WATAUGA RIVER BASIN. 105 



BUCK MOUNTAIN DISTRICT (CARTER AND WATAUGA COUNTIES, TENN.). 



Boundaries. This tract is bounded on tlie north by Watauga River, on the 

 east and south by the North Carolina State line, and on the west by Elk Creek. 



Area. Total, 16.20 square miles; cleared, 4.9 square miles; wooded, 11.30 

 square miles. 



Surface. Hilly to mountainous, except about 1 square mile of alluvial land, 

 principally on Elk Creek. 



Soil. Dark loam, derived from gneiss and granite. 



Agricultural valv^. Grass and fruits do remarkably well. The steepness of 

 the slopes is a great hindrance to agriculture. About 3 square miles of this land 

 are adapted to diversified farming. 



Timber trees. White oak, 15 per cent; red oak, 10 per cent; black oak, 10 

 per cent; chestnut oak, 10 per cent; chestnut, 20 per cent; cucumber, 6 per cent; 

 gum, 4 per cent; hemlock, 3 per cent; linn, 5 per cent; other species, 17 per 

 cent. 



Yield. \jQ>g timber, 12,352 M feet B. M.; small wood, 131,080 cords. 



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

 the stump. 



Accessibility. The nearest railroad point is Butler, about 10 miles, by a 

 rough and hilly wagon road, from the remotest part of the tract. 



Fire. Fires have been frequent and the forest is much depleted. 



Second growth. Deficient, because of fires. 



Undergrowth. The whole tract is brushy with laurel, azalea, huckleberry, 

 blackberry, and the seedlings and sprouts of timber trees. 



Reproduction. On close cuttings without fire, oak, chestnut, hickory, white 

 pine, and hemlock spring up quickly. 



Rate of gro^vth. Rapid. 



Water power. Abundant on Watauga River, but on Elk Creek, a stream of 

 considerable size, the flow is inconstant and the supply is difficult to manage. 



Ownership. Mostly divided into small holdings. 



Occupancy. About 35 families are now living on this tract. 



Prices of land. Farm land is worth from |10 to $35 per acre; mountain 

 land, from $1 to $2 per acre. 



HATTIE DISTRICT (WATAUGA COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. The crest of Stone Mountain forms the northern and western 

 boundaries; the divide separating this basin from that of Cove Creek forms the 

 eastern boundary; and Watauga River forms the southern. 



