6 The Bulletin 



more important ones lie between Matthews and Mint Hill, between 

 Charlotte and Davidson, around Sharon Church, south of Bethel Church, 

 and west of Hopewell Church. The more rolling, hilly, and uneven 

 surface areas are developed on the bluffs along the Catawba Eiver, 

 south of Clarke Creek, along "the Cabarrus-Mecklenburg line to Pine 

 Eidge, and north of Mallard Creek and near many of the larger streams. 

 In the latter localities, especially along the Catawba Eiver and some of 

 the larger streams, erosion has been very pronounced, resulting m the 

 formation of gullies and deep ravines. 



ELEVATIONS 



The elevation above sea level varies considerably in different parts of 

 the county. There is more than 300 feet difference between the bottom- 

 lands along the Catawba Eiver on the South Carolina county line and 

 the high uplands near Davidson. The elevation on the Catawba Eiver 

 along the north boundary of the county is 710 feet. At the south 

 boundary it is 520 feet; at Thompson's Store 765 feet; at Charlotte 75t) 

 feet; at Juneau 574 feet, and at Pineville 570 feet above sea level. 



DRAINAGE 



The general slope and drainage of the county is to the south and 

 southwest, except along the eastern border, where it is to the east toward 

 Eocky Eiver. There is a ridge which extends from the northern bound- 

 ary toward Derita, thence to Hickory Grove Church, and on by Mint 

 Hill. All of the water east of this ridge flows into Eocky Eiver, and 

 all to the west and south of it, which includes the greater portion of the 

 county, flows west and south, emptying directly or indirectly into the 

 Catawba Eiver. 



The Catawba Eiver flows south along the western border of the county, 

 and falls 190 feet between the northern end and the southern boundary 

 of the county. All the western, central, and southern portions are 

 drained by this river and its principal tributaries: the Davidson, Mc- 

 Dowells, Long, Paw, Steele, Little Sugar, Sugar, Brier, McMullen, Mc- 

 Alpine, and Four-mile creeks. Along the northeast corner flows the 

 Eocky Eiver, and the principal tributaries entering it are the "West 

 Branch, Eocky Eiver, Clarks, Mallard, Back, Eeedy, and Clear creeks. 

 These streams, together with their numerous tributaries in the form of 

 branches and streamlets, ramify all portions of the county so thoroughly 

 that practically every farm is directly connected with one or more 

 natural drainage ways. The larger streams have cut deep, narrow val- 

 leys flanked by rather steep slopes. These streams are fairly swift flow- 

 ing and are still cutting their channel in an endeavor to reach sea level. 

 Considerable water-power can be develo]ied along the rivers and some of 

 the creeks, and even now some of the gristmills and cotton gins are 

 operated by water-power, while cotton mills are being run by water- 

 power along the Catawba Eiver. 



