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 MERRB IMACt P,IVER;
greater extent supplies the want of a population like that of Man chester. This is not the first library; indeed, it will be seen that
one was established in this town at an early period. In the course
of his remarks at the centennial. celebration, Albert Jackson, Esq.,
said: -
"In 1796 a social library society was organized, and in 1799
was, by special act of the Legislature, incorporated."
There are several periodicals, monthly and weekly newspapers,
and three dailies printed in Manchester, all well sustained; and thus
it would seem that this city has provided the means for moral and
intellectual culture, united with enterprise and industry, not sur pasled by any similar community, and is believed to be one of the
fruitful causes of her numbering, at the age of twenty-one, a popula tion of scarcely less than thirty thousand souls.
Manchester is generously provided with public grounds, there
being six separate commons, or squares as they are called, on the
east side of Elm Street. These are known by the names of the
Park," " Merrimack," " Hanover," " Concord," "Tremont," and
"Reservoir Squares; " the latter containing the companies' reservoir,
which is located a little more than two hundred feet above the river.
It is four hundred and eighty feet long, two hundred and thirty-four
feet wide, and eighteen feet deep, its capacity being eleven million
gallons. It is supplied by water forced up from the river, and
hydrants are conveniently arranged for using it in case of fire at the
mills and boarding-houses. The reservoir is terr:aced, and furnishes
a fine promenade, and the square, like all the others, is tastefully
adorned with shade trovs. These squares contain six or eight acres
each, and were the munificent gift of the Amoskeag Manufacturing
Company to the city.
A fine brook comes down from Oak Hill and crosses the city
diagonally, passing through several of these squares, which are
thereby provided with beautiful ponds.
There are several other smaller squares on the west side of Elm
Street, which are yet the property of the company.
Manchester has some teh or twelve cemeteries and buryinggrounds. The "Valley Cemetery" containing twenty acres, a gift
him, more than to any other man, belongs the credit of providing a library which is now
established on a basis that insures its being, in a few years, one of the finest in the State.
214