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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
-7
GO 974.2 At6 1519416
ATLAS
OF THE STATE OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE
INCLUDING STATISTICS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ITS TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, RIVER SYSTEMS, CLIMATOLOGY, RAILROADS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AGRICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL PRODUCTIONS, MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS, ETC.
THE TOPOGRAPHICAL WORK UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
H. F. WALLING, C.E.,
LATE PROFESSOR OF CIVIL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERING IN LAFAYETTE COLLEGE,
AUTHOR OF MAPS AND ATLASES OF MAINE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, CANADA, ETC., ETC.
THE DESCRIPTIVE MATTER COMPILED AND EDITED BY CHARLES H. HITCHCOCK, PH.D.,
PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY IN DARTMOUTH COLLEGE; STATE GEOLOGIST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE; FORMERLY OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MAINE AND OF VERMONT.
PUBLISHED BY COMSTOCK & CLINE, 27 WARREN STREET, NEW YORK.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by JULIUS BIEN, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
ENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY JULIUS BIEN, 16 & 18 PARK PLACE, NEW YORK.
1519416
PREFACE.
A LTHOUGH we cannot assert that the maps of which vur atlas is made up are absolutely correct, or tbat tbey approach this con- dition so nearly as future maps based upon a complete Geodetic Sur- vey may be expected to do, we feel warranted in elaiming that they emhody a very large amount of valuable geographical and topograph- ical information, all indeed which is at present available. At the same time they do not depart so far from strict accuracy as to impair their value for the ordinary uses to which maps are put.
An accurate Geodetical Survey of the State, like those carried on by the Governments of Europe, would far exceed in cost the means of private individuals and must necessarily be executed at the expense of the General or the State Governinent or of both combined. Indeed a combination of this kind has been provided for by Congressionnl Leg- islation, and the United States Coast Survey has for several years car- ried on the preliminary triangulation of a Geodetic Survey with tbe understanding that the State will complete the topographieal part of the work. The execution of this triangulation in the field has been intrusted to Professor E. T. Quimby, of. Dartmouth College.
Considerahle progress had already been made in this work when the construction of the maps contained in this atlas was commenced, and by the kindness of Professor Quimby we wero put in posses- sion of its results so far as completed. We are happy to state in addi- tion that his later results verify the positions we had already ob- tained from other data, for objeets in the vicinity of the inore recently determined trigonometrical stations, to within quite narrow limits of error.
The sources of geodetic information upon which the maps are based are as follows :
First; The United States Coast Survey, already mentioned, whose triangulations up to the time when the projection for this atlas was made included the following points,
Mt. Washington, Kearsarge (North), Passaconaway, Whiteface, Chocorua, Mt. Pleasant (Me), Mt. Independence (Me), Ossipee (Me), Gunstock, Moose, Dartmouth Observatory, Aseutney (Vt), Agamen- ticus (Me), Pawtuccaway, Kearsarge (South), Monadnock, and Hog Island (Isles of Shoals). Stations whieb were more lately occupied are shown upon the sketch map of the Triangulation given on page 43.
These stations make a network of positions, none of which is far. ther than about twenty miles from the one nearest to it. At least five sixths of tbe arca of the State lie south of the latitude of Mt. Wash- ington, the most nortberly of these stations.
Second ; The Trigonometrical Survey of Massachusetts, completed by Simeon Borden, in 1842. This survey determined with accuraey the entire southern boundary of the State of New Hampshire.
Third ; The National Boundary Survey between the United States and Canada, made in 1848, under the Ashburton Treaty. This sur- vey fixes the northern boundary of the State with the same reliable degree of aceuracy attained in the otber two surveys. Mt. Washing- ton is but a little more than fifty miles distant from the nearest point in this survey, which is the nortbeast corner of the State of Vermont.
It will accordingly be found that every point in the State, is within twenty-five miles of some geodetical point fixed by one of the Sur- veys above mentioned, the stations generally being considerably less than this distance from each otber.
