, acreages, and plan of operations.
This will serve as a key to cropping rotations.
Rotations and Practices
The rotations outlined for the farm are for
three main purposes: pasture, hay and grain, and cash crop.
The pasture rotation is a six-year rotation
which provides for pasture renovation at the end of four
years in pasture. The pasture mixture should contain legumes
and grasses suitable for both well-drained and imperfectly
drained areas in the pasture fields - consult Circular 239
Hay & Pasture Mixtures for Ontario.
The hay and grain rotation is a four-year
rotation of two years grain and two years hay. This rotation
is followed on the more rolling section of the farm along
with field strip-cropping. Alternate strips of grain and
hay reduce the amount of erosion likely to occur. The fall
wheat in the rotation may be substituted either partially
or wholly by intertilled crops or other grains. VJhere
intertilled crops are planned in this rotation winter cover
crops or manure mulches should be practised. The two-year
hay mixture should consist of an alfalfa-grass mixture.
The cash crop rotation is planned for the tile-
drained section of the farm. Here erosion is not a serious
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problem. Frost damage may occasionally occur to the grain
corn crop before it is matured. The rotation suggested is
two years of corn followed by t,~ years of hay. In this case
the hay-mixture is seeded without a nurse crop such as spring
grain. If preferred, spring grain may be used as a nurse crop
and the hay left for one year only,
Field strip-cropping is a conservation practice
which is adaptable on this farm. Because of the generally
uniform direction and amount of slope the strips are laid out
parallel and of even width across the direction of slope.
There should be no difficulty in maintaining and cultivating
these strips.
Fertility Maintenance
Soil analyses indicate the need for complete
fertilizers for both the grain and the corn crops.
Applications of manure and fertilizer should
be made on the hay-pasture fields to maintain high production.
The hay-pasture mixtures would benefit sub-
stantially from additional phosphorus and potash in the fall.
New seedings particularly should have a phosphorus-potash
application in early fall (September lst).
Where the alfalfa stand has decreased to less
than 50% of the hay-pasture mixture a complete fertilizer
should be applied in the spring rather than a fall application
of phosphorus and potash.
In order to maintain a good fertility balance
soil samples should be taken and sent to the Department of
Soils, a.A.C., for analysis and fertility recommendations.
Drainage
Tile drainage is necessary before grain corn
can be successfully grown at the rear of the farm. A system
of tile drains must be carefully installed and the outlet
properly looked after.
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Grassed Waterway
The drainage ditch at the rear of the farm
should be shaped into a grassed waterway. To one side of
the waterway a tile may be necessary to allow crossing of the "~
waterway with machinery. .::;'
The seeding mixture should contain grasses '.}
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that will provide a dense growth and withstand the temporary ,~
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flooding conditions existing in the waterway during spring .;i
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floods. '-
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Clipping of the waterway should be done at
least twice a year..
Pond
No recommendations for the pond area are
included in this plan. However, its proximity to the buildings
and the pasture area will provide excellent facilities for
recreation, fire protection and livestock watering.
Woodlot
The woodlot area is also suitable as a pond
site and a possible wildlife habitat. The woodlot should be
fenced in order to make it a more suitable habitat for
wildlife.
Fence and Lane Removal
In order to facilitate field strip-cropping
the fence and lane should be removed from the rear half of
the farm. This will allow clearing up of the lane area and
working across with the field-strips. The lane to the back
of the farm will become temporary and worked up as each strip
is worked.
The grove of trees in the lane should not be
removed. ,",
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Seeding Failures
Failures occur under the best of conditions.
However, improved soil conditions will greatly modify failures.
Where failures do occur, it is a matter of reseeding the field
again and leaving another field in hay one year longer. In
this manner, the rotation is maintained.
Reforestation
Trees may be planted on this area. For
further information consult the Department of Lands and Forests.
The farm illustrated here is of particular
interest in that many of the recommendations made have been
carried out. If the farm plan photograph is examined closely,
it will be seen that the pond has been built, the waterway at
the back of the farm has been opened although not sodded, the
area of the short grassed waterway has been preserved, and
the strip-cropping carried out much as recommended. All of
these measures, together with the others specified, will play
their part in making the farm operations easier and the farm
itself more productive.
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CHAPTER 8
PROGRAM EFFECTUATION
The Recommended Land Use Maps
Maps in colour showing the recommended land
use classes for the two valleys accompany this report. These
maps sum up all of the natural features of the land in terms
of its best use from the conservation point of view. They
can, therefore, be considered as guides to future use of land,
but it should not be construed that they are unchangeable
plans of how the land must be used. However, the more closely
use and management of the land fits the recommendations, the
soil and water conservation will be achieved.
Any adjustment in land use, or the introduction
of any special methods of tillage or cropping, need not reduce
the acreage devoted to field crops. Indeed, the application
of conservation methods and principles would increase produc-
and improve the soil and water conditions in both areas.
2. Getting the Job Done
The improvement of soil and water resources in
is a responsibility which belongs both to the indi-
vidual and to the community of which he is part. No program
of valley improvement of the kind visualized in this report
ever fully succeed unless the individual and the community
prepared to work together. Conservation of soil and water
helps both the farmer and the community.
The foremost of things that might be done is
that of having every farm in each watershed planned. It is.
therefore suggested that the Authority consider employing a
summer, or longer if need be, whose responsibility
it would be to contact each farmer on the watershed. At this
benefits to be derived from a farm plan would be
out and his co-operation requested. It is likely that
farms more than one visit would be necessary.
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Periodically the progress made in this program
should be reviewed and publicized at a public meeting or in
any other way convenient and the degree of Authority partici-
pation and assistance made known. The program would, of
course, be carried out in co-operation with the County Agri-
cultural Representative, who would arrange to have the farm
plan surveys made, and with the Zone Forester concerning
woodlot management and reforestation.
The Authority should also keep it in mind that
other groups will be interested in the whole question not
only in the Little Valleys but throughout the R.D.H.P. area.
These groups may include the Boy Scouts, Junior Farmers, Soil
and Crop Improvement Associations, Angling Cl~bs and various
associations and service clubs. The dealers in feeds, seeds,
implements and fertilizers should not be forgotten, for their
livelihood depends on a prosperous agriculture.
Organizations and individuals might, under
leadership of the Authority and with its direct aid where
this is feasible, help in the reclamation of gullies, the
reforesting of suitable land, the improvement of the streams
and any other work which should be done. Ploughing associa-
tions can, for instance, help by learning and teaching tillage
methods especially applicable to erosion control. Junior
Farmers could use competition, as they now do in cattle judging,
to cr&ato interest in and develop knowladge of soil conditions.
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CHAPTER 1 i
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THE FOREST IN THE PAST ~
1. At the Time of Settlement
Good early descriptions of the forests of South-
ern Ontario are rare, for the early settler regarded the forest
more as an obstacle to cultivation than as a positive asset
worthy of recording. However, a fairly good picture may be
obtained by piecing together the scattered information which
does exist. Such early concern as there was with timber
resources centred around pine and oak for the British navy and
the easily cut softwoods for building purposes. Fuelwood was
important, but was everywhere abundant and not worthy of
special note. In addition the type of timber was of indirect
interest as an indication of the quality of the land; pine and
oak forests indicating light, easily worked soil, and maple
and beech stands suggesting richer but heavier soils. Such a
classification was given by David Gibson, writing from Markham
in 1827:*
"The price varies according to the quality of the lot.
Land with maple, basswood, beech and a few pine, on
it is thought to be the first rate sort of land in
the Home District, but where it is most of pine or
hemlock it is most commonly too much sand. The other
is chiefly sand and Clay, when it is chiefly beech it
is generally a very hard clay bottom. In low swamp
places, where generally grows White Cedar, in other
low ground that is wet in spring and fall grows
Blackash, Basswood and sometimes Hickory."
Although some of the earliest survey notes
(1793) were very scanty, the surveyors by 1795 seem to have
been observing the following instructions:
"Your field book is to be kept in the accompanying -f
form, comprising the kind and quality of the soil
and timber, entering each kind of timber in the
order of its relative abundance."
In accordance with these instructions, the surveyor's notebooks
included a running account of the composition of the forest
cover along every line they ran, and thus they provide a
reasonably accurate picture of the original bush in each town-
ship surveyed.
* Ontario Historical Society, Papers and Records, Vol. XXIX.
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From the surveyoFs' field notes it is clear ~~
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that they worked through a forest almost unbroken except for ,
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an occasional open bog or patch of windfall. In the valleys ~
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they found "ash swales" and cedar swamps or "tammerack" (which
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one surveyor refers to as "Cyprus"). On the valley slopes
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hemlock was common. The heavier upland soils were covered
with stands of hard maple, elm, beech and basswood. On sandy
areas oak and pine were more abundant, but the best quality
pine trees seem to have been those scattered through the hard-
wood stands on the better soils.
Little note was made of the quality of timber,
but Jones, who took more interest than other surveyors in this
matter, made the following notes in his Scarborough surveys
of 1793-95:
On the line between Concessions Band C -
"Timber tall pine Beech and maple"
On the 4th Concession line at Lots 16 and 20 -
"large pine" "
Again, in his 1797 survey of the 5th Concession of Pickering
he says,
"The timber in General is tall being mixed with
Maple Elm Beech, and ;:~black Oaks".
The botanist, John Goldie, travelling through
the south part of Scarborough in 1819, remarked:
"For a number of miles today I passed through barren
sandy pine woods which it is probable will never
be cleared."
Smith's Canadian Gazetteer of 1846 contains
further impressions of the district:
Scarborough Township: "The land bordering the
lake is mostly poor, and the timber principally
pine; in the rear of the township the land
improves, and the timber is mostly hardwood."
Pickering Township: liThe land in the interior of
the township is rather hilly, and the timber of a
large proportion of it is pine."
,'. Jones seems commonly to have used this name for the red
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oak, Quercus borealis. It is likely that the range of
black oak, Q. velutina, in this area does not extend east
of Toronto.
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Markham Township: ;
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"The land is gently rolling, and the timber a
mixture of hardwood and pine."
Uxbridge and Whitchurch Townships:
"A succession of pine ridges traverses the district;
running thro~h ... the centre of Uxbridge and
lllhi t church. "
Rouge River:
"It is a good mill stream, and there is some
excellent timber on the banks."
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2. Clearing the Land
The attitude of the early settler to the forest
was completely hostile. Typical of the day is the comment of
Iredale while surveying the Markham - Scarborough boundary
in 1793 -
"the Land Good, but in general he avy timbered on ;
this Line."
Although the forest supplied the settler's meagre needs for
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construction material and fuel, this was but a drop in a i;
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seemingly limitless sea of supply. Transportation was poor, ~
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and markets for his woodland produce extremely limited. For I
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agriculture to develop, the forest must go, and much of it was .
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simply piled and burned. Settlement duties required a certain
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amount of land to be cleared before a patent could be obtained~ '"
For a period after January, 1820, this obligation included the ,
cutting of all trees on a strip 165 feet deep across the entire ,j
fro nt of each lot.
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When a new area was opened for settlement the
best land was naturally taken first and the rough and swampy r
areas were avoided. Land was cl eared fir st along the fronts
of the farms and the woodland cut farther and farther back
toward the end of the farm which lay farthest from the road.
This was done, in many cases, without reference to the quality
of the soil except where it was swampy.
The accompanying table gives an estimate of the
remaining woodland at various dates in the townships making up
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L- .. "..-. ---....--.. ___"_'___ L....._L---1.. ________. . _ .. __ .1._________
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the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. Although slight irregularities appear
in the table, due to incomplete information, the general trend
of events is obvious~ Until about 1910, the decrease in wood-
land was rapid. After that the small remaining area of woodland
was at least tolerated, and in some cases has probably shown
a slight increase. Except in Uxbridge Township there is not as
yet any evid ence of a sharp increase in woodland cover such
as might be brought about by a real enthusiasm for reforesta-
tion of submarginal lands.
The figures from actual measurements made in the
1954 survey, given in the last column for comparison, refer
only to that part of the township within the watershedo Due
to varying topography this part may be more heavily or less
heavily wooded than the township as a whole. In part, however,
these differences may simply reflect different opinions as to
what should be classified as woodland. The condition of the
remaining Woodland is described in the following chapter.
3. Forest Products
The earliest interest in timber in Ontario was
the reservation of pine and oak either by specified areas or
by individual marked trees for the use of the British navy~
Complete records for the R.D.H.P. area are not available, but
those for Pickering dated 6th December, 1797, list thirty-one
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lots from the 2nd to the 9th Concessions containing "a great
many" pine from 8 to 12 feet in circumference and 140 feet to
170 feet high, wi th seventeen more lot s containing "a few trees
of this description." At the bottom of the list is a note:
"There is not any Oaks fit for the Royal Navy in the afore-
mentioned concessions." Standards were high.
The square timber trade commenced, no doubt,
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somewhat later than the mast trade*and was carried on simu1- ;'
1
taneously with it from the thirties. .
! ' ,
"
'i
I;
1 _"
* Jones was instructed not to mark "masting reserves" south !;
of Con. II, because the land had been granted four years I
before without reserving the pine. There was a "pine riclge.' ~
between Dundas Street and the lake from the Rouge to Frer:Ch_.....'.J....., ".. '...:".
man I s Bay. Traces of th is could be plainly observed up tv i . " ." i
the 1930's. ;,. .
J - ;
: ;
J,...f. ,'. ..i,
,)
,
<l
i
,f
.i;!
-5- ~
'~
.~
Square timber was obtained by selecting large '.
,I
<t
trees, mostly white pine, and squaring the best part into one 4
1,
long stick. In the earliest days of th8 industry the timbers ~
were squared on all four sides to a fine "proud edge", but
later, when the best timber had been cut, they were squared
wi th a rounded shoulder or "wane", and were known as "waney
timber", Such methods, of course, were wasteful since the
finest grained wood was sacrificed in the operation, but this
was the type of material called for by the British market.
"Often only one tree in a thousand would yield a
finished 'stick' (so was the heavy square timber
nonchalantly called in the trade) fit for export.
A good stand might yield thirty or forty trees an
acre for over the whole area allowances had to be
made for 'wants' - the non-bearing patches of
swamp, burn, etc. Today a whole township or limit
(in Northern Ontario) may not have one good square
stick of the quality of the square timber of
another day." *
Until 1890 the Census of Canada lists all pine .
,~
and oak not sawn into lumber as "square timber", and even as <':
't
t
late as 1910 most species are listed as "square, waney or . ~
~
flat t ened II . Q
~.
~
As settlement and trade grew, sawmilling became
!
important. It is uncertain when the peak was reached in this
,
,
industry. W. H. Smith in 1846 reported a total of 80 sawmills :
in Scarborough, Pickering, Markham, Whitchurch and Uxbridge
.
Townships. In the previous year Pickering alone exported about ,
,
3,000,000 feet of lumber. By 1851 the number of mills had
:
increased to 94. As trade conditions improved, sawmilling
flourished. Not only good export conditions, but also a
vigorous local demand stimulated forest production. From 1840
to 1$70 a large amount of lumber and squared timber was used
for local construction, and particular species were in demand "
for the manufacture of vehicles, furniture) barrels and woods~-
ware~ Building by journeymen carpenters had slacked off by
1875 0 The making of vehicles continued until about 1890.
-
* A Hundred Years A'Fellint, written for Gillies Bros~, Ltdc)
by Miss Charlotte \fuitton.
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-
-6-
A comparison of the County Atlas of 1878 with
Tremaine's map of 1861 would suggest that by the latter date
the number of mills had already begun to decl ine.
A study of the accompanying tables of forest
products reveals many changes. vfuile the varying basis used
for Census of Canada returns at different periods makes compari-
sons difficult, some general trends are quite clearc The peak
production shown for most products is in 1880 or 1890, Soon
after 1900 such products as tanbark, lathwood, masts, staves,
shingles and piling drop from the list, and production of other
products shows a sharp decline. The one product which has
persisted throughout the record is fuelwood, which has dropped
from a peak of 281,370 cords in 1880 for the combined counties
of York and Ontario to a low of 20,765 cords in 1950. This
decline reflects both the decrease in available supply and the
increasing competition of other fuels.
The addition in 1890 of fence posts, poles and
railway ties reflects the development of the area~ The intro-
duction of wire fencing, the development of the telephone and
the expansion of telegraph service all stimulated forest produc-
tion at this period. The subsequent sharp decline in these
products shows the rapid depletion of supplies,
Tamarack was an important timber until 1890 when
the species was almost wiped out by the depredations of the
larch saw-fly. The amount of walnut, butternut and hickory
cut was never large, and after 1880 these species disappear
from the record.
In 1920 no square timber is shown, and from this
time on lumber production is small and is no longer separated
by species.
Maple sugar was almost the only sugar available
to the pioneers. In 1911 census records begin to list maple
syrup as well, indicating the change from a pioneer necessity
to a modern luxury. For the sake of comparison the accompanying
table shows these products expressed as an equivalent amount of
syrup. Production in 1951 was less than 7 per cent of that for
the peak year of 1861.
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. '!'
CHAPTER 2
SURVEY OF PRESENT WOODLAND
An accurate inventory of the existing woodland
in the watBrshed and an estimate of its present condition is .l
a basic necessity in establishing a woodland conservation i
tJ
~
"
Therefore a detailed study was'made of'e.ll ~
program" ~
woodlands) scrubland, plantations and land which is suitable
j
1
J
for reforestation. J
..~
'j
The entire R.D.H.P. area lies within the Huron- ~ 1
,..!
Ontario Section of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrenoe Forest Region.* ,
1
In this forest seotion, as a whole, the prevailing association
l
of forest trees is dominated by sugar maple and beech and this 1
i
association is described as the climax typet for the area. ,
i
Occurrtngin this climax type are other associated species such i
d
as basswood, white elm, yellow birch, white ash, hemlock and "
.,
" ~
white pine. After disturbances such as cutting or fire this ~1
'j
; ~1
'J~
climax type ma~ be replaced for a time by poplar and white birch" 'l
. I)'
:1
On local or specialized sites such as river bottoms and swamps "I
.,J
1
d
.,
there occur other aggregations of trees which may bear no l
.,.:
relation to the typical or climax forest of the area; for
example) an association where white cedar is the dominant species. ~~
"
These distinctive local combinations of tree species are in.'
response to very local climatic, soil, topographic and drainage ;,i;
"
features. .'
1. Survey Methods
Aerial photographs, each covering about 1,000
acres, were provided to the forestry party, and mapping in the
field was done directly on the photographs. Each area of
?.c
woodland, scrubland, swamp and rough land was visited and .,
j:
* W oE...D" Halliday. A Forest Classification for Canada, 193~,
t The climax type is the one best suited to maintain itself
permanently under the climatic conditions of a given area
Unless disturbed by fire, axe, or other agents it will
eventually take possession and hold most of the area
against the competition of other trees.
-~
-8-
described as to acreage, cover type~ presence of grazing,
reproduction, and average diameter of trees at breast height.
Each woodlot was classified as hardwood, coni-
ferous or mixed. The term "hardwood" is used to denote all
broad-leaved trees regardless of their physical hardness. A
woodlot in which 80 per cent or more of the trees are hardwoods
is called a hardwood stand; one in which so per cent or more
of the trees are conifers is called a coniferous stand; and
all other stand,s are classed as mixedwood. .
Plantations were likewise examined and recordo
made of method of planting, approximate age, care, damage and
survival.
Land suitable for reforestation was mapped, and
descriptions prepared in some d8tail for the larger areasu
2. For~t Cover Types
The term "forest cover type" refers to those
combinations of tree species now occupying the ground, with no
implication as to whether these types are temporary or permanent.
A slightly modified form of the system drawn up by the Society
of American Foresters has been used on this survey so that the
system will adequately describe the cover types common to the
watershed. The gaps in the numerical system are due to certain
cover types common to the eastern United States which do not
enter Canada,
The following cover types were encountered on the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
~ype Number. Name
-
4 Aspen
4a Poplar - oak
5 Pin cherry
6 Paper birch
8 White pine - red oak - white ash
9 White pine
10 White pine - hemlock
II Hemlock
12 Sugar maple - beech - yellow birch
13 Sugar maple - basswood
14 Sugar maple
14a Black cherry
15 Yellow birch
24 White cedar
Second growth 'white pille and red pine - one of the few natural stands remaining.
Reforestation will restore Sl/clr valuable crops to land unsuited for agriculture.
-9-
!1~.N.umber Name
-
25 Tamarack
26 Black ash - white elm - red maple
47 Black locust
49 White oak - black oak - red oak
50 White oak
51 Red oak - basswood - white ash
52 Red oak
57 Beech - sugar maple
58 Beech
59 Ash - hickory
60 Silver maple - white elm
60a White elm
88 Willow
MAm Manitoba maple
Although twenty-eight cover types were identified
in the watershed, over 84 per cent of the woodland acreage is
contained within five cover types. In order of the area which
they occupy these types are as follows:
Type 24 - White cedar, which occupies 4,859 acres or 26,5
per cent of the woodland acreage. This type
occurs most commonly on the muck soils of the :1
,I
swamps where it has such associates as black .~
.,)
~ j
ash, white elm, tamarack, red maple, black spruce ,.I
,~
i~J
.~
yellow birch, hemlock, white pine and white "^j
.1:
,)
birch~ Where lime is plentiful white cedar may .\
extend even to the droughty upland slopes where
it tends to form pure stands.
Type l4 - Sugar maple, which occupies 4,704 acres or 25.7
per cent of the woodland acreage. Except in the
dry sandy sections this type and the closely
related Type 57 (beech - sugar maple) originally
covered most of the upland or better drained ,
j#
areas of the watershed but, since it occupied t.
.'
land which was considered fertile and with good I'
r
/
"
moisture conditions, much of it was cleared to I
ti,
,
make way for agriculture. Common associates of y
1
the type are white elm, white ash, basswood, ~
black cherry and hemlock, with butternut, yello~~ i..
i.
birch and rock elm typically occurring in the - 1
\
~
lowland locations of the type. ,
[
f
l
>
l
-10-
Type 57 - Beech - sugar maple, which occupies 11.3 per
cent of the woodland acreage. This is regarded
as the typical association forming the climax
type for the uplands of the region. Its
associates are hemlock, white elm) basswood,
white ash and black cherry, with hornbeam an
important subordinate. The type, like Type 14
(sugar maple), was formerly very extensive in
the area but, because it occupied the best land,
its area has been tremendously depleted.
Type 60a - White elm, which occupies lO.7 per cent of the
woodland acreage. Type 60a is very similar t~
the silver maple - white elm swamp type, but
often occurs on somewhat drier sites.
Type 4 - Aspen, which occupies 10.l per cent of the wood-
land acreage. Aspen is a pioneer type coming in
after clear-cut operations, overgrazing or fire.
It quite frequently is the invasion species on
abandoned fields and pastures. Though it avoids
the wettest swamps it does grow on soils that are
wet throughout a ~ood part of the year~ aft~ Gq~ur
as well on the droughty soils, Its associates
may be large-toothed aspen, balsam poplar, red
cherry, white elm and paper birch. An understory
of dogwood or of spruce and balsam fir on the
wet sites, or of tolerant hardwoods on the drier
sites, is frequently present.
The remaining 23 cover types are present in
amounts which vary from 3 per cent of the woodland within the
watershed to trace amounts of two acres. Briefly these cover
types may be described as follows:
Type 4a - . Poplar - oak is probably a result of fire in a
former oak - pine type.
Type 5 - Pin cherry is a pioneer cover type after cutting
or fire.
-11-
Type 6 - Paper birch is another pioneer species.
Type g - White pine - red OGk - white ash commonly occurs
on moist but well-drained soils, but on the drier
oak ridges where it is found on the R.D.H.P. the
ash is often lacking.
Type 9 - White pine, most common on light sandy soils.
Type 10 - White pine - hemlock, favours moister, cooler
sites, ravines and north slopes.
Type 11 - Hemlock, similar to above type, but with hemlock
pred9minant over any single associate.
Type 12 - Sugar maple - beech - yellow birch is a cover
type which is close to its southern range
(lGtitude and altitude) within this watershed~
Consequently it has a limited distribution.
Type 13 - Sugar maple - basswood is another cover type
in which hard maple is an important component of
the stand. This type is important due to the
demand for basswood logs.
Type 14a- Black cherry, occurs in small patches on fertile
well-drained soils~ a temporary type following
clear-cutting.
Type 15 - Yellow birch} usually occurs on moist sites in
small patches following cutting or other opening
up of the forest.
Type 25 - Tamarack occurs on muck swamp with little or
no drainage.
Type 26 - Black ash - white elm - red maple, occurs on
moist to wet muck soils, often with mixtures of
balsam fir~ balsam-pcrpl~~~ yellow birch and
white cedar.
Type 47 - Black locust, not native but may escape from
plantations. Prefers dry, limey soils.
Type 49 - White oak - black oak - red oak, occurs on dry
slopes of the Rouge Valley. Being north of its
main range, the type does not correspond exactly
to its name, and black oak is absent~
,
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I -~-'----- ---'---, '-, - -- .,----,
()~'ercr(),lL'ding slml's gro'wth. A thinning to ~Vhite cedar, <<'hich occupies land too wet
fm'ollr the better stellls ~,'oltld s,heed the for agriculture, is nm\.' the most commOl!
development of qllality material. cover type on the watershed.
Sugar maPle and beech - sligar maple stands once occupied most of the bctter soils
and arc still of major importancc as farm ~l'oodlots.
-l2-
Type 50 _ White oak, occurs on the dry sandhills in the
north-east corner of the watershed.
Type 51 - Red eak - basswood - white ash, contains a
greater variety of species and grows on somewhat
moister sites.
Type 52 - Red oak, occurs mainly on the valley slopes ~~
Scarborough and the rough hills of Uxbridge
Township~
Type 58 - Beech, as a pure type is scattered in small
areas through the watershed.
Type 59 - Ash - hickory is a residual type which often
occurs after logging and grazing of Type 60
stands.
Type 60 - White elm - silver maple, occurs in river
bottoms and on swampy depressions in rolling
plains.
Type g8 - Willow, occurs on wet sites along stream banks.
Type MAm- Manitoba Maple, occurs on bottomland in the
lower Rouge Valley~
Summary of Cover T~~
(a) The upland areas of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds are
generally characterized by sugar maple and beech . sugar maple
stands which are the common climax type for the Great Lakes -
St" Lawrence Forest Region. These types make up 37 per cent of
the total woodland of the watersheds. These cover types once
extended over most of the upland areas. As they occupied the
most desirable agricultural land, a large proportion of these
stands were cleared.
(b) Aspen, which is a temporary type of low commercial
value, now occupies 10.1 per cent of the woodland due to clear-
cutting, or other opening up of the forest. Much of this area
could be occupied by more valuable forest species.
(c) The other common types are characteristic of
swamp areas. #bite cedar and elm swamps produce a forest crcp
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-13-
on lands not suited for other use, and at the same time form
valuable water storage areas.
(d) The twenty-three cover types making up the remaining
l6 per cent of the forest cover indicate the great variety of
local climatic~ topographic and soil conditions found in the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
3. QQ.~<!ition of Woodlan~
Conditions revealed by the survey are shown in
some detail in the accompanying tables and graphs.
Woodland within the watersheds comprises 18,332
acres, which is 9.3 per cent of the total area of 197~071 acres.
Of this woodland, 62~1 per cent is classed as hardwood stands,
25,6 per cent as mixedwood$ and only l2~3 per cent as coniferousc
This indicates that even the cedar type has a considerable
admixture of swamp hardwoods~ As upland conifers and miXBdwood
types are relatively limited, the supply of softwood sawlogs
from the area is very small.
Very little of the present woodland is mature and
merchantable. Only 0.3 per cent" practically all hardwood) is
classed as over 18 inches diameter breast height. Coniferous
stands between lO and 18 inches, the size desired for posts and
poles, make up only 1.1 per cent. The 12.5 per cent of young
stands, under 4 inches diameter breast height~ and the 3l.1
per cent hardwoods between 4 and 10 inches will require some
time to grow to merchantable size. This time may be shortened
by thinning the stands where necessary. The remaining hardwoods
between 10 and l8 inches diameter ( 20~3 per cent)~ rnixedwood
from 4 to 18 inches (24.4 per cent) and conifers 4 to 10
inches (10.3 per cent) will soon reach maturity and should pay
for proper management in a relatively short time.
The survey indicates that 68.3 per cent of the
woodland is uneven-aged, and therefore might readily become a
source of continuous revenue to the owner. However, this
continuous production will not last for long unless there is
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-14-
an improvement in natural regeneration in the woodlots. Over
half the woodland area shows virtually no regeneration, Only
10~0 per cent shows regeneration which can be classed as
"goodlf to "excellent". One obvious reason for this conditicn
is the fact that the majority nf the woodlots are not fenced
from cE!-ttle.
4~ Scrublands
In all, 1,205 acres in these watersheds are
covered with tree species which never attain commercial size.
The most common species are scrub willow and dogwood on poorly
drained sites and hawthorn and sumach on d~y sites. Most of
this land is in small patches not suitable for public acquisi-
tion and_must be the concern of the ind~vidual landownere
In some cases this land can be restored through
drainage or through eradication of dry scrub. However, where
such restoration does not seem economically feasible, the
area should be returned to tree cover through systematic
replacement of the scrub species with more valuable species.
SCRUBLANDS
-- - H_ -
Area in Scrub
Township Watershed
(A cre s) Dry Wet Total Total %
(Acre s) (Acres) (Acres) of Twp.
Area
King 346 --- --- --- 0.0
Markham 59,3$6 $9 144 233 0.4
Pickering 5$,426 421 l48 569 1.0
Scarborough 33,370 96 B7 183 0.5
24,672 108 I
Uxbridge --- lOB 0.4
Vaughan 1,133 --- --- --- 000 I
Whi tch urch 19,73$ --- 112 112 0,,6 I
i
1---- Oo~1
Tot3.1 197,071 606 599 1,205
---L
I
TOTAL AREA OF WATERSHED
197,071 Acres
(100%)
OPEN LAND AND URBAN AREAS
175,199 Acres
(88,9 %)
NATURAL WOODLAND AND PLANTATION
20,667 Acres
(105 %)
WET SCRUB
599 Acres
(0,3%)
DRY SCRUB
606 Acres
(0-3 %1
LAND CLASSIF ICATION - TOTAL WATERSHED
CHAPTER 3
MARKETS AND MARKETING
Decreasing wood supplies have resulted in the
disappearance of local sawmills which formerly dotted the
R.D.H.P. area. There are many wood-using industries in the
Toronto area which use species grown in these watersheds, but
even these often find it more convenient to buy supplies in
carload lots from other regions rather than shop for meagre
local supplies. In the absence of assured local markets,
woodlot owners are discouraged in caring for the remaining
woodland, thus further reducing wood supplies and exaggerating
poor market conditions.
This trend can be reversed. Improvement of
woodlots and planting of unproductive areas are obvious means
of increasing production Which are discussed in later chapters.
In addition any woodlot owner should know enough about harvest-
ing and marketing his products to get the most out of his
present production.
1. The Timber Harvest
Harvesting of timber involves four operations:
estimation of volume, cutting, skidding and hauling. The
owner may perform all operations, selling his logs at the
mill; he may cut and skid the logs, selling them at the road-
side j or he may sell ~is timber on the stump.
(a) Estimating
Estimation of timber may be done either in the
tree (cruising) or in the log after cutting (scaling).
Some operators cruise timber by rough ocular
estimate; that is, by walking through the bush and estimating,
on the basis of past experience, the number of board feet in
the stand. The most accurate method would be to measure each
tree, consider taper and defect, estimate and tally its volume.
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In large wooded tracts only a representative sample, say 10
per cent or 20 per cent, may be measured, and the total
estimated from this sample.
One example may illustrate the value of a tallied
cruise. Some years ago in competitive bidding for $7 acres of
woodland one operator estimated a stand, by tallying every
merchantable tree, to be 700,000 board feet; the chief log
buyer for a large furniture manufacturer estimated 350,000
board feet; another operator estimated lOO,OOO board feet.
The actual cut from the stand was 746,000 board feet. Obviously
such discrepancies are of concern to the seller as well as to
the bidder who tries to maintain his place in competitive
buying. Before selling standing timber it would pay the owner
to make a tallied cruise or, if necessary, to hire professional
assistance for this purpose.
Similarly when selling logs the owner or his
agent should assist in their measurement, try to understand
the allowance which must be made for defects, and assure him-
self that he is being fairly treated.
(b) Cutting and Skidding
In a typical hardwood operation the value of
logs at the roadside may be half as much again as that of logs
in the standing tree. The difference is mainly labour cost.
By performing the operations of cutting and
skidding the farmer increases his return by selling his labour
and use of his equipment instead of just his stumpage. The
flexibility of woods work in fitting into otherwise slack
seasons on the farm should make this increased return parti-
cularly attractive. In addition, the farmer doing his own
cutting is best able to determine that the right trees are
removed and damage to the remaining stand kept as low as
possible.
-
-17-
( c ) Hauling
Truck hauling has increased the distance from
which mills can secure their logs. Cost per thousand board
feet hauled depends largely on distance. Thus, while grade 1
logs might be hauled up to 50 miles, the lower value of other
logs might limit practical hauling distance to 15 or 20 miles.
While actual figures will vary greatly, the
example below will suggest the change in log value at various
stages.
Value of logs in the tree (stumpage) $28.00 per M bd. ft.
Making logs from tree $.00 " " Ii II
Skidding logs to road 6.00 n " " n
Hauling logs to mill $.00 " " " "
Value of logs in millyard $50.00 per M bd. ft~
2. Timber Sales
(a) Qutright Sale of Woodlot
Frequently a saw-miller finds the simplest
procedure is to buy the woodlot or farm outright. In this
case the former owner has no further interest in the land. The
practice of slashing such woodlots and leaving them to become
tax-delinquent was legitimate cause for community concern.
Where tree cutting by-laws are rigidly enforced this abuse
should be kept under control.
(b) Sale of Cutting Rights
Under this method the owner sells the right to
cut all timber of certain species down to a certain diameter;
or the trees to be cut may be marked in advance and the sale
made on this basis. Often only a very vague word-of-mouth
agreement is made and misunderstandings are common. A simple
written agreement such as that suggested later in this chapter
would avoid this confusion.
A lump sum method of payment is often used on
such sales, based upon a volume estimate by the buyer. As
mentioned in the section on cruising, the volume estimates of
.
--
-H~-
different bidders may vary considerably. The seller is there-
fore advised to consult the list of buyers of woodland pro-
ducts in the hands of the Zone Foresters and to obtain com-
petitive bids from as many buyers as possible. On lump sum
purchases the buyer takes all the risk as to accuracy of
estimate and quality of timber.
Selling the standing timber at a rate per
thousand feet removes the uncertainty of volume estimates and
requires measurement of the logs after cutting. Two uncer-
tainties remain, the log rule to be used in measurement and
the assignment of logs to different grades which differ in
prices per thousand board feet. For provincial government
transactions the new Ontario log rule is now required; but
for private sales there is no set standard, the Doyle rule
being most commonly used. The woodlot owner seldom knows the
problems of processing logs into lumber sufficiently well to
understand fully why the buyer assigns some logs to lower
grades. Publication of price lists and grade specifications
by log buyers would promote better relations with woodlot owners
Possible arguments and ill-feeling over these matters are
factors in making some buyers prefer lump-sum purchase. The
woodlot owner must decide whether to accept volume and grade
risks in the hope of getting a better price by selling on a
log measurement basis.
In the event that he chooses to be paid on a
volume-removed basis, just What the buyer intends to cut and
pay for should be absolutely clear. Only the best trees might
be removed and it is possible that only the best logs from
these trees might be taken. This leaves the owner with many
poor quality logs which he cannot readily sell and with some
poor trees standing which he wanted cut. The volume actually
paid for might be small and the woodlot owner's total realiz-
ation on the transaction might be less than he would have
received had he accepted payment in a lump sum.
-
-19-
No matter which of these two methods is chosen,
a written Timber Sale Contract should cover the transaction.
It should set forth all the details necessary as to prices,
specie s, sizes, rights granted to the buyers, limiting dates,
times of payment, and so on.
( c) Owner-Made Logs
The woodlot owner who has decided to realize
not only the value of his woodland product but also the
additional labour income derived from its harvest prefers to
take payment at a price per thousand board feet for logs
placed on skids at the roadway or logs delivered to the mille
Here again the securing of competitive bids and a clear under-
standing with the buyer regarding log grade will avoid any
feeling of unfairness in the deal. An owner who simply arrives
at the mill ~dth a load of logs may feel that he has to accept
the offered price even though he is dissatisfied.
3~ Timber Sale Contracts
As an aid to people who are unfamiliar with
timber sale agreements, a sample contract is given here. It
shows the more important provisions that should be included
in a contract for the sale of marked trees to be scaled in the
log.. Substitute clauses are given for use in other kinds of
sale s . No single form of contract will suit all classes of
sale s, but owners of woodland timber should have no difficulty
in adapting this contract to their use.
SAMPLE TIMBER SALE CONTRACT
Agreement entered into on this.....day of................
bet we en. '" . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
hereinafter called the seller, and..........................of
............................hereinafter called the purchaser.
Witnesseth:
ARTICLE I. The seller agrees to sell the purchaser, upon
the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, all the living
-20-
timber marked or designated by the seller and all the mer-
ch antable dead tirnb er, standing or down, estimated to be.......
board fee t, more or Ie ss , on Lot.....Con......in the Township
of...................County of....................and located
on a farm owned by the seller and about..................miles
from. . . . . . . . l,) . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . .
ARTICLE II. The purchaser agrees to pay the seller the
sum of.....................more or less, as may be determined
by the actual scale) at the rate of...........................
per thousand feet................~.................,..........
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . · · ~ · · 0 ~
payable prior to the date of removal of material, in instal-
ments of........................each.
ARTICLE III. The purchaser further agrees to cut and
remove said timber in strict accordance with the following
condi tions:
1. Unless an extension of time is granted, all timber
shall be cut, paid for, and removed on or before.............
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2, Saw timber shall be scaled by the...................
. . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . . . . . .log rule, and measured at the.............
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. The maximum scaling lengths of logs shall be 16 feet;
greater lengths shall be scaled as two or more logs. Upon all
logs an additional length of 4 inches shall be allowed for
trimming. Logs overrunning this allowance shall be scaled not
to exceed the next foot in length.
4. No unmarked timber of any kind shall be cut, except
. . . . . . . ~ 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · . . · · . · · · · · · · . & · · · · . · . · · . · ·
5.. Stumps shall be cut so as to cause the least possible
waste - stumps of trees up tl 16 inches in diameter, not highe r
than 12 inches above the ground, and those of trees above this
size at a distance above the ground not greater than three-
fourths of their diameter.
-21-
6~ All trees shall be utilized in their tops to the low-
est possible diameter, for commercially saleable material.
7. Young trees shall be protected against unnecessary
injury; only dead trees and less valuable kinds may be used
for construction purposes in connection with lumbering
operations.
8,) Care shall be exercised at all times by the purchaser
and his employees against starting and spreading of fire.
ARTICLE IV. It is mutually understood and agreed by and
between the parties heretofore mentioned as follows:
I. All timber included in this agreement shall remain
the property of the seller until paid for in full.
2. In case of dispute over the terms of this contract,
final decision shall rest with a reputable person to be
mutually agreed upon by parties to this contract, and in ca se
of further disagreement, with an arbitration board of three
persons, one to be selected by each party to this contract, and
a third to be the Zone Forester or his chosen representative.
In witness whereof the parties hereto have here-
unto set their hands and seal this..............................
day 0 f 0 . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . 19. . . . f' . . . f) . . . .
Witnesses:
~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v . . . . . e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . 0) ~
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ ~ c ,
The following are sample clauses that should be
substituted in the contract when other methods of sale are
us ed. In lump sum sales, substitute in Article I a des-
criptive clause modelled on this one~
All merchantable living trees, except,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
....................which measure 12 inches or less in diameter
at breast height (a height of 4t feet above the ground).
Such provision will reserve the basis of a
second crop consisting of the more valuable and rapid-growing
-22-
kinds of trees and remove all the inferior and slower-growing
tree s.
The payment clause in lump sum sales should be
varied to read somewhat like this:
The sum of......,.~....o..~.~....~...dollars.,.......for
said timber, payable prior to the cutting of the material, in
ins ta 1m en t s 0 f . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . doll a r s. . . . . . . . Q . . . . (, . . each,
payable on or before.......................,respectively.
4. Attempt s at a Solution of the Marketing Prob' em
Orderly marketing of woodland products is to
th e advantage of the woodlot owner, the sawmill operator, and
the ultimate industrial consumer who requires definite
quantities of certain species in certain grades to carryon
his manufacturing business. It has already been remarked that
the farmer feels at a disadvantage in marketing logs, and his
real or imagined grievances are a detriment to good relations
between the buyer and seller of logs and a steady flow of logs
to the market. The following attempts at improved marketing
may suggest methods which could be applied in the R.D.H~P.
Watersheds~
(a) A Marketing Experiment near Doon
During the winter season of 1948 and 1949 the
Department of Lands and Forests in the Galt Zone carried out
an experiment in the marking and marketing of timber in an
lS-acre woodlot near Doon. The project was initiated by
Mr" I~ C. Marritt, the District Forester, and the field work
was done by Mr. L. S. Hamilton, Zone Forester. The scheme
is patterned after a marketing assistance method meeting good
success in the State of New Jersey.
The mixed uneven-aged woodlot contained con-
siderable large white pine and red oak. Initial investigations
by the Department showed growth stagnation due to over-stocking
and recommended the removal of certain trees representing the
accumulation of growth over a number of years. Under this
-23-
condition, removal of selected trees reduces the growth
stagnation factor and the remaining trees grow at an increased
ra t e . As growth again slows down, another cropping should take
pIa ce 0 This is the simple principle of selective logging -
the removal of accumulated growth periodically to keep the
stand at a healthy productive growth rate.
Upon explanation of the proposed marketing
assistance, the woodlot owner entered into a signed agreement
with the Department as a co-operator, agreeing not to sell or
allow to be cut any trees except those marked, upon penalty of
a nominal fine per thousand for the estimating and marking
service of the Department.
The trees were marked with a view to a second
marking which would be necessary afterwards to remove weed
trees and trees of low value in order to give good growing
conditions. Each tree marked for removal was blazed at brea.st,
height and below stump height, the stump blaze being branded
to detect any unauthorized cutting. The total log scale
estiwated for the 223 trees marked was 47,600 board feet
Doyle Rule~ The trees were listed as to species and diameter
on a mimeographed form.
All the estimation data were turned over to a
timber agent chosen by the Department. The timber agent
entered into written agreement with the owner to
(l ) solicit tenders from buyers;
( 2) draw up a timber sale contract protecting the
owner;
(3) check on cutting operations; and
(4) measure and collect payment for all wood
cut before its removal from the property.
The agent was to receive a percentage commission of the gross
sale value ~
The timber agent mailed the volume estiwate
sheets to all local log buyers, giving location of the woodlot
and inviting inspection of the bush.
