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there penetrates a stream of water from New-Chester, on which are situated several mills. In its passage through a chasm in the mountain, the water tumbles over a ledge of rocks nearly two hundred feet in the distance of a hundred rods. When the stream is raised by heavy rains or melting snows, the prospect is very interesting and grand. From the foot of these falls the ascent is not difficult on either side the whole distance up. The highest summit, which is a little west of the rivulet, by a late calculation,[1] is found to be 1700 feet above the level of the pond, a little south of its base. There are several caverns in this range of mountains, some of which have been explored to a considerable distance, but contain much rubbish, decoyed leaves, limbs of trees, vegetable mould, bones of animals, &c. The dividing line between Andover and New-Chester passes over the summit of the Ragged Mountains.
The soil of this town is in many parts very good, producing excellent wheat, rye and corn, and is in general good for orcharding, and for other fruits common in this part of the country. Experiments have frequently been made wish trees more common in a southern latitude, but none have been brought to maturity, by reason of the severity of the winters. The highlands, though hard of cultivation, are exceedingly fertile, and some of the best farms are situated on the hills in the westerly part of the town, and on the southerly side of the Ragged Mountains. There is some rich intervale land stretching along the Blackwater river; and en the southern and south-western borders of Loon and Chance ponds, are some valuable timber lands, the natural growth being principally hard pine and spruce—much of which has been conveyed in rafts down the river to Boscawen and
- ↑ By Mr. Benjamin M. Tyler, of Andover.
