RIVERS IN NEW-HAMPSHIRE.    591

From Franklin the Merrimack runs through or touches the
towns of Northfield, Boscawen, Canterbury, Concord, Bow, Pem-
broke, Hooksett, Goffstown, Manchester, Bedford, Londonderry,
Merrimack, Litchfield, Hudson and Nashua, to Massachusetts
line, seventy-eight miles; thence, in a north-easterly course, thirty-
five miles, to the Atlantic, at Newbury port.

Its principal tributaries, in New-Hampshire, are Contoocook,
which discharges its waters on the north line of Concord ; Soucook,
between Concord and Pembroke ; Turkey River, in Bow; Suncook,
at Pembroke ; Piscataquog, in Manchester ; the Souhegan in Mer-
rimack ; and the Nashua, at Nashua.

The large basin of this river extends from the gorges of the
white and Franconia Mountains, on the north, through the centre
of the State, to its southerly boundary, and reaches nearly to the
eastern and western limits of the State. It drains, in New-Hamp-
shire, about 2,293,000 acres, or 3,582 square miles, the waters com-
ing from a part or the whole of 130 towns. As it has been said,
while nature has not endowed this basin abundantly with fertile
soils and precious minerals, she has lifted its surface into succes-
sions of hills, and in places, into lofty peaks, which condense
the vapor of the atmosphere into clouds, and cause them to yield
frequent and copious showers. These numerous hills with their
interlying valleys, and broad lakes, elevated above the ocean, are
the gatherers and dispensers, continuously, of unmeasured powers
which the skill of man may put in place of animal strength and
muscle, and make subservient to the comfort and wealth of the
community.

The utilized water power of the Merrimack and its tributaries
amounts to over 37,500 horse power, and although the area of this
basin is only a little over one third of the State, it contains over
170,000 inhabitants, or over one half its population. Not any
more than one half of the available water power is now used.
There are fine privileges on the Merrimack, at Hooksett, Garven’s
Falls between Bow and Pembroke, and Sewell’s Falls, in Concord ;
Babboosuc Falls, on the Souhegan, in the town of Merrimack ; in
Hillsborough and Henniker, on the Contoocook; at Franklin,
Northfield, Tilton, and Gilford, on the Winnipiseogee, besides
many other powers, on its various tributaries, too numerous to
mention. There are, on the banks of this beautiful river, the cities
of Concord, Manchester, and Nashua, in New-Hampshire, and