-24-
The timber sale contract set forth the prices
agreed upon for the different species, required that tops be
worked into 4-foot wood to be paid for at an agreed price per
standard cord, provided penalties for the cutting of unmarked
trees, and required that the woods operation be conducted with
a minimum of damage to the woodlot~
Prices realized by the owner were muchoetter
than the average paid in the area. Prices per thousand board
feet Doyle Rule for the standing timber were:
White and red oak.~...................~....~$62
White ash, soft maple, hard
maple, basswood and cherry.................$60
Wh.i t e pine.. 0 0 . . . . ,; . . . . , . c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . $ 55
Hemlock~..$~................................$45
Beech.. ~.... ~.. . ... . ... . C) .. .. . .. . .. .... . .. . .$30
Fuelwood...................$4 per standard cord
The experiment was considered very successful
by all the parties concerned, yielding about 2,000 board feet
more than estimated, and the woodlot has been left in fine
growing condition with an expected second cut in fifteen or
twenty years of 25,000 board feet~
(b) The l.anark County Co-operative
This Co-operative was set up by a group of
woodland owners in the County of Lanark in March 1950. Its
objectives are the better management of privately owned wooc1-
land to ens~re a continuous yield of the best material
possible from the forested land of the members through pro-
fitable marketing of all the woodland products.
To put the woodland enterprise on a paying basts
to the individual it is necessary to market not only the
material suitable for lu.mber manufacture and special products
such as veneer, but also the inferior products such as the
poorer hardwood species, low-grade hardwood logs of the better
spe cies, small softwood products such as cedar posts and p~les~
~
l~
b
f:
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-25- f
(-j
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,
and that material removed in improving a woodlot during what
;i
may be called sanitation cutting. It was felt that the
advantages of co-operative action by woodland owners in the
field of marketing would best solve the problems of the
individual, particularly in respect to inferior or small
products. Acting as a group rather than individually and
through a member active in contacting prospective buyers,
they can hope for recognition by the buyers in the area as a
stable source of the various woodland products.
The establishment of the Co-operative followed
an extensive educational campaign carried on by fieldmen of
the Federation of Agriculture, the Department of Lands and
Forests, and the local Farm Forum leader. Interest was
aroused through moving-pictures) talks at schools, local
evening meetings, press releases, radio programs and public
speaking competitions on woodlot management,- Meetings held
at Lanark were attended by officers of the Department of Lands
and Forests, representatives of pulp and paper compa~ies,
sawmills, and other wood-using industries, and members of
agricultural organizations. Gradually a workable plan was
evolved and the Lanark Forest Co-operative was set up under
a number of directors with Mr. Herb Paul as manager.
Hr. Paul of Lavant, the main force behind the
formation of the Co-operative, is an energetic leader of the
local Farm Forum, caretaker of the Lanark County Forest, a
farmer and owner of several hundred acres of woodland in
Lavant Township. As manager of the Co-operative his duties
entail the location of markets for the woodland products of
the members, arriving at satisfactory price schedules,
collection of payment for products, ensuring that products are
ready or delivered at the time promised, and advising members
on cutting their woodland according to best forestry practices"
By the fall of 1950 membership in the Co-oper-
ative was approximately 60, with an increasing interest in its
-26-
operations prevalent. The membership fee is $5 and in
addition the Co-operative takes 5 per cent of the sale proceeds
of products handled. The member pledges to supply the
quantity of material at the time and place agreed and to
practise woodlot management according to conservation principles
At present the Co-operative has no intention of
undertaking a manufacturing endeavour such as a sawmill for
lumber or railway ties. Logs are not accumulated at a central
point and sorted as to species and a grading standard, but are
handled direct from woodland to buyer. The purchaser's
measure of the volume, by grade where it might apply, is
accepted as the basis for payment on transactions~
An objective of the Co-operative, stated as the
better management of privately owned woodland to ensure a con-
tinuous yield of the best material possible, is a highly
commendable aim. However, the statement entails a tremendous
amount of field work on the part of those capable of advising
on the subject of woodlot management. This is a job requiring
experienced field personnel. At present, although the Depart-
ment of Lands and Forests is following this development in
marketing with interest and co-operation, it has not the
staff of extension foresters to provide the many owners of
farm woodland with the guidance that is necessary. If the
farm woodlot is to assume its place in the economics of the
farming enterprise it must be shown that it pays in dollars
and cents to the owner~ The average woodlot owner cannot
afford to carryon practices at a financial loss in the interesi
of the region or posterity~ If, in its infancy, the Co-oper-
ative manages to make money for its members by the sale of
those products generally difficult to market as well as those
relatively easy to market, and does the best it can toward
field guidance on woodlot management for perpetual yield,
then it will have done a lot toward good forestry in its area,
CHAPTER 4
FOREST CONSERVATION MEASURES IN PROGRESS
Forest conservation measures are most common on
the rough hills and valley slopes of the north and eastern
sections of the R.D.H.P. area, but interest and some activity
were widespread throughout the watersheds. Near Lake Ontario
the rapidly increasing urbanization prevents any extensive
forest development in areas which might otherwise be suitable
for this purpose.
1. Demonstration Woodlots
The most important measure which could be taken
for forest conservation would be the improved management of
present woodlots. An early effort in this direction was the
establishment by the Department of Lands and Forests of
demonstration woodlots. These are areas of private woodland
on which the owners have agreed to follow prescribed methods
of woodlot management and to permit access to the area by
interested persons. A number of demonstration woodlots were
established in the R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
Well conducted demonstrations could exert an
influence for proper management in the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, some of these demonstration woodlots have been
cut over when the property changed hands, and others have been
neglected so that they no longer serve their original purpose.
2. Demonstration Plantations
In 1922 the Provincial Government began the
policy of assisting municipalities in the establishment of
small forest plantations for the purpose of demonstrating
the use of trees on marginal and submarginal land. To meet
the requirements for such a plot the Government required that
the area be on a well-travelled road so that as many people as
possible could see it; that the municipality either purchase
land or use land which was in its possession, fence it, and
agree to give the area reasonable protection after planting.
I:
;,
-28- p
I
[:
In return the Government agreed to supply the trees and pay r\
the cost of plffilting and of supervising the work when the
planting was in progress. Unionville and the Village of
Markham established small demonstration plantations in 1929
and 1931 respectively.
3. Private Planti~
In the R.D.H.P. Watersheds there are 2~024 acres
in private plantation, distributed as follows:
Area of Per Cent
Township Plantation of
in acres Twp. Area
King 12 3.5
Markham 138 0.2 t'
1:
Pickering 144 0.2 t
I:
.'
l
I
Scarborough 54 0.2 ~ \
1)
I,
Uxbridge l,640 6.6 Ii
,;
t"
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. .
\'
Vaughan - - r
,
Whitchurch 36 0.2
Total 2,024 1.0
-"-.,
This is a worthwhile start in reforestation
and in Uxbridge Township represents an appreciable addition to
the forest area.
The graph of private planting progress which
follows this page shows a marked increase in activity in recent
years. Private individuals and municipalities may obtain
advice and assistance in reforestation and woodlot management
through the Department of Lands and Forests' Zone Forester
at Haple. The Zone Forester also assists in the establishment
of Authority forests~ County forests, demonstration and school
plots.
The forest tree. nurseries at St. Williams~
Midhurst and Orono are the chief sources of planting stock for
this area.
I:
[,
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t:
t'
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i
fi
This thinning has meant revelll/e in the form of pulPwood reJ//O'l'ed and allows the
remaining trees to increase more rapidlyilt diameter.
l'rlllllll.l/ to ill//,r07'e till/her quality also /,1'0-
7'id cs access for fire protection and other
7('ork ill this /,ri1'atc /,lantatlliJ/.
Branches lIlea n Iwots and Imc'-
{;rade [lIl1lber,
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11
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,
,
-29-
Survival and growth of seedlings have been good
except in some of the more difficult blow sand areas. Recent
insect damage has caused some concern.
Few O'iners are interested solely in production
of Christmas trees. Howeverl in many plantations intended to
produce a more permanent forest cover some Christmas trees are
grown. These give an early return and help to defray the
planting cost.
4. County Forests
Undoubtedly much of the interest in private
reforestation is a result of the success of the York County
Forest, established in 1924, and the Ontario County Forest,
established in 1926. All of the York County Forest is north
of the R.D.H.P. area but 311 acres of the Ontario County Forest
in Uxbridge TOvffiship fall within the Authority boundary.
The first county forest in the Province of
Ontario was established in 1922. The agreements which are in
force at the present time run for a period of 30 years, during
which time the Ontario Government agrees to establish the forest
and pay the cost of such items as fencing, buildings, equipment,
labour, maintenance, treesl etc. - in short, everything con-
nected with the management of the forest.
At the end of the 30-year period the County has
the privilege of exercising one of three options: first, to
take the forest over from the Government and pay back the cost
of establishment and maintenance without interest; second, to
relinquish all claim to the forest, whereupon the Government
will pay to the County the cost of the land without interest;
third, the forest may be carried on as a joint undertaking by
the Province and the County, each sharing half of the cost and
half of the profits.
For eight years now sales of thinnings from the
Uxbridge Forest for pulpwood and mine props have helped to P2Y
the cost of improving these plantations.
-30-
5. Tree-Cutting By-L~
Under The Trees Conservation Act of 1946 and its
successor The Trees Act (R.S.O~ 1950, c.399) twenty-one
counties have passed by-laws to restrict and regulate the
cutting of trees. These by-laws do not interfere with the
right of the m~ner to cut material for his own domestic use,
but specify certain diameters below which trees may not be cut
for sale. In York County the minimum diameter is 14 inches,
measured eighteen inches above ground. At the present time
the County of Ontario has no regulations restricting the cut~
ting of trees and woodlots are being ruthlessly destroyed, the
more so because this is prohibited in adjacent counties. One
of the prime objectives of the Authority should be to have a
Tree Cutting By-Law passed in Ontario County. Excluded from
this ~estriction are a number of species which are less
important or undesirable, or are commonly used in smaller
sizes:- Hawthorn, choke cherry, red or pin cherry, poplar,
ironwood, Manitoba maple, wild apple: black locust, cedar,
tamarack, white birch, willow.
In general diameter limits are too lowJ and
greater uniformity between counties would be desirable.
Such diameter limits are only an elementary
step to prevent indiscriminate slashing of woodlands. Where
these by-laws have been enforced rigidly they have proved of
considerable benefit. There will, however, usually be fast-
growing trees above the diameter limit which are increasing
rapidly in value, and should be left for future cutting.
There will also be poorly formed or diseased trees below the
diameter limit which should be removed.
Better than a rigid diameter limit is the
marking of trees for cutting according to their condition.
Professional advice on such marking is available through the
Zone Forester. r1any tree cutting by-laws provide for the
necessary variations from a strict diameter limit where the
cutting is done under such supervision and in accordance with
good forestry practice.
-31-
6. 4-H Clubs
These clubs are organized by the Ontario
Department of Agriculture assisted by the Department of Lands
and Forests and must be sponsored by an organization interested
in the improvement of woodland and reforestation.
Members must be between 12 and 21 years of age
and each member undertakes a project such as marking a ha1f-
acre plot of woodland for thinning or reforesting a quarter-
acre of land. Projects are judged annually on Achievement
Day and prizes awarded; for this purpose the Department of
I
Agriculture furnishes $3.00 per member and the sponsoring
organization $1.50. Winners may enter the Provincial
Inter-Forestry Club Competition. A club serving some of
the students of the R.D.H.P. area has been operating in
Pickering for the past few years.
Sponsorship of these clubs in the R.D.H.P~
Watersheds would be a worthwhile project for the Authorityo
7. Tree Farms
In the past few years a movement has been under
way to recognize we11-~anaged forest properties as Certified
Tree Farms. With the sponsorship of several organizations
interested in better forestry, the Canadian Forestry Asso-
ciation in 1953 formed a National Tree Farm Committee to
recognize with a suitable sign and certificate those owners
who agree to maintain their land for growing forest crops,
protect the land adequately, agree that cutting practices will
be satisfactory to ensure future forest crops, and permit
inspection by Committee foresters. A Committee has now been
set up for the Simcoe District which includes the R.D.H.P. area_
Several Conservation Authorities have become
co-sponsors of the Tree Farm movement in their areas, and it
is recommended that the R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority give
its support to this movement.
CHAPTEH 5
FOREST CONSEEV_4TJCN MSASURES REQUIRED
The aotivities through which the Authority may
fmther forest conservation fall into three broad categories.
In woodlot improvement demonstrations or private planting the
Authority may co-operate with private landowners, In large
areas needing reforestation or management the Authority may
acquire land and manage it directly. Through public meetings,
field days and publioations the Authority may educate and
encourage residents of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds to practise
conserVa tion on their own lands.
1. Woodlot Improvement Projects
For most persons the best lesson in conservation
is field observation of specific examples of the present abuses
and efforts to remedy them.. Woodlots chosen as illustrations
must be near good roads and should be marked with large signs
giving considerable detail of conditions and improvement
mea sures in progr ess . Roadside or other parking facilities
would have to be provided so that visitors could take the full
time necessary for inspection without interfering with other
traffic.
Some of the proposed improvements are experimentol
in nature. From the owner's point of view the whole program
may seem to be of unproved value. On these sample areas the
Oonservation Authority is therefore fully justified in assuming
part of the actual woodlot improvement cost as well as the cost
of signs and parking facilitieso
To use a priVate woodlot in this way for
educational purposes would require a definite agreement with
the owner to ensure that the proposed improvements would be
carried out, and that the benefits of this work would not be
lost by a change of ownership or attitude on the owner's part.
In addition a detailed record of costs and returns would be
necessary to show other owners that it would pay for them
to adopt similar practices in their own woodlots.
-33-
Some oWfiers may be willing to see their wood-
lots used for sllch demons t.ra tions, but wish to be relieved of
any personal participation in the project. In such cases the
Authority might lease the woodlot or purchase it outright.
Below are listed a few examples of well-located
woodlots in the most common upland cover types which would make
good woodlot improvement projects. The Conservation Autho.r.i'cy
should decide on suitable forms of agreements, leases, e tc. ;
explain the purpose of these projects to the owners and try to
enlist theill as co-operators. This list is by no means
exhausti ve, but serves to illustrate the type of woodlot suit-
able for such projects.
(1 ) Lot 19. Con~ V, Uxbridge Township
3 miles north-east of Goodwood
Kostly hard maple with rather poor hemlock and
formerly some good white pine which h8s now been' cut. The
larger remaining trees are overillature end defective and should
be removed. Planting of open spots could bring white pine back
in to the stand. Well stocked areas of young growth will later
need thinning.
(2) Lot 15, Con. III, Uxbridge Township
1 mile east of Goodwood
-- -
~ostly hard mEple, lacking regeneration due to
heavy grazing. Cattle should be excluded and open areas eithe~
planted or broken up to encourage natural regeneration. Some
dense young parts of the stand need immediate thinning and the
older po~tion needs defective trees removed.
( 3) Lot 15, Con. VI, Markham Township
2 miles north-east of trnionvl1le
A former demonstration woodlot, not grozed, had
some thinning and p18nting twenty years ago. Many trees which
are poorly formed, diseased, or of inferior species should
now be taken out in another thinning.
:]
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Pri'l'ate planting has folloH'ed the county example. This YOUIlY
pine plantation adjoills a coltn'-\' tract.
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On Itnprotected land. 'lvater carves gullies alld spreads sterile
salld on fields belml'.
Stones and scrlt{J grO'1,.th lIlal,'e reforestatioll the 'll.isest ItSC
for this land.
-34-
(4) Lot LOon. .DC. Markham Township.
4~Ilcs =?pFth-ecrst of Mar~m!-
Beech - hard maple type with ash, white pine
and basswood.. This stand is approaching maturity but fall
pasturing has kept down reproduction and allowed invasion of
undesirable ironwood. The main requirements are fencing to
exclude cattle, removal of weed trees and selective cutting
of the main stand as trees mature.
2. Private Reforestation
_ r .___.___
On many farms, even in the better farming areas,
there are small tracts \'~hich, because of steep slopes, stoniness
or poor drainage, would be better in tree cover. A total of
5;S52 acres of such land requiring private reforestation were
mapped in the recent survey. These tracts are not suitable for
public acquisition and management, but the effect of reforesta-
tion on control of run-off, improved summer stream flow and stabi.
lizat:ton of the wood-using industry justifies public assistance
in such work. These areas have not been privately reforested
heretofore because the owner has some other minor use for the
area, because he is discouraged by the long period between
planting and harvest of a forest crop, or more commonly simply
because of inertia on his part.
The interest wf private owners in reforestation
may be fostered in several ways. Public education, such as
that now carried out by the Zone Forester in the district, can
be furthered bi the Authority. In addition, direct assistance
to private planting can be given.
The Authority has already purchased a tree-
planter for tne use of private planters. Some Authorities
also supply a crew to operate the planter at nominal cost and,
where rough ground makes hand planting necessary, will refund
$10 per acre if inspection shows that planting has been done
carefully and the plantation is adequately protected from
livestock.
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-35-
It is the policy of the Department of Lands and
Forests to charge $14 per thousand for Scotch pine and $10 per
thousand for other planting stock. For some years trees were
distributed free. Following the end of the war in 1945, the
nurseries were unable to meet the greatly increased demand, and
it was felt that a charge for trees would ensure more care in
ordering the required amount and in planting the trees received
The assistance schemes carried out by other
Authorities have stimulated interest in private reforestation
while still ensuring the good use of the planting stock. It is
recommended that the R.D.H.P. Authority adopt similar policies
to maintain a vigorous private reforestation program. The
completion of the recommended private planting as a twenty-year
objective will require a sustained effort at least equal to
the encouraging progress of the past few years.
3. Authority Forest
When large areas (100 acres or more) require
reforestation or woodland management, the task is frequently
too great for private initiative. In such cases acquisition
by the Authority is recommended. This is particularly desirabl~
where these forests form natural water-storage areas which
decrease the severity of floods and maintain the summer flow of
streams. Other tracts which at present lie idle or produce
only sparse, droughty pasture can again be made to add to the
economy of the area through reforestation.
In all 2,698 acres are recommended for acquisi-
tion by the Authority. Of this total, 1,953 acres are open
lands, 649 acres have some form of tree cover, 81 acres are
scrub, and 15 acres are water. A minimum of land in better land
classes has been recommended for reforestation. However, it
was impossible to omit 8uch land entirely when it formed a srn211
part of a lot which was composed mainly of a poorer type of s0il
The agreements for establishment and management of Authority
forests, which have been drawn up between ten Conservation
-~
-36-
Authorities and the Ontario Government, are substantially the
same as those made with the counties, except that the Govern-
ment will provide half the land cost as an interest-free loan
during the period of management. However, Authority lands are
subject to municipal taxes. One Authority has a supplemental
agreement with the Department of Lands and Forests under which
it may purchase land which has existing woodland of present or
potential value on it. This was arranged in order that the
higher price which such woodland is worth could be paid by
the Department if the purchase is approved by the Department.
It is recommended that if this becomes necessary application
be made by the R.D.H.P. Authority for a similar supplementary
agreement.
Because of the rougher topography in the north-
east section, the recommended areas are concentrated in
Uxbridge and Pickering Townships. A large part of the
western section is exceptionally good agricultural land, and
even the poorer land near Toronto is in such demand for gravel,
sand, or building sites as to make the price prohibitive for
reforestation.
The problem of land acquisition should be
approached carefully. In most cases purchase will be arranged
by direct negotiation. The Authority has the power to ex-
propriate land and is justified in doing so when an unreason-
able attitude on the part of the owner stands in the way of
works urgently required for the general good. However, a
favourable public attitude is essential to the furtherance of
conservation and such powers must be used with discretion.
Very few of the recommended properties are occupied. In an
exceptional case, if a hardship would be entailed by asking
an old resident to move, some special provision such as a
life tenancy of the house might be arranged.
Land prices paid by diffe~ent Conservation
Authorities and even within the individual Authority have
varied greatly. Prices paid for the Ontario County Forest
purchases in Uxbridge Township up to 1950 varied from about
The breaking of thin sod by cultivatiOlI or overgra:::ing starts the spreadin{f sore
of 'll'illd erosion.
,')c'l'cml feet of soil hm'e !Jone 'With the wind.
F~'l'CIl this arca rail be made producti'l'c by
refore statioll.
AdHlIIcing sands. if not stopped. 'l(.ill SOOIl destroy adjacent farmlands.
-37-
$7 to $20 per acre. Since that time spreading urbanization
has to some extent affected prices even this far from
Toronto. The Humber Valley Conservation Authority, markedly
influenced by this development, has had to pay nearly $32
per acre for the 708 acres it has purchased for reforestation.
4. The Authority and Conservation Education
Many agencies at present do, or can, engage
in conservation education. The Authority can supply oppor-
tunities and materials to encourage and enlarge these acti-
vities. Wall maps, literature, conservation pictures and
conservation lectures supplied to the schools will help to
give geography, history and conservation practices a local
signifi cance. Building up a library of slides on local con-
servation problems and accomplishments would be of great
assistance to speakers. Organization of public meetings
and contact with individuals and groups such as farm forums
will gain support for both private and public conservation
efforts. Lando~mers should be encouraged to make greater
use of the services available from the Conservation Authority
and from officers of the Department of Lands and Forests and
the Department of Agriculture.
The most effective educational activity is
actual participation in or field observation of conservation
activities. Tree-planting days, group visits to woodlot
improvement projects and conducted tours over a well organized
conservation trail could all be sponsored by the Conservation
Authority. These activities would all stimulate individual
action on forest conservation measures, such as those described
in the following chapter, which cannot be carried out directly
by the Authority.
TOTAL AREA
OF
RECOMMENDED AUTHORITY FOREST
2,698 Acres
(100 %1
REFORESTATION LAND
1,953 Acres
(72-4%1
WOODLAND
649 Acres
(24.0%1
SCRUBLAND
81 Acres
(30%1
WATER
15 Acres
(0.6%1
LAND CLASSIFICATION
RECOMMENDED AUTHORITY FOREST
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CHAPTER 6
FURTHER~m~ST_ CONSERVATION MEASURES REQUI.llliQ.
1. Woodland Manqgement
The woodlot inventory shows that there are 18,332
acres of woodland on the R.D.H.P. vvatersheds. Practically all
of this area requires better management. While experimentation
is desirable to determine the best method of handling certain
problems, the general principles of woodlot management have
been known for years but have not been applied. A free advisory
service is available from the Zone Foresters, but is not
sufficiently used, and a readily understood pamphlet on "The l
Farm Woodlot" can be obtained from the Department of Lands and I
Forests.
,
One of the most difficult problems confronting I
I
!
i
the private owner in the management of his woodland is the ;
I
utilization of the small weodland products which can be readily
made and handled by the o~mer. These products such as fuelwood,
pulpwood, bolts, posts and poles, if properly harvested, increase
the productivity of the woodlot and the gross returns per acre.
The volume of these small products has been reduced by diameter
limit regulations which have restricted the wholesale commercial
slashing of woodlots. Nevertheless, much material of this type
could still be produced from thinnings and improvement cutt~ngs
and from limbs and tops of trees. The difficulty of marketing
such low-grade material has seriously hampered owne rs in carry-
ing o~t the needed improvement work in their woodlots. Any
means which can be discovered for using small and poor-grade
wood s;l,::mld be developed to the fullest extent. At the present
time interest is increasing in the possibility of manufacturing
wood chips in the woodlot by means of a portable chipper.. Such
chips can be used for the manufacture of pulp for paper, and as
cattle bedding and chicken litter, which can subsequently be
spread on fields to increase the humus content of the soil.
They can be made from any species of wood, and tops and branches
C3.n be utilized. The number of pulp companies which can use
. -.- '.-.---- - ------ --- --~-- -..--. .-
-39-
hardwoods is limited at the present time and only those making
kraft paper can use chj ps containing bark, but the demand for
hardwood chips \~ll increase and portable barkers are being
developed.. Every woodlot owner should consi.der the possibility
of improving the quality of his woodlot by utilizing the low-
grade material as chips or otherwise.
O't',1Tlers of large woodlots might be encouI'aged to
undertake thinnings and improvement cuttings if equipment or
trained crews were available at reasonable costo The Authority
should consider offering such a service. As an alternative,
the Authority might offer a subsidy for each acre improved to
its specifications and found satisfactory on inspection by the
Authority's officers.
2. Elimination of Woodland Grazing
The Report of the Ontario Royal Commission on
Forestry, 1947, contains the following statement:
"The most widespread abuse of forests is that of
utilizins them as pasturage for animals. If this
practice alone could be eliminated more than half
the battle to save Ontario woodlots would be won.
Forestry and pasturage cannot succeed on the same
piece of ground, as diametrically opposite condi-
tions are necessary for each.
"It is foolish to consider replanting millions of
acres to forests unless the owners of millions of
acres already under forest are convinced of the
necessity and economy of caring for them in such a
manner that they will be perpetuated and improved."
This is not a new theme. As early as 1908 the
Ontario Legislature, in providing an exemption from taxation of
one acre in ten used for forestry purposes, included a "no
grazingli clause.
There are a number of reasons for the widespread
practice of allowing woodland grazing. The woodlot has always
been considered a pasture field even though the value of woodland
pasture is low compared to cleared land. The reason for its
low carrying capacity is partly because grass grown in the shade I
I
I
is not nearly as high in food value as that grown in full sun-
lighto The following statement in respect to woodland pasture
i:
,
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1
Cattle hm'e 110 Place ill a 'woodlot. They
destroy regelleratioll, compact the soil
alld expose tree roots to disease. I
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U.here a coullty has no Tree-
Cuttill!! Ny-fAl(l'. trees (l'hich aI','
too sllIall for ecol/olI/ic use 1//(/J'
111' cut or the 'valuable specie~ clear
cut. lem'illg the area ullProductive
for 1//all.\' years.
.1 1/ e a 1 t h _" (,'oodlot
should 1'011 tail/ 011/(//-
dallt YOUIl!! !!rml,th to
replace II/ature trees
as they arc IIllr'i'ested.
--. - -,~ .--"---.-- -
-40-
has been made by leaders in agriculture: "On the whole, the
opinion of the Agronomists is that, on the average, woodland
pasture will produce about one-sixth the quantity of pasturage,
and the quality will be about one-half as good as that of the
improved pasture". Weeds are usually prolific in wooded
pastures, often smothering most of the grass.
If shade is required for stock, it may be desir-
able to leave a portion of the woodlot in the pasture when
fencing the woodlot. Another solution is to establish small
groves of fast-growing hardwoods Which can be fenced temporariq
until the trees are sufficiently tall that browsing will not
damage cro'~ growth. Where springs or streams that supply
water for the stock are situated in the woodlot, access may
be made to a trough near the spring and the area should be
fenced to prevent trampling.
The economic fallacy of grazing woodlands is
illustrated by the following examples:
(a) *The Wisconsin Agriculture Experiment Station
measured the total yield per acre of dry matter from three
types of pasture over a five-year period in Richland County:
Imfroved pasture
grass and legume) 3,210 1 bs.
Unimproved open pasture 1,453 Ibs.
Woodland pasture 276 lbs. I
Here the improvement of one acre of open pasture provided a
gain of 1,757 pounds of feed, which is equivalent to the
forage from 6.4 acres of woodland producing at the rate of 276
pounds per acre. In this case the improvement of about 6~
acres of existing open pasture would provide all the additional
roughage that could be obtained from 40 acres of woodland~
(b) tThe U.S. Soil Conservation Service~co-operating
* The case Against Cows. Wisconsin Conservation BUlletin,
December 19510
t Soil Conserv~tion Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Fore stry Handbook (Fourth Edition). 1948. Upper Mississ:L;crr:::.
Region~ Compiled and edited by S.S. Locke, Chief Regional
Forestry Division.
-~ --.. - --
-41-
with the Wisconsin Agriculture Experiment Station, conducted
studies which showed that the daily pasture cost per cow was
greater in woodland pastures. Taxes and other charges against
the land, fencing, costs of establishment and acres required
per cow were all considered. The study showed the relative
daily pasture costs per cowan different classes of pasture
to be approximately as follows~
Rotation pasture 5~
Open permanent pasture 6~
Improved pasture 5~
~'looded pasture 17~
At this rate, for a lBO-day grazing season) woodland pasture
cost $30.60 per cow, whereas on improved pasture the cost was
$9.00. In other words, wooded pasture cost over three times
as much as improved pasture.
( c) A fully timbered average maple stand, 60 years old,
may yield about 4,000 board feet of saw timber per acre, net
scale, in the R.D.H.P. area. Such a woodlot is vi. rt ually
ruined by 20 years of heavy grazing, whereas 20 years of pro-
tection and no logging may increase the net volume to approxi-
mately 8,500 board feet per acre. The gain of 4,500 board
feet is equivalent to an annual increase of 225 board feet per
acre. At $28 per thousand on the stump this amounts to a
mean annual gross income of $6.30 per acre over the period of
utilizing only the increase in volume.
Basically the problem in grazing, as in all
woodlot forestry, is the fact that a tree takes not one or two
seasons but often more than the lifespan of a man before it
is ready for harvest. This makes it difficult for many owners
to understand the advantages of proper care for their woodlots
or submarginal land. Examples such as those given show that
good forestry practice in the woodlot will return more dollars
than the scant forage value which it may produce for livestock~
The Authority will find very little local or regional data on
woodlands to prove these arguments on economic return, and
,i'!
--.'-' .<.-- >~ ---. .-. .~-,- --~.-"~' . -- -- , --_.~ '.. - .
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-42-
should recommend that the appropriate agencies extend their
studies in this field~
The number of cattle permitted to graze and
the siz e of the woodlot have a direct relationship to the
damage which is done. A large woodlot, of course, is not as
seriously damaged by a few head of cattle as a small one.
However, in most cases where grazing is permitted over a number
of seasons the damage is serious.
Livestock admitted to woodland browse on the
leaves and shoots of small trees and ride thffin down, and by
scuffing the surface roots of larger trees injure them and
permit entry of fungus diseases.
Field observations indicate that cattle have
preference habits in grazing woodlands. Unfortunately this
preference is for the more economically desirable species
such as maple, basswood, elm and beech, whereas undesirable !
species such as hornbeam, blue beech, dogwood and hawthorn are
r
grazed only when cattle are seriously underfedp This combina-
tion of factors, under continued grazing, changes not only
the quantity but the quality of the reproduction and so the
succeeding stand. The poorer hardwood species, and conifers
where these occur, are favoured. The invasion of pastures by
cedar and hawthorn is an illustration of this grazing preference.
I,
Continued overgrazing affects natural reproduc-
tion both directly and indirectly; directly in so far as it
affects the reproduction itself and indirectly through its
effect on the soilo Livestock trampling compacts the soil,
breaks up the protective layer of litter, exposing the mineral
soil to drying, and the cattle, by consuming the vegetation
within reach, reduce the volume of litter naturally returned
to the soil. It is this litter which keeps the soil open or
porous and in a highly absorptive state. The changed water
relations affect adversely the rate of tree growth and may
eliminate at an early stage those seedlings which do manage to
make a start in the compacted soil.
-43-
A woodland is doomed where conditions persist I
After a time with
whicl1 w'ill not permit natura.l regeneration,. I
I
no new growth to replace larger trees which die of natural "
~
Ii
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causes, the canopy begins to open up, and sunlight let in \1
I
further dries out the soilu ~eeds and later grasses which I
!
;
require plenty of light gain a foothold and a sod begins to j
I
.
fa r:n) In general, tree seeds which germinate cannot compete j
I
I
!
with an established grass cover. As these effects of grazing ,
f.
progress the stand becomes open or park-like and eventually
all the trees disappear.
Livestock grazing affects more than the growth 1:
,
of trees on the owner's land. Soil erosion in the woodland if
increases as the absorptive capacity and mechanical protection ~
)
"
I
afforded the soil by the litter are reduced. The open canopy I
exposes the soil to the erosive force of rain impact Gnd a i
~
compacted soil forces overland movement of water. Livesto ck I
I
j
tend to follow trails in the woodland and these often become I
centres of serious erosion. Thus continued grazing increases ~
surface run-off and soil erosion.
Soil losses and the amount of wat er which ran .
I
off th8 land were measured at the Soil Conservation Experiment
Station, La Crosse, Wisconsin~ The following table* shows the t
results of measurements of four heavy rains recorded during
the 1935 growing SGason on three separate watersheds having
the same soil typeo
Run-off Soil Loss
Inch es % of Total (1bs~ per Acre)
Precipitation
Watershed A
(Grazed TJvoods) 1.01 12e>61 1 ? 5 60
Vlatershed B
(Protected Woods) .02 c25 20
Watershed C
(Open Pasture) Q 34 4,,24 560
* Technical Bulletin No. 973. u.S. Department of Agricult1':Yc
Soil Conservation Service. 1949.
,1
-44-
Watershed 1'1.: 2.67 acres of second-growth hardwoodsft
Slope 15 - 18 per cent~
Grazed tu optimum carr:ring capacity. I
Watershed B: 11.5 acres of second-growth hardwoods.
3lope 25 - 50 per cent. i
Neither grazed nor burned. i
~
Watershed C: 5.85 acres cleared of second-growth timber in .~
I
1932. i
310pe 25 - 35 per cent. j
~
Grazed to optimum carrying capacity~ I
Obviously, continued woodland grazing is more 1
tb~n the private affair of the property owner. Anything which I
1
contributes to soil 108s and to increased surface run-off t
.
lowers the yield capacity of the land on the one hand and I
1
adds to the flood hazard on the other. The lessened value of
i
wood products reaching the market and the increased cost per I
cow on poor pastur~ are economic losses to the community as
well as to the individual. The Authority is therefore justified,
not only in carrying out a vigorous campaign of education in
woodland improvement, but also in offering direct assistance
to woodlot owners. The County of Halton has for some time had
a program of assistance for fencing of woodlots, although to i
~
date this program has not had a very marked success. It is
recommended that the R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority through
discussions with woodlot owners should formulate some modifica-
tion of this program which will stimulate action toward the
elimination of woodland grazing and the improvement of private
\V'oodlands ..
Although much study and publicity have been
given to this subject, the seriousness of the grazing problem
has not yet been brougrt home to the person most concerned,
the farm woodlot owner. It is recommended as a step in this
direction that the Authority publish a simple, attractive
bulletin on woodlot grazing.
3, Forest Fire Protection
In spite of the publicity given to the damage
caused by fire the average person does not realize how serious
this is., Though he may know that young growth and small trees
1
-45- I
I
are b'lrned by surface :fires he do es not reaii ze the extent of I
~ I
,
the less obvious damage SUr::ll as the destruction of humus {
1
1
which itself preserves the condition and water-retaining !
"
.~
I
capacity of the soil. when the humus and ground cover are .,
. i
, f
destroyed the sun and dry wind s remove the moisture requirE;r1 ! r
, I
~; t
"
i
for tree growth and plant nutrients are destroyed~ The hea~ ~
of the fire also injures the grm'ling t issue ins ide the bar:,:: ~
j
of older trees which are not actually burned, exposing the ~ .
; I
wood to attack by insects and fungi. Even though through time i,
,
,
~I
the wounds may be completely healed, the damage shows up as ~
"
;
;J
defects when the tree is cut for lumber. ,
\
1
Many landowners in Southern Ontario are so !
;l
completely unaware of, or indifferent to, the damaging effects L
l
of fire that they deliberately set fire in peat land to burn t
!
off the peat, starting fires which it is next to impossible ~
I
~
~
to extinguish. Such fires burn for months, even under the \
t'
~ .
snow, destroying many acres of ~odland every year, not only ~
?:,
on the land of the person setting the fire but frequently ~. .
l'
spreading over land adjacent to it. i
:~
The first step in fire control is fire preven-
j
tion, and the best assurance of prevention is an enlightened ~
i
public opinion which will make every member of the rural
J
community conscious of the seriousness of the fire damage and
of his duty as a citizen to do all he can to prevent it. The
farmer can prevent most fires in farm woodlots if he exercises ,
the same care that he does around his home and buildings~ It
is particularly necessary to exercise such care in areas which
have been cut recently, since the accumulation of slash
creates a serious fire hazardv Close utilization of tops and I
the scattering of slash so that it lies close to the moist
ground and rots faster will help to reduce this danger~
j
From the evidence collected in the northern I
~
st3.tes of the United States, where conditions most nearly
a?proximate those of rural Southern Ontario, it is apparent
that the most effective fire protective systems are those set
-46-
up under the following co~ditions:
( a) ~bere the system is organized under the direction
and control of the state forester and the wardens
in each town are appointed by him on the recommenda-
tion of the local council.
(b) Where wardens paid an annual retainer are actual
residents in the locality. Usually they are farmers
who have had practical instruction in fighting fire.
They have the power to callout other local residents
to help in fire-fighting and maintain a store of
fire-fighting tools on their premises.
( c ) Where the warden is assisted in his work by all
members of the community. That is, his address and
telephone number are known to everyone and fires
are reported to him immediately.
(d) ~Vhere designated members of the community know that
they are likely to be called on to fight fire and
are paid so much per hour for the time they are so
employed.
( e) Where every resident is thoroughly fire-conscious
and realizes that loss of timber by fire is a loss
to the whole community, and considers it his duty
to prevent, report and fight fire.
(f) Where fires for burning brush and rubbish may be
set only after a permit has been obtained from the
local firewarden.
It is therefore recommended that the Authori tr
set up a committee to determine the best method of providing
fire protection for public and private lands, through the co- ~
l
I
operation of the Department of Lands and Forests, for the ~
t
protection of woodlands in the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. ,'<
~
.~
If opinion in favour of such a move were suf- I
I
ficiently widespread, it is possible that all of Southern
Ontari~ could be declared to be a "fire district" under The ~
Forest Fires Prevention Act. This would place organization
~
I
'(
I
j
~
I
It.
!
;J:
~
~
;,
A stlllllp fence testifies to the fine pine stands 'Which oncc 1vere cO/ll1llon in the area.
t
Silllple protecti1!( 11I((/- f
"
sllres should be 1II0re !
yellerally IIsed. This
Plollyhed fire - y /lanl ~
,
,
and siyn Yn'lny th l' .
caretal.er's telePhoni' I
I
II U In 1> e r reduce the ,
danyer on the Ontario ;
\
COllnty Forest. l
i
i
1
I
\:
1
!.
t
t
1
r
,
~
~. .
~. '
~
r
:',
,\"
l':
~;:
;;
~,:
,~:'
.)'n01,' fcnces of trees ", .
t.
Oil the ',,'ind1vard side I,
sll1'e tJle J1llll!icipo!ity l'
i: .
t!lIiusands of dollars ill Ji
.l~
the (Tectioll and re- ~ ;
IIIm'al of artificial fen- .'
ces each year.
"
"
.."tI
I
I'
i,
-47- I!
i
\
I
and administration under the experienced staff of the Depart- I
i
,
,
ment of Lands and Forests. The Select Committee on Conserva-
tion, 1950, recommended that:
"On applicat ion to the Minister of Lands and Forests,
the boundaries of the fire district should be extended
to include those municipalities or areas that have 25
per cent or more of their area classified as woodland,
slash, waste or swamp lands; and
"In all other municipalities the Mini ster of Lands and
Forests should be empowered to enter into agreements
to provide forest fire protection and to charge a
portion of the cost back t 0 the said municipalities. II
In the meantime powers already exist for counties
under The Fire Extinguishment Act (R.S.O. 1950, Chapter 142),
and for townships, under The Municipal Act {R.S.O. 1950, Chapter
243, Section 388} and The Fire Guardians Act (R.S.O. 1950 )
Chapter 139} to appoint officers and make regulations for the
prevent ion and suppression of fire s in the ir areas.
4. Protection from Insects and Diseases
In projects such as the public and private
reforestation recommended for the R.D.H.P. Watersheds, careful
consideration should be given to the prevention of outbreaks
of insects or tree diseases and adequate arrangements made
'\
;,i
for the immediate application of control measures when these ",
II
i1
;j
become necessary. While it is not pos si ble to predict accuratel; !I
d
!!
the course insects or disease may take under the ever-changing :i,
; ~
ti
"
I
conditions of a newly forested area, there are a number of ;j
i ~
fundamental principles which, if applied, will greatly lessen ;!
,;~
"
their destructiveness. ;~I .
Ii
Large areas of one kind of tree present ideal i
conditions for an outbreak of insects or fungus disease. Mixing 1'_ .
r
j
I,
species in the plantation or separating the species in small fj
I
blocks tends to slow the spread of outbreaks until natural r
r
'1:
i'
;;
agenCies bring them under control or direct control measures "
,
can be applied. \'
;
It is important to plant only the species of ;1
1-,
,"j
trees suitable to the site and existing growing conditions. I
"
I
':1
Healthy, vigorous trees are certainly more resistant to attack il
!l
;
i
1
"'"'"
I
i
I:
-4$- I:
I
than weak, struggling ones. I
!
Over-mature and dead trees should be removed !
from the existing stands as these harbour bark-beetles and I
,
I
f
wood-boring insects which may become excessively abundant and ,
i, i
attack healthy adjacent trees. Fungus infections may likewise I
i
apread from such sources. I
I
I
I
Care should be exercised to prevent ground fires I
,
I
I
Even light ground fires are frequently followed by severe
!
outbreaks of bark-beetles and wood-boring insects and fungus
t
l
infection at the base of the trees. I
i
Woodcutting operations, sawmill sites and wood i
I
I
storage yards should be carefully supervised or they may I
i
become reservoirs of infestation. !
I
It is essential that an inspection be made
I
each year so that any abnormal increase in insects or disease
I
may be noted and control measures initiated before the outbreak I
becomes serious. Prompt action may reduce control measures
I
to a comparatively easy task and confine damage to a small area~
"I
I
(a) Some Important Insect Pests 1
I
The ~fuite Pine Weevil has caused serious damage
to plantations by attacking the leading shoots of young white
pine. As th is insect prefers to work in full sunshine, white
pine should be grown in mixture with some other species which
will shade the pine in its early years.
In recent years the European Pine Shoot Moth has
increased to epidemic proportions in red and Scotch pines.
Investigations are under way but no si~ple and effective control
measures have yet been discovered. Another enemy of these
species, the Root-collar Weevil, has recently been reported
near Angus in Simcoe County. This insect kills young trees by
girdling them below the ground. In th e U. S. A., whe re th i s
insect is better known, certain emulsions applied around the
base of infested trees are said to give good control.
Leaf-feeding insects may kill conifers by one
complete defoliation and hardwoods by defoliation for three
~
-49- ' I
i
years in succession. However, even partial defoliation may so I
i
weaken trees that ttley will be attacked by other enemies. I
i
Protection from leaf-feeding insects is therefore desirable. I
This is the kind of attack against which spraying is most
successful.
Since investigations of forest insects are
constantly under way, the owner considering insect control
should always check with the Zone Forester to find the most
effective methods now in use.
(b) Tree Diseases ,
The chief diseases of the hardwoods are the
various trtmk, butt and root rots, and chronic stem cankers,
which are all endemic and may cause serious damage under
aggravating conditions. Woodlots on the ReD.HeP. Watersheds
present very diverse conditions with respect to the incidence
of these diseases, a circumstance which is usually related to
their past his tory.. Thus many containing old timber are in
need of heavy preliminary salvage and sanitation cuttings as
a result of mismanagement or neglect. Such cuttings should
precede or be combined with cle8nings and improvement cuttings,
designed to improve the composition and structure of the stands~
Having established a sanitary condition, normal care should
maintain it and obviate loss on account of decay. 1.
