146 



THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR. 



light, and is but partially covered to keep out tlie 



On measuring the direction of this vein it was 

 evident that it extended into the valley below, 

 and on searching on the hill-side in that direction 

 it was readily discovered. 



It is probable that openings will be made there, 

 and a gallery will then he cut into the hill. For- 

 merly much eypense was incurred by unskilful 

 searching for additional veins of iron ore, many 

 old drifts being shewn us by the present skilful 

 director, Captain Putnam, where a vast deal of 

 labor and expense had been wasted in fruitless 

 search. In one place there was a gallery 120 

 feet long cut in the solid granite, without any in- 

 dications of a vein of iron ore. Near this anoth- 

 er vein was cut in a northerly direction, tor the 

 distance of 71 feet, also without discovering any 

 ore. 



There are gome very curious irregularities in 

 the courses of the iron ore veins, which probably 

 embarrassed the first miners who worked at this 

 place. One of the veins on the hill forms a large 

 curve, and is1)ip(ied out at one extremity. When 

 first opened it was 6 feet wide, but it rapidly di- 

 minished in power to 1 1-2 feet wide as it entered 

 the rock. Many curious and remarkable caverns 

 have been formed in the rocky sides of the hill 

 by these mining excavations. 



Numerous interesting minerals have also been 

 brought to light, and may he foutid among the 

 rejected masses which have been blasted out. 

 The most abundant and interesting minerals are 

 a brilliant deep brownish red manganesian gar- 

 net, crystallized and granular epidote, prismatic 

 and bladed crystals of hornblende, rhombic do- 

 decahedral crystals of magnetic iron ore, with 

 strisB indicating their origin from the octahedral 

 primary form. 



These minerals have long since been familiar 

 to most of the mineralogists of the country, since 

 they have l)een extensively distributed by ex- 

 changes. Every season many mineralogists 

 journey to Franconia for the purpose of collec- 

 ting specimens which are abundantly obtained 

 at the mines. 



Having measured the extent of the iron vein 

 so far as it is opened, and procured a good col- 

 IfiCtion of specimens for analysis and for the 

 State'Cabinet, we returned to the village of Fran- 

 conia, examined the furnaces, and collected some 

 valuable statistical matter, furnished tlirough the 

 politeness of the agent 



(See another part of this Report for chemical 

 analysis of the ore, and for statistical informa- 

 tion respecting tlie iron works.) 



On the estate of Mr. Horace Brooks occur sev- 

 *iral veins of c-opper pyrites, included in mica 

 !«late rocks, and associated with veins of quartz. 

 These. veins were examined, and were found too 

 narrow for profitable mining, theirwidth being 

 rarely more than 6 or 8 inches, while the gangue 

 or vein-stone is exceedingly hard. Fine cabinet 

 specimens, nevertheless, maybe obtained without 

 much trouble. 



A new and interesting mineral occurs, associa- 

 ted with the quartz containing the copper ores. 

 It is a crystallized ore, consisting of iron, cobalt, 

 arsenic, and sulphur. This mineral has been an- 

 alyzed by Mr. A. A. Hayes, who ascertained that 

 it was a new species, and named it in honor 

 of his teacher, the late Professor Dana of Dart- 

 mouth College. In the chemical department of 

 this Report this mineral will be described. 



The scenery of the Franconia Notch, and the 

 view from the summit of Mount La Fayette, have 

 justly been admired by travellers. 



Although less imposing than the wild magnif- 

 icence of the White Mountain Notch, it still may 

 present attractions of another character which 

 will prove equally interesting to the curious. The 

 Basin, Flume, and the Profile mountain are the 

 usual scenes admired by travellers who visit tiiis 

 place. 



The Basin is a deep excavation in granite, 

 which has been formed by the continual action 

 of the falling waters of the Pemmasawasset, aid- 

 ed by the whirling and grinding action of boul- 

 ders of rocks swept into the cavity by the stream. 

 The diameter of this rocky basin is about 30 by 

 40 feet, and its depth appears to be in such pro- 

 portion as to form a deep bowl, which is always 

 filled to the brim with the most pellucid and cold 

 water. On one side the rocks jut over the brim 

 of »K«> ba»in, forming n fHvtty pirofto b»ne8th. 



while the embarkment, covered with green mo'-s 

 and wood-flowers, presents a pleasant contrast 

 to the foaming cascade which rushes down the 

 broken surface of the rocks. 



