FOREST CONDITIONS IN TENNESSEE. 19 



UNAKA RANGE. 



The Unakas constitute a region about 2,000 square miles 

 in extent in the form of a belt averaging 13 miles wide, which 

 extends northeast and southwest and forms the eastern bor- 

 der of the State. The general elevation varies from 1,500 to 5,000 

 feet, but some of the higher peaks reach over 6,000 feet above sea 

 level. The country is drained westerly by swift mountain streams 

 tributary to the Tennessee River, some of the larger of which rise 

 in North Carolina and cut through the range in deep and narrow 

 valleys. There is very little level land and practically no swamps. 

 Small farms are found along the streams and in the broader coves, 

 mostly in the western part of the region, but the greater part of the 

 land is too steep for cultivation. 



This region is crossed at four points by railroad lines, which con- 

 nect ^vith the north and south trunk lines extending through the 

 Valley of East Tennessee. It is also penetrated by several logging 

 railroads. There are, however, portions of the high ridge along 

 the North Carolina line which are still very inaccessible. Such por- 

 tions are usually covered with virgin timber, although sometimes 

 the best of the poplar and walnut has been cut and floated out at 

 flood seasons. A considerable proportion of the land is held in 

 large bodies, principally by lumber companies. The smaller hold- 

 ings are confined chiefly to the foothills and valleys which are most 

 accessible and best adapted for farming. 



The chief industry throughout the region is lumbering, although 

 copper mining is of local importance in the southeastern corner 

 (Polk County). In addition to the small portable sawmills occa- 

 sionally found in the more accessible parts, there are about five 

 lumbering operations in virgin timber, with large sawmills supplied 

 by logging railroads. A large amount of hemlock, poplar, oak, 

 and other lumber is produced. Minor products include chestnut 

 oak and hemlock tanbark; chestnut and, to some extent, chestnut 

 oak extract wood ; and, in the northeastern part of the region, pulp- 

 wood made from the smaller sizes of poplar, cucumber, basswood, 

 and hemlock. Other woods are sometimes cut for special purposes, 

 such as sugar maple, beech, and birch for bobbins, and dogwood and 

 persimmon for shuttle blocks. Some white oak cross-ties are also 

 produced. 



The forests cover nearly all the rough, steep mountain slopes and 

 higher coves of the region. Virgin timber, however, is confined to 

 the most inaccessible sections, the largest bodies occurring in the 



