SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 32^ 



have been brought to notice at so late a day, and after so many 

 persons have emigrated westward. In our estimation the nortlicrn 

 portions of Maine are more attractive as settling lands than the 

 prairies of the West. We do not know the limits of this fertile 

 tract in Franklin county. We presume it is about equal to the 

 area of twenty townships, each six miles square, or seven hundred 

 and twenty square miles. Upon the lakes west of Rangely the 

 soil is poorer, or like the average further south. 



On the road from Rangely lake to Indian rock the ledges are 

 seen at a saw-mill to dip south-easterly. The rock is a talco-mica- 

 ce.ous schist, similar to that seen at the Canada line in Somerset 

 county. Indian rock is a ledge of similar character, only more 

 soft and talcose, appearing in general to dip northerly. But it is 

 made up of strata contorted in a wonderful manner. The ledge is 

 full of small anticlinals and synclinals ; and it is no wonder that it 

 is visited by the curious, on account of these bent layers. Whether 

 the Indians admired these convolutions is a matter of doubt, as 

 they would be more apt to prize its adaptations to meet their pisca- 

 torial wants. It is known that it was a favorite place of resort for 

 them. Opposite this rock is a very nice camp, constructed by 

 gentlemen in Boston, to accommodate amateur sportsmen and 

 piscators who frequent these lakes during the warmer months. 



Cupsuptic lake lies partly in Rangely and partly in No. 4, R. 2. 

 We passed across the lower end of it, which was low and marshy. 

 On a small island at the north end ot Mooseluckmaguntic lake is a 

 large ledge of granite, the quartz of which is remarkably sharp 

 angled. It is immediately west of Bald mountain, which we sup- 

 pose also to be composed of the same rock. As there are so many 

 Bald mountains in the State, we will specify concerning this one, 

 that it lies on a narrow neck of land between Rangely and Moose- 

 luckmaguntic lakes. We passed through this region early in 

 October, when the most gorgeous colors clothed the forests ; and 

 never in any part of New England have we seen such bright and 

 distinct colors as were exhibited upon these trees. 



No other ledges were noticed on Mooseluckmaguntic lake. Its 

 shores are lined with immense angular boulders of granite, and a 

 very few of siliceous slate. In the distance are high mountains. 

 These Androscoggin lakes generally afford grander scenery than 

 any others in the State. Their waters afford several kinds of fish 

 not found elsewhere, and wild animals are common in the forests 



