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 MERRIMACK RIVER;
officers of the Navigation Bureau of the Navy Department to be
superior to the English manufacture in texture, material, color, and
durability. Since then the bunting of this company has been used
by all the government departments, to the exclusion of foreign manu factures. Stimulated by their success, this company has erected
large and permanent mills, and supplied themselves with requisite
machinery of sufficient capacity to supply the wants of the American
people.
During the progress of this manufacture this company has made
many improvements in the fabric and the machinery for its manu facture. One of the most prominent is the manufacture of bunting
with the requisite colors without sewing. Heretofore the stars of
the union have been cut from cotton cloth and sewed to bunting, and
the stripes cut from the wide bunting and stitched together. About
two years ago, at the suggestion of a gentleman occupying a position
at the head of one of the principal bureaus of the government, the
manager of this company undertook to manufacture a flag having the
stars and stripes fully and firmly shown without the aid of sewing.
After many attempts and failures, and stimulated by the encouragement of many officers high in rank in both the army and navy, he
has succeeded in producing flags of great beauty, durability, and extreme lightness. The manufacture of pendants, signals, and banners
is soon to be added. This company has been from the commencement, and still is, under the management of Mr. D. W. C. Farrington, who is also agent of the company; and to Lowell belongs the
honor of having inaugurated this patriotic and praiseworthy branch
of industry in the United States. This company is also erecting
machinery for the purpose of developing the manufacture of damasks,
moreens, and other worsted fabrics.
In the same locality are also the works of the Wamesit Worsted
Company, which is engaged in the manufacture of fine worsted yarns,
consuming about two hundred thousand pounds of wool annually;
also those of the United States Cartridge Company, which have
recently been established for the manufacture of all kinds of fixed
ammunition for breech-loading guns. These two last companies were
organized in 1868, and are under the management of Mr. D. W. C.
Farrin,gton, who is the agent for all these works.
There is also an individual enterprise at this place entitled to par
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