48 



FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



lakes in the region are kept in forest and protected from fire for the 

 beautifying of summer homes and estates. 



Henderson County has special reason to protect and perpetuate its 

 forests on the absolute forest land, because their benefits are needed for 

 the large and growing population on the extensive farm areas. 



BUNCOMBE COUNTY. 



Buncombe, with an approximate area of 400,000 acres, is the largest 

 county west of the Blue Ridge. The topography is on the whole more 

 open and level than that of any other county of the region, though sev- 

 eral peaks rise to over 6,000 feet in the northeast corner of the county, 

 and in the southwest also the mountains attain considerable heights; all 

 the central part, however, is a rolling plateau, varying from 2,000 to 

 2,500 feet in elevation. This condition, together with the favorable 

 markets, makes Buncombe one of the best agricultural counties of the 

 region. 



The French Broad River, which flows through the center of the 

 county, with its tributaries, Swannanoa River, Hominy, Cane, Sandy 

 Mush, Big Ivy, and other smaller creeks, drains the entire county. 



Owing to the comparatively slight fall in most of the streams, there 

 are large areas of bottom land, which produce excellent crops. Alto- 

 gether 50 per cent of the county has been cleared for cultivation, but 

 probably 10 per cent of this is now abandoned. There is much forest 

 land left, however, that can be cleared. Five-sixths is held in farms and 

 small areas under 1,000 acres in extent, so that much the greater part of 

 the forest land should be considered as farm woodlots. Of the remain- 

 ing one-sixth, nearly one-half belongs to the famous Biltmore estate, 

 which, besides forest, includes much rich and well-tilled agricultural 

 land. 



Rough forest land has an assessed valuation of from $2 to $5 per 

 acre, varying according to location and the amount of standing timber. 



Railroad facilities in Buncombe County are excellent. Four lines of 

 the Southern Railway radiate from Asheville, the center of the county, 

 to the north, south, east, and west; besides which there is an electric 

 road which is being extended from Asheville to the northeast corner of 

 the county. There are 700 miles of wagon roads in the county, 60 

 miles of which are macadamized. 



Buncombe is essentially an agricultural county. There are a few 

 small woodworking plants in and around Asheville, a tanning extract 

 plant, and one of the largest plants in the South for the manufacture of 

 coffins and caskets is now being built at Asheville. Asheville is head- 

 quarters for a large hardwood business, but the dealers draw their sup- 



