NOLICHUCKY KIVER BASIN. * 129 



Black Mountains there is a considerable amount of black spruce mixed with 

 balsam, perhaps as much as 4,000 acres in all. The hard woods at the head 

 of the river are largely birch, mixed with beech, maple, and buckeye, and there 

 is a small amount of cherry. 



Yield. Below the mouth of Cattail Creek the best timber has been largely 

 removed, although there is yet some x^ry good oak uncut. Above this point, 

 both on Cattail Creek and the main river, there has been less culling, and the 

 stand will be from 3,000 to 5,000 feet B. M. per acre, except along the crests of 

 the mountains and on steep, thin-soiled slopes. A few small areas in the spruce 

 forest have been badl}' burned. 



Demand. There is a strong demand for best grades of lumber. Good timber 

 brings from 50 cents to %1 per thousand feet standing. 



Accessibility. It is about 18 miles from the mouth of Cattail Creek, in the 

 center of the basin, to the nearest railway station. The distance prohibits the 

 transportation of any but the best lumber. 



Cutting. Man}'^ mills have cut on the stream at various times, and the best 

 grades of timber have been removed as far up as a few miles above the mouth 

 of Cattail Creek. At present there are only two mills cutting, but it is reported 

 that others will shortly be erected. 



Reproduction. Reproduction is generally good. 



Second growth. Except on the lower part of the stream, which has long been 

 settled up and where the farm woodland has been extensively culled, there is very 

 little second growth. Oak and chestnut sprouts are the most important elements 

 in the regrowth. 



Undergro^vth. There are dense thickets of both laurel and Kalmla in a great 

 part of the forest at the head of the river. 



Rate of growth. Accretion is about normal for the aspect and altitude. 



Water power. The stream is ver}- rapid, and there are several sites where 

 high dams could be built, which would aflford small powers for manufacturing 

 purposes. 



Ownership. The upper part of the basin is held in large tracts. The forest 

 land in the lower part is in small holdings chiefly attached to the farms. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $10 to $150 an acre; woodland, at $2 

 to $&. an acre. 



DOEBAG BRANCH DISTRICT (tANCEY COUNTY, N. c). 



Boundaries. The area included is from the southern watershed of Doebag 

 Branch to the western watershed of Brush Creek, and is limited on the north 

 and east by Toe River. 



10336 No. 3705 9 



