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Rivers.

The chief rivers of this State are the Saco, Androscoggin, Kennebeck, Penobscot, St. John, and St. Croix. These, with their numerous branches, some of which form considerable rivers of themselves, water the whole State, except a comparatively small proportion which, stretching along the sea coast, is watered by smaller rivers extending but little distance into the country, and sustaining comparatively no very important relation to the mass of the interior territory, the design and limits of this work will not admit any special notice of them. The principal rivers of this description are the Piscataqua, Mousum, Kennebunk, Presumpscot, Sheepscot, Damariscotta, Muscongus, St. George, Union, Narraguagus, Machias, with many lesser ones.

Some notice of the larger rivers occurs incidentally in the preceding descriptions of their great vallies or basins, and their local position, with that of their tributary streams, as well as of the smaller rivers, will be better understood by consulting the Map, than by any written description. A more particular, though brief, description of some of them however, will be

necessary.

The Saco rises in the White Mountains in New-Hampshire, and descending thence to Conway, it enters this State at Fryeburgh, and after winding in its course about 30 miles within that town, and approaching within two miles of the placew here it first enters, it proceeds south-easterly to the sea, which it reaches at the distance, in a direct line, of about 45 miles, The current of this river is in some parts gentle, affording convenient passage for boats ascending for short distances, but it is frequently interrupted by falls and rapids, so that it cannot be made navigable for any considerable extent, without great expense. It meets the tide at the foot of the great falls between the towns of Saco and Biddeford, from which it is navigable for ships of small size, about 5 miles to the sea. The

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principal use made of this river has been for the transportation of logs, of which immense quantities are annually floated to the market, and for the driving of mills. Its numerous falls afford many excellent mill sites, and a vast amount of water power for manufacturing purposes. Its principal branches are the Kezer, Great Ossipee, and Little Ossipee Rivers, the two latter of which rise in New-Hampshire. The territory watered by the Saco and its branches within the State, contains about 650 square miles.

The Androscoggin rises in the highlands at the north-western boundary of the State, near the sources of the Chaudiere, thence descending through a succession of lakes it turns into New-Hampshire at Errol, from whence it proceeds southerly to Shelburne, and there turning suddenly east, it re-enters Maine at Gilead; thence it proceeds east to Jay, and there bends again to the south, and continues generally in that direction until it unites with the Kennebeck below Topsham, at Merrymeeting Bay. The whole course of this river, from its source to the tide at Topsham, is broken by rapids and falls, some of which are of great height, particularly Pennicook falls, in the lower part of Rumford, the perpendicular descent of which in the course of one mile is estimated to be nearly 300 feet. These falls and rapids entirely prevent any extensive use of the river for transportation except of logs and other timber descending; but many of them afford excellent mill sites, some of which are already extensively occupied.

The principal branches of this river are the Magalloway, which unites with it at Errol, Bear River at Newry, Ellis' at Rumford, Swift at Mexico, Webb's at Dixfield, Dead at East Livermore, Twenty Mile at Turner, Little Androscoggin at Danville, and Little River at Lisbon. The extent of territory within this State, which supplies the waters of this river and its various branches, is about 3300 square miles.

The Kennebeck takes its rise in the same general range of highlands with, and but a little to the northward of, the Andro

scoggin; its two principal sources, the Dead and Moosé rivers, pursuing different courses until they unite their waters about 20 miles below Moosehead Lake. Properly speaking the river bears the name of Kennebeck only from the outlet of Moosehead Lake. From this place it descends in various courses, but its general direction nearly south, with a current generally strong, and in many places obstructed by rocky rapids, and abrupt falls, which render its navigation of little use for the passage of boats or rafts, to Skowheagan falls between Broomfield and Milburn. From the foot of the rapids below these falls the river at times admits of the transportation of rafts to the tide at Augusta, but the passage is in some places attended with difficulty and hazard, especially at Ticonic falls between Waterville and Winslow. From Ticonic falls the river is navigable for flat boats to Augusta, where it meets the tide. From Augusta it is navigable for vessels of 100 tons, and from Hallowell and Gardiner for merchant vessels of any ordinary size to the sea.