~
I,
~!I
,
The wood rots are commonly thought of as ~
~
~
diseases of mature and over-mature timber, but experience has j
.:1
.'
;I
sho~m that infection may occur at a very early age. In hard- 1
I
wood sprouts the stem may be i.nfected from the parent stump. f
l
In older trees infection is chiefly through wounds, either of I
I
the root or trunk, which may be caused by fire, trampling by t
animals, insects, meteorological agencies, or by carelessness I
~
,
or accident in felling and other woods operationso ~
l~
,.
For many reasons "cleanings" in the reproduction I
I.
are desirable, especially where the woods have been heavily cut. I
t
ij
~
Besides favouring the valuable species, those stems which are 11
l
ij
j
of seedling origin should be favoured over stump sprouts which 1
i
are more liable to decay.
11
; I
,
~ .
~ i
I
-50- I
!
l
I
In harvest cuttings, which should recur at !
i
frequent intervals, the permissible volume allotted should
i
include trees in which incipient decay is discovered and so I
far as possible those which have become a poor risk through
injury or other circumstances.
The whit e pine blist er rust is a serious enem?
of that important species. It can be controlled by eliminat~ 0 ~
of the currant and gooseberry bushes which spread the disease,
This is economically feasible where white pine is growing on
good sites, and where a considerable concentration of white
pine on a small area reduces the labour involved"
5. Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
In the process of clearing land for agriculture,
woodlots and belts of trees along fence lines have been
removed which had served as natural shelterbeltsft The restora-
tion of these in the form of windbreaks is essential to a
complete conservation program in many parts of Southern Ontario.
~fuen proper species are used and windbreaks are
correctly placed the effects are almost entirely beneficialo
The effects may be direct or indirect, but in either case
are the result of reduction in wind velocity. The effects of
windbreaks on crops and cultivated fields may be listed as
follows:
(a) Direct Effect s
(1 ) Wind damage and lodging in small grains
and corn is reduced or eliminated.
( 2 ) Snow and the resultant moisture are more
evenly distributed over fields, particu-
larly on the higher spots where they are
required most.
( 3 ) Wind erosion of the soil is minimized&
(b) Indirect Effects
(1 ) Moisture loss by evanoration is reduced.
( 2) Temperatures in the fields are raised,
which may prevent frost damage, accelerate
growth and even lengthen the growing
season slightly.
( 3 ) Erosion of the soil by water may be reduced
by its more even distribution when released
from snow.
-51-
The benefits of windbreaks to buildings in
reducing heat loss in winter have been shown to be considerable..
Experiments conducted in the United St,ates proved that more
than twice as much heat is lost from a house, per day or per
hour, with a wind of 20 m.p.h. as with one of 5 m.p.h., and
windbreaks can easily reduce wind velocities in this propor-
tion. Used in this way they can often be made to form an
effective background for the house and a protection for farm
buildings. Another advantage of windbreaks is that they
provid~ shelter and runways for insectivorous birds and small
animals.
Belts of trees comprising one or two rows are
usually called windbreaks, and with more than two rows, shelter-
belts. In Southern Ont3.rio windbreaks as a rule give sufficient
protection except where wind erosion of soil on rolling land
is severe, when shelterbelts may be required. On le vel
land windbreaks may nearly always be established along exist-
ing fence lines) but on rolling land consideration should be
given to the contour of the l3.nd. The prevailing winds in
Southern Ontario are generally from the west, so that the
greatest protection will be derived from windbreaks on the west
I
,
side, but the placement of windbreaks on the other three sides
as well should be considered~
Both the hei&~t of the trees and the wind
velocity influence the effective range of a windbreak. An
average windbreak will reduce the ground velocity of a 20-mile
wind 10 per cent or more for a distance of about 30 times the
height of the trees. About one-fourth of this effect will be
felt on the windward side of the windbreak and three-fourths
on the leeward side. For example, if the trees are 40 feet
high the total effective range with a 20-mile wind will be
30 x 40 or 1,200 feet, 300 feet of which will be on the wind-
ward side and 900 feet on the leeward side. Generally speakingj
the reduction in velocity is greatest close to the wind~reak
and tapers out to zero farther away. With higher wind
WINDBREAK PLAN
for
1,000 ACRE BLOCK
6 l' r:, 1:
~" ~ .:. . Q '.
:. ~~.: : 6 .... ".'
.' <-:z.:' .. ..:
m~ L~~L . QQ=~C'~L,,>>w=.....'...=~~ L"
'0
~ 1
Ii' j
8
100 100 100 100 100
ac. oc. oc.; ac. oc.
.. ~
Q3 <ro=. .... ....=T==,.
~
o
8
100 100 100 100 100 g
oc. ac.. oc. oc. oc. ~
'. . ~
. ~
. J
' .
r; " ' :
. 1': ~ ; :,
:i'~~ '. :50~:;;,~g-::;r;>:::!O' . :X;),IXi)~:)'~~:;c.~::?.zo~zr:~~o::xt2!~~~~O"~'
~ I~ ~ 1251400"" " lOft ~ ~ I
)
This plan shows the minimum windbreak requirements
for a 1,000 acre block on level land. Woodlots and
plantations will replace some of this and placement
will have to be adjusted according to topography and
soil on rolling land.
,
-52-
velocities and/or higher trees the proportionate reduction
and the effective range will be greater.
European alder is gaining great popularity as
a windbreak tree because it is a nitrogen-fixer like the
legumes and does not rob the soil to the same extent as non-
nitrogen-fixing species.
One consideration that should be kept in mind
is that under certain circumstances windbreaks may cause air
stagnation, which may increase temperature and moisture con-
ditions to a dangerous degree in summer or increase frost
damage in spring and fall on small areas, particularly in
hollows. Where this is likely to occur, windbreaks should be
planted so as to guide the flow of air past such spotsu Where
these conditions develop after the windbreaks are est~blished
they may be relieved by judicious opening up of the windbreaks..
Experience has shown that windbreaks are an
asset to any farm, that their adverse effects, if any, are
local and easily remedied, and that in many areas they are
essential to the control of soil erosion by wind. It is
therefore recommended that the Authority encourage in every
way the establishment of windbreaks by private owners.
"
CHAPTER 1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WATERSHEDS
The R.D.H.P. Authority comprises the watersheds
of the Rouge River, Duffin, Highland and Petticoat Creeks and
the wedge-shaped drainage areas of small creeks draining
directly into Lake Ontario at Port Union and Frenchman Bay
( Fig. 1). The combined area of the watersheds is rectangular
in shape measuring about 17 miles in width by 19 miles in depth
from Lake Ontario and has a total area of 310.14 square miles.
It is bounded on the west by the Don River Watershed; on the
north by parts of the H~~er and Holland Rivers, Pefferlaw
Brook and Uxbridge Brook Watersheds; on the east by the Non-
quon River, Lyon Brook and Lynde Creek Watersheds and on the
south by Lake Ontario.
The geol~gy is discussed in detail in the Land
Use part of this report but in order to show the effect that
the land forms have on run-off they may be briefly referred to
here. The R.D.H,P. VJatersheds include kame moraines, till
plains, bevelled till and clay plains. With the kame moraines,
if not saturated, frozen or covered with ice, there is deep
penetration of precipitation which reduces surface run-off
considerabl y. The till plains are drumlinized or fluted and
are moderately impervious but have hollow and swamp areas
which delay run-off to some extent. The bevelled till plains
are classed as impervious but have pockets which hold run-off
and reduce run-off to that extent. Clay plains are also im-
pervious and soon become saturated and with heavy rain the run-
off approaches 100 per cent. Except for the pockets which holq
water, the steep slopes of the watershed greatly reduce the
benefits of the pervious soils ana the reduction and delay of
surface run-off in the more rugged areas. The accompanying
Table 1 shows the various soil classifications and the approxi-
mate percentage of each.
~
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TABLE I
THE APPROXI~~TE ORDER OF PERMEABILITY FOR EACH SOIL TYPE
FROM BEACH AND BOULDER, THE MOST PERVIOUS TO BEVELLED
TILL AND CLAY PLAINS, THE LErlST PERVIOUS AND THE APPROXI-
MATE PERCENTriGES OF EnCH.
Rouge Duffin Highland Petticoat
Soil Types River Creek Creek Creek
% % % %
-
Pervious ,
,
6 ~
Beach, Boulder 0 2 9
Kame Moraine 7 28 -- --
Sand Plain 6 " 1$ 22
Semi-Pervious
Drumlinized Till Plain 43 44 76 5$
rllmost Impervious
Bevelled Till Plain 43 4 -- --
I Clay Plain 1 16 -- ) 11
I
Percentage Totals 100. 100 100 100 ),
-
Drainage Areas 129.69 10.41
Square Miles 119.94 39.45
!
Average Gradient
Approx. Feet Per Mile
I Headwaters to Lake Onto
I
I
· Ea st Branch 34 45 31 -- i
,
: West Branch 26 37 25 --
Average for Both t
I Branches 30 41 2$ -- ,
: ,
i Main Branch -- -- -- 51
i
-2-
1. Watersheds and Rivers
(a) The Rouge Watershed
The Rouge Watershed lies between that of High-
land Creek on the west and Duffin and Petticoat Creeks on the
dast. It is a fan-shaped area funnelling into Lake Ontario
at Rosebank Station. The northerly part varies from g to 12
miles in width and the southerly part converges from a width ,<
;;~
of 6 miles at Steeles Avenue to about one mile at the lake. '
j l
Its overall depth from the lake is about 19 miles and the j
~
area is 129.69 square miles. ~
f
Most of the watershed consisting of the central :
I
I
part is in the Township of Markham with a small northerly seg- ~
;~i
ment in the Township of \Jhi tchurch and a small triangular area ~
i
of about 4 square miles at the southerly end in tho Township I
of Scarborough. There are no towns on the watershed and the I
only incorporated villages are Markham and Stouffville*. Non- .~
incorporated vill~ges and hamlets are Mountjoy, Vinegar Hill, j
Unionville, Buttonville, Ringwood, Locust Hill, Gormley and ,I
I
others. ~
The stream gradients and lateral slopes of the 1
.~
whole watershed are heclvy varying in tho centrlil and southern !
parts from 25 to as much as 250 feet to the mile. In the I
~
headwater region in Whitchurch and the north-west part of I
M~rkham TownshiP~ the terrain is particularly hil~y and rugged '1.1.,
wlth slopes varYlng from 175 to 375 feet to the ml1e. These :'
heavy gradients on the Rouge and other watersheds of the !
Authority are one of the chief physical facto rs which cause I
floods in this area. I
The central portion, or about 45 per cent of ~
the watershed, is bevelled till plain including small sand I
areas which form about 3 per cent of the area. Lying north I
and south of the bevelled till plain there are drumlinized t
till plains amounting to 43 per cent of the total watershed I
area. About 7 per cent of the area along the northerly fringe !
,"
'I'
of the watershed is kame moraines. The segment between the :~
;w
drumlinized till plains and the lake amounting to about I
* Stouffville is astride the height of land between the> - I
Rouge and Duffin Watersheds.i
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..... .'.'
. . ,I' . ~~
-3-
5 per cent of the watershed has arproximately equal areas of
sand and clay plain.
The Rouge River has many tributaries, the
principal ones being the Little Rouge and Beaver Creeks.
Seven other tributaries have been designated on Fig. 2 by
letters "A" to "G". The Rouge River rises about one mile north-
west of Gormley C.N.R. station, at an elevation of 985 above
mean sea level and flows in a general south-easterly direction I'
for a distance of 27 miles to Lake Ontario (mean water level
245 . 89) . The total fall is 739.1 feet or an average fall of
27.4 feet to the mile which is a heavy gradient. The table on
Fig. 2 shows the gradients of the river section by section
which vary from 10.9 to 132.1 feet to the mile. The Little
Rouge Creek which drains the easterly part of the watershed
and joins the main river just above No. 2A Highway about a
mile and a half from the lake is the most important tributary.
The figure shows many of the other tributaries and their
respective gradients, many of which are steeper than those of
the main branches. The Little Rouge has a drainage area of
41.7 square miles while the main Rouge River has a drainage
area of 87 square miles above the "forks".
(b) The Duffin Creek Watershed
Duffin Creek v~atershed is also a fan-shaped
area funnelling into Lake Ontario at the westerly boundary
of Ajax. Its greatest width is loi miles in the northerly
part, tapering to about Ii miles at the south end near the lake.
It measures about 18 miles from the lake to its northerly
limit and has an area of 119.94 square miles.
The headwater portion is in the Township of
Uxbridge and about 5 square miles at the north-westerly corner
is in the Township of Whitchurch; the southerly and greater
part is in the Township of Pickering except for a fringe area
of 4 square miles which is in the Township of Markham.
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The only incorporated village is Pickering.
Non-incorporated villages and hamlets are: - Altona, Balsam,
Brougham, Claremont, Clarke's Hollow, Decker's Hollow, Glasgow,
Glen Major, Goodwood, Greenwood, Green River, Whitevale and
others.
In the headwater zone, most of which is in the
Township of Uxbridge, the terrain is rugged kame moraines which
make up about 28 per cent of the watershed area. The centra 1
.
zone or about 44 per cent of the watershed, is drumlinized till
plain. To the south of the latter land form, there is a sand
zone (6 per cent) and from here to the lake it is chiefly clay
plain (16 per cent) with scattered patches of boulder pave-
ments (2 per cent) and drumlins.
The lateral slopes from the headwaters to
within 4 miles of the lake are heavier than those of the Rouge
River.
The watershed is drained by two major creeks,
the East and West Branches, their confluence being about 3i
miles from the lake and about half a mile upstream from No. 2
Highway. They both have several tributaries which are shown
on Figures 1 and 2, The East Branch rises about a mile north-
west of Glen Major at an elevation of about 1,000 feet, flows
in a general southerly direction about 16t miles to its outlet
at the lake. The difference in elevation from its source to
the lake is about 755 feet for an average fall of 45.7 feet
to the mile. The West Branch rises in a swamp about 3 miles
north-east of Stouffville at an elevation also of about 1,000
feet and flows in a general southerly and south-easterly r
direction for a distance of 16.7 miles to its confluence with
the East Branch. The fall to Lake Ontario is also about 755
feet or 36.8 feet to the mile.
( c) The Highland Creek Watershed
The Highland Creek Watershed is an irregular
3-sided area bounded on the west by the Don Watershed and the
, '....,.
-5-
north and east by the Rouge Watershed and that of a small
creek which empties into the lake about ! of a mile north-
east of Port Union. The southerly boundary loops along No. 2
Highway for about 4 miles and thence due east for 2! miles
to Lake Ontario near the mouth of Highland Creek.
The watershed has an average width of 5 miles
and a depth from Lake Ontario of approximately 8 miles with a
total area of 39.45 square miles. Where it funnels into the
II
lake the watershed is arrow-shaped with a width along No. 2
Highway of 2i miles and about half a mile frontage on the
lake.
About 2i square miles of the headwaters zone is
in Markham Township and the remainder of the watershed is in
Scarborough Township. There are no incorporated towns or
villages on the watershed. Some of the non-incorporated
villages and hamlets are: - Agincourt, Bendale, Highland Creek,
Malvern, Milliken, Scarborough and West Hill.
The Township of Scarborough is within Metro-
politan Toronto and a large portion of the Township, parti-
cularly the south-westerly part which includes a large segment
of the watershed, is well urbanized.
The watershed is drained by two main creeks "
each with many tributaries, their confluence being 2.2 miles
upstream from No. 2A Highway and 4.7 miles from the lake.
The East Branch rises about i a mile west of
Milliken at an elevation of about 648 feet. It has a general
irregular south-easterly course for about 8 miles to its con-
fluence with the West Branch and thence easterly on a tortuous
course to Lake Ontario. The total fall from the headwaters to
the lake is about 402 feet or 31.7 feet to the mile. The
drainage area of the East Branch above the forks is 13.2 square
mi le s .
The West Branch rises about 2i miles north-west
of Agincourt at an elevation of about 590 feet. It flows in an
- ,
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j:j'
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it
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irregular and general south-easterly direction to a point ,
"
,;
near Scarborough Village where it turns north-easterly to 'j,
.
~~
the forks, an overall distance of 8.9 miles. The fall from " t
,
,
headwaters to the lake averages about 25.3 feet to the mile ,
;~
and the drainage area is 17.5 square miles. \
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The average gradient of the East Branch is l
!
-J.
slightly greater than that of the Rouge River (27.4' to the ,
,
..!
,
mile) but the lateral slopes to the streams are much less ,I
,,!
., "
than those of the Rouge area.
Running north from West Hill there is a belt
of former sandy shorecliffs less than i of a mile wide crossing
the narrow neck of the watershed. The area between the
shorecliffs and the lake which is about 24 per cent of the ,
b
total watershed area, is chiefly sand plain with 3 small '!
areas of boulder pavements and drumlins. The remaining 76 per ,
r
~
cent north of the shorecliff belt is drumlinized till plain
except for 4 small areas of drumlins.
(d) The Petticoat Creek Watershed ,
The Petticoat Creek Watershed is an elongated
area lying between the Rouge River Watershed on the west and
those of the Duffin and Pickering Creeks on the east. The
area has an overall length of 9 miles with a maximum width of
2t miles at Cherrywood.
The two main headwater branches rise in the
area between Locust Hill and Whitevale and follow a general
southward course to their confluence at a point about 3 miles
from the lake. From this point the main creek continues in
the same general direction to where it empties into Lake
Ontario about i of a mile west of Frenchman Bay.
The lateral slopes of the drainage area are
quite steep as are the stream gradients. The soil types are
similar to those of the adjacent watersheds being chiefly
drumlinized till plain in the central and upper parts and sand
plain in the lower part with a narrow band of clay plain along
the lakefront.
-
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The area lies for the most part in the Township
of Pickering but includes the north-east corner of the Township
of Scarborough and the south-east corner of the Township of
Markham.
Cherrywood and Belford and parts of Locust Hill
and Rouge Hill, which are un-incorporated communities, are
also included.
Table II shows the drainage areas in square ,.
miles and acres for each of the main watershed areas in the
R.D.H.P. Authority together with those of the smaller inter-
mediate areas.
TABLE II
DRAINAGE AREAS R.D.H.P. WATERSHEDS
Drainage Area Drainage Area
Watershed Square Miles Acres
-
Rouge River 129.69 83,001
, Duffin Cre ek 119.94 76,761
Highland Creek 39.45 25,243
Petticoat Creek 10.41 6,664
Area Between Highland 1.86 1,190
and Rouge Watersheds
Area Between Rouge and
Petticoat Watersheds 0.27 172
Area Between Petticoat
[ and Duffin Watersheds $.53 5,456
!
-
Total Area -
R.D.H.P. Authority 310.14 198,490
CHAPTER 2
FLOODS
1. Former Floods
Reference to the accompanying check list of
floods on the streams that drain the R.D.H.P. Watershed shows
that public attention was first drawn to such floods in the
year 1$50; and that the number of floods recorded after 1900
greatly exceeds the number recorded before that date. It seems
likely that this evident disproportion in the number of floods
recorded before and after the turn of the century reflects,
not the actual frequency of the occurrence of flood conditions,
but rather the adequacy of the reporting by which, in the
earlier decades, the floods were seldom recorded, and, in more
recent times, became much more frequently the subject of
published news reports. In many cases, it reflects also the
increased importance attached by a community to flooding when
material property of increased value is damaged, destroyed, or
jeopardized by exposure to the risk of flooding.
In the years before 1850, the residents of the
communities that border the Rouge River and Duffin and Highland
Creeks, seldom mentioned the rising of the waters in these
streams. If they referred to such phenomena in their letters,
diaries, and other writings, the records are few and obscure,
and for the most part, are unknown and inaccessible.
A number of references to high water in the area
under consideration are to be found in the reports submitted by
inspectors who examined the Dundas Street from the Town of York
eastward to the Trent River, in the years 1799 to 1802.
Mr. Asa Danforth's proposals for opening this road were accepted
in Council on ~pril 9, 1799, and, as he carried forward the
work of construction, month by month, and mile by mile, the
surveyors appointed by the Government to inspect his progress
must have been close at his heels. On November 9, 1799,
William Chewett, Senior Surveyor, completed his examination of
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the first ten miles, "said to be ready for inspection". Later
in the same month, it was stated that "Mr. Chewett has been
absent since the 23rd Inst. examining l-'Ir. Danforth' s Road".
Chewett's Report of this second tour of inspection, dated
December 6, 1799, includes the following paragraph.
"The time for inspection was too late in the
Season, for when an inspector is almost frozen,
he cannot act as he ought to do in such weighty
matter, he should have been enabled to have
examined the Strength of the Bridges under as
well as over, of the Timber that they consisted
of, and of the probability, or chance of any of
them, or part of any of them being carried away
by the Currents in the Spring, which only the
Spring can determine, for I have no knowledge of
the rise, and fall of the Waters, never having
been over the ground when a very essential point,
the Waters marks, were to be seen."
In the following August, another surveyor,
Mr. Lewis Grant, examined the same road, and on August 25,
1800, made his report, from which the following passages are
excerpts.
"The Bridges are Sixteen and a half feet wide, and
in my humble opinion sufficiently strong, and of
a proper length to prevent the water from taking
off the covering. . . . . The Contractor has
Causeway'd three Miry places on the Tenth Mile,
and raised the Bridge on the West Branch of the
Highland Creek. Mr. Thomson of the Township of
Scarboro' having informed me that the Water Run
over it last Spring."
Again, on October 2, 1802, Messrs. VJilliam
Chewett, John Ashbridge, and Josiah Coolidge submitted to the
Surveyor General of Upper Canada their report as "Inspectors
on the Communication called Dundas Street Road, from the
TO\'.Tl of York to the River Trent, opened by Asa Danforth".
The report was concerned with estimates of the cost of main-
taining and repairing the various parts of the road, and does
not make direct mention of the causes of disrepair; it is
probable that, at least in part, thi s was a ttributable to
flooding.
"The little Highland Creek Bridge, for Sloping the
Hills at each end, & repairing the East end of the
Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · · 2 - -
,
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" _ at the Great Highland Creek - The Bridge
to be lengthened 6 Rods - The East end of it
too lcw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 - -
" - 1st Bridge from the Highland Creek, for
Slopeing the Hills at each end & repairing
the same . . . . . . . · · · · · · · · · · · 2 IO
"A ravine between the 16th & 17th Mile post
with high banks, for Slopeing and a new
Bridge & Causeway about 8 Rods . . · · · · · 12 IO
"The Bridge over the River Rouge, or Nen.
The abutments not sufficient, the string
pieces too weak & too few. The abutments
at the East end having failed & the string
pieces broken; the remainder of it will not
last another Season, Consequently it will
require a New one Estimated at . . . . . . . 50 - -
"23d Mile near Mungers (i.e., Pickering
village) The Bridge over Duffins Creek the
string pieces not sufficient in Number or
strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10 _tt
The repairs required to put the bridge over
the Rouge River in proper condition were still under dis-
cussion in September, 1803, when William Chewett wrote on the
subje ct to Mr. Samuel Munger, of Pickering:
"York, 14 September 1803
"Mr. Munger,
"Sir,
lTYou are reque sted to inform me, as you
have found out a better situation for carrying a
Bridge over the River Nen, or Rouge, how far to
the Northward of Danforth's Bridge this
situation is, and what would be the expence to
make a good log Bridge over the River at the
place you propose. Also what distance from the
River on the West side you would turn off from
Danforth's Road, and at what distance you would
come into the same, to the Eastward of the
River Rouge. What is the whole of the distance
and what would be the Expence for making this
part of the R~ad. Also to say what would be the
Expence to repair the old Bridge.
I am &c
Wm. Chewett
Sen'r Surveyorn
Mr. Munger's reply to this letter has not been found.
In nearly fifty years after the date of this
letter only one definite reference to flood damage on any of
these streams has as yet been found. In 1837 Peter Milne,
Senio~ of Markham, made the following entry on the fly-leaf*
* Now in the possession of John Lunau of Markham. The fly-
leaf and first page have been torn from the binding
which is lost.
,
,
. ......".
j)lIffill Creel,' at Picl,'-
crillY March 7. 1956.
Chllrch Street flooded
dlle to Ice jalll at
/>ridye IIrstrealll.
. I
j)lIffill Creel, IIrstrealll
fro1Jl Church .'ltreet
In'idr;e sllln,'s challllel
c/zol,ed 'with hem..\' ice
floes.
.\'0. l lIiyh',.'ay III
FickerillY flooded diu'
to ice hlochzye ill
strealll challllel.
,
-ll-
of his pass book with the nMerchants Bank" of New York:
"Tuesday 16 May 1$37 the Bridge oon (sic) the
Rouge between the Mill and the Village Washed
away by the Flood.
12 June 1837 the New Bridge made and Passable
over the above River".
Receipts in a notebook of Milne's for sums paid by him for
labour and materials used for the bridge show that it was of
some size. It is not clear whether he was acting for the
District Road Commissioners or whether the bridge was his own ,.
property. If the Rouge flooded heavily on May 16, 1837, it
probably did so on some other dates when floods are known to
have occurred on other rivers between 1$20 and 1850. But it
would be unsafe to assume that a flood destroyed the Rouge
Bridge on Dundas Street about 1$29 because Captain Basil Hall
had to "swim" his wagon in that year; or that a large pro-
portion of the money expended on the bridge before 1850 was
for repairs due to flood damage.
Between 1$50 and 1900 seven reports have been
found of floods in this area. On only one of these occasions
are more than one of the streams that traverse the area
mentioned as flooding. On September 13, 1878, the date of the
greatest flood ever experienced on the adjacent Don River,
it is reasonably certain that all the streams of the R.D.H.P.
Watershed must have been affected; yet only the Rouge River
is mentioned in the reports. In the same way, it seems likely
that the flood of June 5, 1$90, so destructive on Duffin Creek,
must have affected the Rouge River and Highland Creek, as well
as the smaller streams in the same vicinity; severe flooding
i
on this date was recorded as far east as the Trent River, as
far west as the Thames, and as far north as the vicinity of
Barrie. The reports from the R.D.H.P. Watershed are from two
points only, both on Duffin Creek.
"Greenwood, Ont. , June 6 - The worst freshet
ever known here occurred on Thursday evening
(June 5th). For the past two nights terrific
thunderstorms have raged and the waters were
high, but the climax was reached last night.
-12-
"Four small dams north of here gave way; and
the mighty flow of waters carried away
Mr. F. L. Green's dam, then the new dam, and
the race broke away, and last of all the dam of
the Oatmeal Milling Company broke away. Roads
were submerged and gutted, cellars were flooded,
bridges were carried away, and telegraph lines
broken. Timber and trees were seen floating in
all directions. Several persons have lost cattle
and horses. The roads in the vicinity are in a
terrible state."
"Pickering, June 6 - This place was visited last
night by the greatest and most destructive flood
ever seen in this vicinity, caused by the ex-
tremely heavy rains of yesterday. A number of
mill dams north of here were washed out, swelling
the river to a mighty torrent, overflowing all
the flats and carrying everything before it.
Many cattle and horses were swept along by the
flood, two or three of which were drowned. Six
or eight bridges near here have been swept away,
some of them large structures. Timber and fences
are scattered in all directions. One gentleman
who was on a bridge when it was swept away
experienced a dark and perilous ride for some
distance down the stream, finally rescuing himself
by climbing to the top of a small elm tree.
Several boat houses and boats were also carried
away. The village bus with six occupants was in
the water in a very dangerous position two hours.
They were got out safely by the aid of some of the
villagers. The loss will be heavy, especially
for bridges."
The desultory character of the reporting of
floods on the streams of the R.D.H.P. may be attributed in
part to the prevalence in this vicinity of the view that
floods were an annual event and a perennial nuisance. The
following paragraph, quoted from the Pickering News, of
February 19, 1954, somewhat lightly dismisses what was
actually a flood of more than average severity.
"This neighborhood has seen an annual spring
flood, for ages, forest or no forest, and
while oldsters around here recall some very
serious floods fifty years ago, they don't
seem to be any worse today than they were at
that time, but - there are more persons
living in the flood areas than in those days.
A number of families on north Elizabeth St.
(Ri verside) , had an anxious time this week,
when homes were surrounded by water and
several 'rescues' had to be made.."
As may be seen from the comments included in
the check list, many of the floods in this watershed were of
a character to lend support to the view that floods here were
little more than an annual event, not to be taken too
,
j
I
I
f
I
..
Ri7'erside lJriz'e 011 Duffill Creek, March 7,1956. Tlze ice jam shO'll'll here extellded ..
.
dowllstream for several 'Ill ill's. 1:
!
,
.i
" ~;
,
it
:f
t
,;
.",t
'J';
: ~
,
fhc'e//iIlY 011 Ri~lcrsid(
j) I' i ~, e. Hiyh ,c'atcr
IlIark is ~Iisihlc alony
front and sidc of
house. ;i
. II/other ~'ie'(c' 01/ Ni,'-
,'rsidc j)ri~'c. Flood
,c'aters had readcd
scZ'cral feet whell this
al/d tlte a1>07'e pltoto-
y ra pit "c'ere tld'ell.
-13-
seriously. Some of the recorded floods, however, demanded
more serious attention, notably those of June 5, 1890
(described above) ; April 4, 1950; and October 15, 1954
(Hurricane Hazel). Because, in the vicinity of Toronto, the
floods that followed Hurricane Hazel occasioned enormous
damage and gained outstanding notoriety for their severity,
the present report here includes an account of the damage done
by the same storm in the R.D.H.P. Watershed.
.
On October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel struck
the north shore of Lake Ontario both east and west of Toronto,
and released so great a downpour of rain on an already-near-
saturated surface that, within a few hours all the streams in
the area were running bank-full and overflowing. Before
midnight, five cottages on the banks of Highland Creek had
been washed into the creek and destroyed; and before the
morning of the 16th, ten more had followed. them. The number
of cottages thus destroyed climbed, on the 16th, to seventeen.
In the course of that day, Highland Creek near Agincourt was
described as "swollen five times its size"; thi s swollen
stream had washed out a wooden bridge on the line of the
Canadian National Railways, leaving a length of 135 feet of
rails hanging in the air. The road bridge over Highland
Creek at the Willows, near Lawrence Avenue, was washed out;
and the old Kingston Road bridge over the same creek was
rendered impassable. The Scarborough Township police
estimated the rise in Highland Creek at sixteen feet. In the
whole of Scarborough Township (without distinguishing the
streams concerned), ten bridges were destroyed, and six others
were clcsed because of the unsafe state of their approaches.
Estimates of damage in that township were placed at $500,000.
In the early evening of October 15th, a small
stream near Markham caused a washout on the line of the
Canadian National Railways between Markham and Stouffville,
and derailed a locomotive, fortunately without loss of life;
-14-
two passenger coaches, containing some eighty passengers,
remained upright. The Rouge River washed out the western
abutment of the steel bridge, on the Canadian Pacific Railway
line to Peterborough, just north of Steele's Avenue, causing
one end of the bridge to fall into the river. The approache s
to the village of Markham, both east and west, were flooded
and the village marooned. Houses in low-lying parts of the
village were surrounded by the flood waters of the Rouge;
. I
"waves washed into the homes" and some near the old Milne dam
were swept completely away.
At Meadowvale Avenue, north of Sheppard Avenue,
a bridge over the Rouge River was destroyed. At Unionville,
a motor car became stalled in the rising waters on Eckhard
Bridge; and in attempting to escape from the trapped car,
one of the occupants, a boy of ten, was swept away and drowned.
At Stouffville, streets were flooded, and traffic immobilized
while an emergency squad worked to open the storm drains; a
school was dismissed early in the afternocn of the 15th, when
the basements became flooded. In Markham Township, there were
a total of eleven bridges destroyed and three rendered
impassable by washed-out approaches. The Rouge River rose,
at the peak of the flood, to a height of fourteen feet.
Damage to one property, the Rouge Valley Inn, was estimated
at $100,000.
At Green River, Duffin Creek cut a gap through
Highway No.7. At the village of Pickering, at least one
family was compelled to abandon a home flooded by the waters
of the creek.
For residents of the R.D.H.P. Watershed, the
Hurricane Hazel floods must be ranked among the great
disasters of their history.
Since 1830, on one or more of the streams of
the R.D.H.P. Watershed, there have been sixty-nine floods
recorded. There are indications sufficiently strong to warrant
CHECK LIST OF FLOODS
(1850 - 1956)
Key to the streams on which floods
were recorded, included in this list:
R : Rouge River
D : Duffin Creek
H : Highland Creek
P : Petticoat Creek
1837 - May 16. Note in the pass book of Peter Milne, Senior,
of Markham in his handwriting. (R)
..
1850 - A~ril 5. Toronto Globe, April 6, 1850. Damage to
lumber. (R, H)
1869 - March 2~. Toronto Glnbe, April 1, 1869. Damage to
mill-dam and to a bridge. (H)
1873 - April lOt Toronto Globe, April llt 1873. Damage to
railway tracks at Port Union. H) 1878 - February 22. Toronto Mail, and Toronto Glnbe,
February 23, 1878. (D)
1878 - September 13. Toronto Mail, and Toronto GIObe~
September 14, 1878. Damage to bridges. (R
1886 - March~. Toronto Globe, March 23, 1886. Flood at
Pickering Village, damage not identified. (D)
1890 - June 5. Toronto Mail, Toronto Globe, June 7, 1890.
Damage to six or eight bridges; seven dams
de stroye d. (D)
1919 - March 18. Toronto Mail & Empire, March 19, 1919.
Damage to dams (D), and to a bridge (R).
1920 - March 12-16. Toronto Globe, March 17, 1920. Dam
at Unionville destroyed. (R)
1927 - Marc~. Toronto Globe, March 15~ 1927. Water level
high, no damage identified. (D
1928 - March 13. Toronto Globe, March 14, 1928; Toronto
Mail & Empire, March 14 & 11, 1928. At Pickering,
water over the highway. (D
1929 - January 20. Toronto Globe, January 21~ 1929. Water
level high, no damage reported. (R At Pickering,
water over the highway. (D)
1929 - March 14. Tcronto Glebe, March 15, 1929. An "average
flc..od" (R) l at Pickering, water over the
highway. D)
1929 - April 7. Toronto Globe, April 8, 1929; Toronto Mail
& Empire, April 8 & 9, 1929. Damage to bridges. (R)
1930 - February 20. Toronto Globe, February 21, 1930. Water
levels high, no damage reported. (D, H)
1930 - March 8. Toronto Mail & Empire, March 10, 11 & 19,
1930. At Whitevale, Pickering Township, a man
drowned. (D)
(ii)
FLOODS ON R.D.H.P.
1932 - February ll. Toronto Globe, February 12, 1932. Water
level high, no damage reported. (D)
1934 - March 4. Toronto Globe, March 5, 6 & 7, 1934. ~va ter
levels high, but the ice did not break up, and no
damage reported. (R, D, H)
1936 - March ll. Toronto Globe, March 12 & 13, 1936. At
Picke'ing and Greenwood, water over the highways
(D); in Highland Creek valley, one family
evacuated (H).
1936 - March 2 7. Toronto Mail & Empire, March 28, 1936.
Report of damage to Canadian National Railway
tracks, possibly caused by waters of Duffin Creek (D)
..
1936 - December 31. Toronto Globe and Mail, Januarr I, 1937.
Water level high, no damage reported. (D
1937 - January 14. Toronto Globe & Mail, January 15, 1937.
Water level high, no damage reported. (D)
1938 - February Q. Toronto Globe & Mail, February 7, 193B.
Water level high, no damage reported. {D)
1939 - March 24. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 25, 1939. \Jater
level high, no damage reported. (D)
1939 - April lB. Toronto Globe & Mail, April 19, 1939. At
Pickering village, water level high, no damage
reported. (D)
1942 - March 9. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 10, 1942; Toronto
Star, March 9, 1942. At Pickering, water over the
highway; ice jams and some damage on the Rouge
River; water level on Highland Creek high, not
overflowing. (R, D, H)
1942 - March 17. Toronto Star, March 17, 1942; Toronto
Globe & Mail, March IB, 1942. Canadian National
Railway bridges threatened between Markham and
Blackwater; at Pickering, water over the highway.
(R, D)
1943 - March 16. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 17~ 1943. At
Pickering, water over the highway. (D
1944 - March 24. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 25, 1944. Water
level high, no damage reported. (D)
1944 - July 19. Canadian National Railways Report, December
19~ 1950. Railway tracks washed out near Gormley.
(R
1946 - March 7. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 8, 1946. Water
level high, no damage reported. (D)
1947 - March 25. Tcronto Globe & Mail, March 26, 1947. At
Pickering, water level high, no damage reported. (D)
1947 - August lB. Canadian National Railways Report, December
19, 1950. On the Little Rouge, railway tracks
washed out between Markham and Stouffville. (R)
1948 - March 16. Toronto Telegram, March 17, 194B; Toront~
Globe & Mail, March 17, 194B. Damage to roads and
houses. (D, H)
(iii)
FLOODS ON R.D.H.P.
194$ - March 19. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 20, 194$;
Toronto Telegram, March 22, 194$~ Water levels high,
no damage identified. (D, H)
1949 - January 19. Toronto Globe & Mail, January 20, 1949.
Damage to roads, houses isolated. (H)
1949 - February 15. Toronto Globe & Mail, February 15 & 16,
1949. At Pickering, water over the highway; in
Highland Creek valley, houses isolated, roads
washed out. (D, H)
1949 - March 22. Toronto Telegram, March 23, 1949. Water ..
over roads, no serious damage reported. (R, H)
1950 - January 26. Toronto Globe & Mail, January 27, 1950.
At Pickering, water over the highway; at Whitevale,
dam collapsed. (D)
1950 - March-1l. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 9, 1950. In
Hifhland Creek valley, damage to roads and houses.
(11
1950 - March 25-27. Toronto Globe & Mail, March 24 & 27,
1950j Toronto Telegram, March 25 & 27, 1950.
Damage to roads and houses; boy drowned. (D, H)
1950 - April 4. Toronto Star, April 4 & 5, 1950; Toronto
Telegram, April 4, 1950j Toronto Globe & Mail,
April 5 & 6, 1950. Damage to roads, bridges, and
ho us e s . (R , D, H)
1951 - January 3. Toronto Telegram, January 4, 1951. Water
over roads and a bridge. (H)
1951 - February 12. Toronto Star, February 12, 1951j Toronto
Globe & Mail, February 13, 1951. Water level high,
threat of a flood; no damage reported. (H)
1951 - February 17-l$. Toronto Globe & Mail, February 19
& 21, 1951. Water over roads, and surrounding
houses, in Highland Creek valley; relieved by
dynamiting an ice jam. (H)
1951 - March 30. Toronto Star, March 30 & 31, 1951; Toronto
Telegram, March 31, 1951; Toronto Globe & Mail,
March 31, 1951. Water over roads. (D, H)
1951 - April 12. Toronto Globe & Mail, April 13, 1951. At
Pickering, water over the highway; in the Highland
Creek valley, a bridge threatened. (D, H)
1951 - July.Ji. Toronto Telegram, July 5, 1951; Toronto
Globe & Mail, July 5, 1951. At Pickering, water
over the highway; in Scarborough Township, roads
washed out. (D, H)
1951 - Julv 16. Toronto Globe & Mail, July 17, 1951; Oshawa
Times-Gazette, July 17, 1951. At Pickering, water
over the highway; Petticoat Creek "assumed flood
proportions". (D, p)
1952 - January 15. Toronto Telegram, January 16, 1952j
Toronto Globe & Mail, January Ie, 1952. Water
over the bridge, four homes isolated. (H)
(iv)
FLOODS ON R.D.H.P.
1952 - February 4. Toronto Telegram, February 4, 1952;
Toronto Star, February 4, 1952; Toronto Globe &
Mail, February 5, 1952; Pickering News, February
8, 1952. At Pickering, water over the highway;
in the Highland Creek valley, roads under water,
families compelled to evacuate their homes. (D, H)
1952 - March II. Toronto Telegram, March 11, 1952; Toronto
Globe & Mail, March 12, 1952. At Pickering, water
over the highway; in Highland Creek valley, water
over the roads, three families compelled to
evacuate their homesl ice jam on the Rouge River,
dynamited, (R, D, H)
1952 - April-l. Toronto Telegram, April 7, 1952. In the
Highland Creek valley, water over the bridge. (H) ·
1953 - February 21. Pickering News, February 27, 1953. Water
level rose, one dwelling flooded; an ice jam
dynamited. (D)
1953 - March 4. Toronto Telegram, March 4, 1953; Toronto
Star, March 4, 1953; Toronto Globe & Mail, March
5, 1953; Pickering News, lfarch 6, 1953; Dept. of
Highways Report, March 4, 1953. At Pickering,
water over the highway; in Scarborough Township,
a new concrete bridge washed out. (D, H)
1954 - Febr~ary 15. Canadian Press release in most Ontario
dailies, February 16, 1954; Oshawa Times-Gazette,
February 16 & 17, 1954; Pickering News, February
19, 1954. At Pickering, "annual spring flood";
in Highland Creek valley, water four feet over the
Highland Creek Drive bridge. (D, H)
1954 - Fe~r~ary 19. Oshawa Times-Gazette, February 20,1954.
Water level high, for the second time within a week.
(D)
1954 - ~ruary 21. Toronto Telegram, February 22, 1954;
Toronto Globe & Mail, February 22, 1954; London
Free Press, February 22, 1954; Dept. of Highways
Report, February 21, 1954. At Pickering, water
over the highway. In Highland Creek valley, flood
caused by an ice jam caused residents to evacuate
their homes. (D, H)
1954 - August 23. Verbal reports received in the Dept. of
Planning and Development from eye-witnesses. Dam
in Whitchurch Township washed out. (R)
1954 - October 15. (Hurricane Hazel) Toronto Globe & Mail,
October 16 & 18, 1954; Toronto Telegram, October 16
& 18, 1954i Toronto Star, October 16, 1954;
verbal reports of eye-witnesses. Damage to railway
tracks; damage to bridges; twenty houses destroyed.
(R, H)
1954 - Dec~mger 27-28. Toronto Globe & Mail, December 28 & 29,
1954. Damage to bridges, houses threatened. (H)
1955 - February 27. Toronto Globe & Mail, February 28, and
March 3, 1955. Damage to bridges; 22 homes
isolated. (H)
(v)
FLOODS ON R.D.H.P.
1955 - March I. Markham Economist and Sun, March 3, 1955;
Oshawa Times-Gazette, March 2, 1955; Toronto Globe
& Mail, March 2, 1955; Pickering News, March 4,
1955. At Pickering, water over the highway; 12
families compelled to evacuate their homes. Rouge
River non the rampage", several houses threatened.
In Highland Creek valley, flooding at The Willows.
(R, D, H)
1955 - March II. Toronto Telegram, March 12, 1955. At
Pickering, ten families marooned; ice jam was
dynamited. (D)
1955 - Marc~~. Toronto Telegram, March 22, 1955. At
Willows Park, water level rising; threat of flood, ..
but no report of actual damage. (H)
1956 - March l. Toronto Star, March 2, 1956. Highland
Creek Rond, forty families marooned. (H)
1956 - March 7. To~onto Globe & Mail, March 7 & $, 1956j
Pickering News, March 9, 1956. At Riverside
Drive, in Pickering Township, at The Willows, in
Scarborough Township, and near the Rouge River
bridge, wdter levels high, homes surrounded or
threatened. (R, D, H)
1956 - April 4- Toronto Globe & Mail, April 5, 1956.
