Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

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dilapidated state, and some almost impassable, have been relaid and much improved.
Toronto now contains ninety-one streets, some of M'hich are of great
leagth; the planked portion of King Street being about t-wo miles long. 'l"he
extreme length of the city, from the Don Bridge to the western limits of the
city, is upwards of three miles. Property which was purchased a few years
since for a mere trifle, has increased wonderfully in value; and many houses in
King Street pay a ground rent of £100. Rents are gei erally as high as in the
best business situations in London, England: and some houses in good situations
for business let at from £200 to £250 per annum.
Among the public buildings those particularly deserving of notice are
the new front to Osgoode Hall, the banks, and St. George's Church. The
Lunatic Asylum and the Catholic Cathedral, now erecting, will be extensive
and handsome buildings. Besides these, many of the private buildings have
added greatly to the embellishment of the city and its environs. The new stores
at present erecting in King Street, from the design of JNlr. Thomas the architect,
will be when finished the handsomest buildings of the kind iu Canada, and
equal to anything to be seen in England.
The public buildings in Toronto comprise the Jail, a large stone building,
situated in the east end of the town; the Court-house, which is ot brick, and
contains the district offices; the o'ld Market-house, over which are the Newsroom
and Athenajum (or Public Library); the new City Hall, where are kept the
offices of the corporation officers, and the police office ; the Upper Canaf^a
College; the old Parliament Buildings (part of which is at present occupied
by the officials of King's College) ; the Hospital; and the Post Office. There
are within the city twenty-one churches and chapels ; of these five are Episcopal,
one Church of Scotland, one Pivsbyteriim Church of Canada, one
United Secession Presbyterian, two Romau Catholic, two British Wesleyan,
one Primitive ilcthodist, two Canadian Wesleyan, one Congiegational, one
Christian, one Unitarian, one Baptist, one Disciples, and two for coloured
people—Methodist and Baptist. There are also a House of Industry, Mechanic's
Institute, two Fireman's Halls, Fish Market, Custom-house and
Barracks.
The city is lighted with gas, and there are water-woiks for the conveyance of
water from the bay to the different houses ; and there are also in the city regular
stations for C( aches and cabs. Steamboats leave daily for Kingston, Hamilton,
Niagara, Queenston and Lewiston, and Rochester, calling at Port Hope, Cobourg
and crther intermediate places; and stages leave daily for all parts of the country.
Omnibuses have been established to run regularly to Richmond Hill, Thornhill,
Cooksville and Streetsville, and every hour from the market place to Yorkville;
and a horse ferry-boat plies during the day between the city and the opposite
island.
Amongst the different societies and institutions are to be found the Freemasons,
who have a provincial crand lodge; the St. George's, St. Patrick's and
St. Andrew's Societies, St. Patrick's Benevolent Society, three Odd Fellows'
Lodges, a Home District Agricultural Scciety, Toronto Ilor {cultural Society,
tlie Medico-ciiirurgical Society, Toronto Athena'um. Church Society, Bible
Society, Mechanic's Institute, a Dispensary, a Theatre (the performers in
which are principally amateurs), a Temperance Reformation Sotiety, a Turf
Club, Cricket Club, Curliug Club and Chess Club, four Fire Companies with
four engines, two Hook and Ladder Companies, a Hose Company, and a Propoily
Protection Company. There are also a Home District Savings Bank, a
Fiiv and Life Assui'ance (\mipanj', and a Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
The University of King'.s College is empowered to grant degrees in the sevei'al
arts and sciences ; the Presbyterians have a Theological Seminary, and the
Congrcgalionalists an Academy.
Ten newspapers are published in Toronto; viz., British Cinuidian, Herald,
Palriut, British Colonixl, hxaminer. Christian Guardian, Utar, Mirror, Banner