THE FORESTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 233 



precious stones. These are the most abundant min- 

 erals of this district. Associated with them are 

 many others belonging to the curiosities of geology, 

 but without commercial value. Iron is much more 

 abundant than any other of the useful metals, but 

 gold is much more widely disseminated. .... In a 

 former letter some reference was made to the timbers 

 of this country. An extended tour among these 

 mountains since then has more than confirmed my 

 opinion of the extent and value of these forests. I 

 have seen colossal pines, chestnuts, and oaks ; hick- 

 ory, maple, and beech trees four feet in diameter, and 

 poplars thirty-six feet in circumference. There are 

 spots in these mountains where the wild cherry 

 attains a diameter of six feet and the sassafras four. 

 The yellow locust also grows to be a large tree. A 

 log of it lying across a branch where it has been used 

 as a foot log the last thirty years seemed to be as 

 sound at the heart as when it was felled. Persim- 

 mons and dogwoods large enough for shuttle blocks 

 are to be seen near all the streams. The local con- 

 sumption of timber is inappreciable except where 

 land is cleared for cultivation; then the wasteful 

 practice of girdling and subsequent burning is em- 

 ployed. When track-laying begins, cross ties will be 

 in demand. A market will be opened for timber 

 suitable for trestles and bridges, and the work of 

 forest destruction will be fairly inaugurated. When 

 the road is completed, iron furnaces will be built and 

 charcoal pits started. The bark of the chestnut and 



