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 SOURP CE AXD ITS TlIBUTAP-IPE~S.
prayed the more." Tradition has it that the alarm even spread
among the brutes; and cattle, terrified at the trembling and oscilla tion of the earth, ran bellowing about the fields.
About half a mile above Amoskeag, Falls the Merrimack River
receives a stream known as Black Brook, from the peculiar inky
appearance of its waters. Its source is in Dunbarton, and it falls
into the'Merrimnack on its west bank, having a good water-power,
and several mnills and shops a little distance from the river.
The Merrimack River passes over Amoskeag Falls, which are
the highest on the whole course of the river. These Falls, being in
all about fifty-four feet perpendicular height, are justly regarded as
a very striking natural curiosity. The river here spreads out to
three times its usual width, and is divided into several channels by
rocks and small islands. The accumulated waters of the numerous
streams, which drain a large portion of the State, rush through the
various rough channels into which the river is divided with great
velocity, and with a noise that may be heard for many miles.
" Near the upper and greatest falls several circular holes, some
of them more than eight feet in diameter, have been worn to a considerable depth perpendicularly into solid rock. It is supposed to have
been done by small stones put in motion by the force of the current.
In these holes the Indians who formerly inhabited the country around
the falls concealed their provisions in time of danger." *
The largest of the wells referred to have been found to measure
sixteep feet perpendicular depth. Just below the falls there is an
island, on whichl are several houses and a bleachery, where the cotton
goods made in Manchester are bleached.
The first manufactur ng business known to have been done at these
falls was by the Amoskeag Cotton and W7ool Factory, which commenced
operations some time about 1809, and appears to have been owned
and operated by Benjamin Pritchard; but, soon after, it seems, for
some reason, Pritchard made it a joint stock company, an extract
from the records reading as follows:
At a legal meeting of the Directors of the Amoskeag Cotton and
Wool Factory, being duly notified and holden at the house of Robert
McGregor, Esq., in Goffstown, March 9th, 1810, present James
* Geography of New Hampshire.
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