At Pickering, water over the highway. (D)
Rouge River north of No. i Higll7l'ay Alarclz 7, 1956. shm"ill[J flats il/ul/dated "
by sudden thG'il'.
Noltye Ri1'er sUlIth oj
.\'0. 1(Jl Iliyh1,'a.\'. Ice
floes passed safely and
there 1,'as no serlO1lS
floodil/g.
ROllye Ni1'er south of
.\'0. 7 Iliylricay. Per-
i 0 die a II -" the ri1'er
claiJl/s the flood plains
alld these art(1s shollld
/>e restricted ill lIse.
/......... ".
-15-
the assertion that floods have occurred on these streams with
more or less severity as annual events since earliest times.
In most years the spring floods appear to have been of
moderate dimensions, but some have been of great severity.
The earliest record is of a flash flood and in at least two
years since 1850, flash floods on this watershed have been
very severe.
2. Cause of Floods "
Precipitation is the source of all stream flow
and run-off and to a large degree determines the stream flow
and flooding characteristics of the various rivers. Pre-
cipitation includes both snow and rain and during the winter
months large volumes of water may accumulate in the form of
ice and snow and then be released suddenly by a thaw. In
addition to the precipitation and temperature factors there
are many other factors which influence the amount and rate of
run-off from an area. These factors are very complex and often
vary from place to place and from time to time but, in
general, they may be grouped into four classifications:
(a) Geophysical, which are more or less permanent
(b) Climatic, Which are variable
( c) Ice jams
(d) Encroachments
(a) Geophysical
The geophysical factors include the size and
shape of the watershed and its orientation; surface slopes
and stream gradients; nature of soils, whether pervious or
impervious and their condition as to cultivation, vegeta tivc
cover, dry, wet ~r frozen; natural water storage areas such
as lakes, ponds and swamps. Artificial factors such as
storage reservoirs, farm drains, road ditches and urbanization
with its buildings and extensive paved areas also influence
run-off.
~
-16-
The lateral slopes and stream gradients of the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds are comparatively steep and the soil types
as previously indicated are largely pervious to semi-pervious.
With the exception of the Duffin Creek area there are no
natural water storage areas to speak of. There are several
small "kettle" lakes and extensive swampy areas in the upper
reaches of the Duffin Creek Watershed Which tend to moderate
the stream flows in this drainage system.
The orientation of drainage areas is an u
important factor which influences flooding. Fortunat ely for
the watersheds under consideration here, it is such that it
tends to reduce the flood hazard. With the drainage in
general from a north to south direction, the lcwer sections
of the rivers will lose their ice first thus allowing the ice
floes from the upper reaches to pass out into the lake. In
spite of this much of the flooding is due to ice jams.
The unfavourable influence of this factor is
quite noticeable on the South Nation River which flows in a
general north-east direction. The break-up often occurs in
the upper reaches first and the ice floes pile up on the
solid ice sheets in the lower river forming huge ice jams
and causing widespread flooding.
Another factor which must be taken into con-
sideration in determining the run-off characteristics of an
area is the number of roads with their accompanying ditches.
In this area there are at least 1,000 miles of roads many of
which are paved with well maintained ditches and all of which
considerably influence both the amount and duration of the
run-off.
Without these artificial works the water would
have to find its own way over the ground surfaces to the
defined watercourses. This would normally be a slow process
and much of the water would infiltrate into the ground. With
the miles of ditches - 2 miles of ditch to each mile of road -
that are maintained in conjunction with the roads the water is
~
-17-
quickly carried to the natural streams producing higher peak
flows and reducing the amount of water that would normally
sink into the ground to maintain the flows throughout the
drier periods.
Another feature is the urbanization that has
taken place and is expanding at a rapid rate throughout the
area. With urban development approximately 25 per cent of the
area becomes "hard surfaced" and the run-off naturally is
.
increased accordingly. In the case of intensive residential,
commercial and industrial development this percentage would
be considerably higher and could be as much as 90 per cent or
more.
(b) Climatic
These factors are extremely variable and the
amount of flow in the rivers at any time is a direct result
of the foregoing climatic conditions. As all stream flow
originates from precipitation the amount, duration, intensity
and extent of this factor are most important and are probably
the most variable. The temperature - particularly the
intensity and duration of freezing periods which permit the
accumulation of precipitation in the form of snow and ice,
cause the ground surface to freeze and produce large volumes
of sheet ice on open water areas - to a large extent influences
the volume of spring run-off and high flows which normally
occur at this time. The relative humidity and the direction
and vel~city of winds are less important factors in this
group.
Floods which almost invariably accompany the
spring break-up were generally considered to be the most
severe in Southern Ontario. The stream flow records indicate
that they are certainly the most frequent and that the months
of March and April are the most critical ones in this regard.
However, with the advent of Hurricane Hazel and the floods
which followed the passing of this storm it became evident
-lS-
that "summer" floods due to heavy precipitation alone could
be more severe than spring floods. The floods produced by
this storm exceeded all known flood peaks for many of the
streams in South-central Ontario and in some cases by as much
as 4 or 5 times.
The peak flow of the Humber River was at least
4 times the previously recorded peak flow and the flow at
Bramptcn on the Etobicoke Creek reached 5,000 c.f.s.* from an
.1
area slightly larger than 27 square miles.
It has been estimated that the average 48-hour I
rainfall over the Humber Watershed amounted to approximately
8.9 inches of which about 90 per cent ran off directly.
Further it has been calculated that rainfalls of twice this
amount could occur over areas of this size in Southern Ontario.
This value is for the hurricane-type storms which normally
occur in the late summer or early fall.
( c ) Ice Jams
Ice jams result from an adverse combination of
climatic and geophysical conditions and are an important
factor in many of the floods in this area.
Large volumes of ice are formed in open water
areas by freezing temperatures and later released when the
temperature moderates. Usually the thaw is accompanied by
rainfall and the ice is broken up by the rising water and
large flees are carried downstream by the current until they
are caught by a snag, gravel bar, at a sharp bend in the river
or at a narrow bridge opening. The ice f10es pile up upon one
another and quickly become consolidated by the pressure of
additional ice and impounded water.
Ice jams act as dams and the impounded water
rises and overflows the adjacent properties. In this manner
flooding may take place at moderate or even low stream flow
and may be extended over a long period of time. Probably
the best illustration of this was the IBS6 flood on the Moira
~ -
* d.f.s. - cubic feet per second.
-19-
River at Belleville when ice blocked the river channel and the
flooding lasted for 57 days. Also, flooding downstream is
often aggravated when the jam breaks due to pressure or
moderating temperatures and the water surges down boosting
the peak flows.
Unattended mill ponds are particularly
hazardous in this respect. Ice may form to a thickness of
from two to three feet in still water of ponds and these
t.
massive floes will jam where the lighter stream ice would
normally pass unobstructed. There are no mill ponds to speak
of on the Highland Creek or Rouge River but there are several
on Duffin Creek to which this would apply. If the ponds were
drained in the fall the reduced ice formation would
materially aid downstream areas which are troubled by ice
jams and their attendant floods. Also, the spring flows
would tend to flush out silt and debris accumulations and
prolong the life of the pond area.
(d) Encroachments
Encroachments include all man-made works built
in the natural flood plains of the river. The presence of
these encroachments such as narrow bridge openings with their
high approaches projecting out into the river valley, railway
embankments, factories, houses and other structures not only
aggravate the flood situation by retarding the flow and
obstructing the normal passage of ice floes, but have actually
created most of the existing flood problems, since there
would be little concern at times of high water if these flats
were unoccupied.
3. Remedial Measures for Flood Control and Low Flows
(a) Conservation Measures
The conservation measures employed to control
floods and to increase low flows are the same and are com-
plementary, namely:
"-
-.....
-20-
(1) Proper land use practices
( 2) Reforestation
(3 ) Fann ponds
(4 ) Reservoir sto ra ge
(I) Proper land use practices
With regard to conservation, proper land use
practices have to do with such farming methods as tend to
reduce surface run-off and soil erosion. Important among
~l
these are contour tillage, restricted crop rotation, winter
cover crops, long-term pasture, diversion terraces, grassed
waterways, etc. Contour tillage is ploughing furrows along
contour lines or through points of equal elevation. With this
method each furrow serves as a miniature dam, delaying the
surface run-off and promoting infiltration which increases the
soil moisture and raises the ground water table. Contour
tillage also reduces the loss of vital topsoil by erosion and
the subsequent silting of the stream channels. This method
is generally satisfactory for the smooth regular slopes, but
with the more irregular and steeper slopes it may be necessary
to employ one or more of the other methods mentioned above to
retard the run-off and hold the topsoil in place.
The Report of the Select Committee of the
Province of Ontario on Conservation, which was submitted to
the Legislative Assembly on March 15, 1950, stated:
TlWater control must begin with a pro gram of proper
land use. Such a program requires the co-operation
of a great many individuals over a period of years.
This is a program which cannot succeed overnight.
The first essential is to persuade every landholder
that both his individual advantage and the public
good, call for such a program. It is a fundamental
recommendation of this Committee that:
'To reduce excessive water run-off which
increases the flooding of river valleys,
land use practices tending to soil wast-
age, soil depletion and soil erosion must
be discouraged and discontinued, and the
farm-planning program set out in the
chapter on soils in this report must be
adopted and implemented'''.
-21-
(2 ) Reforestation
The reforestation of marginal and submarginal
land has an ameliorating effect on run-off. It retards run-
off, checks erosion on all types of slopes, steep as well as
moderate, increases low summer flow, and reduces silting.
The delay in snow melt due to a preponderance
of forest cover, until a time when high temperatures and rain
arri ve, could intensify floods. However, there is no known
11I1
record for any flood in Southern Ontario that might be attri-
buted to this adverse effect of forest cover. The R.D.H.P.
Watersheds have less than ten per cent of forest cover and any
increase would benefit the flood problem in that, in relation
to the cleared land, there would be a lag of a few days in the
snow melt contribution. Trees also reduce the amount of
water available for run-off by interception and evapotrans-
piration. These factors have little influence on the winter
and spring floods but could substantially affect the summer
flooding and adversely, the low flows to some extent.
(3) Farm Ponds
Farm ponds serve many purposes and are an asset
on any farm. They provide water for farm stock, fire pro-
tection if located near the buildings, and a means of
recreation for the family_ Adults as well as children may
enjoy the fishing, swimming, skating and boating. With land-
scaping, farm ponds can transform the appearance of the
property.
A permanent stream, although desirable, is not
necessary for a farm pond. They may be fed by a spring or by
surface run-off alone, by using or enlarging a depression in
the ground.
An informative booklet entitled "Farm Ponds"
has been published by the Conservation Branch and is available
to any owner who may be interested. It shows various types of
ponds, none of Which is expensive to construct and particularl~
-22-
if all or part of the work is done by the owner. Ponds in
sufficient number and properly regulated, could materially
increase the summer flow. If the dams in small streams were
substantially built, so as to withstand any spring flood, and
were emptied prior to the freshet and properly regulated
until the spring run-off was complete, they would help
decrease flood flows to some extent. However, should the dams
fail, they would have the opposite effect.
,.
(4 ) Reservoir storagg
The foregoing water conservation measures aid
in reducing flood crests and increasing low flows, and are an
integral part of the plan to remedy the problem. They require
time and the co-operation of all landowners, ho\V'ever, and
alone would not be sufficient. When strategically located
reservoir sites are available at reasonable costs, reservoir
storage provides the best solution to the flood and low flow
problems. With adequate storage provided in a system of
regulated reservoirs, a sufficient volume of the flood run-off
may be impounded and controlled to the extent that flood
crests may be lowered to a safe stage. In conjunction with
some local improvement, the excess flood run-off can then be
confined within the river channel at places subject to floods.
Conversely, with the reservoirs full to the conservation
storage level at the end of the flood period, the water may
be released and low flows thereby increased to a reliable
sustained rate, which will assure a dependable supply and
adequate dilution of sewage effluent and industrial wastes.
There are also other benefits. Lakes may be created for
recreation, and the ground-water table raised in the vicinity,
and to some extent downstream as well. The increased flow
will restore fish life, and the waters will be safer for
Qomestic use and recreation.
-23-
(b) Expedients
(I) Channel improvement
(2 ) Dikes
(3 ) Divers ions
(4 ) Zoning
Channel improvement, dikes and diversions are
classified as expedients and are not recommended when other
conservation methods are possible and practical. Their only
,.
objective is to get rid of the water by providing an adequate
channel through or around the trouble area. The benefits of
such measures are only local and as they tend to increase the
velocity of the flood waters they often aggravate the flood
conditions at other trouble areas downstream. However, for
reasons of economy, it is often necessary to resort to these
expedient measures.
(1 ) Channel improvement
Channel improvement may require the widening,
straightening, deepening and regrading the river channel
through, and often for some distance below, the trouble area.
It is usually necessary to protect the banks from erosion by
rip-rap or other means which makes such work relatively costly.
( 2) Dikes
Dikes are earth embankments with an impervious
clay core located at or near the river, and built high enough
to seal off the areas subject to flooding and confine the
flood waters to the river channel. If the velocity is low
and there is no danger of ice scouring, they may be protected
against erosion by turf, otherwise it is often necessary to
face the river slopes with stone or concrete. Pumping
installations may also be necessary to pump out the internal
drainage trapped behind the dikes.
Dikes should be provided with ample freeboard,
be substantially built and maintained in good condition, for
should they be topped or burst the damage could be greater
than if they had not been there.
...L:. ........:.:
-24-
(3) Diversions
If re servo ir s, channel improvement or diking
are impracticable or ineffective, it is sometime s possible to
detour the stream, or part of it, around the flooded area; or
in some cases divert it to another watershed if the topography
is favourable.
(4 ) Zoning
It is not feasible to extend flood protection
..
to all localities through the construction of flood protection
works nor is it economically possible to keep all railway lines
roads, other services and even some housing projects beyond
the reach of the flood waters and in many cases the present
development of some areas prevents them from being reclaimed
for the river.
As mentioned previously, probably th~ major
reason for the flood problem in any area is the encroachment
of the flood plain. Prior to flood "Hazel" there was little
use made of any zoning power to restrict the use of areas
subject to flooding. Practically all municipalities now have
planning boards and a zoning ordinance to regulate the use
of lands subject to periodic flooding is a feasible method
of reducing flood damage and preventing the endangering of
human lives.
Following flood "Hazel it in Octo ber, 1954,
many of the more seriously affected propertie s were expro-
priated and it is intended that these lands will be restricted
as park areas or for recreational use only, with no permanent
buildings or other structures to be built within the flood
plain. This program should be continued and any proposed
encroachments in the future should be carefully considered
before bei ng permitted. Only those that are absolutely
essential should be allowed and then only after the design hat
been studied from the standpoint of flooding and its probable
effect upon the passage of flood flows.
CHA Pl'ER 3
RESERVOIR STORAGE AND AVAILABLE RESERVOIR SITES
Storage in reservoirs is water conservation and
is the measure normally recommended for flood problems when I
strategically located economical sites are available. When
i
these conditions are negative, expedients such as channel I
improvement and dikes are considered. If the cost of such III
expedients is not justified by the existing land and property
values, then the only alternative, unless left to their fate,
is to purchase the trouble areas for parkland.
On the R.D.H.P. Watersheds reservoir sites for
flood control are either too far downstream to be of benefit
or the cost of the dams is prohibitive.
All the possible reservoir sites on the R.D.H.P.
Watersheds have been investigated and those which appeared to
be feasible were surveyed, in order that the Authority may be
cognizant of their future possibilities for flood control
and/or other purposes. The locations of the sites are shown
in Fig. 1 and the reservoir and dam data of the surveyed sites
are shown in Table 3. The contour plans of the sites have
been prepared but are not included in this report. They are
on file, however, and available for future use if and when
required.
A brief summary of the storage possibilities in
each of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds follows.
I. Available Reservoir Sites
(a) On the Rouge River
The only reservoir site of any size on the Rouge
is immediately above No. 2 Highway. This site would require
a high, expensive dam and would benefit only No.2 and No. 2A
Highways, the C.N.R. line crossings and some cottages located
in the flats near the mouth of the river. A dam at this loca-
tion is not considered to be justified and no survey was made.
-26-
Several smaller sites were investigated but were not considered
to be of any significance in regard to the flood problem.
(b) On Highland Creek
There are two possible sites on Highland Creek,
one on the West Branch near Bendale and the other on the Main
Branch just north of the village of West Hill. The Bendale site
has an estimated capacity of 2,000 acre feet but would not be
justified because of the cost. Part of this site was being sub- "
divided and therefore was not surveyed. The West Hill site is
the best on the R.D.H.P. \1atersheds. It has an estimated
capacity of 13,600 acre feet, but the cost of this would also be
excessive.
( c) On Petticoat Creek
There are no practical reservoir sites available
on Petticoat Creek.
(d) On Duffin Creek
There are many reservoir sites available on this
watershed and eight sites were selected for a more detailed study.
The storage in all of these sites proved to be small compared to
the height and length of the dams and the cost per acre foot of
storage varied from 0491 to as much as .~2,734 or an average of
about ~1,300 per acre foot as compared with kl26 and $120 for the
Fanshawe and Conestogo dams and reservoirs respectively. These
unit costs for the Duffin Creek reservoirs are only approximate,
since detailed designs, which are necessary for an accurate
estimate, were not prepared.
It would be necessary to make "channel capacityll*
tests to determine the amount of storage required to give pro-
tection against floods of a given magnitude but a comparison
with the storage determined for other watersheds in Southern
Ontario would indicate that about one half of the storage
* The "channel capacity" is the maximum stage or flow in
cubic feet per second that the river can carry through a
trouble area without overflowing its banks to the extent
that property would be damaged.
-27-
available in these reservoirs, shown in Table 3, would be
sufficient to give the trouble areas the necessary protection
against floods approaching the magnitude of the 1947 and 1948
spring floods.
At present the cost of these darns for flood
control is prohibitive and they may never be justified for that
purpose alone. With the present rapid growth in this area, how-
ever, it is difficult to predict what the need for flood protec- u
tion and stored water might be in say 25 or even 10 years' time.
By that time, the population might be such that at least some
of the reservoir sites would be justified for flood control and
for the increase of summer flow to prevent serious pollution
and enhance the general appearance of the streams. Some of the
upper sites might be required to provide water for domestic
and/or industrial use. They might also be required for recrea-
tional lakes in which case they could be used for flood control
as well but not for increasing low flows as the water level of
such a lake has to be kept more or less constant during the
summer months. If the reservoirs were used for recreational
purposes alone, the height of the darns could be much lower. The
areas adjacent to three of the reservoir sites, namely: Dixie,
Greenwood, and Pickering are included in areas recommended for
purchase in the Recreation section of this report. If these
sites are purchased and, if in later years, it is found that the
use of impounded water is urgent, part of the areas could then
be converted to that purpose.
In view of the uncertain future requirements of
this area, it is recommended that the necessary lands for these
r0scrvoir sites might bo purchasoctand ~aseF,Ved~s pank areas in
the meantim~. It is not likely that any af these flats or bot-
tom1B.nEl:sW'ould ever be approV'e,d fenr Siu19di vis:i;:oqs." ...COl)lsEe-C!l!ue.mtly
their valUie pe.r+ acre should be muc~ l()ar~ i~htm local farmland.
Ih m.:tier years should the plans bea'Qamaorred for any~ea.I'~n' ~nd
sit~s ate not. ",;'F."l.nt-erd fot' a:rry pUIl'pose they could t:l0n bo sold.
/
- .
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- """""'ll
CHAPTER 4
THE DEGREE OF FLOOD PROTECTION
The cost of providing the necessary protection
for a "probable maximum flood;l would be prohibitive. In the
past the policy of the Department has been to provide for a
hypothetical flood 1-1/3 times greater than the greatest
flood on record, which for nearly all watersheds in Southern
-
Ontario was the spring floods of 1947, 1948 or 1950. 1II1
The floods of October 15 and 16, 1954 which
followed Hurricane Hazel are for many of the watersheds now
the greatest floods on record. Since hurricane storms,or
thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall, may occur over
any watershed in Southern Ontario and, according to meteorolo-
gists, may be of even greater magnitude than storm Hazel, it
is now necessary to base measures for flood protection on
floods resulting from these types of storms. AS mentioned
",,'iJove) it is not considered 8co~10:"'licc.lly possible to provide the
r~qu:iLred protzction for f:Loods of 'thismctgni'tude but where pro-
tection i$ contempL.:lted it is.recommendod that 'bhe 'V-Iork be de-
sitmed far 2.t lc~st storn H~~~Gl centred; over the w~tershed.
Cl
The centre of storm Hazel passed over the
Etobicoke and Humber lJatersheds about 30 miles west of Markham
on the Rouge. At the Snelgrove meteorological station 8.41
inches of rain in 48 hours was recorded. However, due to high
winds during the most intense period of rainfall, the rain
gauges did not catch all the rain and further, some of the
more intense rainfalls occurred in areas where there were no
gauges, and were not recorded. From reliable miscellaneous
measurements obtained from washtubs and other large recepta-
cles, it is estimated that the rainfall at the upper part of
the Humber Watershed was about 10.9 inches and the average
over the Humber Watershed 8.95 inches. Based on the rain
catch shown in the official records, it is estimated that the
average rainfall over the R.D.H.P. Watersheds was 4 inches.
-29-
Chapter 6 on Hydrology shows that if storm f
~
Hazel had centred over the Duffin Creek Watershed, the peak
rate of run-off would have been 122 c.s.m.* Duffin Creek is ,
I
l
the only stream on the R.D.H.P. which has a hydrometric gauget l
~
,
from which the rate .of surface run-off can be determined. ,
!
~
t
Therefore the peak rates of run-off for flood Hazel for the l
\
other watersheds have been estimated by comparing their physi- ~
I
~
cal features with those of the Duffin Creek Watershed. The j
1
,
~ I ,
peak rates determined are: the Rouge - 166 c.s.m., Highland .
t
Creek - 97 c.s.m. and Petticoat Creek 16e c.s.m. 1
Owing to favourable soil forms these rates are
not as great as those on the Etobicoke or Humber, but they
are high, and it is evident that flood control measures to even
this extent would be an expensive undertaking.
* Cubic feet per second per square mile of drainage area.
t Hydrometric gauges are being installed on Highland Creek
and the Rouge River.
""""'"
C H.">lJTER 5
COMNUNITIES FLOODED AND REHEDL\L IIEASURES
Reservoir sites for flood control purposes are
not available in the Rouge River and Highland Creek areas.
,
The cost of the reservoir storage sites on the Duffin Creek ,
area for flood control alone is prohibitive but, in the future, ,
dams and reservoirs might be justified for other water uses in ~
.
conjunction uith flood control. !,
.. \
Several communities on the Rouge River, Duffin ;
,
i
and Highland Creeks, are subject to periodic floods (Fig. I) .
,
I
l
.
and excepting the GOOd'i.'lOOd community the only reasonable measure I
for direct relief is channel improvement. With such high I
!
rates of run-off channel im~rovement alone is not practicable, !
t
~
!
but a combination of channel im:Jrovement and dikes ~'I[ould appear j
i
.~
to be the most economical solution. 1
I
Where dikes are used they must be of sufficient I
i
I
height to prevent overtopping and be substantially built and !
vrell-maintaine d, othervdse the community behind them has a
false security. Diking usually requires ditching for the
internal drainage, pumping equipment to remove the water trap-
ped on the land side and culverts through the dikes fitted \rlth
flap gates to permit drainage at times of normal flow.
Dikes often provide an economical solution to a
flood problem but, on the other hand, they have undesirable
features in that they disfigure the landscape and cut the
community off from its riverfront.
One of the most persistent flood trouble areas
is that of Riverside Drive on the East Branch of Duffin Creek.
The Kilborn Engineering and Associates Ltd. made a survey of
the area and reported on measures for overcoming the problem.
However, the cost viaS beyond the means of those cone erned and
the scheme was not undertaken. Some minor channel improvement
vTOrk vras carried out but it lias not sufficient as further
flooding has since occurred. Similar surveys will be necessary
for each of the other communities listed below before an
--
-31-
appraisal of the benefit-to-cost relation can be made. If
the cost is not in keeping with the benefit, ~~th the possible
exception of the Goodwood community, it is strongly recommended
that each of the areas be taken over by the Authority or res-
pective municipality, as Scarborough TOi"mship is no'lrv doing Hith
the Highland Creek Development and the \ilillows community.
The question of future subdivisions should be
considered vnen making decisions on channel improvement for
"
communities that are at present subject to floods. All plans
of subdivisions have to be approved by the Community Planning
Branch of the Department of Planning and Development before
they can be registered. If there is doubt as to the possible
flooding of low lands, the plans are submitted to the Conser-
vation Branch for their approval also. The present policy is
generally that all lots ~ust have sufficient dry area for a
residence and that, that area be at least I foot above the peak
stage of storm Hazel centred on the ,vatershed concerned.
Apart from the destruction of bridges and other
public utilities the major areas subject to flooding are:-
1. Highland Creek
.. L ... '""'..... ... ...... r -.- ,.. .."--
(a) The vlillows Comr,1Unity
(b) The Highland Creek Development
2. Rouge River:.
t (a) The Rouge River Co~munity
(b) Other areas
r
I 3. Duffin Creek
~ . .. ._ . r < '" _ . ... ""' --. ,
~,
; (a) The Riverside Drive Corrmunity
t
I (b) The Village of Pickering and vicinity
( c ) The Goodwood Community
In the follovring descriptions of these trouble areas we
ackno'lruedge with gratitude the information received from the
respective clerks of the municipalities concerning the assessed
values of property and the frequency and the effects of floods.
--
-32-
l. Highland Creek
.' -.-
(a) The Willows co~nunit~
The Willows community is west of the village of
;
v'Jest :Iill on the south branch of Highland Creek, immodiately.
upstream from the La\'lrence Avenue bridge. It is flanked on
the west by steep sand banks, but on the east by a flood plain
through l,'Thich the river tvn.sts and turns as it ",rinds its "lay
north to join the main stream north-Hest of \Iest Hill.
During the past two decades many dwellingshavo 'I
been built on the flood plain, many of them near the river bank.
They were built originally as summer homes, but o~ang to the
demand for accommodation they have since been ,vinterized and
have become year-round dwellings.
Spring floods occur almost annually and are
often aggravated by ice jams at the sharp bonds in the stream.
During the torrential flrnrs of flood Hazel, owing to the sandy
nature of the soil, the river changed its course undermining
some of tho buildings and a total of 17 were destroyed or
sev8rcly damaged. This uas not a neH experience, as in the
~~st many buildings in this area have been threatened in this
manner and have had to be moved.
The land is under one ownership and the resi-
dents lease the land and put up their own buildings. The
tovmship of Scarborough has undertaken to purchase this
property and assign it to a Green Belt or park land area.
The land has an area of 18.26 acres with
an assessed value of ' . . . o...,.,.~.... ~ IO,956
The total assessed value of the
bui 1 ding s is.............. e , , . . . . . . .. . · · 22,480
c ';/ ~ . .. ~
A combined assessed value of .......... ~~ 33,436
As of February 10, 1956, the to~mship has purchased -
Land of an assessed value of ..., ,.. ... (,I 6,500
,?
Buildings of an assessed value of e. I " . . 11, 790.
A tat al of ... 0 e . I . . .. ,. " . . .. , ~ 0 't , . e , . 't e I · (~ 18,290
or 54.7 per cent of the property.
-
Hil/h!alid Creelc' as-
s,.rts its rillht to the
f I 00 d pia i II lIearl\'
e,'ery sprill[(.
III
Ellcroachlllent on the
flood plaill by bllild-
illusis all e.rcel'dillgly
dalluerolfs practice alld
I.J/all.\' of these bllild-
IIIUS have nOiL' dis-
appeared.
The photo!fraf'hs all
this paul' ,,'ere taleI'll
fol1o,<'ill!f the floods
of "lril 19511. Erosioll
((IllSI'd b\' H llrrica Ili'
fla:::1'1 floods ill 195+
",'us 1''('1'11 //lore se'(Jcre.
-
-33-
(b) The Highland Creek Development
~.~",=*,................,.~_.......___:~~..A:::=~
The Highland Creek subdi vi sion vras surveyed in
1927 and lies astride the main stream just below No.2 Highl,vay.
Spring floods are an annual threat to this community and in
some years three or four floods have occurred. The tOirffiship
of Scarborough is already acquiring for the Green Bolt that
part of the subdivision vmich lies in the flood plain. 'rhis
includes a total of 458 lots and 74 buildings. :\.3 of February
10, 1956, 156 lots and 16 buildings have been purchased. The 411
remainder to be purchased, viz., 302 lots and 58 buildings,
have an assessed value of $53,750.
2. The Rouge River
.. .'0/
(a) .'~l~.sJi~~ge Ri-!..81:...Q*O!l~~~~ - is located in Lot 34,
Concession II of ?ickering Tovmship, on the Rouge River below
,
I-!ir;hHay No. 401. The cOQnunity consists of 17 properties,
5 of them being vacant land and 12 having buildings on them.
They cover an area of 4.65 acres and the 1956 assessed value
,
of the 12 properties, land and buildings, is 0 9,855
and the 5 vacant properties ul~?6)~o.
or a total assessment of $11,485
Although this community ivas flooded for the
first time by flood Hazel, s~ring freshets have been close to
the flood stage on many occasions and steps should be taken to
remove these homes from the flood plain.
(b) Other areas
In n.ddition to the Rouge River conm1Unity there
are other areas vmere minor flooding occurs periodically.
Also many private properties are often severely damaged,
notable QIDong irhich is the Rouge Valley Inn located on the
Little Rouge, I,ot I, Concession III of the t01mship of
Scarborough. This is a private enterprise comprising a hotel,
a picnic and amusement area and a svnmming pool which has been
in operation since 1946. The hotel has been extended on the
north side of tho creek and a concrete retaining Ivall
-34-
constructed on the south bank to protect the picnic nrea.
The concrete dnm, ",1hich joins tho hot ol and the retaining wnll,
forms the SHimming pool. These structures confined the water
to the channel ,Jhich h~d not sufficient capacity to pass high
flood flovfs.
During flood Hazel tho dam and several small
buildings \'J'Ore swopt away. The hotol wns badly damaged, the
retaining ,Jall breached and the picnic area flooded. The
III
reconstruction which followed consisted of strengthening the
found2.tion and Hall of the hotel, strengthening and increasing
the height of the retaininG vrall and bui Iding 8. dam I'Ti th a
larger spillway capncity.
The 1956 assessed value of the le.nd (I02 acres) is $ 5,895
and the buildings ...0..... 2<4.,.500~,
or a total assessed value of ..; '$30,395
Under the present terms of The Conservation
Authorities Act an .:\uthori ty is not permitted to construct
flood protective works on private property.
3. Duffin Creek
.... ~ ..~. .=-.-""_,"Y'__......-....._.... ."S.~
(a) Riverside Drive - is located on tho East Branch of
_~ . ... ._..r .. . c_., .Ir.~~ L..-~
Duffin Creek about ~ mile upstream from it s confluence va th the
'.Tost Branch. The community is subject to periodic spring
floods l'Jhich arc usually caused by ice jams in the 10vlGr pe.rt
of the creok. The flood stage for Hazol W2.S about the same
23 for spring floods but mIi.ng to the absence of ice the dam3.ge
w::s small. There are 33 d1'rcllings in tho community, about
half of 'trhich VlOre flooded by Hazel.
Sharp bonds in the river above HighI'J-ay No.2 and
the accumulated silt undor tho bridge C2USO ice jams 2nd
obstruct the flow. In 1955 tho Department of Highways cased
the approaches to and cleaned out tho channel under the bridge
at a cost of ~:~3,000. This, hO\!cvcr, w~s c. partial measure
only. The firm of R. K. Kilborn and Associates Ltd., consult ..,.
ing enGineers, vBS engaged by the Authority to make 2 survey
<...~
-35-
nnd report on flood relief meQsures o.nd their QPproxim~te cost.
In their report, dated October 19, 195J, they submitted 2
channel improvement schemes ':lhich extend from the upstream
limit of Riverside Drive dovmstrcnm to Q point ~bout 2,500
foet beyond No.2 HiGh't,!ay, 2 total length of Ctbout 1.67 miles.
In generCtl the sch3mes are supplementary vrith
Scheme !lAlI, being part of SchemG uBI!.
The fi rst , or Scheme nAil, is desiGned to relieve
4Ii
flooding due to ice jams alone and consists of straightening
!lnd v'Tidoning the present channel at 2. number of points. The
second, or Scheme IlElI, is ~n 0nl~rgement of Scheme !! AI'! and
includes a dike system in addition to the o.bove work. Scheme
"BIl Hould provide for a IInormo.l maximum" flood flow of 3,800
c.f.s. which is approximntely equivalent to the 1948 spring
flood !lnd that resulting from storm Hazel as it occurred over
the uatorshed.
The rate of run-off provided for by the above
\Fork is c..bout 90 c. s.m., or about 74 per cent of the peak flow
if tho October 14-15, 1954, storm ho.d centred on the Duffin
Creek Ii-lo.tershed. It mayor mo.y not tc..ko care of a flood the
magnitude of that in tho spring of 1948, vmich shows for the
Pickering gauge 2. maximum mean dO.i ly 1'lovl of 3,470 c. f. s.
Gauges arc usually read once a day and this reading is accepted
as the moan for the day. If the roading ho.ppened to be at the
time of the peak, the design would be sufficient for floods of
the mo.gnitude of the 1948 flood. It is highly probable,
however, that it was rend at an 'off peak hour and that the poak
might hc..ve been c..s high as 5,000 c.r.s. Ice jams when they
break increo.sc flood peaks, and may account for the high peak
of tho 1945 flood.
Tho area of the Riverside communitr is 33.07
2cres. There c..re 33 d1:lC.llings in the conIDluni ty, the 1956
o.ss,jssod vo.lue of land and buildi ngs being $41,365. Fifteen
of these dwellings c..re periodically flooded c..nd the assessed
,
value of their land and buildings is $14,640. The estimated
-36-
cost of tho above \:fork is $127,250 for Scheme !lB" and $88,750
for Scheme !lAI1 exclusive of Lmd costs. These figures include
,
a cost of $41,150 for streQm bank protection ~/hich would be
necessary to maintain tho now channol alignment.
On the basis of the present rOQI estate values
such expenditures Qre not warranted particularly in view of the
hazardous position of the settlement in the event of a major
flood.
(b) Village of Pickering and Vicinity. IIi
On Duffin Creek, botween No.2 High,vay and tho
vlostc;rly limit of the village of Pickering} there are 20
properties, 14 with dwellings on them ivhich,arc subject to
floods. Thoro ~re also 5 properties, 3 vr:i.th buildings on them,
,
just downstream from the vi llage limits, Hhich 2re simil3.rly
flooded. Above the village the lots or parcels of lots, as
the: co..sc may be, vary from 0.15 to 4.3 acres. Wi thin the
village 4 of the properties have an area varying from 0.5 to
5.7 acres, uith one being a block of 23.6 2cros.
The nreCt flooded 2nd the assessed value of land
J.nd buildings are ShOi'ffi belm"'.
.~:or-"'.._..__""
l~i ~:6 A;3S 2'3 ::lod VClluo-Ool1Ctrs
Area --~- . r- .__..,---~"
Acres L3.!1d ilLlj.ld ings I Tot a1
I
--....---&'-
From No.2 Highway to ,
the westerly limit of 75.56 15,410 27,455 42,865
?ickoring Village
Village of Pickering 32.80 " r--~o 6 ':\'),5 9,165
?.. , 0 ~/ 1- , -' -'
,
Total IOS.36 IS,240 33,790 52,030
The uork proposed in tho ICilborn report for the
.
Ri verside community extends 2,500 feet belm'! High~.vay No.2.
This portion of tho lmrk vJhich consists of romovine; tho sharp
bends and cloaning the existing stretches of tho river channel
1:rould help to relieve the flooding due to ice jams, \1hich is
tho major cause of flooding in this area, but ,muld not solve
the problem.
-37-
~xtensive channel improvement would be required
to provido complete protGction and cannot be justified in view
of the sm~ll amount of flood damage experienced in the area.
Further partial protection might induce further
dovelopmont of the area ~nich would greatly increase the amount ,
of damage ~dth the possiblo loss of lives in the event of a
major flood.
( c ) The Goodwood Community
..
The village is IOCD.t8d on Highi'ICty No.47 at the
crossroads between Concessions II and III of the Township of
Uxbridge at the hoadv~tcrs of Duffin Creck. It is near the
boundary between tho watersheds of Duffin Croek and pofforlaw
Drool;: and is unique in that it lies in a dopression Hhich hLls
no apparent drainage outlet, and consoquently the community
Ins Coll'lays been troubled i'dth flooding.
(1 ) F:~qucncy and effect of floods
Except for storm Hazel, which caused some
flooding, there have beon no floods caused by summer storms.
Hm\Tevor, floods occur at nearly overy spring broak-up. The
flooded aroD. in the depression averages more than a foot in
depth and fills cellars to about the first floor level. It
usually takes six weeks, ctnd at times ten i'lecks, for the Hater
to evaporate and seep awcty. After the 1950 spring flood, a
boat serviced onc of the stre\~t s for noCtrly ti'JQ weeks. Septic
tanks nnd wells c..re flooded ctnd contamino..ted. Rnw sewage is
somotimos visible, ctnd on one occasion it is reported thnt
the imtcr surfnco wns c overed I,d th nlgnc. Although so far no
epidemics have been knoi'ffi to result from this condition, it
is ovidently a helllth D..S \\Tell as a flood problem.
Enginecrs tlcre engaged about 1910 and again
in 1950 and 1955 to inv~stigatc the problem and report on
relief mOQsures. In each case they considered anYsatisfactory
solution to be too costly an underta.king and no 2.ction was takcm.
It @ay still be so. This Department mnde an extensive field
survey during tho summer of 1956 and from this survoy is able
-38-
to submit tvro schomcs 1tlith ustimated costs for considcr.:ltion.
(2 ) Tho surv~y and data obtained
Tho :trca Has photographed o.nd pl2.ns '\vcre
prep~rod by Tho Photogra9hic Survoy Corporation Limited at a
scale of 100 feet to the inch (Figure 3) showing 2~-foot
contour intorvals. The Department had a survey party at Good-
Hood for about tHO l:Tccks m:J.king ground survoys to determine
tho outline of tho drainage area of tho depression and that of
the flooded area and other data sho~m on the above figure. u
Tho depression has a drainage area of 3$0 acres,
and according to tho Tmmship clork thero are 60 houses in the
GOOdvTood community, ,lith an estimated popul.:ltion of 250.
Tho flooded nrea covers 45.5 acres, has 23
dHellings c:md a. pOl)ulation of 98. For the year 1956 those
properties Hore assessed for 044,790, which is about one-fifth
of the a.ctual value.
About 80 acre feet':~ of \'!.:ltor is impounded during
periods of flood and; according to the evidence of residents,
.:lccumulntes in tHO to three dc.y s. Hmlcvcr, one resident
claims that s(:rious flooding has c.ccumulated in one dc.y. This
ma.n works for the railroad on a night shift C'.nd says for one
spring flood he Sa1t1 no flooding '\Thon he vrent to Hork but 'It/hen
he returned tho no::t day c.ftor Harking a 24-hour shift ho h:::d
to '\1nde to his house in rubber boot s. It is quite possible,
hO",Tevcr, thnt flooding hnd stnrtod and he did not notice it,
and thnt I'Then he returned homo the 'ltJ'2..ter h2.d not reached its
highest level.
The time of accumul.:ltion of tho impounded water
is nec8ssa.ry for tho solution of the problem. The Dopartmont
is arranging to have obsorvers timo the flooding at the 1957
freshet in one-foot sta~os from tho beginning of tho flooding
until it has roached its highest lovel. In the meantime, for
'this ostimnte tho 'Horst condition has boen assumed, viz., tho
accumulation of 80 acre foot of lInter in onc da.y.
._~ ._,
-', An .:lcro foot of tmter is I ncre in area p~d 1 foot deep.
',-
.~ ....
-39-
( 3 ) Solution
~
An estimate has boen ffiCLde for tl'TO schemes, viz:
a an open ditch
~
b a pipeline and pumping
-
Schemo a
The exi sting di tche s in Goodvrood Hould be
rograded to flo'i'l to the south-east an~lo of the intGrsection
of tho C.N.R. and county road between Lots 15 2nd 16. The
di tch 1Iould stv.rt at this point, thcnce westorly along the Ii
southerly side of the C.N.R. right-of-way, a distance of about
2,200 foet, thence southorly follovring a draw through a vmod-
lot about 1,800 feet, or [\. total length of 4,000 feot, to an
elcvation I\Thich Vlould drain off tho floodod o..rea. From this
point the 1'l2.tcr, 1lith some light ditching, vTould follo'V1 a
n~tur[\.l drainage course for about a mile southerly to a
~crmanont stream. Tho cut alonG the C.N.R. stretch 1lOuld
ho..ve 0.. ma:dmum depth of 29 feet. Tho 0xcavation is believed
to be mostly lcmses of fino sc.nd and clay lvhich Hould require
2 : 1 side slopes. ':~ A 48-inch galvanized pipe could be laid in
1,050 feet of the deeper section of the cut and back-filled.
The excavation for the piped section could have Hteeper side
slopes, and it is estimated that the saving in excavation would
pay for the pipe provided it could be back-filled as the pipe
1'12.8 l,:.id.
The cost of this scheme is o..pproxim:>.tely (~t:5, 400,
l~ich is prohibitive.
Scheme b is a pum~ing project.
Assuming that the accumulation of 80 acre feet
of vTator Hould be 1 dQY, it 1'JOuld be too expensi ve to c.ttcmpt
to remove it the same dv.y. It is proposed, therefore, to
pump if nocossc..ry for 5 dc..ys, uhich 1'JOuld mec..n th2.t there
would be some flooding during thc..t time. If, hO\"lOver, this
nccu~ulation took 3 days, it Hould probably be pumped off with
no flooding.
- - - .
,,- Two feet horizontal to I foot vertico..l.
,,'
.-
-40-
The project would comprise Q 200 horsepower
motor o..nd pump which VTould be capnble of pumping a.bout 9 c.f.s.
or 3,500 gallons of ~mter per ~inute through ~ 12-inch cast
iron pipeline 1,470 feet long buried in 0.. trench 4 feet decp.
Tho loco.tion of the proposed IJumphouE'e ::..nd pipeline is sho\m
on Figure 3. The \in.ter vmuld be purjlped from a 6t x 6t x 9t
deep concrete-lined sump or '.Tell provided Irith a tro..sh screen.
