Year: 1876

Dead River of Leeds is one OF The most
peculiar and Interesting rivers of New
England. l. discharges the surplus waters
OF more than twenty ponds into the An
dEoscoggin River. Many of them will
compare favorably with the so called
lakes OF the eastern part of the State
It's watershed is about twenty-five miles
long, and OF proporlionate width, and
contains about sixty thousand acres. l.
affords more water for the mills at Lew.
iston in time OF drouth than any other
tributary, excepting the great lakes.


The river proper is about six miles long
and connects AudrOscoggin pond with the
great river Of the same name. The gen.
eral course OF Dead River from the pond
20 the AudroscOggin River, is northwest
erly; that OF the Androscoggin is south
erly; so that the currents of the two
rivers meet as it were face to face. And
as there is but little fall in Dead River,
the waters OF the great river, TO a consid-
erable extent, in time Of a ireshet, are
tnrned into Dead River and discharged
into the ponds until il has attained an
exact level with the great river when of
course the waters OF Dead River for q
/ time are motionless, and remain so until
the waters of the great river begin to
settle. when The current oi Dead River
sets from the pond and so continues until
another lreshet occurs.


Probably there is no river in Maine Of
its size so destructive TO bridges as Dead
River. Many times, in the memory of
the writer, every town bridge has been
swept away, and bat few years ago the
railroad fridge shared the same fate.


In January, 1889, occurred one OF the
greatest fresbets on record. The current
OF the Androscoggiu set into the Dead
River with tremendous force, bearing
upon it's surface thousands Of tons OF solid
ice; which swept every bridge from the
river, and upon reaching the unbroken
ice of the pond it telescoped, forming
icebergs that bore no faint resemblance
to those of the polar sea.


TIE fearful rise Of Dead River and
pond is owing to the pecuiarities OF the
surroundings Of the two rivers at their
confluence, as they rise nearly twice as
high as the Androscoggin at Lewiston.


The region OF Dead River and pond is
a rich field for the geologist. About half
way from the great river to the pond,
near the residence OF Lloyd Gould. Esq,
is q remarkable horseback ridge, said to
be q continuation OF Chesterville ridge,
(with few slight breaks). 1t once e1'
tended across the Dead River, and dam.
med it up to great height. The pond
a. this time must have been lake, not
less than twelve miles long. When the
ridge was formed is not known to geolo-
gists but it was probably during the
glacial period of the earth's history; and
how long it served as dam, of course is
not known. But it is certain that j! did
once serve as such, and that when it broke
or gave away, the waters rushed towards
the great river, as the boulders and pei
bles were carried in that direction, and
now remain silent but truthful witnesses
OF the great event.


But the most striking geological feature
of Dead River and pond, is the vast allu-
vial deposit known as The Cape, lying
between the outlet of the pond and what
was its western shore. 1t EXTENDS into
the pond about mile, and is divided near
its centre by the river, which parts before
reaching The pond, enclosing a delta
island OF some thirty acres, more or less.