The wealthy man may add what he pleases.
If the dam is not difficult, a small grist-mill and saw-mill may be built for one thousand dollars.
I am &c.
LETTER V.
Dear Sir,
When a census of this state was taken, in the year 1790, the number of inhabitants in the county of Ontario was estimated at nine hundred and sixty souls ; but even in this small number, there were included Surveyors and their chainbearers," &c, and even those
•A small log- house, twenty feet square, will cost fifty dollars ; a number settling together can do with one yoke of oxen, and of course, one set of farming utensils, for every two families, the first year.
1152 PAPERS RELATING TO
whom curiosity had drawn into the country. Every year since that period considerable additions have been made to the number of inhabitants ; but for the last two years the increase has been proportionably greater than the preceding. Within the space of five weeks last winter, five hundred and seventy sleighs, with families passed through Geneva.
The great number of settle«ients into which the new inhabitants spread themselves, renders it impossible to ascertain the present number of souls ; but considering the great difficulties we had to encounter for many years, and our distance from the old settlements, our population is astonishingly increased. It may be nearly judged of by concurrent circumstances; but, until- our census is taken, it cannot be exactly ascertained.
We find, amongst the circumstances from which our population can be ascertained, that the printer of the Ontario Gazette disperses, weekly, not less than one thousand papers, and the printer of the Bath Gazette, from four to five hundred. From this some judgment may be formed, not only of the number, but of the respectability of the people settled in the country.