54 FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



whicli is drained by Linville River, flowing soutli, and Elk Creek, flowing 

 north, the county lies within the drainage basin of the ITorth Toe River, 

 which, with Crabtree Creek, forms its western boundary. The streams, 

 generally speaking, flow through comparatively narrow valleys with 

 high mountains on either side. The topography is rough and the alti- 

 tudes high. Grrandfather Mountain attains an altitude of nearly 6,000 

 feet, while several other peaks exceed 5,000 feet in height. The average 

 elevation of the county may be said to be approximatly 3,000 feet above 

 sea level. The ridges of the higher mountains are narrow, with rocky, 

 precipitous slopes and thin soil, while the lower ridges are often broader. 

 These slopes have a sandy clay soil of varying depths, which, if not too 

 steep, will produce an abundance of grass when cleared. The broad 

 ridges, especially in the southern part of the county, which have been 

 cleared for farming purposes, are usually covered with a deep, loamy 

 clay soil. In the valleys the soil varies from a sandy loam to a stiff red 

 clay. These valley and lower soils are well adapted to agriculture. 



A few valley roads are in fair condition, but like its neighbor, Yancey, 

 this county should have improved travel facilities in roads and bridges. 

 It would seem that some arrangement could be entered into between 

 these two counties for the joint construction of two or three bridges 

 across Toe River, which would result in enormous benefit to both. 

 Mitchell has built one steel bridge across North Toe at Spruce Pine, 

 where the stream is entirely within the county. 



The Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway runs down the Mitchell 

 side of the l^orth Toe River, so that all points in the southern portion 

 of the county are within a fairly short haul from the railroad. A nar- 

 row gauge railroad, which runs from Pineola to Johnson City, Tenn., 

 has opened up the northeastern section of the county to summer visitors, 

 and has made an outlet for timber products. The greater part of the 

 lumber shipped from the county has been carried over this road. 



Bakersville, the county seat, is in the heart of the mountains on Cane 

 River, some three miles from the nearest railroad station. Better travel 

 facilities would make it a very attractive summer resort. 



Farming is carried on chiefly along the valleys and lower slopes and 

 hills. Corn and hay, the chief crops, are used locally. At least 50 per 

 cent of the cleared land is used for grazing, though stock are still 

 allowed to range the forests over a large part of the county. 



Mica, kaolin, and iron are mined to a limited extent. Sheet mica is 

 associated with feldspar in the central and southern portions of the 

 county, and considerable high grade commercial mica has been shipped. 

 There are two kaolin mines on Bear Creek. At Cranberry, iron has 