The principal branches of the Kennebeck, besides those already mentioned as its sources, are Seven-Mile-Brook, which enters it at Anson, Sandy River at Starks, Wesserunset at Millburn, Emerson's Stream at Waterville, Sebasticook at Wins→ low, Cobbisseconte at Gardiner, and Eastern River at Dresden. These, and many other smaller branches, afford facilities for the transportation of lumber, and abound with innumerable mill-sites; and some of them, with the lakes and ponds with which they are connected, will at some future day, when their natural obstacles shall be overcome by locks and canals, furnish means of extensive internal communications.

What is known respecting the elevation and general declivity of this river, is stated at page 60 and sequel. The territory included in its whole basin, is about 5280 square miles.

The principal sources of the Penobscot take their rise in places widely distant from each other, from the eastern to the western borders of the State. The main river, or great west

branch, as it is called, rises in two branches, distinguished as the south-west and north-west branches; the former of which rises in the highlands which form the north-western boundary of the State, near the sources of Du Loup and Moose rivers; the latter in the same range of highlands, near the sources of La Famine and the south-west branch of the St. John. These two branches, descending with great rapidity for about 30 miles, unite in township No. 2-4th range; thence proceeding with less velocity in general, but passing over steep falls and long rapids, near the head of Moose-Head Lake; after which, the river passes with a more moderate current about 20 miles, to Chesuncook Lake, a fine sheet of water about 18 or 20 miles in length, and from 2 to 3 miles wide.

*

Another principal source of the great west branch is the Kahkoguamook, which rises in a swamp or morass, which gives rise also to the south branch of the Walloostook. The Kahkoguamook descends in general rather moderately, but in some places rapid, for about 30 miles, in the course of which it passes through several lakes and ponds, and discharges into the Chesuncook at the north-west extremity of that Lake.

The Umbazukscus is a small sluggish stream, discharging into the Kahkoguamook at its northern side near its entrance into the Chesuncook. This stream is distinguished only as it rises near the source of the Allagash, and forms the channel of communication between that river and the Penobscot, the waters of which are separated only by a low portage of about two miles..

From the Chesuncook the river precipitates itself down a steep fall into the small Lake Nolangamoik, and from thence over a succession of falls and strong rapids, and passing through the Lakes Umbojeejoos, Bamedumpcook, Wallenipteweekeek, and Quakis, it proceeds south-easterly with considerable rapidity to Nicketou, or the Grand Forks, where it unites with the main east branch of the river.

* Called by the surveyors under the treaty of Ghent ; "Black River,"

The east branch rises among the highlands in the rear of Mount Katahdin, and near the south-western sources of the Aroostook, and proceeding south-easterly about 30 miles, it meets with the Seboois, which takes its rise in a lake within about 3 miles of the main south-west branch of the Aroostook, at a considerable distance from the source of that river. The Seboois runs nearly due south to its junction with the main east branch. After receiving the Seboois, this branch proceeds nearly south. In a few miles it receives from the west the Wassataquoik which issues from the northern side of the Katahdin, and proceeding in the same direction about 25 miles, it terminates in the main river at Nicketou. The general current of this branch is strong and in some places rapid and interrupted by falls, but less so than the west branch.

From Nicketou the river proceeds nearly south-east nearly 12 miles to the Madawamkeag, in which distance it receives Salmon Stream and several smaller branches on the eastern side, and includes several small islands.

The Madawamkeag is the principal north-eastern branch of the Penobscot. It takes its rise in the vicinity of the waters of the St. John, and in its course passes within a very few miles of the lakes of the St. Croix, which form a part of the eastern boundary of the State. The current of this river, for long distances, is very moderate; in some few places it is obstructed by falls and rapids; but, with the exception of a few short portages, it affords a passage with little difficulty, for loaded boats ascending to within 20 miles of Houlton on the eastern frontier.

From the Madawamkeag the river runs nearly south-west about 25 miles to the mouth of the Piscataquis, and thence southerly about 20 miles to Old-Town falls, at the ancient Indian village of that name. In this distance it embraces about 110 islands of different descriptions and sizes, some of which are large, and most of them excellent land. The banks in general are low, the current in most places smooth and mod

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