RIVER SYSTEMS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 323 



Maine, having an altitude of nearly 3000 feet above the sea. The upper 

 portion of the range of lakes is 1500 feet in altitude; Umbagog lake, 

 about 1250 feet. At the east line of New Hampshire the Androscoggin 

 is about 700 feet above the sea. The great value of this very reliable 

 water-power, for the manufacture of lumber, of which there is an almost 

 inexhaustible supply on the lakes and streams above, cannot fail to be 

 appreciated and more fully employed. 



Although the south-eastern portion of the state along the coast is 

 comparatively level and of small altitude, the descent of its rivers is 

 gradual, in consequence of the projecting strata of solid rock, being 

 broken by falls to within a short distance of the sea, and affording very 

 valuable facilities for manufacturing. The water-shed between the lower 

 part of the Merrimack in New Hampshire, and the section drained north- 

 easterly toward the Piscataqua, is very low. By reference to our tables 

 of altitudes, it will be seen that the highest point on the Nashua & Roch- 

 ester Railroad is only 345 feet above the sea. Phillips pond, the head of 

 Exeter river, has an altitude of 215 feet. The sources of Cochecho and 

 Salmon Falls rivers are among the hills at the south-east end of Lake 

 Winnipiseogee, East pond, at the head of Salmon Falls river, having 

 the same altitude with this lake, namely, 500 feet above the sea. 



The drainage areas on either side of our river valleys are specially 

 favorable for the provision of a large and comparatively constant water 

 supply. With the exception of our mountains, already noticed in their 

 relation to our water-power, the narrow intervals and alluvial plains in the 

 valleys of our largest rivers, and the level portions of eastern Rocking- 

 ham county, our whole state is covered with irregularly scattered ridges 

 of hills. The rainfall is gathered into our streams and lakes without the 

 large waste from evaporation and infiltration which takes place upon 

 comparatively level water-sheds, such as those of a large portion of the 

 West. At the same time, the surface being only moderately broken, con- 

 sisting of wide swells of hilly country to a large extent covered with 

 forest, the drainage from rains is not too sudden, so as to turn our rivers 

 into torrents which cannot be used in passing, and leave nothing behind. 

 This variety of local elevations and depressions is of still further impor- 

 tance, since it affords room for the natural formation of invaluable storage 

 basins of reserved water-power. 