The pumping insto.llo..tion vlOuld be housed by an 8' x 10TB" x B'
high profo..bricntcd meto.l structure. II
Thore would be o..n opon ditch vnth a 3-foot
bottom rmd 700 foot long 2.1onC the fenco from tho county rond
to the pumphouso which would drain the o..djacont la.nd ~nd convoy
the wc.ter to the p1.1mphouse o..t IOH st2.gos. Tho ditch would also
conto.in ITi thout flooding the W2.ter in the pi:)eline between
tho summit and the pumphouse \Thi ch I'muld return if it were
nocossary to empty tho line.
A stilling bo.sin structure would be placed at
tho end of the pipeline to dissipnte the energy o..nd prevont
erosion from the discharge. i
i
The estimated cast of 3cheme b, vmich includes
20 per cont for engineering and contingencies, is f;~33,00O.
Assuming thL'..t the pump Hould be used once a yec..r only o..nd not
more them five continuous dClYS (it vJould probably :lvcro..ge less) 1
the operating cost, maintennnce and depreciation arc estimated
at G500 per yoar.
It is not exyocted thnt the dischargo would
.::ggrc.vate flood conditions dovmstroam, :.~s it is b-.;liovod tho.t
flm'TS '.lOuld ho.ve pc.sscd thoir peak in the.: southern part of the
ri vor by tho time pumping VT.:lS st.:lrted o..t GOOdllood.
II' -I r-- 12"
"/.
00
12" r----- 5 -.----1
16 --
. ~':
SECTION A-A
o 1 2 3 456 "" To STOUFFVILLE HWY.
SCALE...... - ..... I FEET
-~ ..;.\
T I CHU ~--
I I
:11 I RCH
.
AL-... T n__-, SrR~'l"
-+-+- - '", -N 1 T~ _ s: --~---~---~
I I '! X-I = ----- -~~ -'. A ~
1 I ~ : I \
I ---- -(12"C.I,P'
I
I
I .:'.
-~
PLAN ~
STILLING BASIN DETAI LS
""
0$' ~
N
0
(
-
---
~
-
. . -
1--12" . .
.. I 11 S~REET I ~
MAl N "1
.....-
.
HWV.
STOUFFVILLE ...- .
To
.
~-: I/O
SrfTc'l'!
i I~
---, ~
-- 'h_~_ --- A .
- -L.~ _'.
--- I. -.,
--- -(,2"C.I.P.
..
I 1096 __
.
----
\091
L 0 ..,.
1100 -
~
~ It>
S!
, -
.
I,;
. It>
\ - ~~
. (" ~
' \~ CJ
~ '0
oS' '\
. SHO'
\ \.)
AN
L 0 ..,.
Iq.
Flooded
Height of
Arec
.. -
- .
.
.
I II S~REET.' t
MAl N
,.
.
.
16
.
.'\'-
Ii
"
11- ,:1
,~ I
. ;~=::::-
, --
II- --:
II
II
_,,
..
IS ~.
~~ ~ '1.-'"
'\'\
.. f
'II
k::t ;......
,,.,;-'" ........----. -.._-.... ,...
,. ~--_....
,
, ,
,
I
. GRAVEL PIT
, ,
I ,
I
,
----- PART PLAN OF
GOODWOOD
SHOWING AREA SUBJECT TO FLOODING
AND PROPOSED REMEDIAL MEASURE
SCALE - FEET
100 9 \00 290 3?0 500
I I I
LEGEND
Flooded area........ Route of pipe line...... ----
Height of land... -'-'- Drainage course .... ..... -..'-...
Area s to be regraded ........ ~
CHAPTER 6
HYDROLOGY
l. Precipitation. Stream Flow and Run-Off
The drainage areas of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds,
as all other river drainage areas, are subject to the basic
complexities involved in the study of the relationships between
precipitation and run-off which, in turn, are contingent upon
the amount of reliable and pertinent data available. I
For this region, the two most important items of
data, precipitation and stream flow records, though pertinent
and reliable, have only been recorded over a relatively short
period of time and may not show the extreme characteristics
desirable.
(a) Pre~ipitation measurements available from a number of
stations in the vicinity, with varied length of record, indicate
an annual average of approximately 30 inches.
This is comparable with the measurements for
other Lake Ontario regions from Hamilton to Belleville, with
periods of record ranging from 27 to 112 years which show
average annual precipitation amounts of from 29.4 inches to
32.0 inches. Mean annual temperatures throughout the same
regions vary from 43 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
(b) Stream flow data for the drainage areas of the
R.D.H.P. are available for only the Duffin Creek area, where a
hydrometric station was established on No. 2A Highway bridge
at Pickering in 1946. The drainage area above this point is
112 square miles.
Observations are made once daily usually, with
hourly readings taken occasionally during spring freshet periods
or at other times when instructions may be issued to that
effect.
Table 4 shows the maximum and minimum mean
daily and mean monthly flows at the gauge for the entire per~od
of record and Fig. 4 shows the hydrographs for the same p;?:d.cc.~
-"
THOUSANDS OF CUBIC FEET PER SECOND
o It) 0 10 0 II)
10 N N _ _ 0
a
6 ~$~~:;~~t:~~ ~ ~ 20
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Ik: ~ f.!i (J)
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o IO'%lCCr---Nrt'll.O-O _ (f)
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ONOJ3S !l3d 133~ JIBnJ ~o SONVSnOH.L
....,.....-.ii
-42-
( c ) Run-off or stream flow is that portion of pre-
cipitation that finds its way to natural or artificial channels
either as surface flow or as subsurface flow resulting from
infiltration and deep seepage.
The factors affecting run-off are numerous and
varied, but may be generally classified under two headings,
(1) precipitation and (ii) watershed characteristics.
Precipitation is the most important since it is
the source of all stream flow. In many areas there are
s~fficient reliable data available for generalized estimates
of this factor but on the whole additional precipitation
recording stations are required for an accurate evaluation
of the precipit.ation to run-off relationships.
Watershed characteristics are numerous and
varied, and appear in so many combinations, that it is
difficult to classify or rank them in any order in relation to
their direct effect on run-off.
If ql~ntitive results only are desired, as in
the case of flood control, the best means aV2ilQble is to
measure the run-off directly by the use of hydrometric gauges
at strategic locations. Stream flow is the resultant of all
the characteristics of the watershed and while it indicates
the combined effect of the various features on the precipitation
which falls on the area it does not indicate the effect of
anyone factor.
The amount of surface flow or direct run-off is
of greatest concern to conservation in general and parti-
cularly to flood control, as this is the basis for design of
all struct.ures. In flcod control work it is not the ordinary
or average flows that determine the design but the unusual or
exceptional flow that may have occurred in the past or might
reasonably be expected to occur in the future,
--
-43-
2. Maximum Flows
(a) Spring Freshets
By examination of the flow records and hydro-
graphs of the gauge at Pickering on Duffin Creek, it is
obvious that the maximum flows for this area have occurred
during the freshet periods. Until recently, this has been
the case generally throughout all Southern Ontario watersheds,
except in isolated cases concerning small areas, since
systematic hydrometric records have been kept.
There are references to floods in other seasons
earlier in this report, but the data available are not suf-
ficient to determine the actual magnitude of the flows. Most
of the early flood references are eye-witness accounts or
hearsay and are difficult to evaluate. Also the changing con-
ditions make the comparison of these earlier floods with
present-day flows very difficult and any conclusions therefrom
unreliable. On the other hand, they cannot be ignored and
must be considered in development of any area where they may
have occurred.
The maximum flow recorded for the Duffin Creek
area occurred on March 19th, 1948, and is 3,470 c.f.s.# This
is a mean daily flow and it is quite probable that the peak
was considerably in excess of this.
During the period for which records have been
kept for the gauge at Pickering, there have been a few
occasions during freshets when observations were made at
lesser time intervals than the normal once daily readings.
On these occasions it is presumed that observations were
obtained at or near the peak of the flood and the following
table shows the relationship between the mean daily flow and
the actual peak flow.
-~ , . . -----
'" c.f.s. _ cubic feet per second.
,,'
-
-44-
RATIO OF PEAK TO ~lliAN FLOW
Date Peak Mean Ratio Peak
c.f.s. c. f. s. Mean
1954 - Apr. 16 2,632 1,640 1.605
1953 - Feb. 21 2,472 1,970 1.255
1953 - Mar. 4 2,940 1,524 1.929
-.... !
It can be seen from the above table that there
is little consistency in the ratio of peak to mean flows.
However, this would be modified with a greater number of obser-
vations, over a longer period. This inconsistency may be
attributed, in part, to a variety of conditions of which the
more obvious are:
(1 ) The seascn of the year, with its attendant com-
plex conditions of snow, ice formation, ground conditions, ete.
( 2 ) The river stages, which may be affected by ice
or backwater, or both, and the possibility that the actual peak
flow may not have been observed.
If the minimllm ratio were applied to the maximum
recorded mean daily flow of 3,470 c.f.s., the estimated peak
flew for the March 1948 flood would be:
3,470 x 1.255 = 4,355 c.f.s.
Taking the average of the ratios shown as 1.596
or 1.6 and applying this to 3,470 e.f.s. the estimated peak
flow for this flood would be: 3,470 x 1.6 = 5,552 e.f.s.
It appears reasonable to assume that the peak
flow for March 19th, 1948, was approximately 5,000 e.f.s. or
45 c.f.s. per square mile.
(b) Other Than Spring Freshets
There have been floods recorded at other seasons
than spring, that show flows of considerable magnitude. From
the number selected two occurred in October, one in June and
one in July. These are shown in the following table together
with the average depth of rainfall over the area and the
-
-45-
resultant run-off and the ratio of run-off to precipitation
expressed as a percentage. In determining the percentage run-
off the base f10w was subtracted in each case since this
portion of the run-off would not be attributable to the rain-
fall which immediately preceded the run-off period being
considered.
SEASONAL PRECIPITATION AND RUN-OFF
FOR SELECTED STORMS, OTHER THAN SPRING
Discharge Rain Run-off Run-off
Date Max. Mean Inches Inches %
Daily on Area on Area
c. f. s.
October - 1949 331 1.2 0.13 11
October - 1954 1,830 3.5 1.095 31
June - 1947 1,210 2.57 0.487 19
July - 1950 858 1.85 0.32 17
The run-off factor is most uncertain and varies
widely with the degree of perviousness of the watershed area,
the season of the year, the general climatic conditions, pre-
vious precipitation, rainfall intensity, etc.
Since there are not sufficient basic data
available to arrive at any conclusive run-off factor in view
of the number of assumptions that are necessary in developing
basin hydrographs for forecasting or design studies, it was
felt that a more refined analysis was unnecessary. Therefore,
the methods of hydrograph separation and rainfall distribution
used to establish the run-off factors shown, were considered
satisfactory for the purpose of this report.
3. Storm of October 14-15. 1954
As shown in Fig. 4 the maximum recorded flow
on Duffin Creek occurred on March 19, 1948.
However, the storm which is considered most
significant in relation to run-off and design and which caused
exceptional damage and excessive run-off over a wide area,
occurred in October, 1954.
-
-46-
The rainfall resulting from the storm of
October 14 and 15, 1954, and known as Hurricane Hazel was
much less on the R.D.H.P. Watersheds than experienced on the
Humber River Watershed located some 30 miles to the west, and
over which the storm centre passed.
However, the rainfall was widespread and
meteorological stations in the vicinity of the R.D.H.P. areas
reported amounts as tabulated below. These are the officially
recorded amounts of the Climatology Section, Meteorological
Division, Department of Transport.
Station Oct. 14 Oct. 15 Total (48 hrs.)
Inches Inches Inches
-
Oak Ridges 1.50 3.40 4.90
Uxbridge 0.60 3.27 3.87
Willowdale 1.66 3.77 5.43
Agincourt 1.28 3.33 4.61
Wexford 0.49 3.50 3,99
West Hill 0,,35 2.86 3.21
Rouge Hills 0.26 2(>92 3.18
Green River 0..69 3.10 3.79
Oshawa 0.28 1.37 1.65
The average depth over the combined areas of
the R.D.H.P. would be approximately 4.0 inches. From the
isohyetal map of the area, the following figures were inter-
polated for the individual drainage areas.
Average
Area Depth in Inches
(48-hour Total)
Rouge 4.3
Duffin 3.5
Highland 4.0
Petticoat 3.5
-'.,
i
i
I
-47-
The maximum mean daily discharge recorded on
Duffin Creek for this storm was 1,830 c.f.s. with a peak flow
of 3,680 c. f. s. The peak was computed by relating a high
water mark left by the flood to the gauge reference and thence
determined from the extended rating curve. The run-off factor
determined for the Duffin Creek area from these figures was I
I
:
approximately 31 per cent.
Though this storm as it occurred did not pro-
duce a discharge greater than the previously recorded
March 19, 1948, flow, it is cbvious that such a storm could
have centred over the R.D.H,P. areas, with results as
devastating as experienced elsewhere.
4. Haze'll- CC'ntrer~ en' }J1.;.ffJ.n, Cre0kAr~a
_ .....-.-........ ov-- ~:-... ~----~
To construct a hydro graph for storm 'Hazel
centred over the area of Duffin Creek, the unit-graph method
was used as this best suits the circumstances when considering
run-off resulting from rainfall alone. As there are not many
years of hydrometric records available, the number of storms
available to meet the requirements of the method were few.
However, of those available a reasonably close correlation
was indicated and an average graph was computed and the re-
sulting ordinates used to determine the hydrograph resulting
from a storm such as Hazel.. .
The probable hydro graph for Haz~land that for
the probable maximum precipitation by the unit-graph method
are shown in Fig. 5.
Frcm a depth - area analysis, for a 4$-hour
period, of storm Hazel it is indicated that a total brl0.l. .
inches of rain could have fallen on an area of 112 square miles
This figure was used to construct the probable hydro graph that
would have resulted from such a storm over the Duffin Creek
area.
The most unsatisfactory part of the application
of the unit graph method is the determination of the run-off
28
26
. ~ 25,750 C.F.S.
I \
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22 \
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--- I--
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"- - --
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0
0 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
TIME - HOURS
HYDROGRAPHS
DUFFIN CREEK AT PICKERING
DRAINAGE AREA 112 SQ. MILES
showing
Hurricane "Hazel" and Probable Maximum
storms centred on the watershed.
Oetermined by unit-graph method based on mean doily flows.
Hurricane "Hazel" 10.1 ins. of rain - 75% run-off
Probable Maximum 16.8 ins. of rain - 85% run-off FIG. 5
--
-48-
percentage, with particular reference to the season of the
occurrence. From the few storms available for determination
of a run-off factor, the maximum indicated was 31% which
resulted from Hazel as it actually affected this area.
Eight hydrographs of those available for the
month of October, and resulting from rain only, varying in
amounts from 0.5 inches to 3.5 inches were separated, and a
net run-off increment determined for each. The resulting run-
off factors varied from 2% to 31%.
The variation was not in direct proportion to
the rainfall amounts due to the variables, the influence of
the numerous factors affecting run-off, the chief ones being
the antecedent rain and soil conditions, rainfall intensities,
distribution, etc. The resulting run-off plotted against
rainfall and extended to include 10.1 inches indicated a run-
off of 6.6 inches or 65%.
This run-off figure of 65% may appear low, when
an amount of rainfall such as 10.1 inches on a small drainage
area of 112 square miles is considered. However, a partial
agreement may be reached by an examination of Table 1, which
shows the predominant soil types, in terms of their pervious
and impervious qualities and distribution.
On the Duffin Creek area, the area of pervious
soil which has absorptive capacity and is conducive to
infiltration and percolation, is approximately 36% as against
impervious of 20%. In between there is the drumlinized till
plain area of approximately 44%, which also has tendencies of
retention. Over all, it appears that the area would not con-
tribute much more than 65% to run-off in the event of a storm
such as Hazel' but as an added safety factor, 75% would
appear to be a reasonable percentage for storms of this
magnitude.
Applying this factor (75%) to the computed unit-
graph for the area, a peak flew of 13,700 c.f.s. would result
which is equivalent to a run-Gff rate of 122 c.f.s. per square
mile.
.......
I
-49-
5. Probable Y~ximum Precipitation
From Preliminary Estimates of Probable Maximum
Precipitation over Southern Ontario*, for an area of 112
square miles, an amount of 16.8 inches for a 48-hour period
is indicated. For a storm rainfall of such proportions it is
likely that the run-off factor would approach 85 t~ 90%,
particularly in consideration of the amount and intensities
involved and the possible antecedent conditions which may
exist at the time such a storm might occur.
An arbitrarily chosen run-off factor of 85%
for the Probable Maximum Precipitation would appear to be
reasonable for purposes of project design. By applying those
quantities in the same manner as for Hurricane Hazel, the
resulting peak flow would be 25,750 c.f.s. or 230 c.s.m.
It should be pointed out that the above run-off
ratios are based on the watershed area in its present state.
As previously mentioned the further development of the area
could materially alter these ratios and this feature of the
area would necessarily have to be re-assessed when future
work is considered. However, with the stream flow gauge now
in operation the continuous records will indicate any long-
term trends in this regard and the factors may be adjusted
accordingly.
6. Other Areas Within the Authority
Up to this point the only area considered in
the hydrology studies was Duffin Creek, as this is the only
area having records of stream flow. The remaining areas to be
considered are:
Area Drainage (Sq. miles)
Rouge River 129.7
Highland Creek 39.4
Petticoat Creek 10.4
-
* Study by J. P. Bruce, Hydrometeorologist seconded to the
Department of Planning and Development from the
Meteorological Division, Department of Transport.
'~
"
.,
j
-50- .1
All the areas, including Duffin Creek, within ~1
:i
the Authority, are adjacent to one another and the combined
areas cover 310 square miles. "
The climatic elements over these areas are
similar in nature, except for time and distribution, with
particular reference to the unusual storms such as severe
thunderstorm or hurricane-type precipitation, which may be
of short duration and concentrated on relatively small areas.
The development of synthetic hydro graphs was
considered for these areas but, on investigation it was found
that basic data essential to the application of any synthetic
method were not available.
The only means available, therefore, is a com-
parative analysis of the basic characteristics of the areas ! ~
concerned in relation to the adjacent Duffin Creek area for
which some basic data were available, using any empirical or
rational formulae that may appear relevant to produce estimates
.
of stream flow and run-off quantities.
Table 1 shows the soil types and the degree of
perviousness in proportion to the area, the river gradients :
,
I
and drainage areas. A purely arithmetic treatment of these I
quantities, in terms of their relationship to the Duffin Creek
area, was developed in two steps.
(a) Soil types and river gradients.
(b) Drainage area size.
(a) Soil Types and River Gradient~
The nature of the so i 1 s , the land slopes and
river channel gradients have a marked effect on run-off, but
do not always combine to contribute to the same result.
In the case of pervious soils and flat
gradients the effect would be to retard run-off, while the
opposite of these features would tend to increase the run-off.
On the other hand, a combination of pervious soils with steep
slopes or impervious soils with flat slopes would tend to off-
set one another and moderate the run-off.
-51-
Through a comparison of these features for each
of the areas and for which reasonably accurate data are
available, the following table was determined.
RATIOS
RELATIVE TO SOIL TYPES AND GRADIENTS
Rouge Duffin I Highland Petticoat
1.37 1.0 0.70 1,;03
-
(b) Dr~~e Area Siz~
The size of drainage area is probably the most
important of all the characteristics affecting run-off since
it is the area that determines the amount of rainfall that is
caught, a portion of which ultimately appears as stream flow.
Normally the intensity of the rainfall varies inversely with
the size of the watershed area.
The size factor is considered by many to be so
important that in the n~merous run~off formulae used as
standard practice, it is the only variable, other character-
istics being represented by constant factors or ignored.
The shape of drainage area also has an effect
on run-off, mainly because of the distribution of its various
tributary channels and their capability of concentrating run-
off from all areas of a watershed. Also the slope and the
relatively important time elements must be taken into
considerati on.
T~e best known and probably most used formula
which takes into account the drainage area variable is that
by Fuller. However, this formula was devised primarily to
arrive at momentary peak flows from mean daily flows.
Assuming that the hydrograph shape is well defined by the
recorded mean daily flows, with the exception of the actual
peak; and as we are mainly concerned with the peak, it appearc
logical that Fuller's formula could be applied to show the
relationship of drainage area size to the peak flow, and
consequent peak rate.
-52-
The following table shows the relationship of
drainage areas to Duffin Creek in terms of FullerTs formula.
PEAK FLOW RELATIONSHIP
BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA VARIABLE BY FULLER
Rouge Duffin Highland Petticoat
Area
Sq. Miles 130 * 112 39 10
Fuller's
Increment 1.464 1.476 1.667 2.0
Ratio 0.99 1.0 1.13 1.35
* Drainage area above Hydrometric Station.
By applying these ratios to the peak rate of
run-off for storm Hazel already obtained for the Duffin Creek
area approximate estimates of peak flows and peak rates of
run-off for the other watershed areas were determined.
The estimated flows are shown in the following
table.
ESTIMATED FLOWS
RESULTING FROM T1HURRICANE HAZELIT CENTRED ON AREA
Peak Rate ** Rainfall
Area Sq. Miles c.f.s. c.s.m. Inches
(48 hours)
Rouge 130 21,580 166 10.0
Duffin * 112 13,700 122 10.1
Highland 39 3,940 97 10.7
Petticoat 10 1,680 168 11.1
* Drainage area above Hydrometric Station.
** Depth-area analysis Hurricane Hazel.
The foregoing estimates of potential run-off
for the Rouge, Highland and Petticoat areas, are not con-
clusive and are presented here as a guide only, until such
time as stream gauges can be established.
-53-
The method of application of the data available
is based on assumptions, which are n~t constant in relation
to the numerous variable conditions which may exist on any
drainage area at different seasons.
However, it is felt that the quantities
presented may be used with a reasonable degree ~f confidence
in relation to the type and degree of flood control and water
c~nservation measures that may be proposed for these areas.
Hydrographs for the maximum spring and summer
fl~w periods are shown in Figures 6 and 7.
7. Low Flows
Table 4 shows periods of 10w fl~w normally
occurring in August and September. Zero flews were recorded
in both these months for the year 1952-53.
However, over the 10-year period the average of
the minimum mean daily f10ws was 23 and 26 c.f.s. fer August
and September, respectively.
During one 2-week period from August 19 to
September 3, 1952-53, the flQW ranged from zero to 10 c.f.s.
with an average for this period of 4.$ c.f.s. This is equi-
valent to 0.3$6 inches depth on the area for the period.
During this l5-day period the total rain
recorded in the vicinity of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds was 0.22
inches at Uxbridge and 0.12 inches at Oak Ridges. There was
no rain recorded at Agincourt or Green River for the period.
At this time of year it is very likely that of this rain
recorded at Uxbridge and Oak Ridges, practically all of it
would be lost through infiltration and evapo-transpiration.
Certainly very little ever reached the river channel via
surface run-off.
Therefore, it appears that all the flew recorded
for the period in question was withdrawn fr~m ground water
sources. Evidently this was a very dry period throughout the
""""l
3'5 ~ 3,470 C,F.S.
1\
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21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
MARCH 1947
15 16 17 \8 19 2'0 21 22 23
MARCH 1948
3\ I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
APRIL 1950
SPRI NG FLOW HYDROGRAPHS
DUFFIN CREEK AT PICKERING
DRAINAGE AREA 112 SQ. MI.
Mean dai Iy flows plotted from records of the Water Resources Oivisi on
Dept. of Northern Affairs and Notional Resources Ottowa. FIG.6
19j
1,830 CF.S.
18
17 I
I
16
" I
,. I
13
1,210 C.F.S
12
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-:=;::-- -- =-----:- ',-------- --------------
--- -------- ------~
o
8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
OCTOBER 1949
25 26 27 2B 29 30 31 I 2 3 4
JULY 1950 AUGUST
29 30 31 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
MAY 1947 JUNE
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
OCTOBER 1954
SUMMER FLOW HYDROGRAPHS
DUFFIN CREEK AT PICKERING
DRAINAGE AREA 112 SQ, MI.
MeQn doily flows plotted from records of 1he Water Resources Division
Oept of Northern Affairs and Notional Resources Ottowa FI G. 7
-54-
entire R.D.H.P. area. However, such a dry peri od could happer:.
again and possibly at a more critical period in relation to
crop growth.
Also, such a dry period would be detrimental
to water supply, for both domestic and industrial use. The
R.D.H.P. Watersheds border on the rapidly expanding Metro-
polit~n Toronto area and a substantial increase in the water-
sheds in population and industry is certain and, with no
over-optimism, it is quite possible that large areas of the
watersheds will be urbanized and that there will be a demand
fur stor8d water for domestic and industrial use. Water from
storage reservoirs could also be used to supplement lcw flows
~nd provide adequate water for recreation and fish life. If
so, reservoir sites on Duffin Creek, if economically justi-
fi0d, 3.nd developed, would satisfy dem'lnds for water on the:
Duffin Creek Watersh~d.
8. Pl")llution
Although there is no serious pollution probl~m
now, th~re will be with the expected increase in population
~nd industry unl~ss timely preventive measures are taken.
The treatment of domestic and industrial effluent should be
such that it is harmless before entering a stream. Measures
to increase low flows should not be relied upon entirely to
Jilute these effluents but they could reduce the cost of
prior tr0atment ~onceivably to the point where such treatment
could bb carri8d out economically.
There is evidence of pollution during the "l("'w
flow" summer period, !It most pl3.ces where the streams are
ne:l.rly dry. Places subject to pcllution 3.re chiefly ~n the
smaller streams tributary to the main channels of the Rouge,
Highland Creek, Duffin Creek and Petticoat Creek or on the
adjacent streams in the vicinity which drain to Frenchman B~y
directly.
CHb.PTER 7
COMlVlUNITY PONDS
Community ponds are public ponds and usually
larger than the private farm ponds. The community ponds provide
recreational centres for bathing, fishing and boating during
the summer and skating and hockey during the winter months.
When conveniently located and with adequate open space available
for recreational facilities, old mill sites which have some
historical interest are preferred. Old mill sites, however, are
not always available or adaptable and other sites must be found.
A reconnaissance survey of community pond sites
has been made on the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. Thirty-eight sites
were examined 18 of which were selected as possibilities from
which a choice may be made. These sites do not include all
possible sites and there may be others more acceptable to the
Authority which were not investigated.
The preservation and construction of permanent
dams has been limited to the upper reaches of the streams owing
to the larger and more expensive spillways required at sites
located farther downstream. However, small removable dams or
by-pass ponds may be constructed at reasonable cost in the
lower sections of the river.
The sites are divided into 3 types, the prefix
letter denoting the type:
( N) Natural lake or pond
(E) Existing dam and/or pond
(p) Possible sites.
Their locations and types are shown on Fig. 8 and
a brief description of each follows:
Natural Lakes or Ponds
Fourteen natural lakes or ponds are located at
or near the headwaters vf the Rouge River and its tributaries,
among the larger being -
~
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-56-
Phillips Lake 16 acres
Bond Lake 40 n
Haynes Lake 6 n
Simeon Lake 8 n
Reesor Lake 40 n
At the headwaters of Duffin Creek near Goodwood
there are six small ponds.
Existing Dams and Ponds
1. ~ Bruce Creek. Lot 1. Con. IV. Whitchurch
A privately-owned scenic pond of approximately
5 acres immediately north of the Whitchurch-Markham town line.
2. ill Little Rouge. Lo t 3 5 , Con. VI. Markham
A three-acre pond formed by a dam 5 feet in
height still supplies limited power to a sawmill operating on
the sit e .
3. ill Tributary of Little Rouge. Lot 1, Con. VII, Whitchurch
A privately-owned small scenic pend of less than
1 acre located immediately north of the Whitchurch-Markham town
line.
12. ill Unionville. Bruce Creek.-1ots 13-14, Con. V. Markham
A good example of a private recreational pond
may be seen here. The pond is used for swimming by the Union-
ville Swimming Club during the summer months. During winter
months the pond is lowered to provide skating.
The maximum area flooded by the dam, 20 feet in
height, is approximately 15 acres.
25. ill Glasgow. West Branch Duffin Creek. Lot 6~Con. ~
!Jjcbri dge
A 10-acre pond is formed by a dam 7 feet high.
The upstream portion of the pond area is heavily wooded.
.
26. ill Altona, West Branch Duffin Creek. Lot 3~ Con. IX!
Pifkering
A 15-acre pond and the surrounding land have been
privately developed as a bird sanctuary.
31. ill Whitevale. West Branch Duffin Creek. Lot )2, Con. V.
Pickerin&
The flour mill in Whitevale is presently using
power from a 15-acre pend lucated about 2,000 feet upstream.
The area surrounding the pond is heavily wooded.
-57-
49. ill Duffin Creek. Lot 10. Con. III. Uxbridge
A dam 20 feet in height forms a 15-acre pond at
the head of the west branch of Duffin Creek, li miles south-
east of Goodwood. A small sawmill uses power from this site.
50. ill Glen MaiorL Duff~n Creek. Lot 2. Con. IX. Uxbridge
The Glen Major Fishing Club maintains two dams
at the head of the main branch of Duffin Creek.
The surrounding area is quite hilly.
Recreational facilities in the area could include fishing,
hiking and skiing.
54. ill Woodland Park. Little Rouge, Lot 6. Con. V-L
~ScarboLOugh
A small removable dam provides a pond having a
depth of about 4 feet for swimming in the park area. This area
has been privately developed as a summer ple.ygroun~. ,
,
56. ill ~c;tl~aml Tributary Duffin Creek, Lot 7., Con. IXt Pic~ey_~~
A pond of approximately 6 acres is located about
2,500 feet north of the concession road. The surrounding area
would provide good recreational facilities. Access to the site
is difficult.
Pcssible-2it~s for Dams
4. ill Bru ce Mills t ~ruce Creet. Lot ~~QQ~V. Markham
The spillway of the mill dam built in 1828
failed in 1950 and was totally destroyed in October 1954. The
pond area of 14 acres is heavily silted.
The cost of rehabilitating this dam to its former
height of 17 feet is estimated at $35,000.00. This is quite
the most costly of any of the sites listed but the old mill,
at the dam, is still in good workable condition and the
surrounding area should provide good park and recreational
facilities.
S. ill Headford. Rouge River. Lot 19. Con. III~ Markham
The construction of a spillway between the earth
wings of the old dam would provide an 8-acre pond at this site.
-58-
The west bank is steep and wooded while the east
bank slopes gently but is lacking in shade trees.
11. ill Buttonville. Rouge River. Lot 14. Con. III, Markham
The earth wings of a mill dam constructed before
1848 may be seen immediately upstream of the Rouge River Bridge
at Buttonville. The timber spillway failed in 1920 and the dam
was abandoned.
A pond having a depth of 12 feet and an area of
14 acres could be obtained by rebuilding the spillway between
the earth works.
The pond is adjacent to the Buttonville aerodrome. ,
Limited park and recreational benefits could be obtained at this
site.
15. ill Milne Site. Rou~~~ver, Lot 9. Con. VII. Markham
The rern2ins 0':' the Milne Dar:1 may be seen on the
Rouge River near the southerly limits of the town of Markham
and west of Highway No. 48.
The exL'3ting strustU!~e is in fai~ condition and
could be restored at reasonable cost to provide a pond of
approximately 40 acres. It has been estimated that it would
cost $12,100 to restore the dam to its reduced height. To
restore it to its orir;::"nal height. v;ol.l}.d not cost much more and
the benefits of the larger pond area would more than offset the
increase in cost.
A large portion of th9 pond would be within the
town limits and 5hculd provide excellent park and recreational
facilities for the area.
35. lrl C la r: em Q.D_t!..l-P.~[f.tt::.-rL~_ e k~ La t l2, Con. VIII. Pickering
The remains of an old dam are visible just west
of the Claremont-Brougham road. A 7-acre pond could be formed
by a dam 15 feet high and 400 feet long. Much of the remaining
embankment could be used.
Thi s is the site of the flClaremont Reservoir"
listed in the surveyed reservoir sites.
-59-
A much better site in this area is located
approximately 1,300 feet downstream. (Se e below)
36. ill Claremont. Duf~in Creek. Lot 18. Con. VIII, Pickering
A good site exists approximately 1,300 feet
downstream from site No. 35. The earth embankments of an old
dam appear to be in good shape and the addition of a spillway
in the present gap would provide a 6. tc 8 acre pond.
24. ill Cedar Gro ve. Little Rouge. Lot 1, Con. IX, Markham
The rehabilitation of the mill dam would not be
feasible as a community pond but the general reach of the river
in this area is adaptable to small removable dams in many
locations.
TelllPorary dalJl at lI'oodlalld Fark. NOIli/c Ri'l'cr. [II the Iml'er sectiolls of the
ri'l'crs 'l,'here pertl/al/cl/t dallls 'l('ould he (/. costly ltlldertakil/i/ slJlall relllovable
timher dallls such as this lJlay be constructed at reasonable cost to /,ro'l'ide (! pool
for recreation purposes.
.....
CHAPTER 8
SUMNAHY
c...$- .....~....-......--
The general physical features of each of the
watersheds have been described in this report. The history
and causes of flooding, the communities affected and the 1956
assessed value of the flooded properties have been recorded.
All ,ossible reservoir sites on the vmtersheds
have been examined and where considered feasible the sites
have been surveyed and contour plans prepared. These are on
file and are available if and \{hen required. In examining
the watersheds for flood control the aim has been to provide
sufficient storage and/or other improvements that would control
floods 1-1/3 times the magnitude of the greatest flood on
record.
There is sufficient storage available in the
Duffin Creek sites, but the cost of dams ard reservoirs for
flood relief alone would be prohibitive and is not justified
at the present time. Hovlever, mung to the great expansion
of I'Ietropolitan Toronto :md suburban areas it is quite possible
that the demand for domestic and/or industrial vBter supply
and for the dilution of sewage wastes would justify the expense
of dams at some future time. In this event the reservoirs
could be developed as multi-purpose units to help regulate
flood flows as well.
With the exce?tion of the Goodwood Corr~unity
the only measures ~or flood relief in those areas affected are
channel improve@ents, but even this expedient is expensive and,
in view of the light damage, cannot be justified at this time.
For Good1;~od a pumping system appears to be the most economical
solution.
Whereas in the past works for flood relief have
been based on the greatest spring flood on record, from the
experience of storm Hazel, it is now evident that such '.'fork
must be based on hurricane type storms l'Thich normally occur in
-61-
September or October. The severe 6-hour thunderst~rm is also
a critical factor, particularly in the smallor areas of a
hundred square miles or less.
The floHs on Duffin Creek c.: t the Pi ckaring gauge
for tho flood of October 15 and 16, 1954 which resulted from
Hurricane Hazel are 6iven. At its centre over the Etobicoke
,
and Hwnber watersheds this ,,'as the greatest storm on record,
but storms of this and oven greater magnitude could occur over
o..ny \'ntorshed in Southern Ontario.
The approxi~lte rate of run-off for flood Hazol
as it o..ctually occurrod over the R.D.H.P. watersheds is given.
The estimated rates of run-off for storm Hazel centred over
the area are also given 2nd wh~t they could be for a probable
mQximum storm are indicated.
,
The 10\'1 summer flow c ondi tions which~ to the
present time, have not caused ~y serious pollution problAm,
h~ve been indicated and it has beon emphasized that unless
timely preventive measures are taken pollution may become
serious vTith the expected increase in population in the area.
A large number of existing and former pond sitos
and a number of possible sitos on the ilatersheds were i.nvesti-
gated to detormine the most suitable sites for the development
of community ponds in the area. The most suitable sites are
listed and described in Chapter 7, as a guide to tho Authority
in laying out a Community Ponds progr2ffi.
ABBREVIATIONS, EQUIVALENTS AND DEFINITIONS
a c. ft. is the abbreviation for acre foot which
is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet and
is the quantity of water required to
cnver one acre to a depth of one foot.
c.s.m. is the abbreviation for cubic fE?~er
second per ,square .mile and is the average
number of cubic feet of water flowing per
second from each square mile of drainage
area.
c.f.s. is the abb~eviation for cubic feet per ",
second and is the unit generally used to
express discharge or the rate of flow.
M.P.N. most probable number
or m.p.n.
ML or mI. millilitre
P.P.B. parts per billion
or p.p.b.
P.P.M. parts per mi:lion
or p.p.m.
PH or ph value measure of acidity or alkalinity
-
1 c.f.s. = 6.25 imperial gallons per second
l,c.f.s. = 1.98347 acre feet or approximately
for 1 day 2 acre feet
1 c.Ls. = 72h acre feet
for 1 year
1 ac. ft. = 271,472 imperial gallons
1,000,000 imperial gallons per day = 1.86 c.f.s.
Definitions
BOOST STORAGE is the storage required to increase the
head of water over the discharge tubes
in order that they may be able to dis-
charge the required flow.
CHANNEL CAPACITY or "IN_BANK" FLOW is the maximum flow
which is contained within the river banks
and does not overflow the adjacent low lands.
~IANNEL CAPACITY STORAGE is the volume of water that
must be impounded in order that the stream
flow will not exceed the channel capacity
flow or stage.
(ii)
CONSERVATION STORAGE is that volume of water remaining
in a reservoir which may be used to augment
the low flows and is equivalent to the
maximum storage capacity of the reservoir
less the dead storage, evaporation and ice
losses and the space reserved for flash
floods.
DAM is a structure in and across a river valley to
impound, control and otherwise regulate the
river flow.
DEAD STORAGE is the amount of water kept in a reservoir
at all times for the purpose of protecting
the artificial and natural water seals at
the base of the dam.
DISCHARGE TUBE or CONDUIT is an opening through the base
of the spillway to provide means for dis-
charging water when the water level of the
reservoir is below the spillway level.
FLOOD is an overfluw or inundation coming from a river
or other body of water.
FLOOD CONTROL is the prevention of flooding by control-
ling the high water stages by means of
storage reservoirs, dikes, diversions or
channel improvement such as widening, deep-
ening and s. ~aightening.
FLOOD CONTROL STORAGE iv the total volume of water that
must be impounded during a given flood in
order that the stream flow will not exceed
the channel capacity flow or stage and is
equal to the sum of the channel capacity,
dead, boost and operational storages.
FLOOD CREST is the maximum height or stage that the
flood waters reach during anyone flood
period.
FLOOD HYDROGRAPH - a hydrograph which covers only the
flood period or time interval during which
the river flow is above the flood stage.
FLOOD RATIO is the rate of peak flow to the average flow
for the flood period.
FLOOD STAGE is an arbitrary flow stage which varies
from place to place and from season to season
and is that flow or water level at which the
water threatens to do damage.
FREEBOARD is the vertical distance between the maximum
permissible water level and the top of the
dam or dikes.
HYDRAULICS as applied to conservation deals with the
measurement and control of run-off from
river drainage basins.
HYDROGRAPH is a plot of flow against time and is a
correct expression of the detailed run-off
of a stream resulting from all the varying
physical conditions which have occurred on
the drainage area above the gauging station
previous to the time which it represents.
I
r
~
(iii)
HYDROLOGY is the science which deals with the occur-
rence and distribution of water in its
various forms over and within the earth's
surface. As applied to conservation it
deals more specifically with that portion
of the hydrologic cycle from precipitation
to re-evaporation or return of the water
to the seas and embodies the meteorological
phenomena which influence the behaviour of
the waters during this phase of the cycle.
OPERATIONAL STORAGE is additional storage that is
required to provide a safety factor to enable
the controller to regulate the discharge
from a dam so as not to exceed the channel
capacity flow or stage.
RATE OF RUN-OFF is the rate at which water drains from
an area. Usually expressed in cubic feet
per second (c.f.s.).
RATE OF RUN-OFF PER SQUARE MILE is the average number of
cubic feet per second of water flawing
from each square mile of area drained
(c.f.s./sq. mi. or c.s,m.).
RESERVOIR is the body of water created by the construc-
tion of a dam.
';
RESERVOIR CAPACITY is the maximum amount of water that
may be contained within the reservoir
without exceeding the maximum permissible
water leveL Usually expressed in acre
feet. ;~
RUN-OFF is the amount of water which reaches the
open stream channels and may be broadly
defined as the excess of precipitation over
evaporation, transpiration and deep-seepage.
RUN-OFF DEPTH IN INCHES is the depth to which the area
would be covered if all the water flowing ~~.
from it were conserved and uniformly distri-
buted over the surface.
SPIL1\'JA Y is that part of a dam over or through which
the water is discharged.
,
SPILLWAY CAPACITY is the maximum amount cf water that l~
may be discharged over the spillway without
exceeding the maximum permissible water level
in the reservoir. ,
~.
STREAM GAUGE is a measuring device used to determine the .,
elevation of the water surface at selected
points - usually a graduated rod fixed in "
an upright position and set to a kno~m ele-
vation from which the gauge readings are
obtained by direct observation. Automatic
type gauge is a mechanically operated record-
ing instrument which gives a continuous
record of water surface elevations.
WATER or CLIMATIC YEAR is a 12-month period from October
I to September 30. The water year was found
to be a more convenient form than the
calendar year for the purpose of stream flow
studies as it groups together those months
in which the water losses due to evaporation
and vegetation demands are at a minimum
(October - March) and those during which the
lusses are high (April - September).
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTIQN
No detailed examinaticn of the environment for
wildlife in thG R.D.H.P. Watersheds was made during this survey.
00und deductions for improvements to upland game, ',vaterf'1wl
and fur-bearers (as well as to other species of interesting
appearance, rarity or habits) cannot be made on the basis of
a few weeks t observations over a wide area. ThEose require a
study of the existing habitat for each species and of the
dynamics or changes of populations for a period of several
seasons. Such studies are already being made by the Divisions
of Research and Fish & Wildlife of the Department of Lands and
Forests.
One small part of the watorshed was given special
attsntion for two reasons:
(1) because it contains sections which are par'ti cularly
suitable for recreation, remarkably close to th€
great population of Metropolitan Toronto;
(2 ) because in certain sectors the vegetation closely
resonililes that of picneor times and there appears
to be a greater variety of wildlife habitats than
in other parts of the watershed.
The area selected was the lower Rouge River
Valley and its environs. This part of the watershed can be
recomwended either as a natural park or as an area where
different types of land use could be demonstrated) varying
from those of pioneer times to the most efficient now known.
This subject is discussed in greater detail in the Recreation
section of this report.
The chief detailed work during the survey con-
sisted of a study of the streams as suitable environment for
fish. Duffin Creek has been studied in some detail in the past.
but in this survey equal emphasis was given to all the water-
courser. .
.......,
CHAPTER 2
WILDLIFE CuNDITIONS ALOlJG THE LOW2.R ROUGE RIVER
1. Introduction
Most of the course of the lower Rouge River lies
in the north-eastern part of Scarborough Township which con-
stitutes the eastern section of Metropolitan Toronto with its
great population (approximately 1,300,000). The river consists
of two branches which unite close to Lake Ontario. Each flows
into a rapidly deepening valley such that the steep banks are
over 125 feet high at the junction. This fact alone has probab~y
preserved much of the existing forest in the highlands which
separate the two branches. Most of the valleys are wooded.
These woods provide natural game trails. Most of the surround-
ing area is still farmed. Orchards are common in the lower
region and there are several large gravel pits near the valleys.
Since the river valleys and several of the
adjacent woodlots are very attractive, and relatively wild in
appearance, the existing forested areas were examined to obtain
some idea of their wildlife and recreation possibilities.
