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 AYID ITS TRIBUTARIE9S.
the inverltor. as well as a great labor-saving machine and improvenient iii the manufiacture of knit over and under garments.
Frlanklin is the terminus of the Bristol Branch Railroad. The
Ncorthern Railroad - Concord to'White River Junction - passes
throtugh thie town, and, as the road is above the roofs of many of
the 1houses. the attention of the passenger is arrested in passing
through it, and in those who are constitutionally timid a slight nervousness is liable to be superinduced.
Arriving at tile forks of the Merrimiack, the topography and condition of the country present so marked a difference from that at its
souirce as to at oice arrest atttentioli. Broad intervals and gently
uniluladting, uplands iln l high state of cultivation, in richest verdure clad, betoken an excellent soil and a thrifty and industrious
fairying conimunity. Thus pleasantly located is the enterprising
village of Franklin, about one-fourth of a mile from the forks of the
Merrimaclk.
hIere at the forks the bony shad and the sinewy salmon, in the
palmny days of the migraltory tribes, parte( company; the former
takingi the dark, tep)id waters of the lalke the latter the cool, bright
current of the Pemi gewasset, whose couttless cascades and cataracts,
and rurnmling. tumlbling, foaming falls affor(led( this unequalled fish
the element ti prei:rire(l, ant the exercise in which he so much delilghted. Ptittillg ilis great strength and agility ag.ainst the resisting
power ci t re rl!(l current. he headed towards its source among the
mouitains. whi,ere. like other setsil)le beiii,gs, in the secluded retreat
of the pure. coltl pools. (I;irkened hy the shadows of the great surroun;ding I,no, titaiiis and(t forests, hlie passed(l the dog-star period in
SCcl.rity. colmfort, an,d repose. Shiootin-g wvith the velocity of an
arrow across the boiling, turbulent waters of the falls, he regained
hlis summer residlence from year to year, until shut out from the
land or water of his nativity by the impassable barrier at Law
rence.
13
97.