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 A.ND ITS TRIBUTARIES.
and bright rolling river, ever varying, ever charming, dashing down
the mountain side in countless noisy rivulets, each directing its
course, not perhaps in a right line, but with ultimate certainty to
the same great channel, as the races of men, sweeping down from the
misty summits of antiquity and barbarism, are destined finally to
unite in one homogeneous mass, when brotherly love, "peace on
earth,,' and good will shall be the prevailing elements of the mighty
but tranquil current, then meandering through the secluded dells
beneath the shade of great woods whose shadows have danced for
long ages upon its buoyant ripples, or dclashling, in foam and fury over
interposing rocks and falls, narrowing to deep and quiet channels,
again expanding, as at Chelmsford, where it spreads to the dimension
of a broad and majestic river.
The Pawtucket dam has the effect to set the water back far above
Chelmsford, and to give the river a channel deep, wide, and still, and
for miles its placid and polished surface and its graceful curve are
very marked and noticeable features of the natural scenery of this
vicinity. When the great lumber " drive" from Woodstock and
the ungranted lands reaches here, and is shut into the river by the
Lowell boom, what can be more picturesque than to see ten million
feet of round lumber floating on its surface. This sight, though differing from the "hideous" falls and many other famous points in
the course of this river, is grand indeed. Logs and lumber, in all
forms, were originally "rafted" down this river in the following
manner: The lumber was ranged in convenient lengths, side by
side, until it reached a breadth to na,vigate handily, and then securely
fastened. The credit of intro(lucing the "drive" system on this
river, which is more economical and rapid, and a decided improvement in all respects, is due to Nicholas Norcross, Esq.
Dracut was incorporated in 1701. Beaver River, which rises in
Londonderry, New HIampshire, falls into the Merrimack on its left
bank in Dracut; and on this stream, about one mile from its mouth,
are extensive woollen manufactories, at a place which has long been
familiarly known as Dracut Navy Yard. This river, like most
other tributaries of the Merrimack, affords many mill privileges,
which are well employed, either for extensive manufactories, or for
the saw and grain mill'and other works which accommodate the local
business and supply the needs of the people living along its course.
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