2. !VIethod
Seven areas were selected from the aerial photo-
graphs of the R.D~H.P. Watersheds, and closely examined in May
19540 The major ground cover and the surrounding land use were
mapped. General observations were made on wildlife habitats and
records were made of all animals observed during eight days in
the area. Several local farmers were interviewed to obtain
their impressions of the wildlife conditions in the area. In
every area the ground vegetation and the amount and condition
of the tree cover greatly affect the possibilities of the land
for wildlife.
The accompanying map indicates the areas selected
for special study. These are lettered A to Go
Area A
Area A lies along a tributary stream in Markham
---- ~
~: .'.
.?',~~j
;
R
R
R
NCH 'IV-
cl> -:;. "" =- R ~I ,," BA Y I
LAKE ONTARIO
LOWER ROUGE RIVER
SHOWING
AREAS REFERRED TO IN THE R.D.H.P. WILDLIFE REPORT
LEGEND
~f;;~~\t:::~ WOODLAND
A,S etc. AREAS STUDIED
r AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST
I ~ 0 I 2
SCALE I . . I MILES
Range numbers conform to Township Surveys and not to 1951 Army Survey mops
-3-
Townshipo The stream divides into two, so that a low moist area
of cedar surrounds a small central hill covered with a mature
ungrazed maple - beech forest. Trilliums were numerous on this
high ground while ferns and marsh marigolds were the prominent
ground cover in the low moist westerly projection of the woodlot.
The northern section of the woodlot is in a long narrow valley
and is rather open and grazed. West of this valley is an area
of scrub in which the chief cover is hawthorn, raspberry, golden-
rods and grass. The rest of the surrounding area is cultivated.
The land is good habitat for pheasants, rabbits,
raccoons and grey squirrels, all of which were common. Ground-
hogs appeared numerous in the northern section and evidence of
muskrats was found. A very wide variety of birds was found in
the various types of cover.
Area B
Area B, south of Area A in Scarborough Township,
consisted basically of two forest types. The south-west portion
is mostly under cedar cover, much of which is quite open but
becoming denser near the stream. The rest of the area is a
maple - beech forest of which about one half is grazed. The
undergrowth is fairly sparse, although one section which has
not been grazed for about two years has a thick growth of young
maples about 2 feet in height. Nearly all of the surrounding
area is either cultivated or in pasture and several old neglected
hay fields are in close proximity to the woodlot. Several snake
fences provide excellent cover for wildlife, particularly for
pheasants, which appeared to be common. Cottontails, grey
squirrels and raccoons were also common.
A low marshy area immediately west of the cedar
thickets should be suitable woodcock habitat.
This area provides a fair habitat for wildlifec
The open cedar woods are park-like and have been used as picnic
grounds for many years. The stream is spring-fed, clear and
cool, but with a fairly small flow.
~
-4-
Area C
Area C is a much larger area along the Rouge
River in Markham Townshipe South of the railroad tracks the
valley is open grassland with cedar predominating on the banks.
North of the railroad tracks on the west side of the river there
is a dense cedar thicket which extends for a considerable
distance up the river in the lower part of the valley. It is
surrounded on the banks and high land by hardwoods, mostly mature
maple. The east side of the river is mostly a mixed woods with
maple, beech, hemlock and cedar. To the north of the area smalJ
young woodlots, mostly maple, extend westward almost to Area A.
Along both sides of the river there is a large grazed hawthorn-
studded pasture which adjoins cultivated fields.
Wildlife cover is fairly good throughout this
area, and stump and rail fences provide excellent game trails.
Much of the ground cover has, however, been destroyed by cattle.
Pheasants, rabbits, raccoons and grey squirrels
appeared to be common.
The section south of the tracks has already been
used as a picnic site.
.L\rea D
Area D is a large area on the western branch of
the main Rouge River located whOlly within Scarborough Township~
The valley is deep with rather steep banks. The west bank is
steep and covered with mature sugar maple, beech, birch and white
pine. The southern portion of the valley in this area is mostly
a flood plain with a dense growth of young aspen, willow, birch
and cedar. The cover in the eastern section is composed pre-
dominantly of hardwoods. Willow, aspen and birch are found along
the river edge while to the south cedar is more common.
There are two small orchards in the valley on
the east side of the river and the entire eastern section on top
of the valley is covered with apple orchards. Apple orchards
are also common west of the valley. All are kept quite clean
-5..
and the brush is apparently burned, although much brush has been
dumped into the river down various high eroded banks.
vfuere there are no orchards surrounding the valley
there are gravel pits. The entire south-eastern section has been
heavily exploited for its gravel and even in the valley on the
east side of the river much gravel has been removed.
Area D appears rather unsatisfactory for wild-
life because of the many eroded steep banks, the clean orchards
and the gravel pits, all of which provide little cover or food
for wildlife.
Grey squirrels, foxes and rabbits appear to be
fairly common, but pheasants are scarce.
There are several old roads penetrating into
the gravel pits in the valley.
Area E
Area E lies between t he two branches of the river.
The land is primarily a high narrow ridge separating the two
branches 0 A wide swath has been cut through the area for the
passage of four hydro lines. North of this swath cultivated
fields extend almost to the edge of the valley. There are
several private homes along the river to the west of this area.
The lowland cover is mostly white cedar with
maple-beech stands on the high banks. The eastern valley is
pastured but the banks have a fairly thick growth of mixed woods.
The hydro cut is also pastured and is quite open, and likely to
remain so. In the western valley there are few flat lowlands
since most of the river banks rise abruptly to considerable
heights. The central ridge is quite flat on top and a path
extends over half a mile along it.
Conditions for wildlife are good since the area
offers a wide variety of diverse habitats. Pheasants were
heard in the highlands and two ruffed grouse were flushed from
the cedar' thickets below the ridge. Two woodcock were flushed
from swampy ground near the river. Cottontails, black squirrels
and foxes were common.
-6-
Area F
Area F lies partly in Scarborough Township and
partly in Pickering Township (east of the river). North of
the power lines the land facing the val~ey is an extensive
gravel pit containing, in the older section, much willow, aspen
and sumach. To the east there is a large woodlot, with thick
undergrowth of mountain maple, elm and cedar. The steep banks
of the valley are also covered with hardwoods. The bottom of
the valley is cultivated and pastured.
Grouse were found in this area, as were cotton-
tail rabbits, and signs of raccoons and foxes were observed.
The underbrush is thick and the scattered cover is good. This
area might be attractive to woodcock or deer.
Area G
Area G lies between No. 2 Highway and the First
Concession Road to the north. The eastern half lies in Pickering
Township and the western half in Scarborough Township. The two
branches of the river approach closely and then run far apart
before uniting. The large central area is high, with steep
well wooded baru(s. The flat valleys are mostly flood plains
containing considerable sand and silt. The side banks are
also steep and densely wooded. Cedar predominates on the south-
western bank which tends to become more open in the northern
section where the cedar appears in clusters scattered about the
flattening valley.
The central region is very diverse and the ridge
is also much dissected to the north, with a few small gullies
cut into it. The woodlands are very fine and unspoiled, includ-
ing pure hardwoods and mixed woods.
There is no evidence of previous logging in the
southern sectionJ but there is evidence of a fire about twenty
years ago 0
ConSiderable attention was given to examination
of the major species of shrub and undergrowth cover in this area
and these were mapped. Along the south-western slopes, with a
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-~~~~:::::.- ......
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----~~:::~~
PART of the ROUGE RIVER CONSERVATION AREA ~:::.~
showing in detail
AREA IG1
referred to in the R. D. H. P. Wildlife Report
LEGEND
-- BOUNDARY OF PROPOSED
CONSERVATION AREA
l.' ~~~_..::::D WOODLAND
~\V+,~'~I....,IJ", STEEP SLOPES
TRAILS
I --y- FENCE (APPROX. POSITION)
325 0 325 650 975 1300 1625
SC AL E '--'-'- ",I FEET
- --------------
""'"
-7-
crown cover of about 70 per ceut, shrubs and secondary growth
are sparse, but scattered hazel, beech, dogwood and maple-
leaved viburnum were found. The ground cover is not thick,
but grasses, ferns, goldenrod and ginseng were common.
A high ridge slopes gradually westward down to
the valley floor from the central section. The northern slope'
have little undergrowth or ground cover under a hemlock stand.
In the valley there are several small ponds, and twining grape
vines add to the cover.
The flat central region has a crown cover of
about 90 per cent, with inevitably little undergrowth, and a
ground cover of scattered ginseng, star flower and the common
members of the Lily family. Deadfalls were quite common in
these woods.
North of the fence which crosses the central
woodlands, the land is well dissected with gullies and ridges.
Among the second-growth stands here, sumach, bracken, poison
ivy and grasses comprise the major ground cover and shrubs.
The north-eastern bank of the east valley contains many haw-
thorns amongst the maple, oak, beech and pine trees. There is
also a witch-hazel thicket and an old wagon trail.
Parts of the two valleys have been used as
pasture or hayfields. In the whole area the forest edges
naturally contain the greatest diversity of trees and shrubs
and for many species the best wildlife habitats. One small area
which was examined contained 39 species of trees and shrubs and
the ground vegetation was of course more varied still.
3. \Vildlife Status
The following summarizes the status of the
larger and better known species of wildlife in the Lower Rouge
area.
(a) Common pheasant: Phasianus colchicus
The common pheasant is by far the most important
game bird to be found in the Lower Rouge River area. It was
-8-
either seen or heard throughout most of the area, especially in
the farming districts.
Number encountered in the area: 23 (15 males
and 8 females).
On two occasions in early May four females were
observed with one male.
Many residents seemed to think that pheasants
have increased in the past few years because hunting is no
longer allowed in Scarborough Township. However, the past mild
winters are probably the major factor in any noticeable increase
in numbers.
(b) Ruffed grouse: Bonasa umbellus
Number observed in the area: 6.
Grouse were encountered only in the wooded slopes
in the southern portion of the area. White pine drumming logs,
which indicated recent use, were found on one slope.
Grouse are not common nor is it likely that they
ever will become abundant. All the birds were found only in the
more remote woodlands.
(c) American woodcock: Philohela minor
Number observed: 2.
The woodcock will undoubtedly remain few in
number, since the type of habitat in which they are normally
found is not common.
(d) Raccoon: Procyon lotor
Number observed: 1.
This species is almost certainly common. Tracks
were observed along nearly every portion of the river and were
especially common in mature hardwood woodlots. Many hollow
trees were found. Some showed signs of being inhabited by
raccoons. Although hunting is not legal in Scarborough Township
three dead raccoons were encountered which were probably killed
by man. They appear to be fairly abundant and the mature
hardwoods by the streams provide excellent territory for them.
l'
'~l
rd
-9- 'lil
!~!
'~'
.J
(e) Red fox: Vulpes fulva '{
"~
:2
Number observed: 7. :~
. I'
~ i::
Reportod to be common. :~
,
Four of the foxes observed were cubs. Fox drop- f;
,
'~
~(
,
t
pings were observed on several occasions. t
f'
Foxes appear to be fairly abundant and local ;!
!
i
farmers report occasional destruction of their domestic fowl~ :!
~
II
Several foxes have been reported to have been shot by farmers. . Ii
t~
Ii:
(f) Cottontail rabbit: Svlvilagtis floridanus II
!l
~
Number observed: 15. ~
;'~
:1
.;1
Reported to be common. .il
:ij
:i
;1
Cottontails were observed in thickets near the I:
forest edges or in small woodlot areas. The cottontail appeared t
. ,
"
to be common throughout most of the lower Rouge area. I
I
( g) European hare: Lepus europa8US ;.1
;:1
i!
Number observed: 2. '.1
\ '1
'j, ~
Reported to be common. ;-1
;~
~
1.'
The hare is principally an animal of the open t~ ;
"
r
farming country~ None was encountered when the woodlots were : "~:!
examined. Probably they are common in their appropriate habitat .-
but their numbers would not be as great as that of the rabbits~ t~
. ~!
.,
, \~
(h) Woodchuck: !J1armota monax :~
Number observed: 25.
Reported to be common.
The ground hog is a rather ubiquitous animal
in that it is found throughout the area in open fields, valleys,
woodlots and forest, although it is most commonly found in the
open fields or valleys.
It is quite common except in the sand and silt
plains and the denser woodlands of the river valleysr
(i) Grey squirrel: Sciurus carolinensis
Quite common.
Either the black or grey phase of this squirrel
was encountered in every hardwood stand visited. They were also
common in mixed woods, especially where oak and beech were founa,
-10-
Durinc four days, 10 ~rey and lO black squirrels were counted.
The habitat appeared Good for this squirrel.,
( j ) R8d squirrel: 'ramias,ciurus l~dsonicus
Common.
Cedar and hemlock or mixed woods appeared to be
the raost common habitat for this squirrel.
(k) ~skrat: Ondatra zibethica
Common~
None was observed, but droppings on stones by
the streams were fairly numerous, which indicated that a
reasonable number must inhabit the area.
A few farmers trap muskrats in the area,
(1) ~kunk: IYlephites mephites
Occasional to common.
None was observed, but as they art; very genvrally
distributed in Southern Ontario they are no doubt present in this
area also.
(m) Mink and weasels: r.1ustela vison and lVIustela sps.
Occasional.
None was observed but they were reported by a
trapper to be present in the region.
(n) vlhi tetail deer: Odocoileus virginianus
Rare.
No signs of deer were observed except a single
set of antlers found in a cedar thicket. Local residents have
reported seeing deer in the area in past years. Three farmers
reported that they used to see deer fairly frequently up to
1952 but tha~ they have since become scarce. 'There \'laS one
report of a doe with two fawns seen north of the area under
examination this spring.
Obviously, deer have not been co~~on, and only
rarely one may find its way south along the watercourses and
a.djacent fields. There are only a few areas in which deer
could wir.Lter adequately with sufficient food ,and dogs are
num~rous in the valley.
......
-11-
(0 ) ~aterfowl (Migrantst
Three separate pairs of mallards were observed
on small ponds i.n the area during the spring, but later left
the area 0 One large pond had 22 marsh ducks, several of which
were mallards and the rest were not identified with certainty.
They, too, did not remain in the area.
4. Conclusions
No two areas are exactly alike with respnct to
vegetation, and it is not to be expected that anyone small area
could provide an abundance of the various wildlife species as
well as provide a general recreational area. However, the one
area examined north of Noo 2 Highway (Area G) does have more to
offer than any of the other areas and is also an excellent park
site.
The best small area on a tributary stream was
that found in the north-eastern portion of Scarborough Township
(Area B on the accompanying map).
Since the lower Rouge area is well supplied with
water, woodlots and farm country, and hunting is prohibited
in Scarborough Township, the wildlife in the area could be
expected to be as good as, if not better than, in any other area
in the vic inity. Most animals under consideration appeared
common and habitats appeared favourable for them. With detailed
surveys and good management, this condition could be mai~tained
and improved.
Any plans for a large park or recreation area
should be made with proper consideration for the varied require-
ments of the wildlife wanted there. Since most of the area of
interest for its wildlife lies in townships in which no shooting
is allowed (although trapping may be permitted), the chief value
of the wildlife will be in its variety.
In addition to the species already listed, there
are found on the R.D.H.P. Watersheds, as a whole, at least 20
other species of mammals (chiefly mice, bats and shrews), and at
-12-
lea~t 200 speci~s of birds (including about 100 species
resident in summer or permanent residents, and about 100 migran
species, together wlth a fow winter visitors). In the great
variety of vegetation cover types in the lower Rouge area there
are exceptional opportunities for nature study. The two areas
listed as Band G in this chapter and shown on the accompanyinf'
map appear to be most interesting of those studied.
Any township which has an Official Plan under
Th8 Planning Act, and a Zoning By-law to implement the Plan,
could zone some of these areas and protect them for the public
now and for future generations. It is recommended that the
Conservation Authority press this need. This matter is dis-
cussed more fully in the Recreation section of this report.
-
CHAPTER J
IIvIPROVING THE LAND FOR tILDLIFE
There are many varied types of land in the
R.D.H.P. Watershed. The requirements of food and cover vary
greatly for different species of wildlife. The recommenda-
tions here listed are therefore those which can be most
generally applied by the landowner.
1. Woodlands
The elimination of grazing of woodlots would
be the most useful single measure in improving the wildlife
environment. Reforestation plans are included in the Forestry
report. In plantations) up to about the tenth year from
planting, the entire planted area is valuable for wildlife.
But large blocks of coniferous trees will, at least after
the twelfth year from planting, have little or no undergrowth
and will, apart from their edges, be comparatively sterile
as far as upland game and most forms of wildlife are concerned.
The chief improvements to be expected will therefore come
from good management of the farm woodlot. Selective cutting
is both sound forestry practice and good planning for wildlife,
Landowners who have woodlots in which the crown canopy has
closed over considerable areas, and who wish to produce a
proper environment for wildlife, will find that release cuttinr
slashings to stimulate sprout growth, thinnings and felling
timber for sale will improve rather than retard the carrying
capacity for wildlife. Construction of brush piles from
cuttings is recommended "'There rabbits are desired, two or
three such brush piles per acre being the normal spacing.
2. Cultivation Practices
All good farming practices which make a more
luxuriant vegetation will improve the farm environment for
wildlife. A few special practices will give more specific
benefits. Strip-cropping, described elsewhere in this report,
is of particular value since by this means no extensive area
-14-
is denuded of cover at one time by harvesting. In the less flat
parts of the watershed, filter strips, either above water-
diversion terraces or used as emergency waterways, provide trave~
lanes and nesting cover for wildlife. Cover crops such as the
clovers provide a habitat and food for wildlife in areas that
would otherwise be barren during the winter months.
The elimination of brushy fencerows is now
becoming more common in the R.DoH.P. Watershed. Those who are
interested in wildlife improvement will find' that the inclusion
of a few field boundary hedges on the farm will moderate the
effect of winds on crops, serve as travel lanes and cover for
wildlife, and harbour large numbers of songbirds which help to
control insect pests. Inevitably the presence of boundary
hedges on a farm tends to encourage the growth of weeds. This
is the price that must be paid for improved wildlife conditions.
Rosa multiflora is an excellent hedge-forming shrub. It has
a tendency in Southern Ontario to die back in winter, but
rapidly forms a dense hedge, which is re90rted to be proof
against cattle and hogs. It provides both cover and food and
does not exhaust the nearby cultivated ground. However, in
view of its questionable hardiness, it should not be planted
in the R.D.H.P. viatershed without consultation with the near€st
biologist or forester of the Department of Lands and Forests,
at Maple.
J. Cover Patches
Field corners are frequently barren of crops.
Therefore a fence crossing which embraces the corners of four
fields may be made into a haven for ground-nesting species by
planting a few trees and shrubs and protecting them. It is
important to rid such areas of useless weeds by crowding them
out with useful species such as white sweet clover or the
normal climax type of open vegetation, which is bluegrass.
-15-
4. Pond.s and Stream~
The imDort.lnce of water to \""ildlife is often
forg~tten, r"~a':lY fa!'rnc; h1.V0 ct least one lOVJ spot where a
small aIT1o'JJ.'1t of wo-::-:: ~.::i_th a SC)OP \~rill provide a dam and a
pond to prov:de nesting and feeding sites for water and marsh
birds. If ?o8si~le, ~onds for ~iJdlif0 should be separete from
thCS2 intended for cqttle or for fish, Willow cuttings r~~hed
in the ground around such a hollow will rapidly pl"'ovidc viild-.
life cover. New water areas are usually very ra~idly invaded
by aquatic plants, but additional species may have to be intro-
duced. No exte:1sive cluck fooc. studie3 have been r:lade in
Southern Ontario. \Jild rice may be introduced, but since it i.,
not -,,,rell adapted to wide vari2tions in v'ateT love] s, 'oping
often sterile in fluctl'.at ing waters, it cannot be cO!1sidered
as certain to succeed. The idea has long been current, and
fostered by many sportsmen's organizations, that the planting
of wild rice is the answer to the problem of how to attract
ducks to any area. The fact is that wild rice is of little
significance to ducks in Canada except in the fall, and does
not provide good cover or nesting sites. The following species
vihich may be easily obtained are recommended as certain to be
valuable duck foods, If none of them occur in ponds or
shallows with good cover for ducks they can be introduced.
Sago Pondweed Potamogeton pectinatus L.
Red-Head Pondweed Pota~ogeton Richardsonii
(Ar. BeY1n.) Rydb,
~lild ~.Iillet ~chinochloa crusr;alli (L) Beauv.
Japanese ~lillet ~chinochloa frumentacea (Roxb) Link
Wild Celery Vallisneria americana Michx.
Knotweed Poly~onum pensylvanicum L.
Water-Smartweed Polygonum coccineum Muhl.
Three-scuare Scirpus americanus Pers.
Great Bulrush Scirp~s valjdus Vahl., var.
creber Fcrn,
Duckweed Spirodela sp. and Lemna s~.
Those who are interested in farm ponds for wild-
life will find very useful details of the various types of
pond and methods for constructing each type in a booklet "Farm
-16-
Ponds" which is available from the Conservation Authorities.*
Farm Ponds differ from those intended for wildlife in that
care is usually taken to prevent the growth of aquatic vegeta-
tion in a farm pond intended only for watering stock or fire
protection purposes. Otherwise the construction and details of
ponds for wildlife should follow one of the types th8re des-
cribed.
.... Applications may be made to the nearest provincial Agri-
','
cultural Representative, or to the Department of
Agriculture, Parliament Buildings, Toronto.
~
CHAPTER 4
F ISH
l. Introduct ion
The intention of this survey was to classify the
waters of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds as to their present sui ta bi Ii":':'
for fish and to make recommendations for possible improvements:.
with examples in detail. However, two factors radically
affect any deductions to be drawn from the survey. The first
is the effects of Hurricane Hazel; the second is the fact
that la~ge numbers of salmon fry were introduced into one of
~~e streams, Duffin Creek, between 1946 and 1948.
(a) !h!rricane Hazel
The effects of the exceptional rainfall make most
of the field ciata concerning the stream courses obtained in the
1954 survey inapplicable on, at least, the Rouge and Highland
Creek and in part on Duffin Creek. A recent examination of
these cree!cs has shown that many of the areas examined are
greatly changed. Sections of the stream which were listed
as silt ed or slov-l-flowing may now be riffle s and rapids; o t h er
sections which vJere once rapids are now turned into pools.
In addition many of the dams were by-passed or washed out.
Bank erosion was very greatly accelerated. A number of dump;;
of rubbish and refuse were removed and their contents dis-
tributed through the valleys. It appears, however, that the
chJ.ef cbaracterL3tic which has not been altered except by
removal of shading tree s is the location 0 f springs and the
general characteristics of the water. Of the various streams
examine d , the Rouge and Duffin Creek have this in common, that
they arise in the sandy int erlo bate moraine. Apart from the
lowest four or five miles of these st reams the gradien ts averag~
30 to 50 feet per mile~ In a few sections ero sion has exposed
the soft bituminous shale, but fo r the most part stream bottoms
are gravel, si It or clay.
-18-
Both Duffin Creek and the Rouge River have two
main branches ~1ich converge on each stream about four miles
from the lake. The location of the opening into the lake on
Duffin Creek varies considerably from year to year, as affected
by sand bars built up by the lake current.
(b) Salmon FrX Experiments
Duffin Creek was selected~ after very careful
examination of many streams entering Lake Ontario, as the site
of an experiment to determine whether or not Atlantic salmon
could be introduced into the tributary streams of Lake Ontario r
It is well kno\m that both the Rouge River and Duffin Creek
were formerly famous for their salmon. A map published shortly
after 1805* shows a salmon fishery at the mouth of the Rouge
River. Farewellt noted in 1907: "The waters of Uxbridge
streams are so clear and cold and pure that speckled trout
abound, and numerous trout breeding ponds have been estab1ishedrl
H. R. McCrimmon*-l~ has described the decrease in
catches of Atlantic salmon since colonial times, the develop-
ment of the very successful fish hatchery from which many
streams were restocked in Ontario, and the scarcity of adults
which resulted in the abandoning of attempts to restore salmon
in Ontario about 1880.
Between 1944 and 1948 about 35,000 Atlantic
Salmon fry from the Glenora fish hatchery were planted each
year in Duffin Creek in various sections totalling about twenty
miles of stream course, at the rate of about one fry per yard~
Lethal temperatures were reached in several of the stream areas
- .
~f- Lizard, Ke N. Valley of the Humber, Toronto. (The map is
erroneously listed as 1800.)
t Farewell, J. E. History of Ontario County, 1907. p. 47.
it-h(. McCrimmon, H. R. Reintroduction of Atlantic Salmon into
Tributary Streams of Lake Ontario. Ont ario Department of
Lands and Forests, 1945.
Stream Studies of Planted Atlantic Salmon~ Journal of the
Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 11, 1954.
-19-
and many of the fry were killed, but about 3 per cent of those
distributed each year grew to be smolts and descended the
stream each year. The salmon grew similarly to those of
maritime streams. It was noted in the report by McCrimmon that
the water turbidities observed were not harmful to salmon fry
and par ~ Turbid waters probably offered these fish good pro-
tection from predation. Those fry which inhabited riffles
without large pools escaped predation from brook trout much ffiO~
easily than those which were placed in the pools. The experi-
ment is noVJ gen erally con sidered to have sh own that further
attempts to introduce salmon in the Rouge or Duffin Creek or
similar streams would not be successful. However, it is
possible that this introduction may have affected the populatioll:
of brown trout and brook trout. I
2. Methods
The procedure adopted followed closely that used
in previous surveys made by the Department of Planning and
Development in other river systems. The various rivers and
their tributaries \"ere visited at 310 "stations!? The stations
were from half a mile to three miles apart on each stream
course. The topographic features of the valley and the erosion}
vegetation, volume of flow, turbidity, temperature and type of
bottom were listed for each station. At all suitable stati ons
collections of the aquatic insects and other invertebrates were
made. At most of the stations collections of fish were also
made. The collections were later examined and classified, and
were used in zoning the various sections of the river, as shown
on the accompanying map.
The aquatic insects such as mayflies, stoneflies
and caddisflics were most useful for this purpose, since many
of them are reliable indicators of the stream conditions at the
critical time of year. Some species are confined to waters
which remain cold and usually clear in summer, such as trout
waters. Other species are indicators of permanent flow or of
-20-
polluted water or of the maximum summer temperature of the water.
Thus the potentialities of a stream for particular species of
fish are indicated. Fish collections and records of maximum-
minimum thermometers substantiated these findings at their
particular stations.
Since the procedure here used follows that of
p,...evious river surveys, it allows close comparisons of the
characteristics of many rivers. The present criteria and
rr.ethods were developed from more intensive year-round research
carried out by Dr. F. P. Ide, of the Department of Zoology,
University of Toronto, on parts of the Nottawasaga River and
Algonquin Park streams, already reported on*, and on other
streams in Southern Ontario. The analysis by J. P. Hallamt of
previous river surveys made by the Department of Planning and
Development was also found useful, as was previous work by
C. VI. Creaser~HI-.
The streams were examined in l~ay or June, 1954,
an d many of them were examined only once. It was therefore
necessary to rely partly on deductions made from the presence
or absence of species known to be reliable indicators.
.-
* Ide, F. P. The Effect of Temperature on the Distribution
of the Mayfly Fauna of the Stream. University of Toronto
Studies, Biology 39, Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory~
Publication 50, 1935.
Ide, F. p. Quantitative Determination of the Insect Fauna
of Rapid ~\Jater. University of Toronto Studies, Biology 47,
Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory, Publication 59, 1940.
Sprules H. M. An Ecological Investigation of Stream
Insects in Algonquin Park, Ontario. University of Toronto
Studies, Biology 56, Ontario Fisheries Research Laboratory,
Publication 69, 1947.
t Hallam, J. B. Habitat and Associated Fauna of Selected
Species of Fish in Ontario Streams. M.A. Thesis,
University of Toronto, 1954.
*,~ Creaser, C. W. 1930. Relative importance of hydrogen-
ion concentration, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and
carbon dioxide tension on habitat selection by brook
trout. Ecology, 11: 246 - 262.
I
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This trout strea III + 11Iiles
Jlorth-eilst of ,,>'touffville has
fair rock cover but lacks depth
of 'water alld shade,
.lIall.\' of the tribu-
taries of the Rouf/e
Ri1'er arc IJl ere I y
st ra if/h t ditches 'i,'i tll
110 cm'er. such as this
olle 7 lIIiles Jlorth-'i,'est
of Marl,I/(/11I.
This cuh'ert passes
ullder the relJlaills 0.1
a III ill alld SOIllC
!iifrlled-out houses at
Stollff'i'ille. lrastes
pass illto !lIe strealll
alld refllse is thrm\'Jl
illto it here.
-21-
3. Permanence of Flow and Summer Temperatures
The permanence of flow and the summer temperature
that can be expected in the river are shown on the accompanying
map "Biological Conditions of Streams". It is at once apparent
from the map that the best spring sources occur all along the
north end of the watershed in those parts where the sands and
gravels of the kame moraine lie over more impermeable material.
In one large sector in the north-east corner of the watershed
the sand deposits are so thick that no springs or watercourses
could be found. Almost all of Petticoat Creek and the streams
running into Frenchman's Bay dry up completely.
The temperature conditions shown on the map need
no explanation. The excessive flows accompanying the 1954
hurricane may have scoured the streams enough to alter the
locations of deep seepage in the stream-bed in a few stations
but these differences will be slight.
4. Pollution
At 18 of the 312 stations pollution of some kind
was reported. Almost all of these cases were on streams which
later dried t.o llno flown. Trash and garbage were noted in
several dried watercourses and in one case garbage was being
dumped into a trout stream. The locations of pollution of
t streams are available for reference, but there was no evidence
f of serious effect on the fauna from the information on the
~
Iii
~
~ report forms. Some streams may appear offensive in appearance
0
~
~ and odour but the fauna may remain healthy. It is also true
~.
i
I that bacterial pollution is often found in waters that appear
clear. The pollution as oonsidered in this section is that
affecting fish survival. The removal of turf and topsoil and
the storm drains from land subdivided for building will pro-
bably increase the pollution of the Rouge River in the future.
It is recommended that the Conservation Authority urge the
installation of a permit system for every new outlet, large or
This tributary of Duffill Cree/~ill COllccssioll
II of [.xbridge TowlIship is a sprillg-fed A 9-inch and an 8-inch broo/~ trout were
stream providing excellent fishillg. PassinfJ tal~en in this 71ery small tributary of Duffin
through 'ivillm('s. it is shaded and cool. Creek, 1 mile cast of Brougham during the
survey.
Better than average trout cover all Duffin Creek, north-east of Claremont.
There are ample logs and shade in the bacl~ground. The stream 'i('ould be
illlpr01/Cd by illcrcasillg the depth.
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Poor fish eO'l'N ill it rapid trililltaryin the
cast branch of Duffin Creek 20 miles south-
east of Claremollt. There is a shortaqe of
pools and logs in the stream.
This part of the 'i('est
branch of Duffili
Creel, has severely-cut
/'a 11 1,.1' al1d a 'ivide
sha1/m,' strea m 'ivith
siltill.!! OJl the flood
f'lail1. This sectIOn is
7 mile (l'est of Picker-
II/f}.
Jioll\' of thc pOl/ds il/
thc ,,'atcrsl1cd lrO'i'C
"CCOIl/C filled 'i,'ith silt.
This olle IS I{ mile
south-cast of Jia!7.'erli
alld 'il'aS silted durill[/
Ihc cOIlslructioll of
!{i.(jh'l'C/\' Xo" -!-(}1.
-22-
small, which leads into a watercourse. The Authority could
also give a great lead in pollution control by carrying out
an extensive educational program concerning pollution.
5. Fish Distribution
During the survey of 1954 thirty three species
of fish were collected in the waters of the R.D.H.I. Watersheds.
To these may be added two species, the rainbow trout and the
trout-perch, both of which have been recorded in one or more
of the river systems.
The chief fish species which are not included
in this list, but which probably occur in the watersheds, are
the American eel and the hog sucker.
A few other comments on the list follow.
Apart from brook trout the six commonest species found, in
order, were the blacknose dace, the creek chub, the white
sucker, the common. shiner, the redbelly dace and the redside
dace. Brown trout and brook trout are commonly introduced
although brook trout are native to these waters. Experiments
have shown that the native brook trout spawned in these rivers,
usually survive longer than brook trout introduced from
hatcheries. The brown trout,although its absolute lethal
temperature limit is about the same as that of brook trout,
appears to thrive better in slightly warmer water, and is
found in Duffin Creek down to the vicinity of No. 7 Highway.
No smallmouth bass were taken although a few
probably occur in some of the lower sections of the river.
Most of the remaining species in the list are small minnows
and darters not of special interest to the angler.
There is no statistical evidence that fishing
success has declined, because the fishing effort and the
resultant catch have not been measured.
6. Stream Improvement
Many of the tributaries now fall far short of
the ideal in their amount of cover and shade for trout.
LIST OF FISHES OF THE R.D.H.P. WATEHSHED
FROM TH3 1954 COLLECTIONS
The arrangement follows that of "A List of
Ontario Fishes", manuscript by Dr. W.B. Scott, Royal Ontario
kuseuID of Zoology, 1946, amended 1955. The names follow
those of "Freshwater Fishes of Eastern Canada?! by W.B. Soo t t ,
University of Toronto Press, 1954.
* Sea lampr ey Petromyzon marinus
American brook lamprey Entosphenus lamottenii
>:c Amer ican sIDel t Osmerus mordax
>:c Brown trout Sa1mo trutta
t ,:cRainbow trout Salmo gairdnerii
>:c Brook tro u t Salvelinus fontinalis
COffi1Jlon sucker Catostomus cOillIDersonnii
Carp Cyprinus carpio
Longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae
Blacknose dace Rhinichthys atratulus
Creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus
Redside dace Clinostomus elongatus
Redbelly dace Chrosomus eos
Gold en shiner NoteIDigonus crysoleucas
Fa thead minnow Pimephales promelas
Bluntnose minnow Hyborhynchus notatus
COC1lIl.on shiner Notropis cornutus
Spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius
Rosyface shiner Notropis rubellus
Spotfin shiner Notropis spilopterus
Mimic shiner Notropis volucel1us
* Brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus
central mudminnow Umbra limi
>:c Nor ther n pike Esox lucius
t Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus
>;c Yellow perch Perca flavescens
Johnny darter Boleosoma nigrwn
Iowa dar ter Poecilichthys exilis
Rainbow darter Poecilichthys caeruleus
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
>:c Rock ba ss Ambloplites rupestris
Slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus
Mottled sculpin Cottus bairdii
Brook stickleback Eucalia inconstans
Fishes which are of special interest to the
angler are starred* in the above list. Those not collected
in the 1954 collections, but for which there are other
records in the files of the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology,
are markedt.
The distributions of brook trout and the
sculpins (a genus found only in cool waters). are shown on
an accompanying map. The various species of sculpin are not
separated on this map.
:~\'lichigan Dept. of Conservation
Sinyle-'(,'ing deflectors in a trout stream. These arc log cribs 30 inches wide
and 30 inches high. The logs are wired and stapled to posts. Lay spreaders
are Placed at intervals along the structure. The interior space is filled '(('ith
qravel and sand, and the top is '(('ell sodded to prevent surface erosion and
to imprm'e the appearaJlcc. The '((.ings are installed at all anyle 350_450 to
the direction of the strea1/l. '(vith the terminal end dO'1('l1 stream fr0111 the base.
~-'lich igan Uept. of Conservation
Single '("iny deflector /JIade of three logs fastened together and sta/,'ed
securel::.' to the botto/JI. Opposite this deflector a log ball/~ co'ucr can be seClI.
This is 110'1l' partly O'l.er[jrO'1L'n '("ith sod and bn/sh. A bar has alread}' started
to forJl/ helm,' the deflector. This device has prO'1led a very effective stream
i /JI P ro'('e/JI en t.
-23-
Owners and lessees of stretches of the rivers should therefore
be encouraged to install low dams and deflectors which will
force the stream to dig holes but will not raise the tempera-
ture of the water as large impoundments do.
To control bank erosion, o'~ers should be
encouraged to make stream bank plantings such as Fragile
Willow (Salix fragilis) which does not tend to spread out
into the fields. \mere streams have been ditched the slope
of the spoil bank to the streams is often too great. Re-
~
working of some of the spoil banks to a gentle slope, and the
sowing of various grasses such as Reed Canary Grass, would
certainly reduce the bank erosion.
Since the stream bed conditions have been
much altered by the flood no specific improvements to
particular areas are noted. Fencing of streams from cattle
and the provision of rubble at specified cattle crossings
are obvious improvements needed.
7. Ownership
Good trout water open to the public and
within easy access from the large centres of population is
rapid]y becoming a ra~ity. SCrJ'I.o govo:C:'1ffient s, for example
that of New YOTk Stato, have aJ.re.qjy 8.cqu~.rej stretches of
first-class trou~ rivers so that they will not be lost to
the ge~e~al public. T!1e Consorvation Authority might acquire
or urge the acquisition of ono or more gocd stret8hes of Duffin
Creek for the public.
The Conservation Authority could also give a
demonstration of stream imp~ovement for fish, ei-:her by
installing low dams and deflectors and planting t~ees for
ahade, or by constructing one or more by-p~ss ponds.
<L F~.r.;'::! Fj:l:.b Pon~2
There is ample room for improvement of this
type of fishing. The chief research on ma~agomcnt of f~rm
fish ponds has been carried on in southern and warmer climates,
-24-
and therefore the findings cannot be applied without quali-
f,ication to an area having the climate of Southern Ontario,
but some definite recommendations may be made. Suitable
methods for the construction of six types of farm pond are
given in a bulletin, ilFarm Pondsl1, \'Jhich may be obtained from
the Ontario Department of Agriculture.
From the fisherman's point of view, farm ponds
are of two main kinds:
(a) Trout Ponds
The first is the cool pond with continuous
inflowing water and maximum temperatures at the surface of
about 750 Fahrenheit with cooler bottom. Ponds of this type
are adapted to the production of speckled or brown trout.
They are usually placed near the headwaters and may range in
size from about an acre to 8 or 10 acres. Depth should be
10 feet or more in the deepest part. Spring flow of as low
as half a cubic foot per second will maintain a pond of one
acre.
The outlet of each dam should be a pipe (with
a screened inlet at the botto~ of the pond) rising close to
the normal surface lavel and there passing through the dam,
so that cold water is drained from the bottom and the warmed
surface water is not allowed to flow over the dam. The
surface water in the pond serves as an insulating layer, and
the water below the pond has scarcely been heated by its
passage through the pond. The pipe should be of such a size
as to discharge the minimum summer flow. In flood time the
additional flow would pour over the dam at a suitable outlet,
or be carried around it by a grassed spillway.
The by-pass type of pond has two particular
advantages for the production. of either speckled or brown
trout. A pond of this class is built close to but not on a
permanent stream and gets its name from the fact that the
water supply is by-passed through a pipe from the stream to
the pond. The first advantage is that there is no danger of
-25-
the pond filling up with silt, because any excessive run-off
goes down the permanent stream channel and not through the
pond. The other advantage is that by controlling the amount
of cold water ontoring the pond the tomperature of the pond
may be adjusted to give the maximum growth rate in the fish
kept there.
However, trout ponds do not normally have
spawning beds for trout and, therefore, must be managed on a
put-and-take basis, i.e. stocked artificially.
(b) Warm-Water Ponds
The second and commoner type of farm pond is
the warm-water pond. Most farms have at least one low spot
suitable for a fish pond. It is frequently good practice
to have separate ponds devoted to wildlife and fish and to
I
control the aquatic plants in the fish pond.
In ~~naging warm-water ponds for fish the
following points should be kept in mind.
(1) A minimum depth of 15 feet OVGr at least 25 per
cent of the pond should be planned to avoid excessive winter
,
kill, probably the critical factor in fish survival in farm
ponds in Ontario.
( 2 ) If suckers, carp or large numbers of minnows
are alroady present in the pond, it is usually best to destroy
all fish in the pond before stocking.
( 3 ) It is often necessary to control existing
aquatic vegetation. There are both mechanical and chemical
methods available.*
(4) There have been few tests made in Ontario of
the efficiency of applications of fertilizer in increasing
the crop of plankton, the smaller aquatic invertebrates. The
research now being carried out in this field may lead to
application of fertilizers such as 8-8-4 becoming more general.
* Speirs, J. Murray. Summary of Literature on Aquatic Weed
Control. Canadian Fish Culturist, 3:(4}; August 1948.
~
-26- ,
( 5 ) Since many of the species commonly recommended
for introduction grow very slowly in Ontario wators, research
to determine the most satisfactory species will be needed.
New ponds and those in which the previous fish havc been
destroyed might be stocked exporimcntnlly with n combination
of largemouth bass (Huro salmoides) and bluegills (Lepomis
machrochirus~ at the rate of 100 bass and 1,000 bluegills per
acre. Fishing should be deferred until some of each species
have spawned successfully.
The chances of success with these species would
be greatest if the pond was situated within 5 to 10 miles of
Lake Ontario, in the part of the watershed with a relatively
mild climate.
I
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
This section of the report has three objectives:
1. To summarize briefly the importance of public
lands for recreation.
2. To select those lands lying in the R.D.H.P.
Watersheds which seem to be both needed for public use and
available at a reasonable price.
3. To recommend the alternative methods of acquiring
or deve10ping these lands.
The way in which people use their leisure
hours greatly influences physical health, mental
stability and personal character. Good public recreation
facilities are now recognized as a sound social investment.
There is an urgent and constantly growing need for such
facilities within the valleys of the Rouge River and
Duffin, Highland and Petticoat Creeks. Acquisition of
lands into public ownership is the first requirement.
Developments of the acquired lands can be adjusted as
the population grows. The R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority
can take an active part in both of these programs.
The economic, social and physical factors
underlying the present situation must be recognized in
preparing a sound and comprehensive plan.
1. Populations
About 1,400,000 people or 29 per cent
of the total population of Ontario live within a 25-mile
radius of Markham, which lies in the centre of the
R.D.H.P. Watershed. If present trends continue the
population in this area will rise to about two million
persons in the next 25 years. Metropolitan Toronto with
a present population of 1,200,000 lies immediately to the
west of the watershed, and much of south-eastern
-2-
Metropolitan Toronto lies in the southern section of
Highland Creek and the Rouge River. Here the spread of
subdivision is rapidly converting the rural landscape
into an urban environment. Oshawa, with approximately
46,000 people, lies less than ten miles from the eastern
extremity of Duffin Creek. The rapidly expanding urban
areas scattered along Highway No. 2 between Toronto and
Oshawa include a belt of dense settlement across the
southern section of these river basins. Functioning largely
as a dormitory area for people working in the industrial
and commercial developments of Metropolitan Toronto and
Oshawa, this ribbon of urban growth will continue to
expand until most of the intervening open spaces between
existing built-up areas are filled for a considerable
distance to the east of Toronto. Many villages in the
interior of the watershed, such as Markham and Agincourt,
are also rapidly developing in a similar manner.
