In this place, then the centre of a wilderness of nine hundred thousand acres, the town of Bath was laid out ; and before the end of the season not less than fifteen families were resident in the village. Early in the season, a saw-mill had been finished ; and previous to the setting in of the winter, a grist-mill with a saw-mill nearer the town, were in great forwardness. In the year 1794, those who had moved into the cou!itry the preceding years, finding a ready money market for their produce, had made great exertions, and a considerable surplus was furnished by them to the new comers. Of the new settlements, begun this year, t'le principal were those of Sodus, Honeoy Lake, Braddock's Bay, Canascraga, Tuscarora, and Pleasant Valley.*

* .-'itiiatetl on the southern extremity of the Crooked Lake : the other settlements are desigaa- ItJ l.y the oiiiriiirtl iiamec of (hs pans i>f the eounlry in wliieh ihey weie situated.

WESTERN NEW-YORK. 1135

At the same time the population of the older settlements was increasing with rapidity: on the most convenient mill-seats mills ■were building and roads making to unite the different settlements: indeed the whole country seemed one scene of exertion.

Every situation which nature had pointed out to possess superior advantages, was the scene of action, under the direction of some enterprising characters. This year several settlements where begun on the Indian line, and one was commenced under the direction of a Mr. Bartles, from the Jerseys, on the outlet of Mud Lake, one of the branches of the Conhocton. Towards the end of summer a set of merchant mills were in considerable forwardness, and lots laid out for a village, called Frederick's Town, alter the name of the founder, Frederick Bartles; before winter the sawmill had got into complete operation,* and several excellent mechanics were settled in the town.