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THE FOUNDING the ground with grub-axes. In 1834, for example, he noted in a journal that he had paid two men "$525 for clearing and grubbing io05 acres, and $190 for fencing with 9500 rails." By 1840, he had cleared an area that would today extend from Banfield Street on the south to a line along Silver Street on the north; west, to a point well beyond the Junction; and east, across the Grand into the area now occupied by the big gravel-pit. In connection with this work, Daniel O'Neail, an early pioneer on Keg Lane, used to tell an interesting anecdote. He said that about I835, when Capron had extended his fields to the eastern boundary of the O'Neail farm, he asked permission to plough ten or twelve rods over the line. "But why?" asked the surprised O'Neail. "So I can write my mother that I am ploughing a furrow a mile long," answered Hiram. Incidentally, it should be mentioned here that in 1831, Capron decided to build a new house closer to the Forks. Since he loved beautiful scenery, he chose the site on which the trapper had built his cabin - at the east end of what is now Homestead Road. From this point, he could command an ever-delightful view of the river winding gracefully down from the north and curving southward under the richly wooded bank below the forks. And from the hill- side spring, he could get water for his house and stables. Capron's homestead still stands on Homestead Road. Although its sheds and wings have been removed (one of the latter was the trap- per's cabin and another extended almost across the roadway that now goes down to the river-flat), and although its interior has recently been renovated by Miss Gladys Steuart-Jones, the present occupant and a granddaughter of Capron's, it is essentially the same as it was in 1832. Among its more interesting features are hand-hewn oak beams, hand-made nails, and great hearth-stones. It is probably the oldest building in Paris and its neighborhood. Thus by 1840, Capron had a large farm, upon part of which, in that year, he grew 2277 bushels of wheat - and upon which, in the future, a large part of modern Paris was to be built. Another early project of Capron's was the improvement of the Governor's Road, the importance of which in relation to the develop- ment of Paris he fully understood. This highway, after its opening in 1793, had gradually become almost impassable. Bridges, cause- ways, and corduroy stretches had rotted away; rains and melting snows had cut deep ruts and gullies into its many slopes; and under- brush was crowding towards the middle of the track. In a letter of 1830 to his brother Horace, Capron stated his plans concerning the re-opening of the highway: We are now trying to raise money to open the Governor's Road which forms my southern boundry lines, being only 21 miles from 17