2. Recreation Needs
A new attitude has developed towards the
position and importance of recreation in the life of the
individual. Shorter working hours, paid vacations and
increased wages have provided people with the leisure
time and money with which to enjoy a wide variety of
activities. The constantly accelerating tempo of modern
life places a noticeable strain on the health and stamina
of the average person so that definite periods of rest,
diversion and retreat have become essential. Outdoor
recreation is one of the chief solutions to this problem.
While the need for lands for recreation
increases, the best land available for recreation is
decreasing. Some farmers are securely fencing their river-
front property and heavily posting it with "no trespassing!?
signs in an effort to exclude the host of Sunday motorists
who now roam the countryside in search of places to picnic.
-3-
This is chiefly the result of the bad habits of a small
section of the public, people who indiscriminately destroy
trees and fences and leave the area strewn with bottles,
paper and garbage.
The continued, growth of summer cottages and
country estates is also affecting the availability of picnic
sites. These developments are naturally located in the
choicer areaS. The new forms of land use usually result in
the strict enforcement of private property rights.
If developments continue at the present rate
and no provision is made for public use of riverfront areas,
the local residents of the rural townships in the northern
sections of the watershed will find that they are cut off
from the water. The farm population will suffer as well as
the urban residents who visit the area on week-ends.
The privately owned lands in the river flood
plains on the outskirts of urban centres have often formed
an important reoreation resource for the community. While
they lay idle awaiting subdivision, or were used as farm lands,
trespass was often permitted. Many of the villages and towns
of the valley are now undergoing rapid development on their
margins. They will soon find themselves surrounded by a
solid wall of securely fenced private property which prevents
the population in the interior of the municipality from
reaching the riverfront easily and shuts out the suburban
residents who own homes behind the initial waterfront
subdivision. The loss of these resources will be felt by
many people, In many cases the situation is already
reaching serious proportions.
3. Ways of Developing Parks
The work of four types of organizations, ~e
Conservation Authority, the individual townships, the
Municipality of ~etropolitan Toronto and the new Parks
Division of the Department of Lands and Forests, is closely
-4-
interrelated in planning parks in this area.
There is no intention in this report to
suggest which areaS could or should be acquired and developed
by any particular one of these organizations. The primary
objective is to focus attention on the areas which should be
acquired outright i~nediately or protected by zoning by-laws.
Outright acquisition of the land for public use is, of course,
the ultimate goal.
Parks in Southern Ontario (excluding National
Par ks ) are usually developed in one of the following ways.
Small parks are set up and maintained by the
Department of Highways of Ontario on land which was purchased
in the acquisition of new rights-of-way.
Under The Community Centres Act, which is
administered by the Department of Agriculture, small
communities may ere0t Community Centres and layout athletic
fields with parks to fill the requirements of rural areaS.
Large municipalities may establish parks
within or without their own boundaries under either The
~unicipal Act or The Public Parks Act. These are the usual
type of ci ty or town parks which may be used solely for
park purposes or may embody municipal services such as
waterworks or sewage disposal plants.
Certain special parks such as the Niagara
Parks and the St. Lawrence Parks are administered by
commissions responsible to the Lieutenant-Governor in
Council.
Provincial Parks such as Algonquin Park and
~uetico Park function as wildlife preserves, tourist areaS
for canoeing, fishing, tra iler parking, and sometimes for
suuuner co t tages, and are administered by the Department of
Lands and Forests.
Recently the Department of Planning and
Development has expanded its scope to include parks intended
-5-
for more intensive use. Under The Conservation Authorities
Act, R8S.O. 1950, Chapter 62, as amended to 1955:
" Fo r the purposes of carrying out a scheme an
authority shall have power... to acquire lands
with the approval of the Minister, and to us e
lands acquired in connection with a sche.Jle,
for recreation purposes and to er ec t , or permi t
to be erec ted, buildin€s, booths and facilities
for such purposes and to make charGes for
ad~ission thereto and the use thereof."
(Section 15 ( gg ) ) .
Several Conservation Authorities, notably
the Grand and Thames, have established recreation areaS
as a part of flood control and other conservation schemes.
These have already proved to be a er ea t benefi t, and have
sho~n the enormous delliand for park areaS. Such r ecr ea tion
developments also offer the Conservation Authority a
valuable mediwu of publicity. For many people the
recreation schemes proposed in this report, when established,
viil1 be the first personal contact they will have ~ith the
work of the Author i ty .
There need be no overlapping in the setting
up of pal' ks, since each type of park serves a special need
and is administered by the Department, Municipality or
other group most closely concerned with tha t need.
The National Trust in England has acquired
areaS for the public in a very different manner which is
of special interest. The objectives in England were:
1. To protect and, if necessary, to acquire for the
[ublic some of the finest structures (e.g. town and country
houses, mills, br idges, barns, cottages and even streets).
2. To protect fine panoramas, whole stretches of
coun tr yside, bodies of water, pieces of coast-line and
certain mountains for public use.
3. To protect or acquire areaS of special interest
because of the rarity or diversity of the geology, fauna
or flora.
The original Trust was a private non-profit
company. In 1907 the National Trust was incorporated by
-6-
Act of Parliament. The Trust now owns many historic
buildings and almost 150,000 acres of land. The Trust
accepts areas varying from less than half an acre to 10
square miles. It owns numerous large houses and protects
by restricted covenant many others. Th e Tr us tis no t
financed by the British Government but by private donations.
It now accepts only estates which are self-supporting, or
gifts of structures or land which must be adequately endowed.
The functions of this organization are
included here to indicate that areas in Ontario similar to
those acquired by the National Trust may be retained for
public use by means other than large contributions from
the Government or the Authority concerned. There are
owners of land in Ontario who would be willing to bequeath
part or all of their land, or buildings of historic
interes t, to a public body, or to covenant with such a
body so that land might be worked but still made use of
by the public. There is no reason why such properties
should no t be thus bequea thed to Conserva tion Authori ties
who could provide continuity of control, technical
supervision and adequate maintenance.
CHAPTER 2
LAND TYPES FOR RECREATION IN THE WATEHSHED
There are three distinct kinds of land and
~ater in these watersheds, all providing recreation resources.
These ar e:
I. The tumbled sandy hills of the Oak Ridge
or interlobate moraine, which forms the
northern divide of the drainage basins;
2. The river valleys and rOlling plains
stretching southward from the base of
the interlobate moraine to the lakefront;
3. The shore and waters of Lake Ontario. ~
I,
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1 . The Northern Hills ,
",
,
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The northern sandy hills abound in springs ,
and kettle or "pothole" lakes. This part of the watershed
is a na tural par t of the planned nou ter Green Bel t of
Metropolitan Toronto"*, which stretches from near Oshawa
to the upper reaches of the Credit Valley, with a part of
the Niagara Escarpment. ~uch of this hilly belt in the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds consists of steeply sloping, droughty,
erodible sandy soils of low agricultural capacity and should
undoubtedly be devoted to recreation and reforestation uses.
The steep slopes and broken terrain are ideally suited to
skiing, tobogganing and hiking. The cold, spring-fed streams
and ponds form a suitable habitat for trout, while the warmer
and deeper waters of the small lakes and ponds scattered
throughout the area often provide excellent swimming and
fishing.
The large and long-established cottage colonies
on Musselman and Wilcocks Lakes lie just beyond the northe~n
boundary of the watersheds. In recent years more and more
people have acquired frontage on the smaller headwa ter stream.s
and lakes of these river basins as cottage sites. Considerable
land has been bought throughout this hilly belt for use as
)'- Toronto City Planning Board Report, 1942.
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-8-
larger summer residences and country estates. In many
instances these are coupled with reforestation schemes and
limited farming operations. The headwaters of Duffin Creek in
the vicinity of Glen Major have been developed by a private
fishing club.
Many sections of this belt of hilly terrain
are ideal for the development of public parklands suitable
for year-round recreation. However, due to the particular
land-holding pattern throughout the area, limited development
is possible here at the moment. Only one Conservation Area
has been recommended in this part of the watershed - that at
Bond Lake. It may be possible to institute recreation schemes
of various kinds on some of the lands purchased primarily for
reforestation purposes. As long as the holding and land use
pattern of this area remain relatively static, there will be
little damage to its possibilities for recreation. However,
the Authority should keep a close watch on land transactions
and developments within this hilly belt with a view to safe-
guarding its value for recreation and to the possibility of
securing some of the more desirable sections as public
parkland.
2. The Plains aDd River Valleys
The recreation potential of the level to roll-
ing plains lying between the base of the Oak Ridge moraine
and the lakefront is mainly confined to the river valleys
which traverse the area from north to south. In crossing
these plains, which vary in places from 15 to 20 miles in
width, the streams descend from an altitude of 800 to 900
feet to the 245-foot level of Lake Ontario. Moreover, the
~lains themselves vary considerably in structure and origin.
The-refore the valley forms of the area show great variation
within short distances. The courses of all the streams can
be divided into three readily recognizable valley types of
differing recreation value.
~
-9~
In the northern section of the plains the
valleys tend to be small and open. The rounded contours of
the grassed and wooded slopes lead gently away from the water-
courses towards the surrounding agricultural lands. There is
nothing spectacular or unique about the valley structure and
pattern of this area, but the pleasant tranquil rural
atmosphere of some of the more secluded sections makes them
very suitable for the development of cottages and suburban
homes. Small ponds for ornamental and recreation uses can be
easily constructed on many of the streams. Public roadside
picnic sites could be set aside along many of these river
banks, but this area does not contain lands suitable for
large-scale regional parks comparable to those in other
sections of the R.D.H.P~ Watersheds. Of course, many of these
river valley areas in the immediate vicinity of the built-up
centres play an important role in an over-all community
park program, as indicated by the Cedar Grove Conservation
Area discussed in Section 7 of Chapter 3 of this report.
These rivers rapidly deepen and enlarge
their valleys as they approach the shoreline of the former
glacial Lake Iroquois. The old shoreline runs across the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds diagonally from Greenwood to a point
about a mile north of West Hill. In the case of Highland
Creek, the Rouge River and the east branch of Duffin Creek,
the widening of the valleys is greatest in the sand plains
immediately south of the above-mentioned shoreline. However,
on the west branch of Duffin Creek the valley is widest
and deepest north of the Iroquois shoreline at Dixie and
becomes narrower in the plains to the south.
These sections of the rivers undoubtedly
form the choicest recreation assets in the interior of the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds. Heavily wooded and deeply entrenched
below the level of the surrounding landscape, the picturesque
valleys present an atmosphere of seclusion and remoteness
which is ideal for the development of large multiple-purpose
-IO-
conservation areaS. Four of the most important conservation
areas recommended in the report are associated with these
valley lands.
The importance of developing these areas as
public lands can best be seen when they are related to the
population pattern of the region as a whole. The gorge-like
valley sections of Duffin Creek that have been recommended
for development at Dixie and Greenwood lie well beyond the
areas of rapid subdivision within the watershed and can
function as recreation areaS in the open countryside for
SOllie years to come. The situation on the lower courses of
Highland Creek and the Rouge River is vastly different. ~r
Metropolitan Toronto, these valleys supply a readily accessible
source of excellent potential recreation land whose natural
beauty is still almost entirely unmarred by industrial and
urban development. ~r the rapidly expanding centres of
West Hill, Highland Creek and Rouge Hill, they constitute
the irreplaceable heart and core of a community park system
which will be necessary as these areas progressively become
built up. Since these valley lands will be required to serve
as recreational areaS for a dense urban population which will
undoubtedly surround them in the next few years, they should
be spaciously designed at the outset.
Urban development is progressing rapidly
throughout the lower part of Highland Creek and the Rouge
River, and the rural atmosphere surrounding the valleys is
fast disappearing. Subdivision is steadily pushing in towards
them from all sides and in some places has already reached
the rim of the valley. Rising land values are accompanying
this development. Immediate action is essential to acquire
the recommended areas for the public. otherwise the prices
will become prohibitive, the public will be excluded and the
natural beauty of the valleys will also be destroyed by
private development.
-lI-
On Duffin Creek a different kind of valley
formation occurs where the stream meanders slowly across
level clay plains in a broad open valley. This open valley
formation is not found on the lower course of the Rouge River
and Highland Creek, where the steep-sided valleys run south-
ward and open on to Lake Ontario through sharply cut notches
in the shoreline cliffs. The part of the valley south of
Pickering is potential parkland and is discussed in Section 6
of Chapter 3 of this report.
3. The Lakefron t
The waters and beaches of the 8.2 miles of
shoreline fronting Lake Ontario are obviously an important
asset for recreation in the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. However,
from the standpoint of public access and possible development,
this area raises some exceedingly difficult problems.
The high and relatively inaccessible continuous
line of cliffs which rims Lake Ontario from the south-west
corner of Scarborough Township to Twelve Mile Point extends
eastward across the base of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. Here,
however, their he igh t, varying from 20 to 50 feet, has
greatly decreased and their solid front is broken by the
outlets of the larger rivers emptying into the lake and at
the low-lying sandbars enclosing Frenchman Bay. It is
difficult to reach the water wherever the cliffs are present,
and the beach at these points usually consists of only a few
feet of gravel and stone. During the last few years of high
lake levels there has been extensive erosion along this
shor eline. The choice recreation areaS containing the only
really good beaches along this entire stretch of lakefront
are associated with small sandbars developed at the mouths
of Duffin Creek, Petticoat Creek and the Rouge River and
with the long spits fronting Frenchman Bay.
Public access along this shoreline has been
unsatisfactory for many years. The problem. is now becoming
~
-12-
very acute~ That part of Pickering and Scarborough Town-
ships which lies between the Lake Ontario shoreline and the
area about Highway No. 2 is developing rapidly. A thickly
settled population immediately behind this lakefront will
obviously require extensive public beaches. In the near
future there will also be a continuous belt of dense urban
population throughout the whole southern section of
Scarborough Township for 8 considerable distance back from
the line of cliffs extending from the south-west corner of
the township to Twelve Mile Point. The residents of this
area will be cut off from the shoreline of Lake Ontario by an
unbroken wall of sheer cliff, often up to 300 feet in height.
~oreover, the beaches at the base of these cliffs consist for
the most part of a few feet of mud and stone rubble and are
often menaced by the possibility of earth slides from the
overhanging and unstable cliffs. Hence the population of this
area will seek access to the lakefront at otner points. Those
in the western end of the township will move towards the
already overcrowded beaches of Toronto, as many are now doing.
Those in the eastern half of this area will undoubtedly seek
their recreation on the shoreline of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds
The pressure for public beaches in this area will be immense.
There are 4 commercial parks along the water-
front. Two of them, Ferguson's Beach and Morgan's Park, lie
on either side of the mouth of the Rouge River. Sandy Beach
and Glen Avis Park are located at Frenchman Bay, the former
on the lakefront and the latter on the bay itself. In total
these parks possess approximately 3,200 feet of shoreline, a
large part of which consists of reasonably good sandy beach.
Although conditions along this shoreline are
undoubtedly unsatisfactory, it is difficult to suggest the
proper remedies. Frenchman Bay is obviously the most desirable
recreation area. The low sandy spits enclosing it contain the
longest continuous stretch of good beach in the area and the
only one of sufficient proportions to satisfy the requirements
-13-
of the region. The well sheltered waters of the bay are ideal
for fishing, boating and swimming. There are no cliffs, and
access to the lakefront is simple. However, because of these
natural advantages, this area has been extensively developed
for cottages and commercial parks. Public recreational
develcpment here would require the eventual removal of
existing residents. Moreover, it is possible that a part of
this bay may be recommended for port development in the
forthcoming Official Plan of Pickering Township. However,
it should be possible to combine these two uses if
regula tions to keep the wa ters of the por t clean are str ic tly
enforced. With these facts in mind, an area of public beach
along the sandbars fronting the bay has been recommended for
~ediate development.
Undoubtedly the small beaches at the mouth of
the rivers and creeks of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds should be
secured and preserved as public parkland. The east bank of
Duffin Creek is already open to the public. There are com-
mercial parks on both sides of the mouth of the Rouge. As
long as these areas remain as parks, their natural advantages
are not likely to be destroyed. Howeve=, as the press~re for
space incre3b8s j.n this a~e~~ ~h8Y will have to be purc~ased
as public parkland 9 so they he78 :1een included in the Rouge
Valley Conservation Area. Meanwhile, no sub~ivision should
be allowed to take place here. T~eBe park a~eaS are adflittedly
small, but dlie to the sC2rc5. ~~7 of good bBach83 in ~he region,
they are precious resources.
The shoreline at Port Union offers some
possibility for developlli.ent as B p1lblic beach. At the moment
public access to a fairly good sand beach stretching to the
east of the boundary road between Scarborough and Pickering
Townships is blocked by cottage development. These properties,
together with the land lying between the shoreline and the
railway tracks, should be purchased and developed as public
parkland and beach. The shoreline area to the wes t of this
-14-
road is of practically no value for park development because
it contains little more than the steep rock piling along the
railway enbankment. This soheme is admittedly small, but it
is one which will appreoiably relieve local pressure and which
may be immediately begun at a minimum cost.
A small sandbar across the mouth of Petticoat
Creek together with a seotion of the lower valley itself has
been recommended for development. Although very limited in
size, this area contains some excellent recreation resources
and should prove to be a popular development which the
Authority may undertake at a very reasonable cost.
The open farmlands which end at the lakefront
in an abrupt line of cliffs are of limited value as recreation
areas because of difficulty of access and the poor quality
of the stony beaches fronting them. However., public access along
the shoreline must be guaranteed in any future subdivision of
the lands to the rear.
.;I
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CHAPTER 3
j~RE;iS RECO~WlliNDED FOR ACQUISITION
There are three types of land recommended for
acquisition and development for recreation. These may be
summarized as follows.
Multiple-Use Conservati9~Ar~~
Bond Lake Area 250 acres
Highland Creek Area 2,185 acres
Rouge River Area 1,485 acres
Whitevale-Dixie Area 1,062 acres
Green'l^lOod Area 720 acres
Ajax Area 390 acres
6,092 acres
Community Park and Htstorical $ite
Cedar Grove Conservation
Area 255 acres
Public Beach Areas
Port Union Beach 7 acres
Petticoat Creek Beach 25 acres
Frenchman Bay Beach 250 acres
282 acres
(There are also two Lake Ontario beaches
included in the recommer.ded Multiple-Use
Conservation Areas.)
The lower reaches of the valleys of the R.D.H.P.
Watersheds contain some of the finest recreation resources
within and immediately beyond the confines of Metropolitan
Toronto. Up to the present time these valleys as a whole
have remained comparatively undeveloped and their natural
beauty relatively unmarred.
Due to flood hazards, large sections of the
valley lands are unsuitable for the construction of permanent
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A view of part of the lower Rouge Valley showing on the left the southem end
of the ridge between the Rouge and Little Rouge Rivers. The woods have many
large white Pines and sugar maPles, amongst other species, The area appears
almost untouched, and there is a great variety of shntbs and other ground veg('-
tation. This is probably the most suitable area in the watershed for acquisitioll
as a future examPle of the Pioneer frJTest.
A llery attmctiv(' fJiclIIC site alollg
the edge of Highland Creeh ill the
I/I'e(l recori'lll/l'lIdnl for acqlllsitioll.
-16-
buildings. In many instances the unconsolidated sands and
silts of the steeply sloping valley walls tend to erode when
cleared of timber, and hence should be kept in woodland con-
tinually.
Almost all of the Highland Creek Conservation
Area and part of the Rouge River Conservation Area fall within
the boundaries of Metropolitan Toronto and have been previously
recommended for greenbelt development by this body. The
R.D.H.P. Conservation Authority and Metropolitan Toronto can
co-operate fully ,nth the Townships of Scarborough and Pickering
in establishing these Conservation Areas, since the ultimate
objectives for the use of the land coincide. The Division of
Parks of the Department of Lands and Forests is also naturally
interested in acquiring or administering public lands for the
benefit of the people of the Province as a whole. This
Division's interest in Southern Ontario has been intensified
during the past year. The greatly increasing need, parti-
cularly for public beaches, may make it essential for the
Provincial Parks Division to take a part in the developments
recommended.
Two of the recommended areas, Greenwood and
Whitevale-Dixie, lie in the midst of rural surroundings well
beyond the present built-up areas. They could be considered
as recreation areas in the open countryside. At the moment
the Ajax area also falls into this category in many respects
as the site lies well beyond the buildings of the village.
The Highland Creek and Rouge areas are in a different cate-
gory. Urban development now flanks their southern margins.
Within a few years they will be characterized as wilderness
parks in the midst of urban environment surrounding them on
all sides. There is plenty of room for the development of
playing fields in many places on the valley flats. These need
not interfere vdth the wildlife and botanical aspects. The
provision of swimming facilities along Higpland Creek would
-17-
eventually be a necessity, since the natural condition is
unsati sfactory. Storm drainage from built-up areas does not
provide attractive water for swimming. It would probably be
essential to develop artificial swimming pools here at an early
da te .
All of the conservation areas mentioned are
threatened by the rapid advance of subdivision which is leaping
across the rural countryside rather than advancing steadily
from the margin of the established urban cores. However,
in this respect Highland Creek and the Rouge are in the most
vulnerable position. If they are to be preserved in their
natural state and reserved for publi c re creation, they should
be acquired no"".
1. Bond Lake Multiple-Use Conservation Area
A 250-acre tract of land surrounding Bond Lake
in the north-western extremity of the R.D.H.P. Watersheds is
recommended for development by the Authority as a multiple-use
conservation area. This is the only section of the chain of
hills across the upper part of these river basins that is re-
commended for a development of this type at the present time.
Other areas may be similarly reconmended at a later date. The
area undoubtedly contains the most desirable potential public
parkland in the belt of hilly lands which rim the northern
sections of the watersheds. Although r:.ot as large as Musselman
or Wilcocks Lakes, which lie just beyond the northern boundary
of the Authority, Bond Lake compares favourably with these
well known resort areas. It is large enough for a development
of the type proposed and has the additi onal advantage of having
remained untouche d by intensive cottage development.
The area immediately surrounding this proposed
development is rapidly undergoing subdivision for permanent
homes, particularly around Wilcocks Lake. At any time the
proposed conservation area could undergo similar subdivision.
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-18-
For many years there was a public park at Bond
Lake which was owned and operated by the Metropolitan Division
of the Toronto and York Radials. The holdings were subse-
quently sold and the area developed as a private estate. In
view of the immense growth of the urban population in Metro-
politan Toronto and the rapid subdivision now in progress in
the area immediately surrounding the lake, the site should
certainly be developed immediately as public parkland.
(a) De~iption 0 f Property
There is excellent access to the site, since
it lies immediately adjacent to Highway No. II about four
miles north of Richmond Hill. The area would serve as a
recreation area for the dense population of Metropolitan
Toronto lying to the south and as a community recreation area
for the rapidly expanding urban subdivisions on either side
of the highway in its immediate vicinity.
Bond Lake, an attractive body of water approxi-
mately 35 acres in area, lies nestled in one of the more marked
of the low pockets which are common in the belt of hilly
terrain stretching across the northern boundary of the water-
sh eds . The waters of the lake are deep and clear. The level
is fairly constant throughout the year. Conditions are
suitable for swimming, boating and fishing. The lake is
surrounded by attractive wooded slopes which give the site
an atmosphere of seclusion.
The open, rolling land wi thin the conservation
area is now devoted to grain and hay production. About 50
acres lying immediately to the rear of the ~oded margins of
the lake is in wheat. The rest of the arable land is being
used for hay and pasture.
There are a number of buildings on the site.
The central buildings of an estate, V'bic h include a large
modern brick house, lie on the northern shoreline. There are
two other houses close to the lake.
,
-19-
(b) Nature of the Development
The usual facilities would be developed at the
la k e . Picnic tables, fireplaces and hiking trails could be
located at various points along the wooded slopes. Ther e is
ample space in the open fields for the contruction of playing
fields and parking facilities.
A certain amount of reforestation would be
required immediately. The margins of the conserva tion area
must be screened from future subdivisions by a broad belt of
tr e e s . About ten per cent of the whole area ~ould be
refores ted. Some planting will also be required in the open
land for shade and ornamental purposes. An area of wet scrub
in the north-west section of the development should also be
placed under a forest improvement program.
The large estate which forms part of the main
core of the conservation area should eventually be purchased.
However, this need not be carried out immediately. Cer ta in
parts of the lake could be opened for public use and the
remainder at a later date. Wha t is irnmedia tely req uired her e
is the purchase of as much land as is possible within the
conservation area and the keeping of the remaining sections as
agricultural land or forest. No further building end
subdivision should be permitted in the area.
2. Highland Creek Mul ti ple-Use Conserv,~ tiC?::1 J~::1:':..
Approxi~ately 1,265 acres of lond in the lower
reaches of Highland Creek are recommended for development
as a conservation area, with the main emphasis to be placed
upon r ecre8 tion. The area stretches along both sides of the
main valley from Danforth Road in the north to the Lake Ontario
shoreline in the south and also includes a section of a south-
ern branch of the creek, beginning at the eastern boundary
of the Scarborough Golf Club.
This conserva tion area forms an integral par t
of the much publicized greenbelt of Metropolitan Tbronto.
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-20-
Here there is a spacious and unspoiled reserve of superb
multiple-use recreation land of the type tha t Taron to and
the urban areas in the south-western section of Scarborough
Township require so desperately. Here also is the irreplace-
able core of a community park system for the rapidly expanding
urban developments in the south-eastern part of the township.
In ord er to satisfy the requirements for a regional as well
as a community parkland, this oonservation area must be
extensive in design.
Urban development is rapidly closing in upon
many par ts of this valley. If it is to be saved for public
recr ea tion uses immedia te action mus t be taken. The area
between the southern rim of the valley and the lakefront is
rapidly filling up as subdivision progresses on either side
of Highway No. 401. New homes are now being built at many
points along the eastern margins of the area as well as the
nor thern.
Large sections of the valley floor are very
susceptible to flood damage and should never be used as
building sites under any condition. However, co tta ges have
been constructed in many parts of the valley in the past.
Because of the housing shor tage in the legion me'1V of these
summer properties are now used as permap-ent homes whether
they are well constructed or not.
Durjng the winter months many of :,h8 residents
are cut off from direct eccess to t:hei:c> 1uild~ng3 by car due
to the accunulation of sleet, snow and ice on the steep roads
descendi~g into the valley. During the spring floods many of
these bu~ldings are often seriously dam~ged. These unsatis-
factory developments should be removed from the valley.
The steep valley walls should be kept in forest
cover a tall times as the soft sands and clays of which they
are composed tend to erode and develop gullies. 110S t of this
area has remained in woodland which should be preserved.
-21-
The flat plains immediately adjacent to the
rim of the valley could be very valuable recreation assets.
They provide a means of access to valley slopes leading to
the flood plains below. From the lip of the valley there are
superb views across these ravines. Unfortunately these factors
have also raised the value of the lots along the rim to the
point where most of them cannot be considered for purchase for
public parkland at the present time. The views from these
sites along with the ownership of a section of woodland down
the slope of the valley have a strong attraction for prospec-
tive home builders. A few of the remaining undeveloped lots
along the top of the valley should be secured immediately, so
as to allow access and to provide scenic lookouts.
The proposed development fronts upon Lake
Ontario and contains about 3,500 feet of shoreline. Although
this section is cut off from the marshlands to the north by a
double line of railway track, there should certainly be a
stretch of lake front within the conservation area. There
is access to a field west of the river mouth, by a level
crossing which is now in use. From here a steep path leads
down the cliffs to the waterfront. The beach is poor at this
point but to the west of the base of the cliff there are
occasional patches of sandy beach.
(a) Description of the Property
In this section of its course Highland Creek
has carved a broad and deep valley into the surrounding sand
plains. Over much of the area precipitous cliffs of sand
and silt drop a hundred feet or more from the edge of the
valley to the river bottomlands below. As a result of the
difficulty of access to these ravines they have remained
relatively undeveloped, with the exception of the construction
of a few cottage colonies close to points of easy approach
to one side of road allowances traversing the valley. Lying
far below the level of the surrounding landscape and enclosed
}
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;11/ IItlmctivt' lonl for II largt' 1)(( 1'/.-
rlose to Hig/lll'IIY No. 2/:/ Oil Highlalld
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Mllel! uf Ihl' nlgelands along tltt' rim
of Highland Creek Itave been taken
over for grrwel pits. This operation
certain ly does nol improve the ,lit'll'
of lite ,Iollev,
.4 pail of the housing developlllent.
formerly su 1l1111er fottages now in 1)1'1"
lI!lInent occupation, in Area A at tlte
Highland Cree/; C msenllltion Area,
-22-
on all sides by densely wooded slopes, the broad river flats
have an atmosphere of seclusion and tranquillity.
There are approximately five and a half miles
of river frontage within the conservation area. As might be
expected, the stream is subject to frequent changes of course.
Abandoned channels which are now dried-up gullies choked with
deposits of sand, gravel and boulders are frequently
encountered on the flood plains. Local inundations are common
after very heavy rains and in the spring a considerable area of
the flood plain is often under water for some time. The flow
often falls very low after a long summer drought. With the
exception of the section immediately to the north of the
lakefront, the creek is shallow throughout most of its course,
varying in depth from a few inches to a couple of feet. There
are a few deeper holes which are satisfactory for swimming.
The stream tends to be silted.
Through the summer months most of the land in
the flood plain is sufficiently dry for walking and picnicking.
However, at the mouth of the Creek there is a large expanse
of permanent marsh which extends for some distance upstream.
In the whole area 730 acres are in woodlandq There is enough
diversity in the forest composition to add variety to the
scenery and provide interest for the naturalist.
Thirty-five per cent of the wooded area is
composed of softwood trees. White cedar is the dominant
species in this group. However, white pine, often occurring
on the rim and upper slopes of the valley and towering high
above the surrounding vegetation, forms a conspicuous and
picturesque component of the forest in the lower reaches of
the valley. The pines usually vary from 10 to 18 inches in
diameter and are therefore large enough to be useful and
attractive.
The remaining 65 per cent of the wood-
land is hardwood. Sugar maple, aspen, red oak and scattered
-23-
beech and yellow birch are the dominant deciduous species.
White elm, black ash and red maple, along with willow, are the
characteristic hardwoods of the poorly drained sites. There
is a wide variation in tree sizes among the deciduous species.
About 45 per cent of the hardwoods are greater than 10 inches
in diameter.
A considerable number of buildings and
installations are located within this proposed conservation
area. Over a long period of time many will have to be removed
if the scheme is to be operated to the best advantage.
There are four separate cottage areas or
colonies within the area in addition to a number of scattered
developments along more isolated sections of the valley. Many
of the buildings, which were originally designed for summer
use, are now serving as all-year residences.
One of the largest of these areas is located
on the flood plain of the valley immediately south of Highway
No. 401 shown at llA" on the map. Here there are about 60
cottages, many of which are of extremely flimsy construction
and certainly unfit for permanent residence. During Hurricane
Hazel t~ere was substantial destruction in this area and many
of the buildings were dQll1nged. There is no doubt that this
development should be removed from the valley.
On the valley floor immediately north of the
junction of Lawrence Avenue with Highland Creek a cottage
colony known as "The Willows!? exteYlds along both sides of the
river, (liB" on the map). What has been said of the cottage
area south of Highway No. 401 also applies in this instance.
Damage in this area was heavy during Hurricane Hazel. The
main bridge across the river on Lawrence Avenue was washed
out and a new one is now being constructed.
At the point where Lawrence Avenue crosses
Highland Creek two cottage colonies have developed. Above
the valley at Bridgeview Heights Commercial Park there are
about 30 buildings constructed in a horseshoe around the outer
i~
-24-
boundary of the park ("C" on the map). These buildings are
in no danger of flood damage but they were not constructed
for use as all-year residences.
In the south-western corner of the conservation
area there is a group of cottages (lIWI on the map) which are
served by a road leading north from Highway No. 401.
Three commercial parks fall within the
conservation area, Bridgeview Heights Park is situated high
above the valley south of Lawrence Avenue. This park has a
central pavilion and refreshment stand in addition to playing
fields. Maple Creek Park is located in the valley floor about
three-quarters of a mile north of Lawrence Avenue. Here there
is a central pavilion and refreshment concession with playing
fields and picnic facilities. This is not an elaborate
development but the site appeared to be kept in reasonable
condit ion. South of the junction of Highland Creek with
Kingston Road there is a third commercial park. The main
attraction of this area is obviously the swimming pool created
by a small dam across the creek. There are no buildings here,
with the exception of a small refreshment booth.
The Crooked Creek Camp of the Boy Scout
Association is located on 100 acres of land in the north-
western part of the conservation area. Here the land is already
being devoted to recreation in a manner in keeping with
conservation principles. It is not recommended that the camp
site be removed. However, it may be necessary to open a
public right-of-way through a small section of the northern
part of this property to provide a link with the area to the
north. By way of compensation, the camp would be assured of
the preservation of the surrounding area in its natural state
and the use of hiking trails leading down the valley as far
as Lake Ontario. A dam has been constructed on this property
to provide a swi~~ing hole with a maximum depth of about 6 feet.
A small administration building, a winter camp hut and a picnic
pavilion have been erected.
-25-
On the western and northern limits of the
conservaiion area much gravel has been extracted in past
yea r s . At the junction of Danforth and Littles Road a gravel
company has an operating pit. The plan does not call for the
cessation of activities here but rather that the pits should
be reconditioned when they are exhausted, and should then be
included in the oonserva tion area. In the south-western
section of the area there is 8 large expanse of scarred lands
on the site of former pits of another sand and gravel company.
This area fronts upon Highway No. 401 and offers the only
suitable entranoe to the south and western sections of the
park from this main traffic artery. This area should be
secured at the earliest possible moment, as otherwise it is
oertain to be used for building purposes in the very near
future.
At the present time a sewer is being laid
through this valley to the new trea tment plant on the lake-
fron t . The pipeline should cause no undue interference with
this scheme.
(b) Proposed Development
It is obvious that this area cannot all be
purohased at once. However, it is essential tha t no fur ther
developments occur here which would be detrimental to the
completion of the plan. The rapid subdivision occurring on
all sides places the whole area in danger and especially all
the level lands above the lip of the valley. A systematic
land acquisition program should be devised whioh will secure
the most vulnerable areas immediately and bring together
a core of public parkland which can be put into operation
in the near future. This core can then be progressively
expanded until the entire scheme is completed.
A conservation area of this magnitude oan
fulfil a wide variety of recreation activities. The upper
reaches of the creek contain some ideal campsites, as
-26-
evidenced by the Crooked Creek development of the Boy Scouts.
Excellent hiking and nature trails can be
laid out in the valley. These should be useful to local
schools for practical instruction in nature courses as well
as of general interest to the public.
3. Rou~e Valley Multiple-Use Conservation Area
This proposed conservation area, embracing
approximately 1,485 acres of land, extends along both banks
of the Rouge River northwards from the Lake Ontario shoreline
and also includes a section of beach extending to the east and
west of the mouth of the river.
Large sections of the bottomlands of this
valley are unsuitable for permanent buildings. Her e also
the precipitous valley walls of sand and silt would be exposed
to gullying and erosion if the forest cover were removed. This
area contains the choicest block of natural unspoiled
wilderness in the lower reaches of any of the v~leys of the
R.D.H.P. Watersheds. Such an irreplaceable area should
obviously not be split into small private estates and securely
fenced to exclude the general public.
The area might be expanded on its northern
margins along the Little Rouge Creek at a later date. The
grounds of a large astate on the banks of the stream contain
some superb recreation lands which might be incorporated in
the future. A large area of sand and gravel plains immediately
to the east of this estate could be reforested and absorbed
into the area at the end of the present extraction operations.
In the future the western boundary could be
extended upstream as far as Woodland Park. This section
contains first-class recreation lands which would form a
valuable addition to this scheme. These should not be lost
to subdivision.
The proj ec t, like that on Highland Creek,
should be begun immediately if some of the valuable
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recreation assets of the area are not to be lost. Most
of the linear belts along the rim of the valleys near
Highway No. 401 have been built up. This is unfortunate,
as they provide a superb view across this magnificent valley.
The remaining land is certainly in danger of being lost to
the public. Whatever sections are now vacant here have been
included in the scheme. When the buildings in this area become
obsolete they should be cleared out and the land incorporated
into this development.
Up to now the margins of the valley to the
north of Highway No. 401 have remained comparatively
undeveloped. The section along the Lansing Cut-Off about a
half-mile south of the Glen Eagles Hotel is an exception to
the above. Subdivision is also progressing rapidly along
the Altona Road in an area that has been orchards and market
gardens for many years. The eastern margins of the develop-
ment along the road leading to the Rouge Valley Inn are also
in imminent danger of encroachment by the subdivider. Much
of this land is now offered for sale.
( a ) Description of the Property
This is another splendid valley rivalling that
of Highland Creek. It is carved broadly and deeply into soft
sand and silt deposits. Along the west side of the Little
Rouge Creek, just above its junction with the main stream,
the bedrock shales which underlie this whole region are
exposed in a small section of the bank. Over most of the
area the flood plain of the river lies between 100 and 150
feet below the upper rim of the valley and is often enclosed
on both sides by precipitous unscaleable cliffs.
Ho~ever, in the northern half of the development
there are two distinct valleys, those of the Little Rouge
Creek in the east and the main Rouge River in the west. Just
above their junction these valleys are separated by a high
and well timbered ridge of land from the top of which there
are some superb views across the entire lower section of the
Thl' sand sPit I1l1d {J(tr. wltidl 1/11.1'
formed eastward from the III outlt oj
the Rouge River. form tile best strip
of beach in the western pl1rt of the
R.f).H.f' , Watershed. The 1m II d III
tlte foregroulld IS 1111 exccflellt I1l1d
Sf/It p{ace for children to !Jllddl('.
The lIIarshes north of the milmad
bridge at the mouth of the Rouge
River are of special interest to the
naturalist and fisherman.
A smafl dam (/liS I}(~el/ vel)' success.
fufly established Oil the Rouge allove
Xo, 2 Highway. In this view. taken
September 26. 1956, most of the stop
fogs have beell relll oved. La ter the
remaining stop logs and t//(:, posts will
be taken out for the winter. This dam
creates II ,'ery at/mctive SWlm1ll1 ng
pool, now used com mercia Ily. The
area is very popular. and it is very
important that it should not be sPlit
up for sllln mer cot/ages.
-,- l
-28-
valley. Because of the somewhat isolated position of this
ridge the vegetation and animal life are of special interest.
There is a sharp contrast in the vegetation on the northern
and southern sides of the ridge.
The lakefront beaches adjacent to the mouth
of the river are an important component of this conservation
area. There is a beach about 750 feet long, west of the mouth
of the river. This sand and gravel strip gradually narrows
from about 50 feet in width close to the mouth of the river
to only a few feet at the base of the rock piling against the
C.N.R. railway track. About midway along the beach a new
pumping station is now under construction. This should not
seriously interfere with the public use of the remainder of
the beach. Previous to Hurricane Hazel there was a fine sand-
bar or spit extending outwards from the west side of the mouth
of the Rouge River. Unfortunately this has now disappeared.
However, since the hurricane an excellent beach has developed
eastwards from the mouth of the river. A large spit and bar
has been formed here which is now the best strip of beach on
the entire west half of the shoreline of the R.D.H.P.
Watersheds.
From the northern limits of this conservation
area to Lake Ontario there are approximately 5 miles of stream
running through the heart of the development. Separated by
a belt of high land, the two main branches of the Rouge River
wind their way across a level flood plain enclosed by well-
wooded steep-sided valley walls, and join near the Kingston
Road. Nearly two and a half miles of the main stream lies in
this section of the conservation area while the Little Rouge
Creek is more than a mile long, in the parkland. Fluctuations
of level and changes of course are a common occurrence. Spring
floods inundate fairly extensive areas of bottomland. The
summer flow varies from 1 to 4 cubic feet per second. Sand
and gravel deposits choke large sections of the river bed,
Part of the unspoiled forestland lying
uetween the Rouge and Little Rouge
Rivers neaT their confluence. This
area may well provide the last OPPOT-
owity for the residents of the Toronto
re(flO n to acqlllre a stretch of fine
" forestland within easy reach, This
(Ilea is descril}ed in detail in the Wild-
life section of this report, where it is
listed as A rea G.
.-111 old pavilion and picnic area on
the east side of the mouth of the
Rouge River. Here the road allowance
is littered with refuse. Access to the
beach here at present invoh'es a very
difficult diml) down a steep and often
sliPpery banlt, but the picnic area has
fille views over the lalie. This lies in
the proposed Rouf!,r RillCr COl/senl((-
tioll An~a.
/';lOsion is one of the chief tHoll/nlls
Oil the Lalie Ontario heach, These are
groynes and erorh'd cliffs r/{'({I Fair.
{)IIrt Beach.
, "
l
-29-
making attractive stretches of fast sparkling water. The
depths of the two streams vary from a few inches to a couple
of feet. While they offer safe bathing and wading for
children they are obviously too shallow for swimming. Dams
and ponds would have to be constructed for this purpose.
From the junction of the two streams to the
lakefront, the river winds for more than a mile. The flow,
which is continuous throughout the year, increases to about
8 c.f.s. (summer flow). The stream passes slowly through
an extensive marshland area just above its entrance into the
lake. Here the stream is wider and deeper but its value for
recreation is much reduced because access to it is difficult.
Of course the plants and animals of the marsh are of great
interest to the naturalist.
Six hundred acres or 40 per cent of all the
land lying within this conservation area is wooded. The
range of species encountered here lends variety to the
landscape and provides a diversity of wildlife habitats.
Conifer cover types occupy 200 acres and form
33 per cent of the total woodland. White cedar, covering
130 acres, is by far the dominant representative of this
group. However, white pine and hemlock, either in individual
stands or in combination, are a significant component of the
total acreage of softwoods. About 70 per cent of the softwood
growth is from 4 to 10 inches in diameter. There are several
fine stands of white pine and a few of hemlock. Many of the
pine reach 1St! in diameter.
Hardwoo ds , covering 411 acres, form the
remaining 67 per cent of the forest cover. Sugar maple,
either in pure stands or in association with beech and yellow
birch, is the dominant species. However, there is a good
representation of additional species. The oaks and elms
encountered here fall within the 10 to 18 inch diameter
~
class while the remainder of the species are commonly smaller.
..
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"
,
-)0- ,
During the summer of 1954 an extensive and
detailed survey was carried out in the area to assess the
botanical and zoological characteristics and peculiarities.
The results of this work have been covered in the Wildlife
section of the report and need not be repeated here other
than to note that it was felt that many sections of this
valley were undoubtedly worth preservation from this point
of view alone.
While much of this area is a veritable
wilderness the entire valley has not remained completely
unc,eveloped. Hence a number of buildi~gs and installations
fall within the proposed conservation area.
There are a number of cottag8s in the bottom
of th e vall ey to the north and south of H:Lg>l\,.ray No. 40l. A
steep road down the east slope 0: the valley just south of the
highway provides access to about 20 cottages on the flood plain
of the river. These buildings, which are of modest construc-
tion, are being used in many cases f0::' YS'.:;.:~-~'o~xi--:d :"'8sidence.
On the west side of the river there is ano~hcr ra9i~ly
expanding cottage colony to which there is access to the
valley down a steep road leading off the side road to the
Rouge Hills Golf Course. These buildings, which are in so~e
cases on very low-lying valley lands, are susceptible to
flood and ice damage and the area sho~ld never be used as
a site for permanent homes. Just north of Kingston Road
on the west side of the valley in the rear of a commercial
park there is a third group of cottages. The 10 buildings
involved in this development are situated on a terrace well
above the level of the flood plain below.
