coos.    399

if located in the southern portion of the State, would be called
grand and lofty, but the towering peak of Mount Washington
eclipses their magnitude in this locality.

Mountainous regions, in any country, are generally considered no
more than a barren waste, but these are an exception to the general
rule in this country. For nearly three months, through the sum-
mer, nearly every mountain pass is teeming with human life. Here
among these mountains have been reared some of the largest hotels
in the country, which, in elegance of finish and magnitude, would
vie with any city on the globe. Here are represented all the style
and fashion of society, from the belles of New-York and Boston,
to the tidy waiter girls of Coos, who pass them their savory dishes;
from the millionaire and man of fashion to the simple fisherman,
with his basket on his shoulders, and rod in hand, or the bold
mountaineer with his braded staff and hook, ready to scale the
steeps and brave the dangers of the lofty mountain sides. The num-
ber of people who visit these mountains and vicinity, through the
season, is estimated at not less than 20,000, making a constant
population, including help, of 8,000 from two to three months.
The amount derived from this source alone is not less than $ 1,
000,000, and these mountains are oi|jnore value to the county, than
are the rich meadow lands on the Connecticut.

Most of the ungranted lands are within the limits of the county,
viz. Dartmouth College, Gilmanton and Atkinson Academies;
Wentworth’s Location, Crawford’s Grant; also Carlisle No. 1,
Webster No. 2, and Hubbard’s No. 3.

Rivers and Lakes. The Androscoggin and its tributaries water
its north-eastern portion; the Connecticut and its branches, the
most important of which are Hall’s, Indian, Mohawk, Upper Am-
monoosuc, Israel’s and John’s rivers, water the western portion,
while branches of the Saco and Lower Ammonoosuc water the
southern part. A large portion of Umbagog Lake lies in the east-
ern section, and the chain of Connecticut Lakes lies in the north-
ern section of the county, and they are the most important bodies
of water. Much of the water power remains unimproved. The
improved horse water power is 4,449.

Boundaries. North-west and north by Canada, east by Maine,
south by Carroll and Grafton counties, and west by Vermont. It
contains 26 towns, five of which were incorporated in the reign of
George III,, and the remainder by the State government. Incor*