DISTRIBUTION OF WATERPOWER IN NORTH 
CAROLINA.* 
BY J.A. HOLMES. 
The two conditions essential to the development of a 
waterpower of any considerable magnitude are a large 
and fairly constant stream of water and a suitable amount 
of fall within a reasonable distance. In the eastern 
counties of North Carolina we have numerous large 
streams of water, but, except along the western border 
of the region, as a rule they have sluggish currents and 
are lacking in the necessary fall. In the mountain 
counties the streams are small, but the fall available in 
many cases is sufficiently great to make possible water- 
power of considerable magnitude. It is in the middle 
counties, however, that we find the most satisfactory com- 
bination of the two essential conditions, viz. volume of 
water and fall; and hence it is in these counties that we 
may expect the largest waterpower developments and 
the greatest and most substantial growth of manufactur- 
ing enterprises. 
It is intended in the present paper to discuss briefly 
the distribution of these water powers in the State 
in their relation to geologic features, and the accom- 
panyiny map (Plate I) will prove of service in this 
connection. 
WATERPOWER IN THE COASTAL PLAIN REGION. 
Along the western border of the coastal plain region 
there are a number of important waterpowers, like those 
at Weldon on the Roanoke, Rocky Mount on the Tar, 
| *In part, reprinted in full from Bulletin 8, N. C, Geological Survey. 
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