RIVER LIFE. 213 



for the consequences during the spring freshet, and yet no effect- 

 ual precautions could be taken to guard against impending ca- 

 lamity. The very worst of these fears have now been more than 

 realized. 



" A few days ago the river began to break up for about thirty 

 miles above the city, while it continued firmly bound for about 

 twelve miles below. There were several different spots where 

 the jams, or ice-dams were formed ; and when they broke away, 

 they came rushing down with the force of a mountain torrent, 

 until the strong ice below resisted their progress. These jams 

 came down one at a time, and, lodging against another below, 

 kept increasing their magnitude. The two most formidable jams 

 were within seven miles of the city, in the vicinity of the two 

 largest and most important ranges of saw-mills. Those which 

 formed above, when they broke away, passed through at Old- 

 town and Stillwater with little comparative damage other than 

 carrying away the bridges, and adding to the size of the jams 

 below. 



" The first movement was the raising the two principal ranges 

 of mills from their foundations by the rise of the water. After 

 this the first jam that passed down swept away the Basin mills, 

 which belong to a New York company, and which rented for 

 above ten thousand dollars per annum. They next carried away 

 a large range of mills belonging to some of our most enterpx'ising 

 citizens, and which rented for fifteen thousand dollars per annum. 

 One of the proprietors thus lost about fifty thousand dollars. The 

 mills in these two ranges contained about fifty saws, were pos- 

 sessed of the most unfailing water power, were recently fitted up 

 with the best improved machinery, and performed last year about 

 one third of all the business on the river. 



" The jams thus worked their way down gradually, carrying 

 destruction to bridges and small houses, and other buildings on 

 the banks, until they were all concentrated in one immense mass 



