• 

57TH CoNGRESs, } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. { DoCUMENT 

1st 8e8sion. No.- 483. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WATER-SUPPLY 

AND 

IRRIGATION PAPERS 

OF THE 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

No. 63 

HYDROGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN 

MOUNTAIN REGION, PART H.-PRESSEY 

W .ASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1902 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR 

HYDROGRAPHY 

OF THE 

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION 

PART II 

By HENRY ALBERT PRESSEY 

WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1902 

CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Drainage basins-Continued ________ ----------------------------~---------- 105 

Nolichucky River ___ .• _ g_ • _ •••• ________ • ___ ••• __ • __ •• ________ • ___ • _ _ _ _ 105 

Physical features ____ .. _ ... __________ .... __ . ___ . ________ . ____ . _. _ _ 106 

Rainfall _______ . _________ . _ . ____ .. ___ . ____________ . ___ .• ~ ~ _ . _____ . 106 

Forests __ . ____ . __ . ______ . ______ .. ______ . _ ~ __________________ .. _ .. _ _ 106 

Minerals. _____ . _. _______ .. __________ ___ : _____ . ______ .... ------o·-- _ 106 

Discharge measurements _ _ . _ ... ______ . ____ .. ___ .. ____ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 107 

Water powers __ . ______ . ____ . _ . ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ __ _,. ___ .: .. __ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 107 

Tributaries of Nolichucky River ____________________ . ___ . ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 108 

Discharge measurements_. _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ • ______ . _ .. _______ .. __ .. _ _ _ 108 

North Indian Creek. _______ . ____ 0. _________ . ______ ~ _ .• ___________ . 110 

South Indian Creek .. __ _ __ .... __ . ____________ . ~ _ . __ . ___ . ____ . ____ . 110 

Hollow Poplar Creek _____________________ . ________ . ____ . _____ . ___ . 111 

North Toe River ______ .. __ . ____ .... _____________ .. __________ 0 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 111 

South Toe River . _____ -________ . __ . ____________ ... _____ ... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 114 

Caney River __ .. _____ . _____ . ________ . _. _ _ _ _ _______ . _________ . __ .. 114 

French Broad River ______ . __ . _ _ _ _ _ . _________ . _____ 0 ____________ • _ _ _ _ 115 

General features. __________ . _____ . ____ .. __ . ________ . ______ . ____ . _ 115 

Watershed in North Carolina _ . ____ . _. ____ . __ .. __ ... _ . _______ .. 116 

Watershed in Tennessee ... __ :. _____ .. _____ . __ . _______ . _ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ 121 

Rainfall _ .... __ .. _ .. __ . _ . __ .. _______________ .. _ .... ________ 0 __ • _ •• ___ • 123 

Transportation __ . __ . ____ 0 __ • _____ • _ •• __________ •• __ • __ • _____ • ___ • 124 

Discharge measurements _____ ·o _. ___ • ___ • _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________ • ___ ... •• 124 

Water powers . ______ .. _ ... ____ . _. ______________ . _ .. _ 0 • ___ • __ •• _ _ _ 125 

Tributaries of French Broad River .. _____ ! __ . ___ . ________ .. _ .. ___ . _ .. _ _ _ 127 

Discharge measurements __ . _. __ .. _. _____ ... ___________ ... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 127 

Long Creek ____ . ____ .. __ .. ____________ . ____ . ___ . __ . _________ . __ ... _ 129 

Big Creek . ___ . _____ . ___ .. _______________ . ___ .. _ .. __ . _______ 0 ___ • • 129 

Laurel Branch, Mooneyham Branch, and Rock Creek _______ . _ _ _ _ _ _ 129 

Wolf Creek ... __________ 0 ____ .. _ _ _ • _ •• ___ ••• _ • __ • ______ • ___ •• __ • _ 129 

Shu tin Creek ___________ ~ _______________ . _______ .. _____ . __ . ______ . 130 

Spring Creek_ . __ . _. _____________ . _____ . _____________ . _______ . _ _ _ _ 130 

Big Laurel Creek ____ . ___ . . ____ . _____ . _____ . ______ . _ . ___ .. __ .. __ . _ . 130 

Shelton Laurel Creek_ . _ 0 _ • ____ ... __ • _ • ___________ • _____ •• _ _ _ _ _ 131 

Big Pine Creek _______ 0 • _ _ _ _ __ .. __ • ___ ••• _ • • _ _ _ _____________ ·- _ _ _ 131 

Walnut, Little Pine, and Hayes creeks. __ ._ .. ____________________ . 132 

Ivy River_ 0 __ • _____ • ___ • _ _ _ _ _ _______ 0 ____ • _ • • ____ • _____ • __ • _ _ _ 132 

Sandym ush Creek ___ G _ _ _ _ _ _ _________ • ___ • _____ • _____ .. _________ • _ _ 134 

Turkey Creek • ___ .... ________ .. _______ . _ .... __ 0 ___________ • _ •• _ 134 

Flat Creek. __ . ___ . __ .. ____ ... __ . __ . _ .. _________ . ___ . _______ ... _. _ _ 134 

Reems, Newfound, and Beaverdam creeks _____ .. _______________ ,___ 135 

Saluda River _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . __ . _ ....... __ . __ . ____ . _. __ . _ . _ . _ .. _____ •. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 135 

North Saluda River _. _. ______ . _ . __ .. __ .... _. ___ . _____ . _. _____ .. _ _ _ 136 

Middle Saluda River. 0 ___ • _ • __ •• _ • ___ • ____ •• _. ___ • 0 • _ •• __ 0 • __ • _ 0 _ _ 137 

South Saluda River ___ .. ___ . ____ 0 ____ • ______________ • ____ • _____ • 137 

Discharge measurements _. ___ . ___ . _ ... _ . ___ . _. _ .. _ . __________ ... _. 138 

Broad River _ _ ______ . ____ ... __ ... _ .... ______ ..... _ .. ___ . ______ .. ___ . 139 

Physical features . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _. __ . ____ .. _ . _ . ______ . _. ____ ... ___ . _ 0 139 

RainfalL ___ . ____ .. __ . ___ . _ . ____ . _ . ________ ... _ . ____ .. ______ . . _ _ _ _ 140 

Forests _______ ..... ______ . __ . ___ .. _ . __ .. __ . _____ .••.. _____ . ___ .. _ . _ _ _ 140 

101 
102 CONTENTS. 

Drainage basins-Continued. 

Broad River-Continued. 

Minerals _ _ _ . ___ ... _ . . ____ . __ .. _ . _ 

Discharge measurements. __ . ___ .. _. ___ . __ . _. _ .. _ .. ____________ . __ _ 

Water-powers ... ~ _ .. ____ . ____ . _ .. __ .. _ _ . __ . __ . ____ , _. _ .. __ . _____ . 

Tributaries of Broad River __ . ____ .. ____ . __ . __ ... _. __ ... _ .... __________ . 

Discharge measurements . ______ . ___ . _____ . _. ________ -- . -- . _ ... -. -. 

First Broad River ___ .. __ .. ____ . __ .. __________ .. ___ . __ ... __ .. _·_ .... 

Second Broad River ___ .. _. _____ . __ . ___ . _. _. _ .. ____________ . __ .. __ 

·Green River __ . ___ . _______________ . __ . _ ... ____ ... __ .. ___ . ___ . _ .. _ ... 

Catawba River_ .. __ ._ . __ . ___ . _____________ .. ____ . ~. _ ... _. _. __ . _ .... _. 

i:r::~~l-f~~~t~~~~ ~ ~~: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~::: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Forests __ .. __ ... __ .... _ .. _ ...... --. ----- -- ------ --- · -------- - ~- · -- Discharge measurements . __ . ___ . ___ . ___ . ______ ......... -.. --. . ~ -. 

Water powers ___ .... _ _ .. ___ .. ___ . _ ... ___ · _ .. _ .. _ . _ . -. . -- ...... -.. . 

Tributaries of Catawba Rive.r _ .. ___ .... _. _. _ ................. ---.-- ... --. 

Discharge measurements ___ .. ___ . ____ ._. __ ... ___ . ___ .- _ .... -- ~- ... 

Center, Crib, Clear, and Buck creeks --------· ___ ... ---------- ·---

North Fork of Catawba River .. --------------------------- ···---· Paddy Creek ___ .. ________ . ______ . _ . ____ ..... _ . _ .. ___________ . _ . __ . 

Linville River .... ___ ... _. _______ ... __ . _. ____ . __ . _ .... ___ . _ ... __ ... 

Cane Creek ____ . __________ . __ .. __ . _ ... ____ . _ . ___ .. ___ . - . _ -. --. -.. -. 

Upper Creek ___ ... _ . .. . ___ . . ~ __________________ . _ _ _ ... __ .... _ . __ _ 

John River. __ .... __ . _ .. _ . _ . _________ . _ . _ .. _ _ .. _ .... _ . __ . ___ . ___ .. . 

Lower Creek ______ .. _ . ___ . _ . _ .. _____ . _ . ___ . __ ... __ . _ . _ . . . . . . _ .... . 

· Yadkin River _____ ...... ___ .. _____ .. ____ .. _____ . _. ____ . __ ... _______ . _. _. 

Physical features ______ ... ___ .. ____ .. _ _ _ _ _ . __ . _ . ___ - _. -... -..... Soils _ . ______ . ____ . ____ . ___________ . _ .. _________ . __ ... _ . _________ _ 

Forests . _ ... __ .... _ . . . . . _ ... _ ... _ ....... ·_ ... - . ---. ----- . -------- --

Discharge measurements . _ .. _ .. _ ... _ _ __ .... _____ .. -.. - ...... -.-- Water powers __ . _____ . _____ . ___ . _____ . ___ ... _ .. __ . __ . _____ .. _. _ 

Tributaries of Yadkin River ______________ . __ ... _______ . ____ ---- __ .... . 

Discharge measurements ... _ .. __________ . ____ . _ .. _ . __ . _. ___ . _ .... . 

Elk Creek . ____ . __ . ___ . . .. __ . . . . .... ___ . ______ . . _ . ___ . _ . _ . ___ . _ . _ . 

Stony Creek __ . ____________________ . __ . _ . _ .. _ .. ____ . _ . ____ .... __ . 

Louis Fork . _. ______ . _ . _____ . ___ .. _ . _ .. _ .. _ . _ .. _ ..... _ .. _. ___ . ____ . 

Unnamed tributary east of Louis Fork .. _ .. _ .. __ .. ________ . _ .... _. 

Red die River__ ... _ . _ . ________ . ________ ... _ ...... _ _ _ _ .. __ .. - . _ .. 

Mulberry River ___ . _____ . _____ ... ___ . _ .... ___ .. ___ . _ ... __ . ___ .. __ 

Roaring River._ .. ___ . _______ . _. ___ . ________ . __ . _. _ .. __ . ___ .. _. _ .. 

Big Elkin River ___________ .. _______ .. ___ ... __ . _. _____ . ___ . _ . _____ . 

Mitchell River .. _. __ . __ . ____ ... __ . ____ . __ . _. _ _ ... __ .. ____ . ___ .. _.-

Fisher River _ . _. ____ .. ___ .. __ . __ . __________ . __ . _. ______ .... _____ _ 

• Ararat River . _________ ..... ___ .. _____ . _. __ .... _____ .. __ . __ .. ·. ______ _ 

New River _ . __ ... ___ . . _ . _______ . _ _ _ __ . _ . . .. ___ .. _______________ . ____ _ 

South Fork of New River .... __ .. __ . ~ _ _ _ . _ ... _ ............ _ .. _ ..... . 

