LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN. 227 



Water power. There are many small falls on the stream which would furnish 

 power to small manufacturing* plants. 



Prices of land. Farming land sells at $4 to $15 per acre; woodland, at $1 to 

 $4 per acre. The greater part of the land suitable for agriculture is at present 

 in cultivation. 



TENNESSEE RIVER BETWEEN BU8HNELL AND THE STATE LINE (sWAIN AND GRAHAM 



COUNTIES, N. C). 



Boundaries. This area embraces the north and south slopes, which drain 

 directly into Tennessee River through small streams which have not been 

 described. 



Area. Total, 49 square miles; cleared, 5 square miles; wooded, 39 square 

 miles; burned, 5 square miles. 



Surface. The river flows through a gorge for 20 miles below Bushnell. 

 The hills rise with steep, rocky, and often precipitous slopes from the very 

 banks of the river, leaving on either side scarcely room for the construction of a 

 narrow wagon road. In a few places only are there scant alluvial bottoms. For 

 6 miles below Rocky Point the river breaks through the Smoky Mountains. 

 This part of its course is so rough and the cliffs on either side are so steep that 

 there is no room for a wagon road. 



Soils. The soils are very thin and sandy, especially on the north side of the 

 river. At the heads of some of the smaller streams are rounded hills, less steep 

 and with deeper soils, but the country is entirely too rough for profitable 

 farming, although there are moi'e than 20 families living along the river. 



Humus and litter. On the north side of the Yellow Creek Mountains 

 an excellent forest condition prevails, with deep humus and undisturbed litter. 

 The south slopes on the opposite side of the river have been frequently burned, 

 and leaf mold is scant. 



Agricultural value. On account of their steepness, sandiness, and rockiness 

 the soils have a very slight value. Corn is the staple and almost the only crop. 



Tiinher trees. On the north side of the river oak, chestnut, and hickory, 

 with 3ellow pines, are the characteristic trees. On the south side typical 

 Appalachian hard woods prevail; oak, chestnut, birch, maple, and occasionally linn 

 and ash, associated in many places with hemlock. 



Yield. The yield will not be more than 1,500 feet B. M. per acre. 



Demand. There is no local demand. Most of the best timber and the tan 

 bark has already been cut from that portion of this area which is near enough 

 to Bushnell to be profitably lumbered. 



