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.

THE MERtRIMACK RIVER;
director of the same, and its president. In 1843, Dr. Dean moved
from Framingham to Boston, where he now resides. Dr. Dean may
be emphatically placed down as one of the Fathers of the City of
Manchester, as few men have done more for its existence and its
prosperity. Active, intelligent, and communicative; dignified yet
courteous; careful of his own interest, yet interested in the welfare
of others; in a word, acting upon the principle of'live and let live,'
Dr. C(liver Dean's name stands prominent among the founders of
our city, and is ever retained in grateful remembrance.
The gentlemnen now having control of the company had a proper
estimate of the capacity of the hydraulic power at the falls, and the
ability to avail themselves of its advantages; they therefore very
quietly commenced the purchase of the lands in the neighborhood,
and were soon the owners of the adjacent lands upon the west side
of the Merriniack, that were likely to be needed for extensive manufacturing, operations, or that would be enhanced in value, by the
building up of a manufacturing city. Gradually, some of the
largest capitalists of Boston and its vicinity became identified with
thile enterprise, and it was determined to commence manufacturing
upon an extended scale. Accordingly, in 1831, the charter for
'The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company' was obtained, with a
capital of one million six hundred thousand dollars.
" The first meeting of the grantees was holden July 13, 1831,
when Oliver Dean was chosen president, and Ira Gay, clerk. The
act of incorporation was accepted; the stock of the old company
became merged in the new one, at an appraised value, and the remainder of the stock was taken up in a short time. At the annual
meeting, July 12, 1832, Dr. Dean was chosen a,gent of the company.
They soon determined to enlarge their operations, and to take
means to have their water:power occupied. The plan of this company was to furnish other companies, disposed to locate here, with
sites for their mills, and run them upon their own account; and at
the same time to put their lands into market in lots for houses,
shops, and stores, and thus build up a manufacturing, town, at the
same time that they greatly enhanced the value of their own property. A reconnoissance by competent engineers developed the fact
that the east bank of the Merrimack was the most feasible for their
operations, both as a track for their canals, and a site for their
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