General features ..... _____ . _ .. _ . ___ ... __ .... ___ .. -.. ----. ---.. 

Discharge measurements in basin ___ .. _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ .... _ ........ . 

Water powers in basin .. _ . ______ . _ . ___ . . . ____ .. __ ...... _ . __ . _ . 

North Fork of New River_ ...... ____ . __ . __ .. __ .. ___ .... __ .. __ .. ___ _ 

General features .. ________ . _ .. _ . _ .. ____ . _ . _. _. ___ . ________ .... 

Discharge measurements in basin ... _____ .. ___ ---------------. Water powers in basin _ .... _ ... ____ . _. _. __ .... __ -_________ • _ .. 

Streams southwest of French Broad River._. ____ ._. __ . _________ . ____ _ 

Index . __ ... _ ... 

Page. 

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168 

169 

169 

171 

171 

172 

173 

173 

i73 

174 

174 

175 

183 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PLATE XXVI. Cane Creek, tributary of Nolichucky River, showing characteristic rocky bed of mountain streams ________________ . 

XXVII. Gorge of Nolichucky River _ . _ . ____ .. _ . . .. _ . ____ . _ . ~ _ ~ ____ _ 

XXVIII. View showing effect of floods on Nolichucky River ________ _ 

XXIX. A, Splash dam on Little River, Tennessee; B, Combined sawmill and gristmill on Price Creek, Yancey County, N. C __ 

XXX. Swannanoa Rapids on Swannanoa River, North Carolina __ _ 

XXXI. French Broad River at Paint Rock, N.C. _____ . _ .. ______ _ 

XXXII. Mountain Island Shoal; French Broad River, North Carolina. 

XXXIII. Hickory Nut Gap from Chimney Rock, North Carolina _. __ 

XXXIV. Hickory Nut Creek, North Carolina .. ______ .. ____________ _ 

XXXV. Falls on upper Catawba River, North Carolina __ . _. ______ . _ 

XXXVI. A and B.,_ Views showing hillside wash in valley of Catawba. 

River _________ . ______________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ______ _ 

XXXVII. A, View showing removal of soil in valley by floods; B, View 

in valley of Catawba River, showing destruction by floods_ 

XXXVIII. Lower falls of Linville River, North Carolina ______ . ______ . 

XXXIX. Lower falls of Cullasagee Creek, North Carolina, a tributary 

of Little Tennessee River ___ . _________ . ___________ . ____ . _ 

XL. Oconalufty Valley, North Carolina ___________ . ___________ _ 

XLI. Tuckasegee River near Dillsboro, N. C _ _ _ _ ________ . __ .. __ 

XLII. Tuckasegee Falls, North Carolina _ _ . __ . ___________ ..... __ _ 

XLIII. Water-power development on Tuckasegee River near Painter, 

N. C -----··-------·----·-----··-----·---·-----· ------ --- XLIV. _Qkoee River near Ducktown, Tenn. ___ _ 

103 

Page. 

105 

106 

106 

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140~ 

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• 154 

174 

174 

176 

176 

178 

178 
• 
U. S. GE.OLOGICAL SURVEY WATER~SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXVI 

CAN E CR EEK, TRIBUTARY OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER , SHOWING CHARACTERISTIC 

ROCKY BED OF MOUNTAIN STR EAMS. 
HYDROGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN ~IOUNTAIN REGION. 

PART II. 

By HENRY A. PRESSEY. 

DR.AIN.AGltJ BASINS-Continued." 

NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

This river is formed by the junction of Toe River and Caney River 

about 8 or 9 miles east of the '"fennessee State line. Toe River is 

formed by the union of the North Toe and the South Toe between 

Sevenmile Ridg~ and the Burn Mountains. The area drained by the 

Nolichucky in North Carolina is in the high mountains within the 

limits of Yancey and 1\'Iitchell counties. 

Yancey County is preeminently mountainous, the Black Mountains 

penetrating it from the southeast and extending_ to its center, or to 

near Burnsville. The great Unaka Range separates the county_from 

Tennessee, and numerous cross chains intersect its surface in all 

·directio~s, leaving very little valley land except along the banks of 

the streams. As elsewhere in the region, the mountains her~ are fertile to the top, being covered with a deep and friable soil which bears 

trees of great size, and where cultivated produces all of the grains 

and grasses, as well as very excellent fruits, the apples'being especially 

fine. Cattle raising is an important industry. 

Mitchell County lies between the Blue Ridge on the south and east 

and the Unakas on the north, and like Yancey County is very mountainous, there being little valley land except along the headwaters of 

Toe River. The cultivated lands are very fermle. All of the cereals 

grow well, grasses flourish, and fruits of very fine quality are produced 

in abundance. 

The tributaries, like the main stream, rise near the summits of the 

mountain chains and flow over rocky and precipitious b_eds through 

narrow valleys. One of these rocky stream beds is shown in Pl. 

XXVI, a view of Cane' Creek, one of the large tributaries of the 

Nolichucky. 

a Continued from Part I, Water-Supply Paper No. 62. 

105 
106 SOU'l'HERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

The river :first flows almost north for several miles, then turns 

toward the northwest and :flows in a deep gorge through the Unaka 

Mountains (see Pl. XXVII) and into ~rennessee, where preserving its 

general westerly direction it finally enters French Broad River about 

7t miles southeast of Morristown, draining a total area of 640 square 

miles above the Tennessee line, comprising almost all of Mitchell 

County and all of Yancey Coun.ty. It leaves the -mountains near 

Embreville, Tenn., which was the western limit of the investigation, 

although some observations were made of the charact~r of the 

country lying to the west, sufficient to establish the. fact that it 

differed in no important respects from -the area already described as 

the Valley of East Tennessee. 

None of the small closed drainage basins or sinks which are so 

numerous in the valley of the Holston were seen in the basin of the 

Nolichucky, but there seems to be a greater number of large springs. 

RAINFALL. 

The rainfall over the basin is about 51.2 incb.es per an'Q.um, 11.4 

inches of which falls in the spring, 15.7 inches in the summer, 11.6 

inches in the autumn, and 13.5 inches in the winter. The whole area 

is subject to sudden and violent .rains, producing great :floods, while 

in the winter the ice moving downstream sometime~ forms ice dams 

which do a great deal of damage. ~rhe streams are therefore of much 

less value as sources of power than they otherwise would be. The 

effect of floods on the Nolichucky is shown in Pl. XXVIII. 

FORESTS. 

A very large part of the basin is still covered with the original forest. 

It is estimated that of the 640 square miles in North Carolina 78 per 

cent is forested, owing, doubtless, to the inaccessibility of the country. 

It is thought, however, that deforestation will begin in the near future, 

since in the summer of 1900 the Ohio River and Charleston Railroad 

was completed as far as the mouth of Caney River, and it is probable 

that the area drained by that stream will be lumbered at once, as 

already small spasmodic efforts in ·that direction have been made. 

Small sawmills run by water power have been built on a number of 

the smaller tributaries, and in a few instances splash dams have been 

constructed for the purpose of driving the logs over the rocky ledges 

of the mountain streams. Pl. XXIX, A, shows a splash dam on Little 

River, Tennessee, which raises the water 35 feet. Pl. XXIX, B, shows 

a characteristic combined sawmill and gristmill of Yancey County, 

with its immense overshot wheel. 

MINERALS. 

The area is very rich in minerals, Mitchell and Yancey counties, as 

already stated, furnishing a large part of the world's supply of mica. 

Many varieties of gems also occur, such as emerald, aquamarine, 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXVII 

GORGE OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 83 PL. XXVIII 

VIEW SHOWING EFFECT OF FLOODS ON NO LICHUCKY RIVER, 
PRESSEY.] NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 107 

amethyst, and tourmaline. Some corundum has been found, and 

there are large deposits of iron ore, notably in the small streal!l valley 

of Bumpass Cove, where the iron is mined to supply the fm·nace at 

Embreville, which has a capacity of 150 tons of pig .iron a day. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation a temporary gaging station was established 

on the Nolichucky near Chucky Valley, Tenn., where gage-height 

readings were maintained and measurements were made as shown in 

the following table. The river was also gaged near Erwin, Tenn., and 

numerous miscellaneous measurements were made on its tributaries, 

as shown by the table on pages 108 and 109. 

Discharge measurements of Nolichucky River. 

Date. Locality. Hydrographer. Gage I Dis- height. charge. 

------l--------------------------~l-------------------1------

Feet. Sec.-ft. 

2.0 302 

1900. 

Sept. 5 Near Chucky Valley, Tenn .... ---------- L. V. Branch and E. W. 

2.18 442 

2.0 378 

2.9 919 

Myers. Sept.20 ..... do ------ -----· .... ---··· .... ______________ .do------ ___ ....... ------ Oct. 15 ..... do-·------·-····-------··------------- ..... do-----------···--··-----

Nov.10 ..... do----------------------····---------- ..... do------------------···· 

20.67 770 

21.53 411 

Aug.23 NearErwin,Tenn ...................... L.V.Branch .............. . Sept. 4 ...•. do ---·-- ---------------- .. __ . ___ ...... ____ .do .... -------- ____ ------

NoTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This is true of the measurements in the above table which were made near 

Chucky Valley. In making the measurements near Erwin, however, bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. In the latter cases, therefore, an increase in the gage height 

means a lowering of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the 

stream. 

WATER POWERS. 

The fall of the river ·is very much h~ss than would naturally be 

expected in a stream draining so high and mountainous an area, the 

total fall between the junction of the North and South Toe and 

Embreville being only about 850 feet in a distance, following the 

course of the river, of about 40 miles, an average qf about 21 feet to 

the mile. Throughout this part of its course the river flows through 

a gorge with steep and rocky sides, and although there are numerous 

places where dams could be constructed, and although the fall per 

mile is large, the opportunities for developing the power are meager, 

for building room is lacking and the construction of raceways would 

be costly. Good railroad facilities exist here, since an extension of 

the Ohio River and Charleston Railroad passes along the river bank. 

About 1! miles below the mouth of Caney River, where the stream 

is about 200 feet wide, there is a fall of 25 feet, or a little more, in a 

distance of a half mile, but as elsewhere throughout this portion of 

its course, there is no building room close to the river, though sites 

could be found near the summits of the hills. 
108 SOU'l'HERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

TRIBUTARIES OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

The drainage basins of the principal tributaries of the Nolichucky 

down to Embreville, Tenn., were visited and the following Jneasurements were made, in order upstream: 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Nolichucky Ri_ver. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h Gage D.isy rograp er. height. charge. 

l--------------1---------------------------l------------------------

1900. Feet. 

Aug.022 ___ Rock Crf.lek ------ 100yardsabovemouth, Tennessee L. V. Branch ____ _ D North Indian Unicoi,Tenn _______ ---------------- ..... do------------

3.69 

4.58 

Creek. 

se~~- 4- ~~~~~a~~~~~~~====== -~~:vJ~:~~~~=~~ ~=== ====:= ==== =====~ ~====a~==~========: 3.95 

4.19 

Sept.19 ·---.do------------ _____ do-------------------------.---- E. W. Myers_---- 4.05 

Oct. 16 _____ do ____________ ..... do ••.•. ------------------------- L. V.Branch ..... 4.18 

1901. 

