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 ANVD ITS TRIBUTA.,IES.
wings of commerce spread upon its bosom, nor is it a vast stream of
filthy fluid upon which thousands are transported daily by means
of high-pressure engines; but it is believed to be one of the most
conspicuous illustrations in the whole range of nature of a grand
Lnd generous combination of the useful and ornamental. This river
is nearly two hundred and sixty miles long by its course, and is
peculiarly symmetrical in its entire extent; its waters are naturally
incomparably pure and transparent; and its whole career, from the
towering mountains where it takes its rise, to the boundless ocean, is
a continual succession of silver cascades, sparklling ripples, broad,
calm, inirror-like waters, or romantic, majestic, and useful waterfalls.
The principal value of this river is centred in its grand falls or
mill privileges, which in the main stream and very many of its tributaries are quite numerous.
Although it has been said truly that these falls give the MIerrimack its principal importance, still it by no means comprehends its
complete list of capabilities or usefulness; for, in addition to the
many and various other purposes for which it is used, nearly ten
million feet of round lumber are annually carried by this convenient
hig,hway beyond the limits of the State, in addition to what is moved
from the timber section to intermediate places in the State, there to
be wroulght and fashioned by the buzzing saw and( keen-edged plane,
aided by busy and cunning hands, into every description of building
stock, and useful and ornamental wood-work of every conceivable
variety. Thus it may be said that this river presents that rare combination of use and attractiveness along its whole course which renders it, par excellence, the most magnificent stream in the world.
Other rivers have their grand and remarkable features, famous falls,
sublime to look upon, even grand beyond description; but here the
record of their qualities terminates. Others receive the homage due
to their enormous size, and, though ships may spread their canvas
on their surface, still their waters are a sort of filthy mud gruel in
appearance and consistence, and are, besides, throughout their whole
extent an insatiate graveyard,'- a paradise for alligators.
Of the great rivers of the world the St. Lliwrence is unquestionably the purest, the most picturesque and romantic, and conveys,
perhaps, the larg,est tribute to the never-sated ocean; but here its
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