ture their own apparel and some for their neighbors. Population, 1830, 1,119.
Sachem’s Head, Ct.
See Guilford.
Saco River,
Is one of the largest in New England; yet being much broken in its course by falls, is not naviga- ble to any considerable extent. It springs from three sources in the White mountains; the branch is- suing from the southwest side of the mountains, near the Notch, is considered the main stream; next to this is the middle branch, which is the smallest; and beyond is the branch called Ellis’s river, which rises on the northeast side of the mountains,. and after a course of about eighteen miles, unites with the main branch in the town of Bartlett. Cutler’s andNewriveTS are mountain torrents that discharge into the Ellis. The Ammonoosuck, a branch of the Connecticut, rises within about two rods of the Saco, flowing in an opposite direction. The whole length of Saco river is estimated to be 160 miles; running in its general course S.. S. E., and. discharging into the sea in N. lati- tude 43° 3U, W. longitude 70° 26'. The principal falls are, the Great Falls, at Hiram, where the water descends 72 feet; Steep Falls, at Limington, 20 feet; Salmon Falls, at Hollis and Buxton, 30 feet; and Saco Falls, 42 feet. The latter are about 4 miles from the mouth of the river. The ordinary rise of the water, in the spring, is from 10 to 15 feet, hut in great freshets it has been known greatly to ex- ceed that number. A long storm which occurred in October, 1785, raised the river to an immense height, sweeping away mills and bridges, and inundating houses that stood in its vicinity. Ial814, there was the greatest freshet known since that of 1785. At such sea- 31 sons the appearance of Saco Falls is truly sublime. |
Saco, Me.
York co. Saco is situated on the east side of the river of that name. It is 71 miles S. S. W. from Au- gusta, 15 S. W. from Portland, and 29 N. E. from York.
Saco is a port of entry, a place of some ship building, and commands a flourishing trade. Population, 1830, 3,219; 1837, 4,229.
Saco enjoys the rare privilege of possessing a great hydraulic pow- er united with navigable accommo- dations. The Saco river termin- ates its fantastic course at this place, by leaping, within a short distance, 42 feet, and mingling with the ocean. This water power is very valuable, and cannot fail of becom- ing the site of large manufacturing operations.
From the mouth of the river a fine- beach extends to the east about 5 miles, called Old Orchard beach. This name arose from a gfowth of apple trees formerly near the beach, planted at a vory early period; some of them remained as late as 1770. Another beach of less exr tent, but not inferior in other re- spects, is found at the Pool, con- necting Fletcher’s Neck with the main, and forming the south shore of that peninsula. Its distance from the Falls is about 9 miles.
The small streams by which dif- ferent parts of Saco are watered, generally derive their origin from an immense bog, commonly called the Heath, and .flow into the river and sea. On one of these, Fox- well’s brook, there is a fine water- fall, with a descent of about sixty feet, surrounded by scenery of a wil<j and striking character.
The lumber trade has long been the principal branch of business on Saco river. In early times, the mills were supplied with logs from the forests in the vicinity of the Falls: in tbe former part of the last |