.Tune 18 ...... do.·---------- ____ .do-~---------------------------· E. W. Myers ..... ____ ----

1900. 

Aug. 23 Sept. 4 

Aug.2a 

Sept. 4 

Sept.19 

Aug.2ll 

Martin Creek... Near Erwin, Tenn ---------------- L. V.Branch ----- 1.59 _____ do------------ ..... do--------------------·--------- _____ do----------·- 1.68 

South Indian _____ do------------··-----·---------- ..... do------------ 5.a8 

Creek. ..... do--.... ------ . ___ .do_ ....• ____ ·-·---. _____ .... ____ ..... do .... ____ ---- 5. 49 ..... do------ ______ ..... do ______ .... __________ ------ ____ E. W. Myers·.---- 5.40 

Hollow Poplar Ford of Erwin-Bakersville road, L.V.Branch..... 8.15 

Creek. North Carolina. 

Oct. 16 ..... do------ __ ......... do-----------· ..... _________________ .do------------ 8.26 

Aug. 24 Toe River····----- Near Runtdale, N. C ·--------- ---- ..... do------------ 15.89 

Oct. 17 ____ .do------------ ..... do .... -----·-----·---------~ .... ____ .do------------ 16.12 

Aug. 27 North Toe River. At ford of Linville-Cranberry ..... do------------- 3.60 

road, North Carolina. 

Oct. l~:~~-21 ..... 

~====!~ do ................. ======~=~=== -~~~jo~~~~~~~~~~~:~~=======~~=~ do .......... -------------------- ..... ·f:ti~iity~~=== do ............ --i~::- 18.37 

Oct. 25 ..... do. ___________ ..... do ... --------------------------- ..... do ____________ 17.15 

Aug. 24 Pigeon Roost At mouth, North Carolina ________ ..... do------------ 7.39 

Creek. Oct. 19 ..... do ................. do ______________________________ ..... do____________ 7.47 

Aug.24 BigRockCreek. Ford of Huntdale-Bakersville ..... do _____________ 2.42 

road, North Carolina. 

Oct. 19 

Sept. 3 

Oct. 19 

Sept. 3 

Oct. 19 Aug.~ 

----.do .... ---- ____ . ___ .do. _____ .----·. ______ ... c._----- ____ .do------ __ .... 

Jack Creek------ At mouth, North Carolina .... ---- _____ do--··--------

----.do-------- .. ______ .do------ __ .... _______ -----_----- ____ .do_-----------

-~~~~n-~~~~~= === ~===:a~====~~=========-=~~~~===~~~:== =~~=:a~~:~:=~:::~~= Cane Creek------ One-halfmileabovemouth,North ..... do------------

Carolina. 

2.64 

6.09 

6.10 

5.86 

5.85 

9.20 

Oct. 19 _____ do ____________ ..... do. _____________________________ ..... do____________ 9.26 

1901. 

8~t ~~ :::::a~============ -~~~ct~s-~~ ~·-~--~ ====== ====~~=-~==== -~--~~~:.~~~-==~== ---o:oo· 

1900. 

Aug.25 

Oct. 20 Aug.25 

Oct. 20 Aug. 25 

Aug.26 

Oct. 20 

Aug.26 

Oct. 20 

Aug.26 

Oct. 21 

Aug.26 

Oct. 21 

BrushCreek ..... Lower ford of Burnsville- L.V.Branch ..... Sprucepine road, North Carolina. ----.do.------- _________ do _______ -----. _____ ._ .... ___________ do ___________ _ 

Crabtree Creek .. Ford of Burnsville-Sprucepine ..... do------------

road, North Carolina. . ---.do .... __ ------ ____ .do ________________ .. _______ . ________ .do---·-- ____ __ 

-~~;rl~~e~===~~~ -~~wg;~~~-~~~~===========~====~=== ~~===a~~==:~::::::~ -~~~~~y-~~~e-~== Beaver Creek .... =~ -~~~~~~~~~~· Near Sprucepine, ~:-~- = N.C ===== ... 

====== _____ = ===== .... ~===~a~=~~===~~~~=~ _____ do------------

----.do.-----.----- ____ .do ______ -----------· _____ .... ______ ... do. _____ ------ Threemile Creek Near old post-office at Elsie, N.C ...... do------ _____ _ ----.do .. -----_---- __ ... do . _________ . ___ ....... ____ . _______ .. do __ .... _-----

1.39 

un 

7.97 

7.91 

3.03 

3. 76 3. 70 

5.21 

5.111 

4.50 

4.29 

5.38 

5.30 

Sec.-ft. 6.37 

37.9 

51.0 

22.0 

29.7 

26.13 

174.0 

7.55 

6.45 

52.3 

33.2 

53.0 

5.98 

2.61 

381.0 

301.0 

18.0 

79.0 

323.0 

105.0 

78.0 

570.0 

14.5 

4.12 

51.3 

24.5 

8. 71 

6.83 

1.65 

1.26 

11.78 

9.92 

22.82 

21.05 

4.37 

0. 72 15.2 

14.55 

2.0 

4.67 

3.73 

6.09 

9.15 

3.29 

3.08 

2.63 

3.57 
U. $, GEOLOGICAL SUtWEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 83 PL. XXIX 

A. SPLASH DAM ON LITTLE RIV ER, TE NNESS EE. 

11. COMBIN E D SAWMI L L AND GRISTMI L L ON PRIC E CR EEK, YANCEY COUNTY, N.C. 
PRESSEY.] TRIBUTARIES OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 109 

Discharge rneasurernents of tributaries of Nolichucky River-Continued. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h ' Gage Dls- Y rograp er. height. charge. 

1900. 

Aug. 27 Hensons Creek._ 

Do _ _ Plumtree Creek_ 

Do . . Roaring Creek . _ Do-- Squirrel Creek .. 

At mouth, North Carolina .... ____ L. V. Branch.·---

Feet. Sec.-ft. 

6. 94 4.8 

Plumtree,N.C ---------------- ____ ..... do .•. .' .. ------ 2.99 8.09 

At mouth, North Carolina ________ ..... do------------ 7.89 15.57 

One-fourth mile above mouth, ____ .do------------ 3.12 11.2 

North Carolina. 

Aug. 28 Horse Creek ..... At mouth, North Carolina .... ____ E. Graves-------- 5.55 

Oct. 24 ..... do ...... ------ ..... do-----------------·------------ L. V. Branch ____ . 5.15 

Aug. 27 Whiteoak Creek ...... do---------------------- ____ ---- ____ .do------------ 2.26 

Do -- Kentucky Fork ...•. do------ •••......• -------------- ..... do------------ 2.85 

of North Toe 

River. 

Aug.31 SouthToeRiver. Onemile above mouth of Three ..... do____________ 4.34 

Fork Creek, North Carolina. 

Oct. 26 ..... do ____________ ..... do----------·------------------- ..... do____________ 3.30 

July 1 ..... do •........... Ford of Micaville-Sprucepine H.A.Pressey ____ -------- road, North Carolina. · Aug. 25 ..... do------------ ____ .do------------------------------ L. V.Branch_____ 8.08 

Aug. 30 _ .... do------------ _____ do------ .... -------------------- ..... do------------ 7.98 

Oct. 27 ..... do_----------- ---·.do .... ------ ____________ ---- ____ ..... do ...... ------ 7.23 

Aug.30 CaneBranch ..... Ford of Micaville-Marion road, ..... do------------ 3.92 

North Carolina. · Oct. 26 ..... do ____________ ..... do·----------------------------- ..... do ....... ____ 3.78 

Aug.30 Little Crabtree Just above lower ford of Mica- ..... do____________ 4.28 

Creek. ville-Sprucepine road, North 

Carolina . Oct. 27 

Aug.30 ... . do ... ________ ..... do------------ ... ___ -------- ____ ..... do ______ ------ 4.23 

Brown Creek .... Ford of Micaville-Marion road, ..... do____________ 3.02 

Oct. 26 

Aug.30 

()ct. 26 

Aug.30 

Oct. 26 

Aug.31 

Oct. 26 

Aug.31 

Oct.· 26 

Aug. 31 

Oct. 26 

Aug.31 

North Carolina . ...•. do _______ . ____ ..... do---------------- ____ ---------- ·---.do------------ WhiteoakCreek.. At mouth, North Carolina _____________ do' ___________ _ 

----.do·--- ____ ---- ..... do .... ------------------ .. ------ ..... do ________ .... Locust Creek ... _ ..... do·--- ________ -------------- ____ ..... do ___________ _ ••••. do ____________ ..... do ________ ------------ ____ . _____ ..... do------------

Colbert Creek ___ Ford of Micaville-Marion road, ..... do------------

North Carolina. 

----.do---···------ ..... do------------ ... __ ---- .•.. ---- ----.do ____ -------- Middle Creek ________ .do .....• ---------------·-------- ..... do ...... ------ -----do.----------- ____ .do ...... ----...... · .•..•. --- .... ______ .do_----- _____ _ Rock Creek ........... do------------------------------ _____ do------ _____ _ ----.do.------- ________ .do------ ____ .... ___ .-·--·--- ____ . ___ .do ___________ _ Three Fork One-fourth mile above mouth, ..... do ___________ _ Creek. North Carolina. 

2.85 

4.66 

4.28 

1. 98 

1.87 

3.87 

3.50 

3.94 

3.64 

1.96 

1.62 

1.49 

Sept. 1 Caney River. ____ Near Big •.rom Wilson's, North _____ do ...... ------ 1.33 

Carolina . Oct. 18 

Aug. 24 

Sept. 3 

Oct. 17 

Sept. 2 

Oct. 17 

Sept. 2 

..... do ...... ------ ..... do-------------· ........ '------- ____ .do ...... ------ _____ do ........ ---- Huntda1e,N.C .............•........... do __________ __ ..... do ................. do •....•. ----- ____ ------ ............ do ___________ _ ..... de-...... ______ ..... do------ .....• ------·----------- ____ .do.----- ..... . Big Greek ........ At mouth, North Carolina ............. do .... _______ _ ..... do ...... ------ ..... do ____ -------------------------- __ ... do ... __ ------ Little Bald ____ .do •........... ·----------------- ...... do •..... ------ Mountain 

Creek. 

1.34 

3.69 

3.82 

3.83 

2.83 

2.89 

4.91 

Oct. 17 ..... do------------ ..... do .... -------------------------- ..... do------______ 4.90 

Sept. 2 Bald' Mountain One mile above mouth, North ..... do____________ 3.43 

Creek. Carolina. 

