Page:A topographical and historical sketch of the town of Andover, in the county of Hillsborough, and state of New Hampshire.djvu/12

 Concord. The growth of wood, In the other parts of the town, is principally oak, beech and sugar-maple. Seventy years ago, the whole town was a forest, inhabited only by wild beasts. From its first settlement until within a few years, the inhabitants have annually supplied themselves with sugar from their own farms; but the trees now beginning to decay, and little pains being taken in their preservation, this branch of domestic economy is almost wholly neglected.

In some parts of the town, near the Ragged Mountains, are found masses of excellent granite, which has as yet been made but little use of. There is also every indication of iron ore in the southerly part of the range. In passing over the lodges, it has invariably been found that the needle was more or less attracted. Considerable quantities of iron ore have been taken from the southern borders of Loon pond. Black lead of superior quality has also been frequently found at the foot of the mountains. These circumstances certainly indicate the existence of some valuable minerals in this mountainous range, and should invite the attention of those versed in mineralogical science.

The woods of Andover, when the proprietors of the tract first entered upon their lands, were plentifully stocked with game. Moose, deer, bears, wild-cats, &c. were every day to be seen, and the settlers were obliged to guard their flocks from their midnight incursions. Deer were very numerous, and so late as 1783, the town voted a premium of five dollars for every deer killed by the inhabitants. Beavers, otters, and other quadrupeds, were also common, and were for a few years a source of profit to the inhabitants.