NEW RIVER BASIN. 61 



Water power. Abundant fall; numerous sites for moderate power, but the 

 stream is inconstant. 



Ovjnership. Few of the holdings exceed 500 acres, and these are owned 

 almost entirely by residents. 



Occiqjancy . About 60 families are living in this valle3^ 



Prices of land. From $5 to $50 per acre. 



WILSON CREEK BASIN (gKAYSON COUNTY, VA.) 



Area. Total, 39.75 square miles; cleared, 13.75 square miles; wooded, 26 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainousr 



8oil. Dark loam with frequent beds of red clay. 



Agiicultural value. This is a grazing region. Grass jdelds well and there 

 is enough arable land for ha3^ About 10 square miles are adapted to deversiiied 

 farming. 



TtTinher trees. Oci.'i^Xxixxt., 40 per cent; white oak, 10 per cent; red oak, 15 

 per cent; chestnut oak, 10 per cent; spruce, 2 per cent; birch, 2 per cent; gum, 

 5 per cent; linn, 5 per cent; other species, 11 per cent. 



Yield. l^o^ timber, 49,520 M feet B. M.; small wood, 332,000 cords. 



Demand. This land is remote from the market and prices are low; %\ per 

 thousand feet is considered a good price for the standing timber. The local demand 

 is limited, as nearly ever}'^ builder has timber of his own. 



Accessibility. The nearest railroad point is 14 miles distant by a very rough 

 wagon road across two mountain ridges. There is no road to the unbroken 

 forest at the head of the stream. It could best be reached by a tramway up 

 Wilson Creek. 



Fire. On the ridges about the headwaters fires are frequent, but the 

 damage is less notable in this basin than in any other. 



Second groiotJi. Abundant. 



Undergrowth. Brushy, especial!}^ on north slopes. Large areas of laurel 

 thickets are found about the head of the stream. 



Reproduction. Free, except as retarded by brush, fire, and grazing. 



Rate of growth. Rapid. 



Water power. There is abundant power for factories of considerable size. 

 One mill is now in operation near the head of the stream. 



Ownership. The foothills are divided among resident farmers. 



Occupancy. About 160 families are now living on this tract. 



Prices of land. From $2 to $40 per acre. 