Oct. 17 ..... do ____________ ----.do------ ................ ---- ......... do ....... ____ _ Sept. 2 Elk Shoal Creek. At mouth, North Carolina ............. do ...... ------ Do ___ Bald Creek ...... Near Burnsville, N. C ------------- ..... do ...... _____ _ Oct. 18 ..... do ................. do ........ ,. ........ ------------ ..... do ___________ _ Sept. 2 Price Creek_---- ..... do .....• ------------ ...... ------ ...... do ...... ------ Oct. 18 ..... do ................. dO------------------------------ ..... do .. ---------

~f~·1~ -~~~J~~~~=~~~== =====a~:::::=======:--=~::::=======:== ~====a~:::::::=:=== Sept. 1 Cattail Branch __ ..... do---· ........ -----·---------- _ ...•. do .......... .. Oct. 18 ..... do ................. do---------- ______________ ------ ..... do ... ________ _ 

Sept. 1 Elk Fork Creek_ Near Big Tom Wilson's, North ..... do .•...• ------ Carolina. ' 

3.55 

1.63 

4.56 

4.56 

2.48 

2.53 

5.03 

4.97 

2. 78 2.64 

1.24 

Oct. 18 ..... do------------ ...... do------ ____ ---------------· ________ .do------------ 1.28 

9.03 

40.53 

3.36 

9.7 

26.0 

101.0 

220.8 

79.8 

86.23 

282.9 

2.98 

8.59 

17.54 

21.67 

4.94 

9.43 

4.40 

19.86 

3.83 

7.96 

2.51 

7.24 

3. 78 

9.20 

6.92 

28.68 

9.49 

17.11 

13.9 

89.9 

62.77 

58.3 

5.67 

2.0 

2.12 

2.61 

19.7 

10.6 

.1.29 

16.25 

9.97 

9.46 

8.35 

3.45 

4.02 

2. 77 4.69 

4. 78 

1.49 

NOTE.-ln making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the 

bench mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the 

re\erse of the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where 

an increase in the gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
110 SOUTHERN APPAI~ACHIA.N MOUN·l'AIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

Descriptions of the drainage basins and water powers of the larger 

of these tributary streams are given on the following pages, in order 

upstream. , 

NORTH INDIAN CREEK. 

Around Erwin, Tenn., and up North Indian Creek there is a very 

picturesque farming country. The creek drains a large area, the 

upper part of which is mountainous, with steep slopes, while near the 

Nolichucky it broadens out into a fertile valley. The low-water discharge was measured and found to be 22 second-feet. On this creek, 

at Unicoi, Tenn., the Unaka Milling and Lumber Company has a large 

wood-working plant and gristmill. Their power (about 40 horsepower) 

is developed by 20-inch and 24-inch turbines working under a head of 

16 feet. Just above Unicoi an old ore washer formerly utilized a fall 

of 30 feet, but it is now out of use. On Dick Creek, a tributary of 

North Indian Creek, there are four falls averaging 30 to 40 feet each. 

In the limestone cove on North Indian Creek there are four gristmills 

using the water power. This cove is a widening of the valley of the 

creek, and in it are a number of good farms under cultivation. J\'Iuch 

limestone is found' over this entire section of country. Two miles 

above Erwin, on the Nolichucky, J. T. Wilder has a sawmill and woodworking plant. The dam acroE~s the stream is 17 feet high and backs 

the water in the river three.;fourths of a mile. About 80 horsepower 

is developed by one turbine. 

SOUTH INDIAN CREEK: 

Entering the river from the south, about 2 miles above Erwin, is 

South Indian Creek, a stream in many respects similar to North 

Indian Creek, though the proportion of cleared land in its basin is 

somewhat less. 

The creek rises on the northern slope of the Unaka Mountains, 

draining an area the upper part of which is made up of high, steep, 

and rugged mountain slopes, which as a rule are very densely forested. 

As. the stream is descended, however, the mountains ·recede from it 

and leave broad and fertile bottoms, which are entirely cleared and 

under cultivation, grass, corn, and wheat being the principal crops. 

The cleared areas form a very small part of the whole basin, however, 

probably less than 10 per cent. 

A great deal of timber is being cut in this area, particularly near 

the heads of the smaller tributaries near its mouth, and there are several small sawmills located on the creek which cut part of this product, 

the remainder being worked upon the spot by the small portable sawmills which are moved from place to place as the tiinber is cut. 

At the time the stream was visited in September, 1900, its discharge 

was very low-about 33 second-feet. It is said to have reached a lower 

stage during the summer and fall of that year than ever before. The 

flood rise at the mouth is between 7 and 8 feet. 
PRESSEY.] TRIBUTARIES OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 111 

HOLLOW POPLAR CREEK. 

This stream, which receives its drainage from the eastern slope of 

the Unaka Mountains, has a low-water flow of about 6 second-feet. 

Excepting the lower 2 miles, where there are several small farms, the 

creek valley is very narrow, with almost no land under cultivation. 

The ·side hills are steep and are heavily covered with timber and underbrush. The slope is greater than that of either North Indian Creek or 

South Indian Creek, the total fall from source to mouth, a distance of 5 

miles, being about 2,000 feet. The fall is greatest near the headwaters, where it is a mountain stream jumping from ledge to ledge 

.. down the side of the mountain. There is no cleared land except near 

its mouth, the steep slopes being covered with the original forest 

growth. 

NQRTH TOE RIVER. 

The North Toe rises on the western slope, of the Blue Ridge, in the 

northeastern part of Mitchell County. Its course is circuitous, flowing first to the southwest, then to the west, and then to the northwest, receiving numerous tributaries, the chief of which is the South 

Toe, which unites with it on the line between Mitchell and Yancey 

counties. Practically the whole of Mitchell County is draindd by the 

North Toe and its tributaries, the Nolichucky proper receiving the 

drainage from the extreme western part of the county, a small part of 

the northeastern section draining into El~ Creek, a tributary of the 

Watauga, and another small portion of the eastern section being 

drained by Linville River. 

r;J:he region of the headwaters of the North Toe is very rough, 

with steep mountain slopes and narrow valleys sparsely populated. 

Along Whiteoak Creek and for a distance on the main stream and 

the Kentucky Pork above their junction the valley is wide and flat, 

but is heavily timbered. Part of· it is in a rather swampy condition 

and is covered with heavy laurel thickets. Below the mouth of 

Whiteoak Crook the mountains close in and form a narrow and steep 

gorge as far down as Horse Creek. There t~e valley widens out a 

little, and from there down there is some bottom land under cultivation on each side of the river. 

The tributaries of the river in this section and as far down as 

Sprucepine flow directly from the mountains in narrow gorges. They 

are for the most part short streams with great fall but with little 

water. The only cleared land along them is within a half mile of 

their mouths or on top of the mountains from which they flow, the 

mountain sides being too steep for successful cultivation. Throughout the region from the head of the river and its tributaries down to 

Sprucepine and to the .mountain summits on either side probably not 

more than one-sixth of the land is cleared. The cleared areas are 

• 
112 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63 . 

. nearly all planted in wheat and corn, alt.hough a small portion is in 

grass, for grazing purposes. A few miles above Sprucepine the mountains recede from the river, leaving a very wide valley, which extends 

down to t.he Cane Creek Valley on the north side of the river and to 

Caney River on the south side. This valley is rather hilly throughout most of its area, and the land is cleared. on the north side 

between S:prucepine and Bakersville. On the south side ~ost of the 

cleared land is around Burnsville, although there are ·a number of 

farms near Sprucepine and along Grassy Creek. 

One mile above t.he mouth of Pigeon Roost Creek and just above 

the ford there is a very good site for the construction of a dam. A 

water power of considerable magnitude could be developed here. 

Lying t.o the south of the main channel of the river is an island which 

rises about 15 feet above the water level and is never ov~rflowed, not 

even during the highest floods. '"fhere is~ heavy fall in the river, and 

by the construction of a dam from the end of the island to the north 

bank of the stream all of the water could be turned into the narrow 

channel behind the island and a fall of 15 feet or more be obtained. 

Above this point there are many shoals, the river having a large 

fall throughout that part of its course, flowing in a deep gorge, with 

sides rising at angles of 30 t.o 40 degrees. There are several small 

mills on the upper part of the river, but the larger portion of the power 

developed in the basin is derived from the tributaries, the needs of 

the mills requiring the development of only a few horsepower at any 

place. Powers of considerf!,ble magnitude, however, can be developed 

on t4ese streams, for notwithstanding the amount of water carried hy each one is small the fall obtainable in a short distance is 

large, and absolutely safe locations for buildings can be obtained, 

which is not always the case on the main river. 

The first mill of any size on the Nort.h Toe is just above the mouth 

of Bear Cre~k. It is a gristmill, mica-grinding mill, and wood-carving 

establishment. The owners have developed a 6-foot fall and claim to 

have about 75 horsepower. At Elsie, farther upstream, there is a 

combined flour mill, sawmill, and gristmill with a small dam giving 

a 10-foot fall. 

Just below the mouth of Plumtree Creek Vance Brothers have a 

combined mica mill and sawmill, using a large part of the low-water 

flow in the river with a 36-inch Samson turbine under an 11-foot head. 

Mica is abundant throughout this district, and is mined extensively 

from Plumtree Creek down the river as far as Big Rock Creek on the 

north and Caney River on the south. In this district there are also 

several water powers developed for grinding mica. 

The swift-flowing tributary streams of the North Toe, with their 

numerous vertical falls, furnish abundant power for small mills, and a 

number of the power sites have been developed, though in a small 

way. .• 
PRESSEY.J TRIBUTARIES OF NOLICHUCKY RIVER. 113 

On Pigeon Roost Creek, which enters Toe River 2 miles above the 

mouth of Caney River and has a low-water flow of about 14! .secondfeet, there are two large mills, the first a small sawmill and gristmill 

about 100 yards above its mouth, utilizing a fall of 16 feet; the second 

one a sawmill and gristmill 3 miles upstream, using an overshot wheel. 

There are only two rolling mills in Mitchell County-one on Big 

Rock Creek, belongi;ng to Henry 1\'Iaster and having a capacity of 30 

barrels per day; the other on Cane Creek, just below Bakersville, 

and having about the same capacity. At Magnetic, on Big Rock 

Creek, there is a large mica mill, and at the mouth of Beams Creek 

is located Garland's mica mill, using a 15-!-inch. Leffel wheel. On 

Cane Creek there is a sawmill just above its mouth, and at Wing, on 

Snow Creek, J. C. Phillips has a sawmill and gristmill using two 

overshot wheels of 14 and 15 feet diameter, respectively. Above this 

mill there are two small gristmills on Snow Creek. 

On Crabtree Creek, 4 miles above the mouth, there is a fall of 100 

feet, 40 feet of which is in a clear vertical leap. Six mica 'mills, run 

by one turbine under 116 feet head, are located at this place. On 

Bear Creek there are two small corn mills with a fall of 20 feet and 

12 feet, respectively. On Beaver Creek there is a combined sawmill 

and corn and wheat mill run by an overshot wheel and. a Leffel turbine with an 18-foot fall. Farther up the stream there is a small 

corn mill run by a 16-foot overshot wheel. 

On Hensons Creek {marked Powdermill Creek on atlas sheet-an 

obvious error, for Powdermill Creek is the unnamed tributary just 

above it) there are three mills. The lower one is a small gristmill 

run by a tub wheel. Above this is Houston's sawmill, gristmill, and 

planing mill, run by a Leffel wheel under a 35-foot head. The upper 

mill, Green's sawmill, has an overshot ·wheel and 23 feet fall. On 

Plumtree Creek there is a mill, run by using the 12-foot fall on a turbine wheel, making pins for telegraph wires. One mile above, on the 

same creek, there is a mica mill using 91 feet fall on a turbine. Still 

higher up on Plumtree Creek there are four small corn mills. Powdermill Creek, Hensons Creek, Roaring Creek, and Squirrel Creek, 

running down the sides of the mountain, have almost unlimited falls 

but little water. The discharge of these streams at their lowest 

stages is as follows: Hensons Creek, 4. 8 second-feet; Powdermill 

Creek, barely 1 second-foot; Roaring Creek, 16 second-feet; and 

Squirrel Creek, 11 second-feet. 