Several commercial parks have been developed
in this valley and at the mouth of the river. The Rouge
Valley Inn, situated on the Little Rouge Creek in the central
part of this proposed conservation area, is undoubtedly the
most elaborate of these establishments. A temporary dam has
I
I
-31-
been constructed across the creek to create a swimming,pool
capable of accommodating large crowds. A central dining hall
and refreshment concession has been built. There is also
a small amusement centre constructed on the site.
On the west bank of the river at its junction
with Kingston Road there is a fairly spacious commercial
recreation centre known as the Rouge Valley Park. This
development occupies about a mile of river bottomland on the
main branch of the river. More than a hundred picnic tables
have been placed along the banks of the stream. A main
building which serves as a restaurant and grocery store stands
at the entrance. The park occupies some very fine recreation
land but at the moment it lacks good swimming facilities.
Ferguson's Beach is situated on a strip of
sandy shoreline extending along Lake Ontario westward from
the mouth of the river. Prior to Hurricane Hazel there was
a superb sandy hook jutting into the lake at this point, which
was certainly one of the best beaches in the region; but
it was destroyed by the recent hurricane. There is a well
built refreshment concession on the beach and a number of
canoes are available for rental.
On the opposite bank of the river is Morgan's
Park, above a 50 foot cliff. There is a central pavilion and
refreshment concession here in addition to parking facilities
and playing fields. Since Hurricane Hazel the beach resources
of this park have been improved. A large sand and gravel bar
was thrown up about a hundred yards to the east. This is now
one of the finest beaches west of the bars at Frenchman Bay.
A country estate called Twyn Waters is situated
in the heart of this proposed development and might be
incorporated in it eventually. Some of the finest recreation
land in the valley is associated with this property.
A farmhouse and barn which are in a reasonable
state of repair are situated across the road from the Rouge
-32-
Valley Inn. There are several buildings alongside the winding
road leading north from the Lansing Out-Off and orossing the
main branoh of the river in the western end of this develop-
ment. On the east side of this road just south of the river
there is a two-storey brick house in good oondition. Three
more houses are located on the same side of this road but
nor th of the river. In the valley south of the Glen Eagles
Hotel there is an isolated house and shed.
There is a new gasoline station and also a large
house on the south side of the Kingston Road, at the brink of
the descent down the western slope of the valley. Eventually
these buildings, which lie in the heart of the development,
should be secured. However, during the initial steps of the
scheme they may be ignored.
Very little of the land is in oultivation at
th e lliomen t . Two small orohards, oovering about ten acres,
have been included in addition to about 75 acres of cultivated
land and improved pasture. Much of the area is used as scrub
pasture and a considerable amount could be said to be open
idle land awaiting development.
(b) Proposed Development
Because of the interesting physical, bo tanical
and zoological patterns, this conservation area offers the
best possibility of any of the valley lands immediately adjacent
to Ihetropolitan Toronto for the development of a large-soale
wilderness Parkland and nature preserve. The sections most
suitable for preservation as nature reserves are outlined in
the Wildlife section of the report. Oare should oertainly be
taken to see that these interesting wildlife features are not
destroyed.
Beoause the river is so shallow it will be
necessary to construct artificial swimming facilities. The
pond which has been formed by damming the river at the Rouge
Valley Inn shows how simply this can be done. Similar
temporary dams could be constructed at many points in the valle~
...,/;'.",;.~_..,
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c
There is ample space at various points in these
valleys for the establishment of playing fields, picnic ta bles,
fireplaces and large pavilions.
The area lends itself admirably to the
development of hiking and nature trails. These trails, to ge ther
with the previously discussed nature preserves would be
attractive and useful to both adults and schoolchildren.
4. Jlhiteve.le-Dixie Multiple-Use Cons~rvation Area
O!l8 thoussnd. end sixty 2.cr3S of land are
included in thi3 conse~v8tioli 3r3a, which follows the west
b~anch of Duffin Greek from W~it8~sle to a pc in t a bo u t three-
qcsrters of a mile below Dixie. 'i'J::.e nor the::>n encl of the
(1e'!tel~)~"'I::',ent lies about a mile and e. qL',art0::' south of !-Egbway
No. 7 e~d t~e southern extre~ity is only slightly over two
miles to the c~rth of Highway No. l..Ol, Access by car to this
site is therefore exoellent j and the distance travelled over
township gravel ~e8ds is short.
Until :lOW the -.N97e of sube.iv:~f,j_'Jn has not
:;:' ee. chael this ar 38 except at Clar~es Hollow. The .~ra :)'J 8 ed
'oonser":T8 tion area is now a reserve of potential rural
rerreaticn lend l~ing in the o~9n ceun~rysi~e. He'!; e. yor , it
is alr:los toe::' :.a:.n th3 t much of the la~d converned will be used
fer sub~r~an hOlli08 and estates in the next f8w years beoause
of its :n.ne 8cenery and unS1Joiled rural atmosphere. Fer t.~is
:::'cr.8Q:l :.t is irnpo:::'te.nt t.hat ttG R.D.ILP. .A~ltJ'1.':)rit:r sb.ot:'.ld
e1;5rniD'3 the 6=38 immGdietaly while thG cost is relatively low.
If th8:'8 is 8 10Dg delAY SOllie of the ohoicest natural
recreat~on lEnds ~9Y be lost.
The soutrer.:l margi.11 of the consel'iTa tion erea
adjoins the Manre~a Kotre-at Rouse. Fu.!.' ther cl.ownsi:;reeT1 Sun
Valley Park is located. This section of the valley should not
be subdivided as at a later date it will probably prove
advisable to extend this scheme further downstream. These
riverfront areas offer superb parkland for the rapidly expanding
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-34-
urban development to the nor th of Pickering Village.
(a) Descri~tion of the Property
The west branch of Duffin Creek has carved a
deep and sharp-sided valley into the thick deposits of boulder
clay south of Whitevale and into the sandy plains fronting the
former shoreline of glacial Lake Iroquois immediately below
Dixie. At many points there is a sheer drop of about a
hundred feet from the lip of the valley.
This entrenchment below the rolling plains of
the adjacent countryside results in a repetition of that
atmosphere of detachment already desoribed concerning the Rouge
River and Highland Creek Conservation Areas. However, this
feature does not continue to the lakefront on Duffin Creek as
is the case on the former streams.
There are almost three and a half miles of river
course within the area. The waters of the creek are moderately
warm but very shallow in many parts. The flood plain is
littered with the sand, gravel and boulder deposits of the
many former channels. These deposits, together with the
eroding olays and sands of the sheer valley walls, make the
stream very turbid in flood periods.
However, these reaches of Duffin Creek are very
a t tr a 0 ti ve . In many places the stream spillS over gravel
bars or twists its way through a boulder-strewn bed in a maze
of separate channels. There is a ruggedness about the creek
at this point which is not found elsewhere in the R.D.H.P.
Wa ter sheds.
Four hundred and ninety acres or 46 per cent of
the area is now in woodland. About 280 acres or 57 per cent of
the woodland is softwood, almost all of which is white cedar.
In 84 acres or about a quarter of the cedar woodland, these
trees are large, from 10 to 18 inches in diameter, and these
are particularly useful for shade. Hardwoods occupy 210
acres or 43 per cent of the total woodland. There are many
species of trees represented, of which sugar maple in both
,
-)5-
pure and mixed stands is by far the oommonest, oovering about
half of all the hardwood lands. All of the other oommon trees
of this region are found in the woodlands.
The area has been delimited so as to avoid the
- inolusion of existing buildings as far as possible. About a
mile south of Whitevale on the east bank of the oreek a small
cottage has been reoently oonstruoted. ~t is likely that
further summer properties will invade this area in the near I
iY.'
,!\j
future. At Clarkes Hollow there is already a subdivision. ~1;
i
About 17 oottages, most of whioh are now used as permanent r,~
f~
homes,form a small colony on the west bank of the river a 1i
I"
few hundred yards to the south of the bridge. A barn and a i
large house with a sw~ing pool are olose to the main road d
\\1
just south of the entranoe to this group of cottages. The ~
ii
~
buildings of this area need not be removed immediately but ,
oould be gradually aoquired over a period of time. Few of ~
i"'"
these cottages are suitable for use as permanent dwellings. [-
r;:
A fine new house has just been constructed at Ii
r
r
the north-east corner of the bridge at Clarkes Hollow. r'
I
Eventually this property should be acquired, since it lies
in the centre of the proposed parkland. Here we have a clear t
,
,
indication of the type of subdivision which will undoubtedly l
f.
(
advance into the area soon if the scheme is not carried out. r
f
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A road down the west bank of the valley at r
!
I
Dixie leads to a commercial park in the valley floor. This i
f
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park has been allowed to fall into a dilapidated condition ,
in recent years. Above the east bank of the creek at this I
,
point there is an extensive gravel pit operation. As long ,
t
!
as this pit is not extended further towards the edge of the i
I
I
I
valley it should not have any serious effect on the scenery. I
I
When the deposits are exhausted the land can be reforested
and incorporated into the scheme.
(b) Proposed Development
About 20 per cent of the area should be
reforested soon after acquisition of the property. The existing
J
-36-
woodland should be put under a forest management program.
Hiking trails should be established on either
side of the stream from Whitevale to the southern margin of
the property. A few short access roads will be needed. These
would lead from existing township road allowances down to the
recreation areas in the valley floor.
Fireplaces, picnic tables and other recreation
equipment must be placed about the area. Permanent buildings
could not be located on the low-lying flood plain of the
valley as the flood hazard here is very great.
Many of the somewhat higher valley bottomlands,
although they are unsatisfactory for permanent buildings,
could be developed as playing fields in addition to some of
the more level open areas above the steep bluffs.
There is a shortage of adequate swimming
holes. Small by-pass ponds could be created to overcome
this handicap. Some sections of the bed of the creek could
be periodically deepened. This deepening process would
probably have to be repeated every season or two.
5 . The Greenwood Multiple-Use Corrservation_Area
This suggested conservation area embraces a
total of 711 acres of river valley lands on Duffin Creek
extending south from Greenwood near Highway No.7.
There are commercial parks at each end of
this conservation area. Its southern margin adjoins Highlo
Park and is near Cedar Glen Park. On its northern flank
Greenwood Park stretches along both banks of Duffin Creek
to the north of Higm~y No. 7. These conmercial parks lie
in some of the best recreation lands along this creek and
at a future date the conservation area should be extended at
either end to include them.
The area lies well beyond the present zone
of active subdivision in Pickering Township and in the midst
of an almost completely rural environment. There is a
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PICKERING! " , .
UN'ONV'LLEI J".KHA.1, ,. ..EENWOOD 1 t'tbi> \ GREENWOOD \1=
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-37-
possibility of development of suburban estates and cottages
in this part of the valley of Duffin Creek, which would
increase the problems of acquisition in the future. This
area is therefore recommended for early acquisition for the
public.
(a) Description of the Property
At this point Duffin Creek flows through a
deep but broad and open valley. The long slopes of the
surrounding agricultural land lead gently down to the valley
floor so that access to the river front is relatively simple
at all points. The general setting, in the midst of a
pleasant rural environment which is relatively free from
urban encroachment, is very attractive and suitable for
parkland.
Permanent streams (about two and a half miles
in length), flow through the property. The waters are
relatively shallow, varying from a few inches to three or
four feet in the deeper holes. Sand and gravel bars are
common along the meandering river. Because this stream
frequently spills over a wide area of flood plain during the
spring season, large sections of the valley are unsafe for
permanent buildings of any type. Up to the present this .
section of Duffin Creek has remained relatively unpolluted
and hence the waters are safe for bathing.
Approximately 250 acres or 35 per cent of the
land surface is wooded. White cedar, is the dominant cover
type of the area. Sugar maple and its associated species are
also common. The black ash - white elm - red maple cover type.
liesina small poorly drained area alongside the road about
a mile south of Greenwood.
Much of the woodlands lie in a belt along
the river banks. The area therefore has an isolated and
spacious atmosphere.
Little agricultural land will be retired from
production by this development. Less than 5 per cent of the
, .
-38-
total area is now cultivated. About half of the open land
consists of riverflats and steep hillsides. These areas are
used intermittently for pasture.
There are a number of buildings in this
conservation area. A small barn situated on the north-east
corner of Lot 12, Concession IV of Pickering Township is the
only agricultural building within the proposed development.
There are four cottages on the south side of the road between
Concessions IV and V. Two of these, close to the riverbank
at the bridge, are fairly large and in excellent condition.
There are also a house and a cottage on top of the west side
of the valley just south of the old railway line in Concession
IV.
Midway down the western boundary there is a
large gravel pit which is still in operation. This sche~
does not necessitate a ban on further extraction from this
pit. However, when the gravel supplies here are exhausted
the site should be reforested and incorporated in this
conservation area.
(b) Proposed Development
About 25 per cent of this conservation area
should be reforested immediately and the existing woodland
placed under a forest management program to ensure maximum
yields~ Most of the area to be planted to trees is now
rough and bouldery weed-infested fields which are unsuitable
for cultivation or pasture.
Many improvements could be carried out here ~t
little cost. Most of the conservation area is enclosed by
existing road allowances and Duffin Creek is already bridged
at the north, south and central sections of the development.
All that is required here is the construction of a series of
short service roads to penetrate the area from various points
along these road allowances. At the end of the service roads
specific parking spaces should be laid out to control the
~~'
-39-
movement of cars in the conservation area.
North-south hiking trails should be cut through
the area on both sides of the river. These trails could be
linked at a number of points by foot-bridges.
As the river is too shallow for swimming it
would be necessary to build one or more ponds for this purpose.
By-pass ponds, which should be relatively simple to construct
in some of the old meander channels of the streams, would be
quite satisfactory.
Picnic tables and fireplaces must be set out
at a number of points throughout the area. A central pavilion
with a refreshment concession and toilet facilities would
obviously be required.
6. Aiax Multiple-Use Conservation Area
This proposed development, embracing a total
area of 390 acres, is situated on the lower reaches of Duffin
Creek and extends from a point just below Pickering to the
Lake Ontario shoreline. The area includes beach resources
along the lakefront in addition to some superb potential
riverfront parklands.
A large proportion of the land lies within the
boundaries of the town of Ajax and is now under the
jurisdiction of the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The development plans for Ajax envisage a zone of parkland
providing public access along its entire lakefront area. A
small area of shoreline and river frontage at the mouth of
Duffin Creek was placed under the jurisdiction of the Ajax
Rotary Club for use as public parkland.
This recreation area, under the jurisdiction
of the Ajax Rotary Club, has approximately 300 yards of sandy
beach fronting Lake Ontario. There are about 5 acres of
parkland to the rear of the beach and considerable well-shaded
dry land here, but a large percentage of the five acres
consists of marshland situated along the margins of Duffin
Creek.
~
-11
AJAX CONSERVATION AREA
LEGEND
---- BOUNDARY
1- .....1 MARSHES
I'';,.''''::,";:] WOODLAND
SCALE, FEET
1000 500 0 1000 2000
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Ron9! numbers conform to To..ns~ip Surveys and not 10 1951 Army Survey mops
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-40-
Attendance at this park, for which there is
an admission charge of 50 cents per car, averages about 400
cars a day throughout the weekend holidays of the summer
months. If this conservation area were developed, Ajax
would then have the recreation areas along the lower course
of Duffin Creek preserved as parkland and the rapidly
increasing population of the surrounding region would be
provided with badly needed playground space.
Until now this entire area has remained beyond
the edge of urban subdivision. Hence there is an opportunity
here to initiate a scheme slightly ahead of the advancing
movement of population. The Conservation Authority could
take full advantage of this desirable situation. Admittedly
a large percentage of the land associated with this scheme
is flood plain and marshland which should never be utilized
as the site of permanent buildings. However, if the
implementation of the scheme is delayed until urban develop-
ment strikes these riverbanks, problems of acquisition will
arise which will increase the cost of the scheme, crea te
unnecessary disturbance to landowners and possibly result
in a permanent loss of some of the most desirable upland
recrea tion land. This area will not remain undeveloped
indefinitely and hence the land should be secured as quickly
as possible.
(a) Description of the Property
Here Duffin Creek meanders across a level
clay plain in a broad, open, shallow valley. There is easy
access to the riverbank at most points. The isola tion and
detachment from the surrounding landscape which was a feature
of some of the previously discussed conservation areas is
lacking here. Because there are few steep slopes the land
will probably undergo rapid subdivision on the margin once
the full force of urban development strikes it.
There is a well developed sand and gravel bar
projecting from the eastern bank of the river at the mouth of
<-1. very useful beach alld picllic sill' in
the IJroposed Ajax CO/1.\'eIHltioll Area.
~
A i'len' of VII IIi II Cree/; willdil/o
"
I hrough extensive III(/rshes j list 1/001h
of its outlet into '~a/;e Olltario.
"
The La/;e Olltario I){'ach for mallY
lIliles east of the pru/JOsed Ajax Con.
se rva t i Oil Area IS narTOW, stony,
muddy alld () f I en impassable. The
waves wash against the difl, whir'h is
allOut 20 feet high.
-41-
the creek. This bar contains about 700 feet of sandy shore-
line along the lakefront and offers the best beach area
between Frenchman Bay and the eastern boundary of the
watersheds. There is very little bar development on the
western side of the creek. Here, however, a large sand and
gravel deposit lying a few feet below the surface of the
water extends for about one thousand feet into the lake.
At the time of this survey a sand and gravel company had
installed a dragline and conveyor belt to remove the gravel
from this underwater deposit.
Immediately to the east and west of the river
mouth the shoreline of Lake Ontario is rimmed by a line of
cliffs which rapidly increase in height. In recent years
these clay cliffs, which are very susceptible to undermining
by the pounding of the lake waves, have undergone a fairly
rapid recession at many points.
Within this conservation area the river winds
for a length of about three miles. In its lower course
Duffin Creek, here a broad and fairly deep stream, wanders
through extensive marshlands covering the entire valley
floor and stretching for about a mile to the north of the
lakefront. Large patches of open water are common in the
midst of this marsh, and the stream frequently changes its
course.
Only lO per cent of the area is now woodland,
chiefly in small isolated patches. The cover types of tree
species are shown on the Forest Conditions map in the Forestry
section of this report.
About 80 acres of land on the east bank of the
creek in Ajax is now devoted to the growing of corn. The
remaining open area of river valley flats consists of
unimproved pasture and idle fields with many weeds.
On the east bank of the creek a new sewage
plant for Ajax is now being constructed. The development
should not interfere with the successful operation of this
i
-42-
scheme. When the grounds are properly landscaped they should
blend satisfactorily into the surrounding park area. Moreover,
this plant will ensure that pollution from Ajax will be re-
duced to a ~inimum. When the situation in Pickering Village
is remedied, the polluted condition of the creek at certain
seasons of the year should be entirely overcome.
( a ) Proposed Development
There are no permanent buildings to be acquired
within this conservation area. The land within the Ajax
development, which forms over 80 per cent of the total area
involved, should be secured by agreement with the Central
Mortgage and Housing Corporation. In this connection it should
be noted that a satisfactory arrangement may be made to secure
this area at a minimum of cost to the R.D.H.P. Authority.
It would be necessary to purchase the remaining land from
pr i va te owners.
About )0 per cent of the land should be
reforested immediately upon acquisition. This would provide
the site with sufficient woodland cover to crea te the
necessary atmosphere of isolation and detachment which is
conspicuously lacking at the moment.
There is a series of marshes in the valley
between Highway No. 401 and the mouth of the river. Some
of these marshes are of exceptional interest to naturalists
since they harbour great numbers of migrating wildlife and
furnish cover and breeding or wintering sites for several
rare species of other birds. The marshes are numbered from
1 - 5 on the accompanying map. If it is necessary to use
any of these marshes for dumping fill the only areas where
fill should be placed would be in marshes Nos. 1 and 5.
Otherwise wildlife will be seriously disturbed if not driven
away entirely.
No. 1 marsh is very small and lies immediately
behind the present sandbar. It could be filled with little
i:1
effort. This might strengthen the sandbar and create ~!
11
I.
~
I
-43-
additional usable land at a strategic point.
No. 5 marsh is a large area of about 20 acres
which is relatively dry. If necessary some par t 0 f this ar ea
could be filled, provided that heavy machinery is used to
compress the me terial. The above cornmen ts are made becau se
there is a heavy demand for dumping outlets in the region.
M:arshes Nos. 2,3 and 4 are of importance to wildlife and
marsh No.4 provides some of the most spectacular scenes,
during migration, in this part of Ontario. r t sho uld und er
no cir cums tances be al ter ed .
There is a very unsightly dump already located
as shown on the map. This should be compacted, covered with
soil and the area screened from public view.
In the res t of the conserva tion area the usual
picnic ta bles, fireplaces and other recreation facilities
would be installed. A boat rental service at the mouth of
Duffin Creek would probably be heavily used.
7. Cedar Grove Conservation Area
The proposed large-scale Conservation Areas
and Public Beaches will eventually supply recreation
facilities for regional as well as smaller urban and rural
communities. They include the choicest and most vital of
the large areaS suitable for playgrounds on the R.D.H.P.
Wa tersheds. However, they do not exhaust the recreation
value of these river basins. There are still many miles of
valley lands which, although they are less spectacular, have
resources of a very high order from the point of view of
community recreation.
Many of the villages and towns of the wa tershed
lie alongside a section of riverfront. These valley areas,
which are often unsuitable for permanent buildings due to
their susceptibility to floods, form a valuable source of
potential community parklands and in some instances should be
the central core of their public park system. Sometimes old
---
-44-
mills and other points of historic interest which are worth
preserving and restoring lie close to or within these areas.
Such fea tures ha ve bo th an ed uca t ional and r ecrea tional va lue
and therefore should naturally be available to the public.
In this report the establishment of a local
conservation area in the rural community of Cedar Grove is
discussed. While the scheme is designed primarily to
satisfy the requirements of the neighbouring communities,
the recreation area would undoubtedly be used by people
living much further afield. The preservation of the
significant historic buildings and sites within the area
is certainly of importance to the R.D.H.P. Conservation
Authority. Hence the participation of the Authority in
this local development program is fully justified.
This conservation area embodies about 255
acres of river valley lands along the Little Rouge Creek in
the imruediate vicinity of Cedar Grove. The proposed develop-
ment is situated a little less than two miles south of
Highway No.7 at Locust Hill.
Cedar Grove, one of the earliest of the nuclei
of pioneer settlement in Markham TOwnship, is one of the most
interesting rural communities in the R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
There are a number of historic buildings and sites within
the area included in this scheme. The preservation of these
historic monuments and their opening for public inspection
would be an excellent program for the Authority to support.
This hamlet and the group of prosperous
farmlands surrounding it still have an interesting folk
culture and community spirit in the face of outside urban
influences which have led to the complete disintegration of
these features in many similar rural areaS in Southern
Ontar io. Exponents of rural sociology have long advocated
that definite steps be taken to foster the re-development
of the social and cultural life of the rural community.
~
-45-
Here the local residents have maintained community coherence
and distinctiveness through their own efforts. It would
seem advisable for the Authority to help to maintain these
conditions wherever possible.
This local community spirit finds one of its
clearest manifestations in the activities of'the "Community
Club". Through the medium of this club the residents have
already achieved considerable success in the field of
community recreation. They now need assistance to enable
them to preserve the historic sites of their community,which
are among the most important in the R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
The scheme is designed to satisfy the require-
ments of this community. The residents appear to be willing
to co-operate fully with the Authority in this development
program, which will obviously be beneficial to them and to the
people of the Authority as a whole.
(a) Description of the Property
At this point the valley of the Little Rouge
Creek is of sufficient breadth and depth to offer a fairly
extensive area of valley flats which are distinctly detached
from the surrounding agricultural lands. However, ther e is
no repetition of the grandeur of valley form which waS so
prominent a feature of the Rouge River Conservation Area to
the sou th . Here the valley floor varies from 50 to 75 feet
below the level of the cultivated fields on its flanks and
there is relatively easy access to the river bank at most
points. Broad, open flood plains which could be easily
converted to excellent playing fields and picnic grounds
are a noticeable feature of the northern segment of the
proposed development.
There are approximately two miles of river
frontage in the conservation area. This section of the river,
varying from a few inches to a couple of feet in depth, is
too shallow for swimming throughout its entire length.
However, the local residents do bathe in a somewhat deeper
-46-
part just south of the bridge on the northern boundary of
the area. Sand and gravel bars are frequently encountered
in the river bed and often result in picturesque sections
of fast, sparkling water.
About 127 acres or 50 per cent of the total
area is woodland. Three major cover types, namely white
cedar, white elm and beech - sugar maple, occur in this
section of the river valley. White cedar is the dominant
species. Most of the white cedars are from 4 to 10 inches
in diameter. White elm, varying from 10 to 18 inches in
diameter, occupies about 39 acres of the lower valley lands.
The beech-sugar maple association occupies about 18 acrese
The trees of this group fall within the 4 - 10 inch diameter
class.
Several years ago the Community Club built an
outdoor ice-skating rink on the river flats adjacent to Cedar
Grove. An excellent pavilion was constructed to provide
accommodation for putting on skates and serving refreshments.
This rink is extensively used by the local residents and is
also rented by outsiders for hockey practices.
Close beside this rink, an open-air theatre
has been constructed. Here there is a roofed and aluminum-
sided outdoor stage of a good size~ The level river flats
fronting the stage are capable of seating a large number of
people on portable benches. Beyond these flats the steep
bank has been cleared and turfed to some extent to provide
room for a larger audience. The yearly garden party and
variety show held in this open-air auditorium annually attraGts
more than 1,500 people. These facilities are located on
private property lent to the Community Club for this purpose.
Hence the club has no security of tenure.
This group is now considering the establishment
of a small museum in the old blacksmith's shop situated on the
east side of the road just south of the bridge across the creek
at Cedar Grove. The building is not particularly impressive
,
-47-
from the exterior, but the interior needs only a little
clearing up to be a museum piece itself. If the forge, anvil,
wheelform, workbench and hand-made tools are left in place,
they would provide an excellent means of acquainting both
children and adults with the life of the remote past. There
would be sufficient space in the roomy loft of this shop
to exhibit sleighs, broad-axes, scythe-cradles, yokes and so
forth, now scattered in various homes throughout the community.
The Peter Reesor house, a stone structure built
somewhere between 1830 and 1832 by the first settler in the
community, stands high abovet.he valley on the west bank
of the river. This house faces towards the valley and is
approached from the north by a private lane leading from a
concession road to the north. This lane, together with the
section leading down the bank to the Peter Reesor mill site
in the valley below the house, forms part of the old settlers'
road which replaced the Rouge Portage Trail. The house is
situated somewhat back from the rim of the valley and the
view downstream is partially obstructed by the surrounding
woodland cover. If the trees were judiciously thinned, this
house and its adjacent grounds would command a wide view
of a beautiful section of river valley lands. The outline
of the old garden plan is still discernible and could be
restored without much trouble.
The large and roomy structure is an excellent
example of a "Pennsylvania Dutch" type of farmhouse. One
wing of the building has been torn down but the main structure
stands intact and requires little work to restore it to its
original appearance. The house could serve as a museum in
which many of the relics of pioneer crafts could be kept.
At the present time there are a number of valuable collections
assembled in some of the private homes of the community.
Some of these relics could be borrowed for this museum on a
"permanent loan" basis.
...
-48-
Just to the north-east of this house there is
an old frame barn standing on a stone foundation. The barn
was built in 1831, as indicated by the date cut in the south
gable. This barn is constructed with a cantilever overhang,
characteristic of the "Pennsylvania Dutch" type of design.
The barn could serve as a place of display for the larger
types of farm implements and vehicles, similar to the
collection already successfully established by the Humber
Valley Conservation Authority at the Dalziel Pioneer Park.
At the moment the Peter Rees~r house is
occupied by tenants. The barn is used by a member of the
Reesor family who farms surrounding lands. If arrangements
could be made to make these buildings accessible to the
public, they would, with their surroundings, make a most
attractive group.
In the southern section of the conservation
area to the east of the side road leading through Cedar Valley,
the Community Club have converted the "old log yard" into a
first-class playing field. The land was made available to the
Community Club by the owner on the condition that it be used
for recreation purposes and not subdivided and used for homes
or commercial purposes. The land was drained, levelled,
seeded and fenced by volunteer labour organised in a series
of community "work bees". Here we have another example of
the splendid community spirit of the Cedar Grove areas
(b) Proposed Develo~~8nt
This development would be of a somewhat
different nature than those previously discussed. The re are
two distinct aspects involved here, namely the provision of
outdoor recreation facilities and the preservation of
historic buildings and sites. Moreover, there is an active
community organization in Cedar Grove which is able and
willing to assist in the establishment of the development
and in its necessary maintenance.
"
........
,
-49-
In the case of the historic sites and the
existing community recreation facilities falling within the
conservation area, such as the outdoor theatre and skating
rink, the part played by the Authority could be that of
ground landlord and sustaining member. The direction could
be left with the local community club with the right to admit
the general public to the use of the facilities as they saw
fit.
Picnic ta bles, playing fields and hiking trails
should be laid out on the remaining valley lands which
constitute the largest area of the development. Small dams
could be constructed at any of several points for the
provision of swimming facilities. These, of course, would
be open to the general public at all times as well as to the
local residents of the Cedar Grove community. Undoubtedly,
the members of the club would assist in supervising and
maintaining these areas in a satisfactory condition.
This form of co-operative venture between the
R.D.H.P. Authority and the Cedar Grove community should serve
to preserve the solidarity and community spirit of the area
and at the same time enable the Authority to accomplish a
worthwhile development with the minimum. cost and effort.
CHAPTER 4
PUBLIC BEACHES
There is already a very great demand for public
beaches in the stretches of Lake Ontario's shoreline fronting
the R.D.H.P. Watersheds. This demand is growing and will
intensify in the near future.
This chapter includes two steps which might
be taken to satisfy the present and future needs. The first
step is that the few natural beaches which are suitable for
public use should be secured for the public without delay.
The sites are described and they are shown on the accompanying
map. Two of the beaches (at the mouths of Duffin Creek and the
Rouge River) have already been discussed in connection with two
river valley parks with which they are closely connected.
The second step is that public access should be
obtained to as much of the shoreline as possible and as much
freedom of movement along it as possible should be arranged.
The fact that the cliffs are rapidly eroding provides an
additional reason for restricting the building of apartments
or houses near their edge. The safe distance would, of course,
vary from 200 to 500 or more feet. The ideal situation would,
of course, be public ownership of a st~ip of land above the
cliffs as well as of the foreshore below. Certainly beach
areas should not be blocked off as private property, as has
been allowed to occur in the past.
Constant attention must be given to the future
subdivision trends in the whole area because it may prove
advantageous to establish additional lakefront parks on top
of the cliff areas even though they do not possess satisfactory
beaches. The lakefront recreation resources are of such
immense significance both for Pickering and Scarborough Town-
ships, and for the whole Metropolitan area, that they must not
be needlessly squandered. They must be carefully planned and
secured before subdivision can take place.
-51-
1. The Port Union Beach
This beach lies along the Lake Ontario shoreline
eastwards of the boundary between Pickering and Scarborough
Townships at Port Union. The area is located just over a
mile and a half south of Highway No. 401 and is directly
accessible over a tarmac-surfaced road leading to its western
extremity. A gravel sideroad leads to its eastern margin.
At the present time this stretch of beach at the
foot of the road allowance at Port Union is extensively used
by the local residents and by many visitors from the Toronto
region. Unfortunately only a few hundred feet of the shoreline
are available to the public, 4S the area eastward of the rail-
way station has been posted by cottage owners against trespass.
(a) Description of PrQperty
As indicated on the accompanying map, the
development includes a narrow strip of land lying between the
railway tracks and the beach. The total area involved is
approximately 7 acres and includes beach, shoreline cliff and
some flat upland area.
Here there is approximately 700 yards of beach
of varying quality. At the western end it is between 30
and 50 feet in width and co~tairls a high percentage of sand.
The eastern half is much narrower, being 15 to 25 feet in
width, and the gravel content is much higher. Westward of
the Port Union sideroad the beach rapidly narrows and increases
in stone content. At one point, where rocks have been
placed along the C.N.R. embankment to protect the rail bed from
threatening erosion, the beach has been entirely obliterated.
Thus this lakefront development is entirely separated from the
proposed Highland Creek Conservation Area.
This is a poor beach compared with the sandy
bars of Frenchman Bay or some of the best beaches of the City
of Toronto. Much of it is too narrow and too stony in content.
It is also subject to drastic changes in structure at frequent
intervals. In periods of storm the waves of the lake roll
/
.....
-52-
across it to the base of the low clay cliffs in the rear and
often leave gravel and silt deposits over what were formerly
good sand beaches. Nevertheless, accessible sand beaches are
so scarce in this region that those associated with this
development assume a considerable importance in any recreation
plan for the R.D.H.P. Watersheds.
The cliffs imuediately behind the beach rise
from about 10 feet in height in the vicinity of Port Union to
approximately 25 feet at the eastern margin of the area.
However, access to the shoreline is relatively simple at a
number of points and in some places grassed slopes lead
directly to the sandy beach. There has been considerable
erosion along much of this cliff due to the higher lake levels
of recent years.
Above the cliffs there is approximately 100
feet of level land at the eastern end of the area. This tapers
to a few feet at Port Union. In the broader parts of these
flats above the cliffs there would be some room for parking
and playing fields. However, parking facilities should also
be provided in a triangular piece of land on the north side of
the railway tracks at the eastern end of the area.
There are a number of cottages and houses on
this property at the moment. However, due to shoreline
erosion the existence of some of these buildings is precarious.
The house lying to the west of the railway station has already
been seriously undermined and is now abandoned. The station-
master's house does not appear to be in any immediate danger.
The nine small cottages in the eastern section of the proposed
development are likewise not likely to be lost, but there will
certainly be a continued erosion in the cliffs fronting them
so that access to the beach down the sheer cliff will continue
to be a problem. Any type of permanent steps down the cliff
would probably be washed away in the spring and winter.
......
-53-
The railway tracks running along the rear of
this area present a serious problem. The movement of people
across railway lines, especially children, always creates
hazards. However, at the moment there is a level crossing
over the track to provide access to the buildings lying within
this proposed public beach area and to the more dense cottage
development to the east. At present, people. using the beach
at Port Union park their cars at the foot of the road and walk
across the tracks to the beach on the other side.
(b) Proposed Development
An elaborate development of this beach area
is not recommended at the present. The somewhat vulnerable
nature of the beach and cliffs does not warrant the spending of
large sums of money for installations. What is required here
is simply to open to the public a stretch of greatly needed
beach which is of a reasonable quality. Moreover, the menace
of erosion makes it advisable to prevent the further develop-
ment of cottages near the edge of this line of cliffs.
The first step in the inauguration of this
development would involve the purchase of all open land within
the area and the opening up of the beach to public access
throughout. There should then be a progressive purchase and
removal of all private buildings on the site over a period
of time.
2. Petticoat Creek Beach
This suggested development is situated at the
mouth of Petticoat Creek just to the west of Fairport Beach.
At the present time there is no direct road to the shoreline
at this point. A gravel-surfaced road leading south from
Highway No. 401 ends just north of the steep-sided valley of
Petticoat Creek about a mile from the lakefront. However,
motorists frequently park their cars at the end of this road
and walk along the edge of the valley to the lakefront in spite
of the "No Trespassing" signs posted along the route. The
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-54-
bottles and papers that strew this well marked footpath
clearly indicate that the area is frequently used for picnic
purposes.
(a) Description of the Property
The total area involved in this scheme is
approximately 25 acres and includes a section of the lower
part of the valley of Petticoat Creek in addition to the beach
strip across the valley mouth.
The beach, approximately 800 feet in length, is
composed of an unbroken sandbar, which stretches across the
mouth of the creek, and small sa~d and gravel deposits
abutting the side walls of the valley on the lakefront. Since
Petticoat Creek has little or no flow in the summer months,
the sandbar is not pierced by a permanent and well marked
watercourse. The sand deposits here make an excellent beach.
To the north of the bar, most of the valley
floor is marshland. However, the high sandy valley walls,
which are heavily wooded in most cases, offer well shaded up-
land footpaths. About 16 acres or 65 per cent of the total
area may be classed as woodland. On the northern slopes of
the valley the dominant cover type is beech - sugar maple,
which is frequently interspersed with white pine, red oak and
ironwood. The woodland cover of the southern valley wall is
mainly white pine and hemlock with a frequent occurrence of
red oak, hard maple and beech. The larger trees are about
18 inches in diameter and very useful for shade.
About 10 acres of the property is rolling open
fields leading away from the steep wooded slopes of the valley.
This area is now unimproved pasture and idle land.
There are no buildings of any type on the pro-
perty recommended for acquisition in connection with this
scheme and therefore the land price should be low.
or;
-55-
(b) Proposed Development
It will be necessary to construct a road
through this property on the north side of the creek in order
to provide easier access to the lakefront. However, it will
not be necessary to bridge the stream.
Hiking trails, picnic tables and fireplaces car
be set out at various points on the beach and in the valley
to the north. Parking facilities can be developed at a
number of points.
About 30 per cent of the total area involved
in this development should be planted to trees.
It should be noted that it would be advisable
to proceed with this scheme almost immediately. Cott,age and
home developments at the western end of Fairport Beach will
probably encroach upon the area very shortly. This will make
it very expensive to attempt to implement the scheme at a
later da t e . Because the road has not been driven southwards
to the lakefront the area has not been developed for cottage
sites up to the prese~t time, but the land will be subdivided
if it is not scan acquired for the publi c.
3. F:r:'~f1,~h:man Bay B2~s::h
The beaches associated with the sand and
gravel bars fronting Frenchman Bay are Lnquestionably the
finest shoreline recreation resources in the R.D.H.P. Water-
sheds. The waters of the bay are well protected and there is
easy access at all points. The beaches are equal to the best
available in the entire western end of Lake Ontario. Th er e
has therefore been an extensive cottage development surround-
ing the bay.
Because of the size and quality of its'
resources, this bay should be prominent in any plan for
recreation activities of the rapidly expanding urban develop-
ments to the east and west. Even if the area is partially
used in the future for industrial and commercial developments,
its beach resources could and should be developed for public
.....Ill
"-
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,
A part of the fine sandy [Jeach proposed for public acqllisition at Frenchman Bay.
This beach is the best sllOrelin(? recreation resource ill the R.D.H.P. Watershed,
This section is in Compartment A (refened to ill the text) looking westward.
ll'here the beach between the lalie and Frenchman HIl\' is narrowest.
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A sign and fence restricting the use of the fine Ileach of Lalie Ontario ai FI('nch- j
man Bay. The only area now freely open to tlte pili/ii! is ti,e IHach at tlte road
alloll'r!n('(-'-a total length of aptJroxilllately fin feet.
-56-
parkland. Large and continually incr.asing crowds already
visit this area at week-ends looking for public parks.
There is now ample need for the proposed developments. \'1 i t h
increasing demand, land values will certainly rise. The
acquisition of publicly owned parks here is therefore an
urgent necessity.
(a) Description of the Property
When eventually completed in full this scheme
would result in 5,500 feet of public beach facing Lake Ontario
About 3,000 feet of this would also offer access to the
waters of Frenchman Bay. The western bar enclosing the bay
possesses excellent sand beaches approximately lOO to 200 feet
in width. However, this bar is low and subject to periodic
flooding in periods of high water. Hence it is not entirely
safe for permanent buildings. The eastern bar across the
mouth of the bay also has some good beach areas but the
gravel content appears to be somewhat higher. The long
stretch of gravel bars enclosing a marsh and open water area
immediately to the east of the main bay also contains
beaches suitable for public recreation.
At the western end of this development an open
slope of hilly land, which has not yet been subdivided, has
been included in the scheme. This would provide the necessary
parking and entrance facilities for the beaches of the western
bar. Another piece of ground at the eastern end of the area
would playa similar role for the eastern bar. The marsh land
and lagoon area to the east of the main bay could be put to a
variety of uses and should be acquired if more parkland is
required.
The west bar now contains six cottages on its
eastern extremity. The ruins of other summer properties can
be seen at various points along this bar. The beach area is
certainly unsafe for permanent buildings over most of its
length. There are about 16 cottages located on the eastern
bar. Access is gained to these along a service road from
whi{'h the general pllhljc is excluded.
~ ~
-57-
Glen Avis Park on the banks of Frenchman Bay
and Sandy Beach Park fronting the marsh to the east of the
bay have been included in this scheme. These commercial
parks are now heavily utilized and should continue to be used
for recreation purposes.
(b) Proposed Develop~ent
From the point of view of timing and procedure
of acquisition and development, the public beach area can be
separated into two compartments. Compartment A includes the
west bar fronting the bay and a section of the adjoining
mainland. Compartment B embraces the east bar, a section of
marshland to the east of Frenchman Bay, and Glen Avis and
Sandy Beach Commercial Parks.
Compartment A is the logical area to develop
first. It would greatly relieve the pressure in this area for
public bathing facilities. Its acquisition would also involve
a minimum of disturbance to existing property holders.
This compartment would form a complete operating
unit in itself. The lakefront beach, about 2,000 feet long,
would provide facilities for several thousand people. There
is enough high open land available at the western end of the
bar for the construction of permanent buildings, entrance and
parking facilities, and for the safe storage of movable
equipment in the winter season.
At the moment there are 9 cottages situated all
the eastern extremity of the bar. These would have to be
purchased and removed over a period of time. There are no
other buildings within this compartment.
It would be necessary to construct parking
facilities on the site. Picnic tables ~Bnd fireplaces should
be laid out along the beach. A bathing pavilion would
obviously be required. The provision of boat rental
facilities would probably prove very popular. In this
connection it should be noted that boating would be possible
-58-
both on the open lake and within the bay. Hence periods of
relatively rough water on Lake Ontario would not affect
business at most times because the more protected waters of
Frenchman Bay would be available. Arrangements would have
to be made for a lifeguard service and beach patrol.
Compartment B of the park presents a different
problem and requires a somewhat different approach. There
are 16 cottages on the eastern bar to the west of the main
road leading to Frenchman Bay. At the moment the public is
prevented from gaining access to this stretch of beach along
a private road serving the cottages. There is a refreshment
concession and two cottages just to the east of the main road.
Glen Avis Park is a fairly extensive development with a number
of substantial permanent buildings. Sandy Beach Park has an
excellent beach which has been considerably improved over a
period of time. However, it is not necessary to purchase
these properties immediately. The development of compart-
ment A of this beach area should relieve the demand for
public recreation space for the moment. What is necessary
is to safeguard Compartment B for development at a future dat~
To do this it is necessary to ensure that no development
takes place here which is detrimental to future use planned
for the area. No further cottage construction should be
permitted within this area and the two commercial parks
should be kept intact as recreation land. Whenever a
property is offered for sale, whether it be a cottage or a
piece of open land, it should be purchased fpr the public.
and reserved for development as beach and parkland. This
would appear to be the only sensible way to approa8h the
scheme wjth respect to Compartment B.
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