For the details of topography we have had recourse to the county maps of the State, the copyrights of which were seenred for that pur- pose. The following list gives the nuthorship, date and scale of each of these maps.
Coös, by H. F. Walling, 1861, Scale 1} miles to 1 inch.
Carroll,
=
1 mile to 1 inch.
Grafton,
14
=
1860,
=
,
Merrimack, =
1858,
= 1} inches to 1 mile.
Sullivan, =
=
1860, =
1
Belknap,
E. M. Woodford,
=
1 inches to 1 mile.
Strafford,
= J. Chace, Jr.,
1856,
"
1
=
=
Hillsborough,"
J. Chace, Jr ..
1858,
=
Rockingham," =
1860,
There is also an atlas of the County of Strafford, by Sanford and Evarts, 1871, giving separate plans of the towns on seales of 120, 160 and 200 rods to an inch.
All these county maps were constructed from traverse surveys of the roads, in which the magnetic compass was used for bearings, and the wheel odometer for distanees. In plotting these surveys, eacb closed circuit afforded a cheek upon tho adjoining ones, so that important errors of survey, indicated by failures to close, were usually detected and corrected.
This is of course a comparatively rude method of representing large arcas upon the earth's surface, but with the aid obtained from the more refined geodetie operations already mentioned the results ob- tained will serve for the uses to which maps are put by most of thoso who use them, and must suffiee in tho absence of tho moro completo and costly work which it is to be hoped the intelligenco and liberality of some future State Legislature will innngurate,
The Contour Lines in the atlas, printed in brown, indiente heights above the level of the sea. Each line is 100 feet higher than tbe noxt lower one, and every fifthi line is dotted, for convenience in eounting. Figures indicating heights are given at convenient places. The height of any loeality in the State can be approximately found by theso lines.
They were drawn by Mr. Upham, under the direction of Professor Hitcheoek, State Geologist. It was found necessary in making geologi- cal cross sections, ete., to obtain the information thus given. Tho immense labor of drawing these contours from the scanty data avail- able, ean hardly be realized by one who has not attempted it. Of eourse they are to a certain extent conjectural, but they afford the best representations attainable at present of the vertical relations of tho surface throughout the area of the State.
Professor Hitcheock's article on the Topography of the State contains n more complete account of the data used in constructing tho maps, with a sketch of the Topographical Literature of the State. There is also an interesting sketch of the River Systems hy Mr. Upham.
Through the kindness of the anthors we are enabled to greatly in- crease the value of our work by the addition of the articles on Geolo. gy, Climate, Botanieal Productions, Railways, Educational Institu- tions, etc.
The List of Cities, Villages and Post Offices with their means of access, population of towns, etc., will be found very convenient for reference. It has been carefully eompiled and itis believed to be full and accurate.
=
Cheshire,
=
L. Fagan,
1858,
CONTENTS.
TOPOGRAPHY.
NY C. H. HITCHCOCK. p. 5
Form, Dimensions and Area of the State; Geographical Position ; Mountainons character; Subdivisions; Connecticut Valley ; Coos and Essex District ; White Mountains Area ; Lake District ; Merrimack Valloy District ; Height along the Principal Watershed ; Coast Slope; Topographienl Maps of the State. GEOLOGY. BY C. H. HITCHCOCK. p. 9
Different Theories of the Geological Structure of the State; Theory of the Author ; Stratigraphical Column ; Previous Geological Surveys; Present Sur- vey; Reports and Maps; Atlantic System; Betblebem Gneiss; Manchester or Lake Range; Montalban or White Mountain Series; Labrador System ; Con- way Granite; Albany Granite; Labrador Feldspars; Upper Compact Feldspar; Syenite; Huronian ; Cambrian ; Mica Schists, Merrimack Group; Coos Group; Clay Siate; Mt. Mote Conglomerates; Silurian ; Surface Geology.
RIVER SYSTEMS.
NY WARREN UPHAM.