By far the largest tributary of the North Toe is Big Rock Creek, 

which with its tributary Little Rock Creek rises on the southern 

slope of the Iron Mountains, which form the dividing line between 

Tennessee and North Carolina. They receive a large part of the 

drainage from those high and rugged mountains, the culminating peak 

of which is Roan High Knob, with an elevation of 6,:n3 feet. Cloudland, a noted summer resort on this peak, affords one of the finest 

IRR 63-02--2 

/ 
114 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

views obtainable from any of the summits of the Appalachian Mountains. Here is a very comfortable summer hotel, pure water, cool 

climate, and all that goes to make a pleasant and healthful summer 

resort. A narrow-gage railroad passes through Roan Mountain Station, 12 miles from Roan High Knob, from which point a good road 

has been built up the mountain side. When on Roan Mountain the 

Black Mountains, Hawks Bill, Table Rock (on IJinville River), and 

the mountains of Virginia and Tennessee are in full view. One can 

but wonder why more is not known of these mountains and why the 

visitors are so few. It is, however, probably a matter of only a few 

years before this region will be one of the great mountain resorts of 

the country. 

SOUTH TOE RIVER. 

This river rises in the southern part of Yancey County, N. C., and 

flows directly north into the North rroe. It receives its drainage from 

the eastern slope of the Black Mountains and the western slope of 

Sevenmile Ridge. It follows close to the base of t.he latter ridge, 

which rises abruptly from the water's edge. On 'the west side of the 

stream the steeper slopes of the Black Mount.ains are about 2 miles 

from the river, leaving a narrow valley between. There are, however, no farms on either side of the stream, and even in the narrow 

valley on the west side only a few tracts (hardly one-fifth of the area) 

have been cleared for cultivation. Considering the drainage basin 

from the river to the mountain summits on both sides, probably not 1 

per cent of the land has been cleared. About 2 miles above the mouth 

of the river the mountains on both sides recede, leaving the land from 

that point to the North Toe level compared with the rest of the region, 

alt.hough it is still a very hilly country. 

Little Crabtree Creek, with a minimum discharge of 18 second-feet, 

is the largest tributary of the South Toe. It rises near Burnsville, 

in the foothills of the mountains, and joins the river a short distance 

northeast of Micaville. The river has seven other small tributaries, 

ranging in size from 2.5 to 9.5 second-feet at their lowest mid-summer 

flow. 

There is not a mill on the South Toe, and only one or two small 

corn mills on its tributaries. The steep watershed and the short 

tributaries carry the rainfall quickly to the main stream, causing . 

ra.pid fluctuations and high floods, making mill improvements difficult 

and expensive. This probably accounts for the few power developments in the watershed. 

CANEY RIVER. 

This river also rises in the southern part of Yancey County and 

flows northward uniting with Toe River to form the Nolichucky. It 

receivef> ite drainage from the weetern slopes of the Black Mountains 
PRESSEY.] FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 115 

·and the eastern slopes of the Bald Mountains, and has a minimum discharge of about 63 second-feet from a drainage ar1-1a of about 158 square 

miles. The western slopes of the Black Mountains are similar to the 

eastern slopeA, which are drained by the South Toe, being steep and 

heavily wooded, the forest growth changing from the foot to near the 

top, where little except balsam is able to stand the low temperature. 

Near the foot of the mountains large areas are covered with heavy 

laurel thickets. 

Unlike the South Toe, most of the cleared land along Caney River 

is in its upper and middle portions, whil~ along its lower course the 

stream flows through a valley so narrow that it may be considered 

almost a gorge. ~rhe valley above Burnsville, however, is wider than 

that of the South Toe and has a larger percentage of cleared land. One 

mile below Burnsville the river enters a narrow gorge through which 

it runs for about 3 miles, but even here the higher lands are largely 

cleared. Farther down, the country is flat and well cleared for 6 or 7 

miles; then the river enters the narrow gorgelike valley through which 

it flows, with many twists and turns, around the mountain knobs to 

its mouth. In this gorge there are very few places wide enough for 

clearing, but on the mountain sides the land is cleared except in the 

steepest parts. During the last summer {1900) the Ohio River and 

Charl(!ston Railroad was extended up Nolichucky River as far as the 

mouth of Caney River, and since that time much lumbering has been 

done in this section, as already mentioned. Of the area drained by 

Caney River perhaps one-fourth is cleared. Fully one-half of the 

valley land is cleared and is largely under cultivation. Wheat and 

corn are the principal crops. Near the head of the valley lives Big 

Tom Wilson, one of the earliest settlers ip. this region and the man 

who found Professor Mitchell after his ill-fated expedition and 

untimely death. 

The only tributaries of Caney River of any size are Bald Creek, 

which has a low-water. flow of 16 second-feet, and Bald Mountain 

Creek, which has a low-water flow of 20 second-feet. There are other 

smaller tributaries, ranging in their low-water discharge between 1.3 

and 9.5 second-feet. 

Only one water power on Caney River has been developed, and this 

by a small gristmill located about halfway between Burnsville and 

th~ mouth of the river. A large tract of land at the headwaters, 

including the northwestern slope of Mount Mitchell, is owned by 

Colonel Murchison, of New York, who holds it as a game preserve. 

FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 

GENERAL FEATURES. 

French Broad River rises on the eastern slope of the Tennessee 

Ridge, between Jackson and Transylvania counties, N. C., flows in a 

general northeasterly direction across Transylvania and Henderson 
116 SOUTHE.RN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

counties, a distance of about 30 miles, then northward across Bun-· 

combe County, a distance of more than 20 miles, then northwesterly 

across Madison County, a distance of 20 miles, through the Great 

Smoky Mountains and into eastern Tennessee, where it is joined by 

the Nolichucky and the Holston, and finally enters Tennessee River, 

its waters eventually reaching the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. 

For convenience the drainage basin has been divided into two parts: 

(1) The area drained by the river in North Carolina, and (2) the area 

drained by it in Tennessee. 

W A.TERSH:ED IN NORTH CAROLINA.. 

The portion of the drainage basin of French Broad River in North 

Carolina is comprised within the limits of Transylvania, Hender~on, 

Buncombe, and Madison counties. The small streams from the mountains in the upper part of the watershed soon reach the wide plateau 

and unite into a broad and sluggish river, with practically no shoals 

or falls. Little clearing has been done on the upper watershed, but an 

extension of t.he Transylvania Railroau has just been completed as far 

as Jeptha, for the purpose of transporting lumber. The terminus of 

this extension is called Toxaway. The larger part of the land around 

the headwaters of the main stream as far as the North Fork is owned 

by the Toxaway Company, and they expect very soon to commence 

extensive lumbering operations. 

Through all of this region springs are numerous, and the water is 

pure and cold. Above Jeptha there is very little pasture land, but 

the region appears to be well adapted to grazing. The mountains 

around the'head of the North Fork are high, many of them reaching 

an elevation of 6,000 feet.· They are traversed by trails only, the forests being still in a wild condition and the region but sparsely populated. The watershed of the North Fork as a whole is not thickly 

wooded, but no timber cutting has been going on for a long time. 

Most of the land east of this stream, including the large area of Pisgah 

Ridge, is owned by Mr. George \V. Vanderbilt and is under the care of 

an expert forester. Above J eptha the mountains close in to the banks 

of the stream, and consequentlythe branches are short and the slopes 

steep. Between the mouth of Tucker and Shoal creeks, on the North 

~Fork, are some excellent shoals, but no suitable locations for large 

buildings, although there are shelves of rock on each bank throughout 

the entire distance. The fall here is about 30 feet in 200, consisting 

of three drops about 100 yards apart, with rapids intervening. The 

water power has not yet been utilized. 

The drainage area of the river above Asheville is 987 square miles; 

the total drainage area in North Carolina 1, 7 45 square m~les. Of 

this total area at the time the Tenth Census was taken 1,091,000 acres 

were under cultivation and 8,079,000 acres, or 78 per cent of the 

whole, were still forest covered. In 1890, according to information 
PRESSEY.] FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 117 

gathered for the Eleventh Census, about 30 per cent of the area was 

cultivated land, and as the rate of clearing has been accelerated during the last decade, on account of the large development of the lumber industries, it seems safe to conclude that at the present time about 

40 per cent of the whole area is either cultivated land or land from 

which the timber has been removed. 

Transylvania County, in which are the headwaters of the river, is a· 

true mountain region, having on its southern boundary the Blue 

Ridge in its most massive and imposing form, and being the starting 

point of the great Pisgah and Balsam ranges, which stretch through 

the county toward the north. The only exceptions to the rugged 

topography are the broad and fertile valleys of the French Broad 

and its tributaries, which are cultivated and in a high state of improvement, being among the most valuable and productive farming 

lands in the State. These valleys are the scene of an important 

stock-raising industry, which is the principal source of revenue, 

though enormous crops of cereals and grasses· are produced, some , 

tobacco is raised, and fruits of large size and fine flavor are grown. 

The greater part of the county is still in the original forest growth of 

the usual varieties found in these mountains, which attain great size 

·on account of the surpassi.ng fertility of the soil. There are extensive 

areas of white-pine timber which will yield fairly good lumber. The 

merchantable trees of walnut and cherry have been largely removed, 

though an occasional walnut of fair size is seen, and small tracts of 

cherry are said to exist on the higher mountain slopes. Large tracts 

of poplar are also to be found, and but little oak has been cut. It is 

estimated that of the total area of the county only about 15 per cent 

is cleared land. 

There has been no development whatever of the mineral wealth of 

Transylvania County, though gold, silver, lead, copper, nickel, 

asbestos, corundum, and mica are said to exist in the vast wilderness 

of the Balsam and the Pisgah mountains. 

Henderson County is the northward or downstream continuation of 

the valley of the French Broad, and its topographic features are similar to those of Transylvania County, except t.hat its areas of comparatively level and fertile land are larger and the general aspect of 

the country is less mountainous. A remarkable feature is the 

apparent great depression of the surface and the width of the stream 

valleys, some of which assume, as on Mud Creek, the character of a 

wide swamp. This depression is, however, appa~ent and not real, the 

most depressed portions being above the level of the Blue Ridge 

plateau. ,.rhe hillside slopes are very gentle. 

The soil on the uplands is not remarkably fertile, being a lightgray gravelly or sandy loam. The soil in the valleys is in large part 

alluvial, with much vegetable matter, and yields large crops of grains, 

grasses, vegetables, and fruits. Corn grows well, especi~lly in the 

valleys, but the principal agricultural industry is the production of 
118 _ SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

cabbages and other vegetables for market. A "great deal of fruit is 

also grown, and is either canned or dried. 

Along the stream valleys of Henderson County pine is the predominant growth, but on the uplands oak, chestnut, hemlock, and pine 

are to be found, while near the summit of the mountains and in the 

cold and sheltered coves walnut, cherry, maple, and an occasional 

white pine are seen. The lumber industry, however, is of small 

importance, though some logs have been floated to Asheville, and 

small amounts of timber are cut annually for local uses. Some tan 

bark is also gathered. 

Although the proportion of comparatively levelland in this county 

is very great, a smaller proportion of the area is cleared than in either 

Madison County or Buncombe County, the cleared land amounting to 

about 31 per cent of the whole, according to the returns of the Eleventh 

Census, and only small amounts of clearing have been done since 

that time, so that it is improbable that the cleared land now amounts 

to more than 35 per cent of the entire area. 

