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 MERRIMUACi' RIVER;
As Franconia is the coolest locality in the United States in the
summer, so it is in the winter; and whenever a severe cold term
occurs, the telegraph invariably flashes the state of the thermometer
at Franconia all over the land. Holton and Marquette, on Lake
Superior, and St. Paul, Minnesota, often exhibit a great depression of
temperature; but when looking for forty degrees below, where the
temperature is of such intensity that the limbs of trees snap with a
continuous rattle like a fusilade of small fire-arms, while the earth,
and even the rocks, contract with reports resembling heavy siege
artillery, by the terrible, frigid severity of the atmosphere, then it
is that Franconia's bitter and appalling polar temperature figures
almost invariably a trifle lower than any other locality.
Lincoln is the next town following the river to Franconia, and is
very rough and mountainous. There being but a small portion of
tillage land, the town is sparsely settled. Directly under the shadow
of the great Franconia Peaks, it is subject to frosts late in spring and
early in the autumn; consequently the cultivation of such products
as are most affected by this cause is generally abandoned.
Kinsman's Mountain is so steep that it is seamed with slides which
have furrowed deep channels in its sides from summit to base. The
greater portion of the town is yet a wilderness, and bears, deer, and
other smaller game abound.
In WAoodstock, formerly Peeling, is the junction of the three
branches of the Pemigewasset.
The general topographical appearance of this town is the same as
Lincoln.
There are four or five large ponds, the streams from which afford
numerous mill-privileges, and are generally used for saw-mills and
such purposes, and furnish excellent trouting.
The great lumber companies of the lower Merrimack, whose headquarters are at Lowell, have obtained an immense quantity of lumber
from this town, often employing in the timber forests as many as a
hundred and fifty men, who use this most useful and convenient
river for the conveyance of the lumber. Some ten million feet are
annually carried beyond ttie limits of the State.
There is a large cave'here, sufficiently commodious to contain
several hundred people, which is called the Ice house, from the fact
that ice is obtained in it all through the summer. The walls of the
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