86 WAKE-ROBIN 
At this point a dam was built across the Hudson, 
the waters of which flowed back into Lake Sand- 
ford, about five miles above. The lake itself being 
some six miles long, tolerable navigation was thus 
established for a distance of eleven miles, to the 
Upper Works, which seem to have been the only 
works in operation. At the Lower Works, besides 
the remains of the dam, the only vestige I saw was 
a long low mound, overgrown with grass and weeds, 
that suggested a rude earthwork. We were told 
that it was once a pile of wood containing hundreds 
of cords, cut in regular lengths and corded up here 
for use in the furnaces. 
At the Upper Works, some twelve miles distant, 
quite a village had been built, which was now en- 
tirely abandoned, with the exception of a single 
family. 
A. march to this place was our next undertaking, 
The road for two or three miles kept up from the 
river and led us by three or four rough, stumpy 
farms. It then approached the lake and kept along 
its shores. It was here a dilapidated corduroy 
structure that compelled the traveler to keep an eye 
on his feet. Blue jays, two or three small hawks, 
a solitary wild pigeon, and ruffed grouse were seen 
along the route. Now and then the lake gleamed 
through the trees, or we crossed on a shaky bridge 
some of its arms or inlets. After a while we began 
to pass dilapidated houses by the roadside. One 
little frame house I remembered particularly; the 
door was off the hinges and leaned against the 
