The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

ITS SOURCE AND ITS TRIBUTARIP-ES.
the blue and misty distance. If the atmosphere is clear, it well
repays the time and toil; otherwise it is unmitigated wretchedness.
Clouds, thick and moist, roll far below the summit; the wind howls,
and a chilling torrent of rain descends. Nothing can be seen, and
nothing is to be gained except the friendly shelter of the place from
whence the excursionists set forth, which, if accomplished without
soiled and rent garments, or bruises, is a decided success, a masterly
retreat.
Along this range several peaks are named. Among these, Toadback, a singular-shaped and densely wooded mountain; Whiteface,
high and baId, and Mount Israel. Whiteface derives its cognomen
from the fact, that its south-western face, from the summit far down
the slope, is a vast bed, comprising hundreds of acres of crystallized
granite quartz. These crystals are uniformly hexagonal, and are
a study for the geologist.
From the tops of these mountains, especially Chliocorua, a grand
view is obtained to the westward beyond the Pemigewasset country,
southward across the beautiful Winnipesaukee, while to the east is
the wild valley of the Upper Saco. and rolling rapidly at its very
base is that fork of the above-named river, which is so well
described by its name, the Swift Branch' uniting with the Pequauket at Conway, it forms the Saco. The hig,h and wild locality
of their source up in the heart of the White Hills, and the romantic
career of these forks of the Saco, can be traced for a long distance,
as well as the beautiful river itself, below their confluence. This
mountain has also given its name to a gunboat in the navy.
Madison was formerly included in the territory of Eaton, but the
town was divided, and this portion of it received the above name.
Madison Brook is familiar to experienced trout-catchers, and is a
great resort for this class of sportsmen. In this town there is
a mine which was first discovered by the outcropping of the ore.
A company was organized, buildings erected, and the mine opened.
The company was incorporated as the Carroll County Silver Mining
Company; but the attempts to separate these ores proved ineffectual,
and the company failed. Recently, however, a new company has
control of it, at the head of which is ilenry J. Banks, Esq., a man
of force and enterprise. Recent experiments seem to lhave dlemonstrated the feasibility of separating the ores by specific gravity.
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