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 AND ITS TRPIBUTAPRIES.
respects only her simple child; while on the other, appeared her
stern and determined master, compelling her to yield of her generous
but yet unmeasured bounty a supply for all his wants and comforts.
Civilization found this beautiful river, with its expansive border
of timber and fuel trees only useless cumberers of the ground; the
broad, alluvial intervals untilled and unproductive except in malaria,
noxious weeds, and venomous reptiles; the numberless waterfalls
along its course and that of its many tributaries entirely-unimproved;
the great and now famous places, such as Pawtucket and Namoskeag,
a desert waste, - those unsurpassed water-powers being simply
Indian eel-pots,- while the pellucid current of the river itself was
but a highway or thoroughfare for migratory tribes of fishes, and
roving, unsettled tribes of savages,-a kind of grand trunk road
connecting with the great principal trails at the grand junction, the
Winnipesaukee, leading from MAlaine and the provinces, down through
New Hampshire, to the confederate tribes located upon its lower
waters in Massachusetts.
They found this beautiful river stretching its magnificent proportions from the convocation of towering, cloud-capped summits on the
north, directly through the centre of New Hampshire, dividing the
State into two nearly equal parts, pouring over the border and rolling on through a considerable extent of the sister State of MLassachusetts; there dropping the generous tribute of its collected waters into the
broad bosom of the mighty deep; and they recognized in the quality
of transparcnt and unsurpassed purity which it possessed the elements of health and beauty. In the majestic falls they discerned a
mine of wealth richer that Ophir, and as enduring and inexhaustible
as time itself. In the liberal volume of its current they saw there
was a mighty power, which, under efficient management and control,
was sufficient to force away the incubus which hung upon the water
and the land, and whirl the wheels of progress and prosperity with
busy, pleasant hum.
The first partial survey of the Merrimack River disclosing its
inestimable value and importance for manufacturing purposes, it may,
perhaps, be said, cast the die. From this time forth the red man
made his compulsory bow to the inexorable logic of events,.and facing
westward with steady advance, - his speed frequently accelerated
by the uncomfortable and dangerous proximity of his exterminator,
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