TALLULAH-CHATTOOGA EIVER BASITJ. 257 



Water potoe)'. Abundant along- Soque River, but very light elsewhere. 



Otvners/dp. Most of the land seems to be held by the residents of the 

 vicinity. 



Prices of land. ^The best bottoms are valued at about $20 per acre. The 

 best of the ridge and mountain land could be bought for $1 per acre. 



TALLULAH RIVER BASIN BELOW TIMPSON CREEK (rABUN COUNTY, GA.). 



. Boundaries. The divides, including all of the area draining into Tallulah 

 River from the east between Burton and Tallulah Falls, except the Tiger Creek 

 basin; also all of the area draining into Tallulah River from the West between 

 Wild Cat basin and Tallulah Falls. 



Area. Total, 56 square niiles; cleared, 8 square miles; wooded, 48 square 

 miles. 



Surface. Along the river are 4 square miles of interrupted sandy bottom 

 nearly level. There are also about 10 square miles of rolling land that is smooth 

 enough to be arable. The remainder is hilly to mountainous. The lower portion 

 of the valley is cut by the Tallulah Canyon, and is very rough and rock3^ 



Soil. Variable. The alluvial bottoms are sandy. The adjoining low ridges 

 are of red clay, while the higher slopes and ridges have a soil derived from the 

 decomposition of rock in place. This latter is usually a light-colored loam. 



Hwmis and litter. Very light, owing to the frequent fires. 



Agricultural value. Onl}^ a small proportion of the land, about 12 square 

 miles, is worth cultivating. The remainder should be kept as woodland. 



Timber trees. Shortleaf pine, pitch pine, white pine, and scrub pine, the 

 oaks, of which there are many species, the hickories, gum (black and sweet), a 

 few poplar, ash, cucumber, and buckeye in ravines, and red maple, linn, ana 

 several others compose a forest of great variety in species and development. 



Yield. Log timber, 51,837 M feet B. M.; small wood, 307,200 cords. 



Demand. Some of the best trees have been bought for 50 cents to $1 

 each, and left standing. Timber has a very slight stumpage value, owing to the 

 long haul to market. 



Accessihility.- Difficult, especiall}' in the lower portion of the valley, from 

 which the lumber taken out must be hauled, first, to the top of the surrounding 

 ridges; thence, along these ridges to Tallulah Falls. The river, although having 

 a large volume of water, is too rough to be drivable. 



Cutting. A few small mills are in operation. One has lateh' been established 

 on Tiger Creek. The lumber from these mills is hauled to Tallulah Falls or 

 distributed among the people of the valley for local use. 

 10336 No. 3705 17 