The Flume is situate 3-4 of a mile from the 

 main road, on the left hand as you go from Fran- 

 conia. A narrow path through the woods con- 

 ducts the traveller to the spot. On the way he 

 must, however, cross over several small streams 

 on fallen trees, which there are the only bridges, 

 and will walk in a shallow sheet of water, which 

 rushes swiftly down a smooth inclined plane of 

 granite. It is, therefore, advisable always to pro- 

 ceed on foot. 



The Flume is a deep chasm, having mural pre- 

 cipices of granite on each side, while a mountain 

 torrent rushes through its midst, falling over pre- 

 cipitous crags and loose masses of rock. During 

 the freshets of the spring season and in early 

 summer, it is not practicable to walk in the bed 

 of the flume, hut in the driest season of the year 

 there is but liltle water in it, and the bottom of 

 the ravine affords a good foot-path. 



The direction of this rocky fissure is N. 80 (leg. 

 E., and it appears to have resulted, not from the 

 abrasion of the rocks by the action of running 

 water, but to have been produced originally by a 

 fracture of the uplifted rocks. 



The walls of the chasm on either hand exhib- 

 it proofs in favor of this opinion, for they are not 

 water-worn, but present surfaces of Iraciuie, and 

 the projecting ledges-on each side are still com- 

 paratively sharp and well defined in their out- 

 lines. 



One of the most remarkable objects in the 

 Flume is an immense rounded block of granite, 

 which hangs over head, supported merely by 

 small surfaces of contact against its sides. It ap- 

 pears to the traveller looking at it from below as 

 as if ready to fall upon him. 



The trunk of a fallen tree cmsses the top of 

 the ravine, and affords a natural bridge to adven- 

 turous persons who rejoice in the feat of crossing 

 so narrow a foot-path suspended high in air. No 

 one luiaccustomed to feats of the kind should at- 

 tempt so unnecessary and dangerous a pass. 



I have been toUl by persons who have seen the 

 Flume when nearly free from water, that near 

 its upper part a dyke of trap-rock may be seen. 

 A few fragments or smooth boulders of that rock 

 were observed in its channel, but, although my 

 assistants wuded throughout its entire e.xtent, they 

 saw no <lyke. If small, it may have been cover- 

 ed by deep running water. 



The most remarkable object seen from the 

 Notch is the Profile called the old man of the 

 Mountain. This may be seen nt a point indica- 

 ted by a guide-board on the road. As the trav- 

 eller readies this point, he is directed by the 

 guide-lK)ard to look on the opposite side o"f the 

 way, where he discovers a stern visage of gigan- 

 tic proportions on the brow of a rocky mountain, 

 looking boldly upward. 



This remarkable object was first discovered 

 about 40 years ago, when laying out the road. 

 Had it been known to the Aborigines, 1 doulit not 

 it would have been an object of suj>erstitious wor- 

 ship. 



Mount La Fayette is a lofty conical mountain 

 of granite, situated to the south-eastward of the 

 village of Franconia. Although not so elevated 

 as Mount Washington, it presents an equally 

 interesting view from its summit, and is frequent- 

 ly ascended by travellers. 



In order to measure its altitude and its latitude, 

 and pla(;e on the map, we ascended to its summit, 

 carrying with us ase.xtant, artificial horizon, bar- 

 ometer, and Messiat compass, and made a se- 

 ries of observations to effect our object. 



A rude foot-path has been cleared for part of 

 the way up the side of the mountain, but for a 

 considerable distance we had to scramble over 

 fallen trees and rocks. Emerging from a forest 

 of small spruce trees, we next came to ledges and 

 detached rocks of granite, the loose blocks of 

 which are generally angular, and do not appear 

 to have been worn "by the action of water. They 

 are similar to the rock composing the ledges of 

 the mountain, and therefore cannot be consider- 

 ed as of diluvial deposition. 