Conneeticnt River System ; Merrimack River System; Wiunepiseogee Lake ; Androscoggin River System ; Saco River System ; Piscataqua River System ; Tables of Altitudes.
p. 18
CLIMATOLOGY. BY J. H. HUNTINGTON p. 22
Great Variety in Temperature ; Effect of Forests ; Ozone ; Map (Boe p. 43); Frost-work; Weather at High Altitudes ; Wind and Raiu; Aqueous Precipita- tion ; Diagrams, (see page 21).
DISTRIBUTION OF TREES. NY WILLIAM F. FLINT. p. 26
Contrast in different parts of the State caused by different Temporatures; Forest Trees ; Alpine Flora ; Introduced Planta.
MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. FROM THE U. S. CENSUS OF 1870. p. 28
RAILROADS. BY WARREN UPHAM. p. 29
Railroads built from 1842 to 1853; Second Era from 1868 to present time ; Mt. Washington Railway; Heights determined by Railway Surveys; Statistics. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. p. 32 Statistics of Public Schools from Annual Report 1875, by J. W. Simonds; Sketch of Dartmouth College by Asa D. Smith ; High Schools and Academies, from Annual Stato Report.
LIST OF CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES. .
p. 35
Explanations ; Abbreviations; Names of Railroads ; List of Cities etc.
CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. FROM THE U. S. OENSUS OF 1870.
Population of the United States and Territories in 1860 and 1870; Population of the principal Cities of the United States in 1860 and 18703
p. 38
MAPS
MAPS OF THE STATE.
Map to illustrate Trigonometrical Survey,
Climatology,
64 Geology,
44,45
Chesbire
4
44 Soils,
Distribution of Trees, 46
Hillsborough County,
80, 81
Map of the United States,
Rockingbam
84,85
=
New England States,
CITY MAPS. 70
Coos County,
Manchester,
79
Carroll
60,61
Nashua,
82
64,65
Dover,
83
68,69
Portsmouth,
pp. 72, 78 74
Sullivan =
p. 13
43
Belknap
75
76, 77
46
Strafford 78
. 48, 49
52, 53
Keene,
COUNTY MAPS.
Concord,
71
Grafton 4
" New Hampshire and Vermont,
56,57
Merrimack County,
86
TOPOGRAPHY.
BY CHARLES HENRY HITCHCOCK,
STATE GEOLOGIST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
"THE general shape of the territory of New Hampshire is that of a scalenc, almost a rigbt-angled triangle,-baving tbe perpen- dicular one hundred and eighty, and the hase seventy-five miles long. From the crown monument, at the extreme north point, to the south-east corner of Pelbam, at the most southern extension, the distance is one hun- dred and cighty miles,-the length of the perpendicular. The longest distance that can be measured in the state is from the crown monument to the south-west corner, a dis- tance of one hundred and ninety miles, and this line would he the hypothenuse of the triangle. The greatest width of the state is from Chesterfield to the outer island of the Isles of Shoals, a distance of one hundred miles. To the outermost projection of Rye from Chesterfield, the distance is seven miles less. At Colebrook, the width of the state is only twenty miles. It embraces 9,392 square miles.
New Haoipshire is bounded north hy the province of Quebec, east hy the state of Maine, south-east by the Atlantic ocean and Essex county, Mass., west and north-west chiefly by the state of Vermont. and partially hy Quebec. It lies between 70° 37' and 72º 37' longitude west from Greenwich, and he- tween 42° 40' and 45° 18' 23" north latitude.
Our territory posseses a mountainous char- acter, much more so tban the average among the states along the Atlantic slope of the con- tinent. It is situated about a third of tbe way from the nortb-eastern end of the Atlan- tic system to the south-western extremity of tbe cbain. Viewed as a whole, there are two culminating points in this system. The land rises gradually from the ocean level in tbe Gulf St. Lawrence till the apex of the Wbite Mountains is reached. Then it falls to tbe Hudson river, reaching the ocean level along that valley. From this line it ascends to the mountains in western North Carolina, whence the land descends to the Gulf of Mexico.
