The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-18

Il Is in some parts about fourteen feet deep but the
alton il at present very much impeded by large
tracts of marsh that are floating In the river. On
each side are vast fields OF bog almost impossible TO
reclaim unless as Was c0ntemplate0, Dy lowering
Lake Simcoe which would inure the navigation OF
tina: magnificent spread Of waters. There Is, now
ever plenty Of an1 to cultivate, and as the DRAINAGE
of this marsh will spoil very fine snooung' tne sP9 Ms
men hope that it never will be tnougn. ~: VIZ
duck and nipe are here in great quantities. Az
the end OF Cooks bay, and the entrance "
Lake Simcoe, is Snake Island, inhabited exciu'
sively by Indians It contains about 400 acres (ony
four or five acres Of which are cultivated ana
two hundred and fifty Inhabitants who live by hunt
ing, fishing and basket making, for which they hnd
ready sale in Toronto and other cities OF this pro-
vince. Bird Island, q small patch of land and wood
opposite Snake Island, is also inhabited by indians,
and often may these ancient and rude sons Of the
forest be seen in their canoes fishing on the lake,
which is in some places twenty miles wide, twenty
fstboms deep, and about thirty miles in length. 1t
above Lake Huron, into which it discharges itself
through Lake Gougichin, the Severn and the Geor-
gjan Bay. The scenery OF Lake Simcoe is very pic
turesque and in some places forciby reminds me Of
from the many islands that stud its waters and many
OF which are Of considerable extent. The banks fthe
lake are clothed with wood down to the waters
edge and consequently there ia no beach. On pass
ing into the narrows there Is . small vlnage-Ather-
land, yet but q trifing population. The narrows
swing. bridge was built at cost OF eight thousand
dollars, to accommodate the people OF Atheiiy 70
pass over to Oria. The scenery here Is very beau
tifUl-the broad lake nterspersed with many islands,
and giving to view the village OF Rama, inhabited
by Chippewa Indians, who in 1883 removed here
from the nsrrOws and purchased one thousand SIX
hundred acres Of land from the government Tor
eight hundred pounds. They are ind, strious and
prosperous, and nearly all Wesleyan Methodsts
The lake is completely frozen over in the winter sea-
son, but is passable with safety for sleghs, which
must form great contrast with its present graceful
appe arance. The scenery, On approaching Orillia,
same picturesque view of thickly wooded islands
Orillis was formerly an Indian village, but having
been purchased by the government, it rs now as Me-
tsmora would say, inhabited by the "pale faces"
principally emigrants from the old country; from
the view it commands Of the lake, it is appropriate
~ styled "the Killarney of Canada" From Orillia
the steamer returns along the western side OF the
lake, to the town of Barrie, the passage embracing
many similar views to the other portions Of Simcoe
Barrie Is beautifully situated at the head Of Kempen
fedt bay, ana about forty miles from Penetanguish
inc. 1t is district town, and has jail and court
house. with several government and district Offices.
melancholy catastr0phy Oc cured there y. sterday
just before arrived. Whilst Mr.. Robert p Leland,
. natve of Ne " York. and CHIEF engineer on that
portion Of the Ontario and 5mcoe railroad which is
being constructed in the neghborhood Of Barrie
talking to some OF the wOrkmeD and lie aning on bis
gun with which he had been sporting the piece ex.
ploded and the contents went through his body. de-
prlving BIN Of life in few hours. He vas man
Of considerable ability in his profession; he was
much admired, and leaves young widow and child
to mourn his premature decease. Mr.. Brunei, the
superintendent ut, and other gentlemen connected with
the line left Toronto this morning for Barrie, TO con-
dole with the widow OF poor Leland, and attend his
body to the grave.
When it is generally known that these world-re
nowned beauties Of Lake Simcoe can now be com.
fortably approached by railroad and viewed from
first class steamers, such as the company are build
tofore on the route the traveller and particularly
the American, DESTROYS of enjoying the most roman
tic sceneres Of nature, OF wood and water O. moua-
tain, dell, and dale, will wend his way to the Xii
larDey of Canada where all that is grand and ma
jestic of natures handy-work" may be admired
The Normal School, chasse and substantial piece
of architecture, is now in full operation and fur
nshes another monument OF the industry OF the
J. Robertson, gentleman who povitiated in the
mother country, has, as head MASTER introduced
many improvements, which are working wonder
full eject. He qualities applicants, male and female
in the instruction Of children in tue model school,
which is also admirably conducted, under the mas
tership Of Mr.. McCallum. Trinity College Is now
finished, and by the beauty Of its style adds CON
siderably to the improvements OF the city. 1t is
built nearly opposite the asylum which on former
occasion described.
The SANITARY laws of Toronto are rigidly enforced
by an honest and hardworking set OF councilmen.
The Health and Street Inspectors Of New York
would learn a wholesome lesson by visit to their
Canadian brethren. The tailors Of Toronto struck
c-h;he- Gov doJo rincc, and are still stand
ing out. The weather continues moderately COOL
with an occasional hot hour about mid day. The
harvest has been, generally speaking, good, with the
exception of the oats being short In the stem the
produce OF oats, however, will be good, though the
straw will be but poor supply. There is an abun-
daIt crop of wheat, and fair average of potatoes.
! should have mentioned in connection with the
increasing traffic OF Toronto the fact that the steam
boat company have placed another steamer, the
Peerless, between this and Niagara; but the good
old boat Chief Justice, with Alexander Molloy as Its
captain, is still the avorite This gentlemans cour
tesy and well known nautical skill is such, that he
has been engaged to take command of new steamer
between Toronto and Niagara, in connection with
the great Northern Line of railroad, aud he there-
fore resigns his present position in few weeks to
assume the command of line ON which the traffic
promises to be very great, and where his general
character will be found attractive. j. X.
Letter About the Railway System.