The vegetation near the top of the mountain is 

 similar to that upon Mount Washington — the 

 mountain cranberry, vaccinium oxicoccus and 

 saxifrages. Blue-berries and harebells abound 

 »mid the (Tonnie* of the rocks, but no forest 



trees grow near the summit. From the highest 

 peak of this mountain Mount Washington bears 

 N. 80 deg. E., Franconia village N. 35 deg. W., 

 Moosehillock S. 54 deg. E. The ranges of moun- 

 tains seen to the east a.ppear to be parallel ran- 

 ges running north and south. 



By a comparison of barometrical observations, 

 made at Franconia, Portsmouth, and upon the 

 summit of Mount La Fayette, we were enabled 

 to ascertain by calculation the height of the 

 mountain above the level of the sea, which was 

 found to l)e 50ti7 feet. 



By a njeridional observation of the sun, its lat- 

 itude is 44 deg. 8 m. 59 sec. 4. 



No minerals of any importance were found in 

 the granite rocks composing the iJia.ss of tliis 

 mountain, but a very good view of the contour 

 of the surrounding country may be obtained, and 

 the lovers of the picturesque \Vill always find 

 enough to repay them tor the labor of ascending 

 to its summit. 



From Franconia we passed through Bethle- 

 hem to the Notch of the White Mountains, ob- 

 serving no rocks excepting granite and gneiss, 

 the surfaces of which were occasionally marked 

 by diluvial striae. Each hill on our way was 

 measured barometrically, so that we shall be en- 

 abled to draw a sectional profile of the route. 

 At Mr. T. 3. Crawford's we made all the requis- 

 ite preparations for measuring the altitudes and 

 latitudes of Mount Washington and the adjacent 

 mountains, which we jiroposed to examine. 



By meridional observation of the sun at T. J. 

 Crawford's, the latitude of that place is N. 44 deg. 

 12 m. 53 sec. and its elevation above the sea-level 

 is 1829 f«?et. 



A horse-path had just been completed to the 

 summit of the mountain, and we were enabled 

 easily to make our ascent, carrying in safetj' all 

 the instruments for the observations which wo 

 proposed to make. 



Mr. Abel Crawford, the veteran guide of the 

 raoiuitain, accompanied us, and loading our par- 

 ty was the first man who ever rode to the sum- 

 mit of Mount Washington. 



Before leaving the Notch House, barometrical 

 observations were taken, and on our ascent they 

 were repeated with two instruments upon every 

 eminence over which we passed. Since it was 

 intended to leave two of my assistants to make 

 observations upon the summit of tlie mountain, 

 while the remainder of our party returned with 

 one of the instruments, we provided ourselves 

 with camp equipage, and Messrs. Williams and 

 Baker volunteered to remain there through the 

 night, for the purpose of observing the barometer 

 at the summit, wliile we took simultaneous ob- 

 servations below. Being duly jirovided with 

 sextant, artificial horizon, barometers, thermom- 

 eters, and our usual geological instruments, we 

 set out from Mr. Crawford's at 7 A. M. 



Entering a narrow foot-path leading through • 

 the forest, we rode to the summit of Mount Clin- 

 ton, a bald mountain having no other forest trees 

 upon it save a few stunted and dead spruces,which 

 were killed by fire. At this place barometrical 

 observations were taken, and the spot was mark- 

 ed for repetition of the observations on our de- 

 scent From this place we proceeded to Mount 

 Pleusant, where similar observations were taken ; 

 then we passed to Mount Franklin, where the 

 same operations were performed. 



On Mount Franklin all traces of vegetation, 

 excepting plants of an Alpine character, disap- 

 pear. 



The rocks consist entirely of granite and gne- 

 iss, with occasional veins of quartz. 



Several small ponds and springs occur near 

 this spot, and travellers generally stop a while 

 there to reliesh themselves before ascending to 

 to the summit of Mount Washington, which is 

 in full view, and presents its rough and rocky 

 escarpments. At 11 3-4, A. M., we reached the 

 summit of Mount Washington on horseback, a 

 feat quite novel, this being the first time that if 

 has been effected. 



Travellers should thank the Crawford family 

 for having made this ascent so easy and agree- 

 able, for now any person who knows how to ride 

 may safely travel on horseback over their path to 

 the very highest point in New England. 



I doiibt not that this circumstance will induce 

 a greater number of persons to ascend the moun- 

 tain. 



Haviitg i^enclied the suiriniit of Mt, Wasbinjf- 