The country rock throughout Henderson County is for the mos·t 

part a gneiss, but .the valley of Boylston Creek is in a schistose limestone of a gray-blue color, which in places carries thin veins of quartz. 

The mineral wealth of the county is greater. than that of either Madison County or Buncombe County. What is said to be the largest 

deposit of zircon in the United States occurs in the valley of Green 

River, and gold is found at the Boylston mine, on the southeastern 

slope of Forge Mountain, 13 miles west of Hendersonville. 

The general surface of Buncombe County, the next county to the 

north, is more hilly than mountainous, with stream valleys n;;trrow 

and limited in extent, which, however, offer good facilities for agricultural operations. Between Asheville and Alexander the country 

on the north side of the river as far as could be seen was gently rolling, with slopes of from 5 to 15 degrees, about two-thirds cleared and 

largely cultivated in grass. On the south side of the stream the 

country preserves the same general character, but the hillside slopes 

appear gentler, averaging between 5 and 10 degrees, about the same 

proportion of land being cleared. The forest growth, which for several miles back from the stream is in small segregated areas-too small 

to affect the run-off-is more largely pine than in the basins heretofore described. A number of tributaries rising in the gaps of the 

mountains enter the main stream, adding much to the beauty of the 

scenery. Every year great numbers of tourists visit the valley of 

the French Broad in search of health or pleasure. Pl. XXX is a view 

on Swannanoa River, one of the favorite streams of nature-loving 

tourists. 

The upland soils in Buncombe County are stiff, even-grained loams, 

rarely sandy, generally deep, being derived from the disintegration 

in.s-itu of gneiss, and are on the whole very fertile. The soils on the 

lowlands are rich sedimentary loams, with much vegetable matter 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXX 

SWANNANOA RAPIDS ON SWANNANOA RIVER , NORTH CAROLINA.• 
PRD!SEY.] FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 11~ 

along the smaller streams. Along the larger streams are loams similar in character to those on the smailer streams, but more sandy and 

less fertile. The hills erode rapidly when unprotected, but are generally quickly seeded "'ith grass, producing a retentive turf. 

The soils produce all of the cereals, grasses, and fruits, wheat· yielding 10 or more bushels to the acre. Oats do well.' Corn thrives, producing from 30 to 40 bushels to the acre, while clover and t.he grasses 

yield fine crops of hay. In recent years more and more attention has 

been paid to the raising of beef cattle for market, and this is now an 

important industry throughout the county. Many chickens and 

turkeys are also raised, these selling for good prices. Of the fruits, 

apples are produced in greater abundance than any other, and they 

are of large size and fine flavor. All vegetables grow well, the cabbages being particularly good. Tobacco is largely cultivated along 

the river and on the hills a few miles back from it, these localities 

seeming best adapted to its production. A good grade of bright 

tobacco is obtained. 

The timber in Buncombe County includes all of the varieties found 

in the mountains-oak, hickory, walnut, beech, birch, chestnut, locust, 

pine, spruce, and others, with a dense undergrowth of dogwood, laurel, 

azalea, and other shrubs. There are large mills sawing lumber at 

Asheville and many small ones in close proximity to the timber. A 

considerable quantity of tan bark is also shipped from the county, 

the oak stocks being generally sold for fuel after being barked, but 

as a rule no use is made of the hemlock stocks. Walnut, curly birch, 

and curly ash are shipped in the log to veneering factories, but the 

merchantable trees of this class have been largely removed, and poplar and cucumber trees, which furnish the chief building materials of 

the region, are also becoming scarce. Timber that can be floated, 

such as pine, poplar, and chestnut, has been largely removed to supply the mills at Asheville, but little oak has been cut. According to 

the returns of the Eleventh Census, about 25 per cent of the area of 

the county was at that time cleared land. Since then, however, much 

clearing has been done, so that it is estimated that at the present 

time 40 per cent of the area is cleared; some estimates place the 

amount of cleared land at 50 per cent, and it is generally stated that 

about two-thirds of. the cultivable land is cleared. Mr~ George W. 

Vanderbilt is the largest owner of forest lands in the county. He 

owns many thousand acres to the south and east of Asheville, and 

modern scientific methods of forest management have been inaugurated in all forests owned by him. 

As has previously been stated, the country rock of Buncombe 

County is principally BJ gneiss, though there are areas of granite, and 

across the southern edge of the county there is a ·narrow belt of slates 

_and schists. The mining industry is unimportant. Talc is met with 

occasionally, nickel is seen in very small quantities, and a serpentine 

of good quality occurs in abundance between Weaverville and Leices-
120 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

ter, but the vein has never been worked. Magnetic iron ore has also 

been found at several places. it is said that many years ago some 

of the latter veins were worked; and a deposit has recently been 

opened at the Blackwell mine, near Blackwell Springs. Limonite is 

found in many places throughout the county, and brick clay is abundant. The latter is made into common and pressed brick at several 

yards, some fire brick is made, and a plant at Biltmore formerly manufactured drain and roofing tile and paving brick. 

Mineral springs of divers kinds are abundant, those carrying sul-

·phur being the most noted. There are also numerous nonmineral 

springs, which furnish large amounts of water to the streams. 

The country roads furnish the chief means of transportation 

throughout the county, and while there has been a movement for 

good roads, particularly in the region near Asheville, the greater portion of the country roads are poorly graded and become almost 

impassable in the winter, on account of mud. 

:Madison County, the next county through which the French Broad 

flo.ws, is also essentially a mountain country, there being very little 

valley land and the whole area being traversed by mountain ridges 

ranging in height from 2,500 feet to 4,500 feet above sea level. None 

of the ranges, however, rise to so great heights in this county as they 

attain in the adjoining counties, even the Great Smokies being below 

their average elevation. The soil is very fertile and produces fine 

crops, though from the almost, entire absence of transportation facilities the agricultural products are limited to little more than enough 

to supply the inhabitants, a very small amount being raised for market. The hills are especially adapted to the production of a good 

grade of bright tobacco, large quantities of which were formerly 

grown and marketed in Marshall or Asheville, but recently, on account 

of the low prices obtained, this industry has suffered a diminution, 

and the "deadening," as the exhausted tobacco fields are known 

locally, are to be se(:}n on many hillsides, either uncultivated or growing corn or other grain. Stock raising produces a large annual revenue, which could be considerably increased. 

The mineral wealth of the county is known to be large, but it is 

mostly undeveloped. Magnetic iron ore, chromic iron ore, manganese, 

nickel in small quantities, corundum, serpent.ine, talc, and baryta 

are all found. Some corundum has been mined and shipped, much 

baryta has already been taken out and is still being mined by many 

individual miners. Recently a talc mine has been opened near Stackhouse, which is said to produce a very good quality of that mineral. 

The timber found throughout Madison County is remarkably fine. 

:Walnut trees 8 feet in diameter, poplars 10 feet in diameter, wild 

• cherry, black birch,.and buckeyes 3 or 4 feet in diameter are met with 

occasionally, while the common timber trees, such as oak, chestnut, 

and pine, are plentiful and of large size. Much timber has already 

been taken out and much is still being logged wherever the crude 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

FRENCH BROAD RIVER AT PAINT ROCK, N . C. 
PRESSEY.] FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 121 

methods of lumbering prevalent can reach it. There are large mills 

at Stackhouse and at Putnam, and small portable mills are located 

wherever the timber can profitably be attacked, the lumber being 

wagoned to the railroad for shipment. 

The geologic formations of the county are similar to those of Cocke 

County, Tenn. Close to the State line there is a belt of sandstone, 

which is succeeded by slates and schists. About a mile below Hot 

Springs the latter give place to limestone and dolomite, which above 

the springs are succeeded by sandstones, slates, and schists, and these 

in turn by the gneisses andgranite which are the predominant rocks 

of the county. 

The Hot Springs mentioned as being located in the limestone belt 

constitute one of the most interesting features of the region. They 

are 6 or 7 miles above the Tennessee line, directly on the banks of the 

river, some sp~ings indeed bubbling up in the bed of the stream. As 

the name indicates, the water is warm, although of varying degrees 

of temperature, and possesses many valuable medicinal properties, 

said to be particular1y efficacious in rheumatic cases. There is a large 

hotel a,t the springs, and many people come to take the hot baths, for 

which the waters are chiefly used. 

Throughout its course in Madiso;n County the river flows in a deep 

gorge which it has carved out in the gneisses and slates, now twining 

among the hills and now cutting throttgh them, leaving at the latter 

places almost perpendicular walls of bare rock several hundred feet 

high or slopes of from 50 to 60 degrees covered with a sparse growth 

of gnarled and stunted trees clinging to the interstices of the rock. 

Pl. XXXI is a view of the river at Paint Rock, near the North 

Carolina-Tennessee boundary, and shows both the forested slopes 

and the perpendicular rock walls in this portion of its course. As 

the river is ascended the sides of the gorge become gradually lower 

and less steep, and the country beyond the crests of the river bluffs 

loses somewhat its mountainous character, b~coming instead a region 

made up of rounded hills and swells, with broader and more nearly 

level valleys between, a much larger proportion of the land being 

cleared, the cleared areas increasing from practically none on the 

extreme northern, western, and southwestern borders to probably 50 

per cent of the area above the mouths of Walnut and Pawpaw creeks. 

Throughout this area none of the closed basins which have been so 

notable a feature in some other areas were noted, but instead there 

seems to be a greater number of small stream channels, most of 

them carrying some water, which was not the case over a large part 

of the area drained by the South Fork of the Holston. 

WATERSHED IN TENNESSEE. 

The part of the drainage basin of the French Broad which is situated to the east of the town of Newport, Tenn., the western limit of 

the investigation, is comprised entirely within the limits of Cocke 
122 SOUTHERN .APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN ;REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

County. The area immediately about Newport and for 5 or 6 miles to 

the east while hilly is not mountainous, and in many respects bears 

a close resemblance to the country seen along the South and Middle· forks of Holston River, consisting, as it does, of rather low hills 

and broad ridges of gentle slopes largely cleared and grass covered. 

In parts of this area, particularly in the part seen from the road leading from Parrottsville to Newport, numerous small closed drainage 

basins or sinks were observed, many of them of large size and having 

pools of water in their bottoms. Occasionally, over an area of a square 

mile or more, these sinks occur in such numbers as to absorb the entire 

drainage, permitting, so far as could be observed, no water to :find its 

way into the stream channels. This will tend to produce complications when the run-off from two similarly situated areas is compared 

if either area contains basins. None of the basins were noted above 

·the North Carolina line. There are numerous springs of chalybeate 

and sulphur water in Cocke County, and large numbers of springs 

whose waters possess no medicinal properties. 

It is along this part of the course of the stream that the far-famed 

scenery of the French Broad occurs, but with all its beauty the scenery barely equals that seen when the summit of the river bluffs has 

been reached, where vistas of mountain and meadow, woodland and 

stream are spread out before the eye, scenery of which t.he rugged 

beauty of that along the river has given no promise. 

If the whole area of Cocke County be considered, about 40 per cent 

of the land is cleared and cultivated, according to the best information obtainable; but this includes a part of the vast Unaka mountain 

chain, with its outlying -spurs and ridges, where the proportion of 

cleared land is exceedingly small, so that it is estimated that from 65 

to 70 per cent of the area to the west of the mountains is cleared and 

under cultivation or in grass, which is one of the principal products. 

