31 
GEOLOGY OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
River, (South Fork) ; all these being thrown oft by the steeper slopes 
and more rapid torrents from the western escarpments and hurled against 
the very crests of the Blue Ridge, along which they wander lingeringly 
in slow and tortuous course, as if anxiously seeking the shorter passage 
to the sea ; but finally turn, as it in desperation, and plunge with roar 
and foam against the frowning ramparts which bar their way to the west. 
In addition to these rivers which flow west and north, there are several 
others which take their rise along the eastern and southern margin of the 
tableland whose course is eastward and southward, as Linville River 
which drops from the high tableland at Linville Falls ; and Green River , 
which has cut its way down through a gradually descending narrow valley, 
or trough, along the edge of the plateau, for 20 miles before it breaks 
through the eastern barrier of the Try on range; having a fall to this 
point, (from the road crossing near Saluda Gap), of not less than 800 feet; 
and to theso may be added Toxaway River, whose head streams drain the 
tableland of the southern end of Jackson and Transylvania counties; and 
the head streams of the Chatooga, out of Casher’s Valley and Horse Cove. 
Eastward of the Blue Ridge the rivers may be grouped into four systems. 
The first will comprise the waters which drain the southern slope of 
the piedmont plateau, and which make their exit in a general course a 
little east of south, by the channels of Broad, River and South Forh of 
Catawba • the latter rising in the flanks and spurs of the South Moun- 
tains, and the former receiving its waters, in part, from that range, (by 
way of Buffalo Creek and First Broad and Second Broad rivers , but 
chiefly from the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, Green River being its 
largest affluent.) Broad River has, with its tributary rivers, a total length 
of 110 miles, and drains an area of 1250 square miles, including Polk, 
Rutherford and Cleaveland counties; and the South Fork, a length of 
75 miles, draining portions of Burke, Catawba, Lincoln and Gaston,— 
seme 800 square milas, — its confluence with the Catawba having deter- 
mined an important corner of the southern boundary of the State. The 
tall of these waters, from the foot of the mountains to the State line, 
may be stated generally at about 900 feet, crossing the border at eleva- 
tions of 600 and 500 feet, by the channels of Green and Catawba rivers. 
The second river system is that which drains the northern half of the 
piedmont, and is represented by the two large streams, Catawba and 
Yadkin , whose general course is a few degrees north of east to the point 
where they leave this plateau, emerging by a sharp curve, in a south- 
erly course at right angles to the former. It is noticeable that both these 
rivers receive the more part of their waters and all their larger tributa- 
ries from the north ; those of the Catawba, North Fork , Linville, Upper 
