Page 220 [220]
a
has been so well applied that the improvements
made are of the greatest public benefit. Upon the
whole, the roads through the Province are much
altered for the better, and are still improving.
In answer to the second part of the query, the
Gananoque River is navigable for boats and rafts,
about forty miles from the mouth, emptying into the
St. Lawrence at the Village of Gananoque. This
navigation is impeded by several falls and rapids,
of the falls and rapids mentioned, are of such a
nature that it would not be attended with very
heavy expense (considering the length of navigation),
to remove the present difficulties, at least in a great
measure. A partial improvement could be made by
constructing four dams and as many aprons or run¬
ways at the different falls and rapids; by this
means, boats could be hauled up by a simple ma¬
chinery by water, and rafts and boats would pass
down with safety. An improvement of this sort is
estimated at £2,000 currency.
obtained, it would still be more to advantage to im¬
prove the navigation effectually by good locks and
canals. These would be also required in four differ¬
ent places ; the probable expense would amount to
£5,000. The benefits which the country would
derive from these would, we presume, be incal¬
culable, opening an easy water communication be¬
tween the River St. Lawrence and the fine and
extensive settlements of Bastard, Crosby, Kitley and
even to within two miles of the Rideau water, on
which the new settlements of disbanded soldiers and
emigrants are forming.
An omission relative to roads being made above,
it may be supplied here. A public road is laid out
from Gananoque to Perth upon Tay and the new
settlements in those parts, going through about the
centre of Leeds, crossing the Gananoque, and in
several places passing near that river. This road
is already cut through as far as the back road to
Kingston, and when finished will be essentially
beneficial to these parts of the Province. There are
several good beds of gravel in this Township, and
when that article is deficient, either lime or sand¬
stone abounds. We trust the period is not far
distant when these materials will be applied, and,
in consequence, good roads run through the
Province.
31st. The impediments to the growth, etc., etc.,
of our settlement doubtless is the want of men and
money, and we verily believe that a competent
knowledge of the local situation and real advan¬
_ Europe (particularly throughout the United King¬
Eten) would immediately remove all such impedi¬
is
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ments and operate materially to the harmony and
strength of the whole empire. And probably this
remark may apply to the Province generally.
JOEL STONE, J. P.
T. F. HowLAND,
GEORGE EBBERSON,
WILLIAM STURDIVANT,
SAMUEL BEARMAN,
GEORGE WILKISON,
TRUMAN Hicock, J. P.,
THOMAS EMERY,
NEAL McMULAN,
EPHRAIM WEBSTER,
JOHN Brownson,
CHARLES MCDONALD,
Joun S. MCDONALD.
It is related that Colonel Joel Stone at one time
offered a bounty of $1ro for every wolf shot in the
settlement ; 25 cents for a crow’s head, provided it
was shot on the east side of the river, and 20 cents
if killed on the west side. It is unnecessary to state
that not a single crow met its death on the west
side.
Among the first settlers of the village, was James
Rodgers, a young Scotch boy.
In 1824, the McDonalds, together with Colonel
Stone, had secured the Sir John Johnston grant.
In 1824, the settlement had grown to such an
extent that the McDonalds had the place surveyed
and laid out asa village, the lots on Main Street
(60x120 feet) being valued at $50 each.
The first wheat raised in the vicinity of Gananoqne
was in the summer of 1827.
owned by the McDonalds.
3,000 bushels.
For many years the place was very unhealthy,
fever and ague prevailing in consequence of the
swamps surrounding the settlement. In 1826-7,
the malaria fever nearly deciminated the settlement.
Six out of the McDonald household died. Business
was suspended, and most of those who were able
left the place.
In 1832, ship building was commenced in the
village by the construction of the Zrogwozs, built
expressly for running the rapids.
Statistics of Gananoque, taken by Ephraim Web¬
ster, in January, 1849: Families, 125; male heads
of families, 113 ; female heads of families, 12.
The crop aggregated
Adult population—males..........000005: i2.hozbetusbs
Females. «.o.0.ce.csesie sic sét eává ery y:
Children’....0sece0s va Feet evens genie ave @cecccees soon gaa
Total .acsesess csnde teh eee teas is ő Fiat 768
Of these, 316 are fathers and sons ; 312, mothers
and daughters ; 38, male servants ; 47, female ser¬
vants ; 46, male boarders; and 9 female beets
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