The moun~ains rise very abruptly and steeply from the more level 

area, and the proportion of cultivable land on them is small, being 

confined to the stream valleys and to a few of the lower and gentler 

slopes. In some of the coves and gorges the soil is productive, but 

these areas are too small to be of value for grain growing. They are, 

however, adapted to the production of grass and fruit, although very 

little has been done in that direction. The principal valley is of 

course that of the main stream, which has an average width of about 

1 mile and is exceedingly fertile, the soil, which is alluvial, being 

deep and produ,cing, with good cultivation, from 50 to 100 bushels of 

corn to the acre, this being the principal crop. Oats thrive very 

well, wheat not so well. Of late years more of the land has been 

sown to grass, and the stock-raising industry now affords a considerable revenue to the people of the county. 1,he price of land ranges 

from $1 and $2. to more than $50 an acre. 

There is some very fine timber in Cocke County, mainly oaks of 
PRESSEY.] FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 123 

various kinds, chestnut, maple, hickory, walnut, white and yellow 

pine, spruce, and other varieties. Formerly a great many shingles 

were made, mostly from white pine. A limited amount of lumber is 

sawed annually by the small country mills for local uses, and a much 

larger amount of timber is annually destroyed for the purpose of 

str~pping tan bark or for railroad ties; but taken as a whole the timber industry is of little importance, and the same is true of manufactures in general. There is a small cotton mill at Newport, also one 

or two small sawmills and a flouring mill, and there are small sawmills 

and gristmills at various places in the county, but they are of little 

importance. 

The mineral wealth in this section is very great, but so far as could 

be learned nothing has been done toward developing it. Iron is said 

to occur in paying quantity, also lead and baryta. Newport is just 

at the junction of the shales and the limestone, which there form a 

narrow valley, and for 5 or 6 miles up the river limestone and dolomite 

occur, the prevailing color being blue, though layers of gray rock are 

also found. The limestone and dolomite are succeeded by red shales, 

and these, for a fourth of a mile or more upstream, by white or grayish 

sandstones. Passing these sandstones, shales or slates are again met 

with, bands of conglomerate occurring at intervals, also a few layers 

of dolomite. The sandstone then makes its appearance again and 

continues several miles up the river, or to and beyond Paint Rock. 

RAINFALL. 

The total annual rainfall at Asheville is 42.6 inches, distributed as 

follows: Spring, 11. 7inches; summer, 13.8 inches; autumn, 7. 7 inches; 

and winter, 9.4 inches. Asheville, however, is in a region of rather 

low precipitation compared with the rest of the mountain country, 

although the records of the station at W ayne~ville show that the 

annual precipitation between Asheville and Paint Rock is very near 

the amount stated. Records of stations above Asheville show that 

the annual rainfall increases very rapidly as the stream is ascended, 

and near the headwaters, but across the divide, are stations having a 

mean annual precipitation of between 72 and 73 inches, with an 

occasional record of more t.han 105 inches. 

The distribution of the rainfall is favorable to a large annual run-off 

in the stream, since at the time when plant. life and evaporation make 

the heaviest demands upon the precipitation the rainfall is greatest, 

/ and it is least in autumn and winter, when thesa demands are at a 

minimum. However, since the autumn precipitation is the least and 

plant life and evaporation are still rather active, the .stream is then 

subject to periods of low flow, although the run-off per square mile 

is large when compared with streams draining areas out of the 

mountains, and remains so during even the periods of severe drought. 
124 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [N0,63. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

,..rhroughout the greater part of the basin of the French Broad the 

transportation facilities are poor, being mainly confined to the ordinary country roads, which as a rule are steep and 'rough, poorly 

graded and ill kept. ,..rhe Knoxville branch of the Sonthern Railway 

follows the course of the stream very closely below A~ville, and the 

Spartanburg branch of the same system runs approxilb.ately parallel 

to it for a long distance in the upper part of its ~se, while the 

Murphy branch furnishes railroad facilities for the inhabitants of the 

valley of Hominy Creek. The Hendersonville and Brevard Railroad 

has recently been constructed from Hendersonville to Jeptha, in 

Transylvania County, furnishing an outlet for the products of the 

upper part of the basin. But owing to the character of the country 

the transportation facilities are less effective than they otherwise 

would be, and there seems no present prospect that the conditions 

will be bettered, though one or more additional lines of railroad have 

been projected to traverse the basin. On the whole, however, the 

transportation facilities of the area are better than those of any other 

section of western North Carolina, and in consequence it is better 

known to the outside world and is more prosperous than the areas to 

the northeast and the southwest. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation a gaging station was established on the 

French Broad at Oldtown, Tenn., where measurements were made 

from time to time, also at other places along its course, as shown in 

the following table. The Survey has maintained a gaging station 

at Asheville since September, 1895, the results of which have been 

published in the annual reports . 

Date. 

1900. 

Sept. 4 

Nov. 2 

Dec. 15 

Dec. 26 

Sept. 7 

Sept.12 

Oct. 29 

Sept.18 

Oct. 17 

Sept.l7 

Sept.13 

Oct. 15 

Sept.14 

Oct. 15 

. 

Discharge measurements of French Broad River. 

Locality. Hydrographer. 

Feet. 'sec.-feet. 

Oldtown, Tenn ......... ------------------ E. W. Myers and L. V. 1.00 867.0 

Branch . ••••. do .............................. -·---- ..... do .... ------------------ 1.26 ..... do------ .................................. do----------------...... 1.30 ..... do ....... _ ----. ______ ...... _ .... _ .......... do .... ____ .............. __ ...... .. One-half mile above Hot Springs, N.C. L. V. Branch............... 19.35 

-~~~a~n~~~:~:~:::: =~~~==~--:~==~::::·.:::: ~: f.-l~!~~~: ~=~=:::~:::::: f~j~ Fanning Bridge, North Carolina ........ N.C. Curtis .... --------.... 16.22 ..... do ............ ____________ ............ ____ .do ____ ............ ------ 16.95 

Penrose, N.C ..... ____ ........ ____ ............. do...................... 19.80 

-~~~Jo ~~~~~~~~~~·-~--~_:: :::::::::::::: :::: :~~ :::::::::::::::::: ~::: f~: gg Eastatoe Bridge, North Carolina ............ do .... --------------.... 12.40 ..... do ............ ____ ......................... do .... ____ .......... ____ 11.21 

1,653.0 

1,976.0 

2,901.0 

938.0 

840.0 

2,068.0 

1,161.0 

614..0 

1,160.0 266.5 

206.5 

113.0 

102.4 

NoTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This is true of the measurements in the above table at Oldtown. In making all 

of the other measurements, however, in each case a bench mark was established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape: of the distance from the bench mark to the surface 

of the water. In these cases, therefore, an increase in the gage height means a lowering of the 

water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream. 
U. S. G!OOLOGICAL SURVtV WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXII 

MOUNTAIN ISLAND SHOAL, FRENCH BROAD RIVER , NORTH CAROLINA. 
PRESSEY.] lfRENCH BROAD RIVER. 125 

WATER POWERS. 

In describing the fall and power of the French Broad we will start near 

Newport, Tenn~ arnd follow upstream to its source. At the sta1·ting 

point, about 2 nr.Hes north of Newport, the river is a comparatively 

placid stream, :flOwing between willow-·bordered banks and through 

broad and fertile- grass-covered bottom lands, arid this character is 

preserved for 5 or 6 miles, when there is an abrupt descent of about 

4 feet over a rock ledge extending straight across the stream. N ea1· 

these falls the bottom lands almost entirely disappear and the mountains begin to close in on the river, the hillside slopes, which are 

sparsely forested, varying from 30 to 50 degrees. Farther upstream 

. an occasional broad bottom is to be seen, but the mountains continue 

to rise higher and higher as the stre~m is ascended, the river entering 

a gorge which reaches a very highly developed stage near Paint Rock. 

{See Pl. XXXI.) Throughout this distance, however, there is little 

concentration of fall in the stream, the fall averaging about 10 feet 

to the mile, following the course of the river, which is very tortuous 

in this ·section. 

The stream preserves the same general character as far as Hot 

Springs, the average fall per mile between Paint Rock and Hot 

Springs being about the same as in the section between Paint Rock 

and Newport. Above Hot Springs, however, the character of the 

river changes abruptly, and from a smooth though rapid stream it 

becomes a tumultuous mountain torrent, dashing along among many 

huge bowlders and over the rock ledges which obstruct its course and 

project above the surface in jagged ridges, twining and curving around 

the hills between lofty and steep walls of rock, which are thinly 

clad with stunted trees. The river contains many islands and is in 

places very wide. 

In the 7. 7 miles between Hot Springs and the mouth of Brush Creek 

the total fall is 201 feet, giving an average fall of 26.1 feet per mile. 

There are several places in this distance where the fall is noticeably 

concentrated. The first of these is about one-fourth of a mile above 

Hot Springs and is known as the Mountain Island Shoal. At this 

shoal, shown in Pl. XXXII, a high and rocky island about 200 yards 

long divides the stream into two parts. The most noticeable concentration of fall is at the ends of the island, there being at the lower 

end an almost vertical plunge of between 4 and 5 feet, and at the 

upper end two plunges of about 3 feet each. There is also a fall 

of about 4 feet in the distance between these plunges, making a 

total fall of about 15 feet at this place. Below the island the river 

contracts suddenly to a width of about 100 feet and the water is very 

deep and sluggish. The railroad is on the north bank, crossing the 

stream a short distance below the island, and as the track is only a 

few feet above the level of high water, it offers an obstacle to the 
126 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. Ii. [No.63. 

development of the power. A development could be made, however, 

but at considerable expense, by constructing a wing dam from the 

upper end of the island diagonally toward the nort.h bank, gradually 

decreasing the height of the dam upstream. This would throw as 

much of the W:}ter as might be desired to the south side of the island 

and away from the railroad, and then by building a dam across the 

south channel near the lower end of the island the flow of the stream 

could be controlled. Space for a power house on the island could be 

cleared by a small amount of blasting, and the power be transmitted 

to Hot Springs, where there is a large area of level land. This is by 

far the largest and most noticeable fall on the stream, and probably 

would afford a cheaper and easier development than any other. 

As at this fall, so at all others between Paint Rock and Asheville, the proximity of the railroad to the stream renders it impossible 

to build high dams, though otherwise the condition~ for easy and 

cheap construction are very favorable, for everywhere stone can be 

obtained in great quantities at comparatively small cost for blasting 

and transportation to the site of the work. 

Although the average fall per mile in the stream channel between 

the head of the Mountain Island Shoal and the mouth of Brush Creek 

is very great, there are several places where it is still more concentrated, the first of these being just above the mouth of La.urel Creek, 

where the fall is estimated to be about 15 . feet in a little more than 

one-fourth of 3, mile, and about 2 miles below Barnard Station, 

where there is another large fall within a short distance. Just 

below and a little above the mouth of Brush Creek there is still 

another large fall, the banks being very high, steep, and rocky, the 

stream comparatively narrow, and all of the conditions for the construction of a high dam very favorable, excepting the presence of the railroad. At almost any desired place within this distance-from the 

Mountain Island Shoal to Brush Creek-falls of from 15 to 20 feet can 

be obtained: 

From the mouth of Brush Creek to Asheville, a dist.ance of 29.3 

miles, the stream is still very rapid, but the average fall per mile is 

much less than in the section just described, being about 15.4 feet, in 

general well distributed. Sites where falls of 10 feet or more can be 

obtained are numerous, though none of them were noted particularly. 