More particularly, there is n mountainous ridge following the eastern rim of the Con- necticut river basin entirely through the state. On the east the country is low, scarcely rising above five hundred feet for three-fourths of the area outside of the foot hills of the White Mountains. These mountains occupy nearly all the space east of the western ridge to the Maine line, for a distance north and south of about thirty-three miles. This district is mostly wooded, very mountainous,and scarce- ly inhabited. Deep transverso valleys divide tbe White Mountains proper from a similar triangular area between the Androscoggin and Connecticut rivers. There is a tbird mountainous district half way through Coos county, and tbe fourtb and last along the ex-
treme northern houndary. On the other side of the Connecticut there is a similar elevated country, constituting the sparsely settled dis- trict of Essex county, Vt.
The state may he divided into six topo- graphical districts.
1. HYDROGRAPHIC BASIN OF THE CONNEC- TICUT RIVER, leaving the main valley at Bar- net, and continuing up the Passumpsic to its source.
2. Hilly district of the principal portions of Coos COUNTY, N. II., and ESSEX COUNTY, VT.
3. WHITE MOUNTAIN AREA.
4. WINNIPISEOGEE LAKE BASIN.
5. MERRIMACK RIVER BASIN, wedging into the White Mountain area.
6. THE ATLANTIC SLOPE IN STRAFFORD AND ROCKINGHAM COUNTIES.
I. THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY. The limits assigned to this district differ from the exact area drained hy the waters of the bydro- grapbic system of the Connecticut. Owing to the presence of a prominent mountain ridge six or seven miles hack from the river, the proper valley lies in the western part of the east side of the basin. This houndary corres- ponds, also, with that of the distinctive agri- cultural and geological character of the dis- trict. In general, it follows on the east, the ridge of slaty or quartzose hills from Winches- ter to Benton, and thence the eastern line of the Connecticut basin to Carroll; tbence it con- tinues down the John's river valley to the Connecticut in Dalton, crosses over the Con- cord, Vt. ridge to the eastern line of the Pas- sumpsic river basin, which it follows around to Newark, Sheffield and Cahot. From here tbe line coincides with the west horder of tbe Connecticut basin to Washington, Vt .; thence it proceeds west of south directly to Proctors- ville, Vt. Here it turns back sharply to tbe south-west corner of Hartford, wbence it pro- ceeds again nearly in a right line west of soutb to the Massachusetts line in Halifax, Vt. This area comprises about 3,200 square miles, and it is the best agricultural district east of the Green Mountains.
II. COOS AND ESSEX DISTRICT. This lies at the extreme north of the area of our ex- plorations. It is all mountainous, sparsely settled, largely covered with forests, yet con- taining many tracts of great fertility. It is tbe most diversified of all the topographical districts. The main water-sbed of New Hampshire passes through the middle por- tion from Randolph to Mt. Carmel ; and, in Essex county, there is a aimilar ridge from Lunenburg to the state line. The Grand Trunk Railway passes through the lowest line of depression that cnn he found in thia area. Commencing at the boundary of Que-
hec and Vermont, with 1,232 fect elevation above the sea, it rises to 1,357 feet at Norton, and thence descends to Connecticut river at North Stratford, which is 915 feet. Follow- ing the river down to Groveton, there may ho a fall of twenty feet. The road proceeds up the Upper Ammonoosuc, attaining 1,080 feet at Milan water-station. Thenco it descends to the Androscoggin valley, passing into Maine with an altitudo of 713 feet.
There are two prominent lines of depres- sion, running in a northi-easterly direction, in the Coos region. The first follows thio An- droscoggin, from Shelhurno to Umhagog Inke, 713 to 1,256 feet ; the second follows the Con- necticut river, from 830 feet at Dalton to 1, 619 feet at Connecticut lake, and thionce to 2,146 feet at the gap above the source of the Connecticut. All the rest of this district is more elovated than these threo lines of de- pression.
