WATAUGA RIVER BASIN. ' 101 



soon after clearing and a large proportion of the hilly cleared land is now occupied 

 by broom grass. 



Timber trees. Oaks, 45 per cent; chestnut, 25 per cent; hemlock, 15 per 

 cent; other species, 15 per cent. 



Yield. \jO^ timber, 19,200 M feet B. M.; small wood, 211,200 cords. 



Demand. The best log timber brings from %\ to $2 per thousand feet on the 

 stump. Only the best is considered worth cutting. 



Aecessihility. The nearest railroad station is at the mouth of Doe River, on 

 the Virginia and Southwestern Railway. The wagon road to this station is very 

 rough, and is impassable during every freshet. The mountain sides oflfer no 

 special difficulties, although they are steep and often rocky. 



Fire. Fires overrun the ridges almost every year, and about 5 square miles 

 have been so severely burned as to kill most of the log timber. Light fires run 

 almost annually over nearly all the remaining portion. 



Second growth. The stand of saplings is very insufficient on account of the 

 numerous severe fires, especially on the ridges, but some of the woodland 

 bordering the clearings where somewhat protected, has an abundant stand of 

 saplings. 



Undergrowth. In general, light and composed principally of brushy species, 

 such as huckleberry, azalea, and laurel. 



Reproduction. Seedlings of timber trees start freely, but are usually soon 

 killed b}^ fire. 



Rate of ^r6w7Z^A. Medium. 

 - Water power. Limited; there are several locations for small mills or factories, 

 but there are few favorable places for holding water, and the stream is verj- 

 inconstant. 



Occupancy. About 180 families are now living in this basin. 



Prices of land. The most valuable farm land is assessed at $30 per acre; 

 mountain lands can be bought for $1 to $8 per acre. 



ROANE CREEK DISTRICT (jOHNSON COUNTY, TENN.). 



Boundaries. This tract lies between the crest of Doe Mountain on the 

 northwest and the crest of Stone Mountain on the southeast. 



Area. Total, 90.50 square miles; cleared, 38.50 square miles; wooded, 52 

 square miles. 



Surface. The upper portion of the valley has a large area of undulating 

 and rolling land with foothills rising gently toward the mountains, but the lower, 

 or western portion is broken by sharp ridges. Doe and Stone mountains are 

 high and stony. 