III. WHITE MOUNTAIN AREA. The White Mountains of New Hampshire cover an area of 1,270 square miles, hounded by tbo state line on the east, the Androscoggin river and the Grand Trunk Rnilway on the north-east and north, tbe Connecticut rivor valley, or an irregulnr line from Northumberland to War- ren, on the west, the less olevated rogion of Baker's river on the south-west, the Peuige- wasset river and the lake district on the south. The Pemigewasset valley makes a prominent notch in it in Thornton and Woodstock. The Saco river cuts the Whito Mountains into nearly equal parts ;- and it may be conven- ient sometimes to speak of what lies ou thie east and the west sides of this atream.
The mountains may be grouped in ten sub- divisions. 1. Mt. Starr King group. 2. Mt. Carter group. 3. Mt. Washington range, with a Jackson branch. 4. Cherry Mountain district. 5. Mt. Willey range. 6. Mts. Car- rigain and Osceoln group. 7. Mt. Passacon- naway range. 8. Mts. Twin and Lafayette group. 9. Mts. Moosilauke and Profile di- vision. 10. Mt. Pequawket area. Divisions 2 and 3 may be termed " Waumbek " for convenience, and divisions 5, 6, and 8 may receive the name of " Pemigowasset."
Considered as a whole, the main rango would commence with l'ine mountain in Gorham, follow the Mt. Washington ridge, cross the Saco below Mt. Webstor, and con- tinue south-westerly by Nancy mountain, Mt. Carrigain, Mt. Osceola, and terminate in Welch mountain in Waterville. Another considerable range may be said to commence with the Sugar Loaves in Carroll and Betli- lehem, and continue westerly by the Twin mountains, Lafayette, Profile, Kinsman, and Moosilauke. A third of some consequence might embrace the Carter range, with Iron
6
TOPOGRAPHY.
inountain in Bartlett. These mountain groups differ mucli in geological character, age, and marked topographical features.
MT. WASHINOTON RANOE. The main range of Mt. Washington extends from Gor- ham to Bartlett, ahout twenty-two miles. The culminating point is central, with a deep gulf towards Gorham, a slope on the north, formed partially hy the westerly Mt. Deception range, which aleo produces the hroad Am- monoosuc valley on the west, in connection with the axial linc of eummits, On the south there are two principal valleys, the more wes- terly occupying the depression of Dry or Mt. Washington river, and the easterly passing down the slope of Rocky branch, which trav- els easterly near its termination, eo as to he parallel with the Saco in Bartlett. Starting with the Androscoggin valley, the range commences in the low Pine mountain. In the south-east corner of Gorham this is in- tereected hy the pass of the Pinkham road between Randolph and the Glen house. Next, the land rises rapidly to the top of Mt. Mad- ison, 5,400 feet. The range now curves wes- terly, passing over the summits of Adams, Jefferson, and Clay. The gap between Clay and Washington is the best place to hehold the deep abyss in which the west branch of Peabody river takes its rise. From Wash- ington, one can easily discern the east rim of the Great Gulf, for upon it is located the car- riage-road to the Glen house. From the lake of the Clouds, and the eminence south of Tuckerman's ravine to Madison, it is easy to imagine the area an elevated plateau,-of which Bigelow'e lawn is a portion,-out of which Washington may rise 800 feet. On the east of Washington, two deep ravines have heen excavated,-Tuckerman'e and Huntington's. The first runs easterly, and holds the head waters of Ellis river ; the sec- ond runs parallel to the first and contains one of the tributaries of Peahody river.
Fig. I sketches the east side of Mt. Wash- ington, from Thompson'e falls, in the Carter range, south of the Glen house.
Washington. Mt. Washington itself rises ahove the plateau a little to the right of the centre of the sketch. The projection between the two ravines is known as Davis'e Spur.
Past Mt. Washington the main range de- scends to the pass of the Lake of the Clouds, -the source of the Ammonoosuc river,-5, 000 feet high, The first mountain is Monroe -a double, ragged peak scarcely ever visit- ed, the road passing around it. Next follow in order Mts. Franklin, Pleasant, Clinton, Jackson, and Webster. The gaps between all these are small. Mt. Pleasant may he recognized by its dome shape. Fig. 2 will give a good idea of the ranges as seen from near the White Mountain house in Carroll. The last peak on the right is a fragment of Jackson. It lies a little hack from the line ; and the road to Crawford's lies in front of it.
Fig. 3. MT. WASHINGTON, FROM NEAR FABYAN'S.
The valley in front is the broad hasin of the Ammonoosuc ; and the lower slopes of the Deception range on the left. Mt. Webster is a long mountain with precipitous flank on the side towards the Saco. It is directly op- posite the Willey house. It is one of the main features of the notch.
The east flank of the mountains, from Monroe to Webster, is washed by the power- ful Mt. Washington river, which forms the central line of Cutt'e grant,heading in Oakes's gulf. It is the proper continuation of the Saco valley, its source heing several miles farther away than the small pond near Craw- ford's. In dry seasons the water may he low, which faet, in connection with a hroad, gravelly expanse of decom- posed granite near the lower end of the valley, gave rise to the early appellation of "Dry river."
IV. LAKE DISTRICT. This con- sists largely of the hydrographic hasin of Winnipiseogee lake, with sandy plains carrying the tributa- ries of the Saco. It is normally a plain with four isolated mountain masses imposed upon it. These are the Gunstock and Belknap mountaine, Red hill, Ossipee mountains and the Green mountain in Effingham, All these mountains are composed of igneous material, which seems to have been poured out over an uneven floor of rocks deposited in the Montalban period.
V. THE MERRIMACK VALLEY DISTRICT. This includes more than the hydrographic hasin on the west, and less on the northi. It
is hounded hy the White inountains on the north, extending as far as Woodstock in the valley; on the north-east by the Lake dis- triet, which extende close to the Pemigewas- set in Ashland; on the east hy the coast elope ; slightly on the south-east and entirely on the eouth by Massachusetts ; on the west hy the Connecticut valley district, or, more exactly, the eastern boundary of the Cooe quartzite. It may well represent the average physical appearance of New Hampshire, con- sisting of numerous hills and mountains, mostly cultivahle, interspersed with sandy plains, alluvial flats, and entirely underlaid hy gneissie or granitic rocks. It is much the largest of the topographieal districts. There are only two marked topographical divisions of this tract,-the double mountainous range along the western horders, and the Merrimack valley.
HEIOHTS ALONG THE PRINCIPAL WATER- SHED OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. The main wa- ter-shed of New Hampshire runs nearly par- allel to Connecticut river, and in faet forins the eastern rim of that hydrographic haein. It is of special importance to one studying the topography of the state, and for that reason is given here as fully as possible.
From near the north corner of the state to Mt. Washington, this line skirts the Androscoggin hasin, It horders the Saco waters only from Mt. Washington to Mt. Field. From here to Massachusetts the line agrees with the west border of the Mer- rimack system. The line may be divided into three sections: First, averaging 2,000 feet elevation to the base of Mt. Madison. Second, the White Mountain division from Madison to Moosilauke, averaging nearly 4,000 feet. Third, the portion from Warren to Massachusetts, averaging about 1,500 feet. The lowest point in the northern section is at the Milan summit on the Grand Trunk Railway, 1,087 feet. The lowest point in the White Mountain line is at the notch, 1,914 feet. The Franconia notch is nearly the same, heing 2,014 feet. The lowest point in the entire line is at the Orange summit of the Northern Railroad, 990 feet, The next low- est point is at Warren, 1,063 feet. It is fol- lowed hy the railroad cut at Milan, 1,087, and at Newbury, 1,16I feet, for the natural surface of the ground. Two projected rail- way lines cross the southern section, with the height of 1,560 feet in Stoddard, and of 1,265 at Harrisville.
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