The first power developed on this stream is at Marshall, Madison 

County, where, on the south bank of the river, the Marshall Milling Company has erected a flour mill with a capacity of 75 barrels 

per day, utilizing only a small part of the flow, which is turned 

aside by means of a wing dam about 200 yards long extending diagonally upstream about half the width of the river, from the upper end 

of which a very low dam has been built to the north bank of the 

stream, both dams being made of logs and giving a fall of 13 feet at 

the wheel. 
128 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of French Broad River in North CarolinaContinued. 

Date. 

I 

· Gage DisHydrographer. height. charge. 

-------1-----------------l-------------------------

Stream. Locality. 

1900. 

Sept.14 

Feet. Sec.-ft. WestForkofFrench Near mouth __ ........... ---·-- N.C. Curtis...... 2.20 149.0 

Broad River . Oct. 15 

Sept.14 ..... do ..................... do ................................ do.................... 62.0 

Middle Fork of Bridge20yards above ford ........ do............ 5.35 77.0 

French Broad 

River. Do __ South Fork of Footbridge at ford of main ..... do ............ 10.3 

French Broad road. · River. 

Oct. 15 East Fork of French Near mouth ........................ do ______ ...... 10.2 

Broad River. 

Sept.16 Tucker Ureek _ ...... Two hundred yards above _____ do---------·-· 4.61 

mouth. 

Sept.13 Cathey Creek ........ Ford of Brevard·Jeptha road' ....•. do-----· _____ _ 6. 7 

4. 71 

16.45 

16.75 

13.66 

se~~ ~_ l§~~d~~:e:liiver-~~~~: ~~~~a:o~tt~~=~~~~~~=:== =~=-~= ::::=a~:::::::::::: Oct. 16 .... dO---------------- ..... do ...... -------------------- ..... do ........... . Sept.17 LittleRiver ......... Three-fourths mile above ..... do ........... . mouth. 

Oct. 16 ..... do ..................... do ............................... do------···--- 14.35 

5.35 

13.11 

13.4 

5.11 

10.1 

6.56 

Sept.17 Boylston Creek ...... Near mouth. ____ ..... ---- ......... do ........... . Do __ Mills River---------- Bridge on Old Haywood road ..•.•. do ...... _ ... .. Oct. 17 ..... do ______ ...... ---- ..... do ..... -------------------- ..... do ........... . Sept.18 Mud Oreek ---------- Near mouth------------------- ..... do ___________ _ Do .. Caney Creek _________ Bridgeon Westfall's place ........ do ........... . 

Do .. Avery Creek -------- Bridge on road from Mills ..... do-------- ... . River to Asheville. 

Sept.19 Homin:t Creek ...... Asheville--·---·--------------- ..... do____________ 15.1 

Oct 17 ..... do ..................... do ............................... do ............ 15.4 

Sept.19 Swannanoa River___ Biltmore ............... _______ ...... do............ 2. 91 

Sept.20 NorthFork of Swan- Three miles- above Swanna- ..... do............ 16.07 nanoa River. noa.. Do __ Flat Creek ........... TwomilesbelowBlackMoun- ..... do............ 4.05 

Sept.12 

Oct. 30 

Sept.16 

Oct. 30 

Sept.12 

Sept.16 

Oct. 30 

Sept.12 

Oct. 30 

Sept.ll 

Oct. 29 

Sept.12 

Sept.17 

Oct. 30 

Sept.16 

Oct. 30 

Sept.17 

Oct. 29 

Sept. 8 

Oct. 31 

Sept. 8 

Sept.lO 

Oct. 31 

Sept. 8 

tain Station. 

-~~~;}~~~~~-~:~~-~::: -~i!~lo~~~~~~~~~~~~-t-~===~= f:~13~I:~t:::: g:~ Lees Creek .......... Olivette ........................ E.W.Myers ..... 11.15 ..... do ..................... do .......................... L. V.Branch..... 10.95 

Newfound Creek .... At mouth ...................... E. W.Myers ... .. 17.75 .•.•. do ................ Three-fourths mile above ..... do............ 10.19 

mouth . ..... do ..................... do .......................... L. V. Branch..... 10.44 

ReemsCreek ........ Atmouth ...................... E.W.Myers ..... 12.1 ..... do ..................... do .......................... L. V.Branch ............ . Flat Creek ................ do .......................... E.W.M:vers ..... 18.05 ..... do ..................... do .......................... L. V.Branch..... 17.43 

SandymushCreek __ Bailey ..... · ..................... E.W.Myers ..... 9.73 ..... do ________________ ..... do ...... ____ .... ____________ ..... do------------ 9.43 

..... do .... ------ ........... do---------·--- ______ -------- L. V. Branch..... 9.53 Turkey Creek _______ Blackwell Springs _____________ E. W. Myers----- 7. 97 ..... do ________________ ..... do .................... ______ L. V. Branch..... 8.32 

Big Ivy River __ . _ _ _ _ One-eigh..::h mile below mouth E. W. Myers . _. _. 2. 55 

of Bull Creek. ..... do ............ ____ ..... do ______ ------------------- L. V. Branch..... 2. 72 

Little Pine Creek ___ One hundred yards above ---- do------------ 5. 84 

mouth. . ..... do ..................... do------------------ ............. do ...... ------ Pawpaw Creek ...... One mile above mouth .............. do ........... . Walnut Creek ....... At mouth .................. ---- ..... do ........... . ..... do------------ ____ ..... do ______________ ...... ------ ..... do------------

BigPineCreek ...... One hundred yards above " .... do ___________ _ 

mouth. 

5. 76 

4.6 

23.24 

2.35 

6.07 

Oct. 31 ..... do---------- ______ ..... do---------------------·---· ..... do---------~-- 6.01 

Sept. 8 Big Laurel Creek .. _. Two hundred yards above ..... do ...... ------ 16.13 

mouth. Sept.18 ..... do ..................... do __________________________ E.W.Myers _____ 15.77 

Sept. 7 Spring Creek. _______ Near Hot Springs ............. L. V. Branch..... 2.00 

Nov. 1 ..... do---------- ___________ do ........ ------ ______ ............ do............ 2.07 

Sept. 7 Shutin Creek ............. do .... ______________________ ..... do............ 2.61 

71.0 

46.0 

28.0 

30.2 

15.46 

151.77 

70.20 

182.8 

69.2 

28.65 

211.64 

94.0 

108.0 

60.0 

11.31 

80.0 

24.0 

76.33 

21.45 

22.83 

1.46 

4.10 

3.95 

2.29 

9.41 

34.16 

20.~ 

4.89 

9.0 

5.33 

5.0 

21.72 

55.~ 

45.0 

35.24 

16.24 

47.59 

41.72 

3.33 

6.0 

0.35 

1.36 

2.24 

4.85 

4.45 

49.0 

55.0 

15.0 

16.0 

0.45 

NOTE.-ln making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering of 

the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse of the 

results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an increase in 

the gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
PRESSEY.] TRIBUTARIES OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 127 

There are several other localities between Marshall and Asheville 

where ··small powers could be developed in the same way, but no 

attempts have been made to do this. There is a project to develop a 

small fall in the stream just below Asheville, to obtain power to operate street cars and electric lights, and a low dam has been built, but 

no other work has be'en done. 

Above .Asheville the character of the streain again changes and it 

becomes a placid river with a current which though rapid when compared with the streams of the Coastal Plain is very sluggish when 

compared with its mountain neighbors or with its own current a few 

miles below. The bed of the stream is overlain with a stratum of 

} coarse sand_ and gravel, a.nd in general is rather smooth, though the 

current is interrupted at intervals by ledges and bowlders, and the 

fall is very much more gradual and evenly distributed than is usual 

with mountain streams. The distance from Asheville to Brevard, by 

river, is 48.35 miles, and the total fall is 130.9 feet, making the average 

fall per mile only 2. 7 feet. Indeed, so small is the fall that at one 

time the United States engineers did a great deal of work on this 

portion of the st.ream to render it navigable. Formerly a small 

steamboat plied the river, but it did not pay expenses, and of late no 

attempt has been made to navigate the stream. 

There are two principal obstructions to navigation, the first of these 

8-! miles above Asheville, and known as the Sandy Bottom Shoal. 

This is the largest shoal on this part of the river, the total fall being 

22.6 feet in a distance of 18,000 feet. Three and one-half miles above 

this is the Long Shoal, where the fall is 18.3 feet in 12,920 feet. Above 

this and as far as Eastatoe Ford, about 1 mile above Jeptha, the 

stream flows placidly along through a broad and level valley and offers 

no possibility of power development. Above the ford, however, the 

fall rapidly increases, but the stream divides into the North and West 

forks, both of which are too small for consideration as power streams. 

TRIBUTARIES OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation the drainage basins of the important tributaries in North Carolina were visited and the following measurements 

made: 

Discharge measurements o.f tributaries o.f French Broad River in North Carolina. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H Gage I Dis- ydrographer. height. charge. 

1900. Feet. Sec.-ft. Sept.l4 North Fork of Two hundred yards above N.C.Curtis .............. 100.6 

French Broad mouth of West Fork. 

River. 

Oct. 15 --~--do ..................... do-----· ...... ____ ------·---- ..... do_,_ __ .... ____ 13.2 51.8 

Sept.l6 ..... do------------ ____ Bridge on Brevard-Webster ..... do............ 14.98 107.48 

road. - Do ....... do ................ Ford on road between Tuck- ____ .do------...... 7. 3 75.0 er and, Sho~l creeks. 
130 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. {No.63. 

the mountain slopes over the basin, and much of the availaple timber 

has been cut, but the ground is densely shaded by the undergrowth 

and the nontimber trees. 

This stream was not gaged, the quantity of water which was flowing, estimated to be about 0. 5 second-foot, being too small to admit of 

measurement. It was stated by residents that the stream was then 

at its lowest stage. The maximum flood rise is between 4 and 5 feet. 

SHUTIN CREEK. 

The basin of this stream is similar to that of Wolf Creek, except 

that very little timber has been cut. 

SPRING CREEK. 

Spring Creek, entering the river from the south, at Hot Springs, is 

the largest tributary yet described. It rises in the extreme ~outhern 

corner of Madison County, near Sandymush Bald, on the northeastern 

slope of the Newfound Mountains, and flows in a general northerly 

direction for a dist,ance of about 20 miles, draining an area of 66 

square miles. Its basin is in the midst of the high mountains, is steep, 

rough, and rugged, and is almost entirely rorest covered, the cleared 

land being confined to the narrow stream valleys which constitute a 

very small proportion of the whole area, probably less than 10 per 

cent. Th'e stream attained its minimum stage during the autumn of 

1900, when it was measured and found to be carrying 0.45 secondfoot. It has a maximum rise of about 6 feet during floods, which are 

said to be violent, but of short duration. 1 

BIG LAUREL CREEK. 

This stream, the next tributary of the French Broad, rises in two 

forks, one in the Bald Mountains, in the extreme northeastern part of 

:Madison County, and the other in the Unaka Mountains, in the 

extreme northern part of the county. It drains an area of 141 square 

miles. Its basin is very rough and rugged, with a large proportion 

of steep, forested slopes, ranging from 15 to 50 degrees and showing a 

great deal of exposed . rock, which is of a slaty character. For a 

considerable distance above its mouth the stream is in a deep gorge 

and could not be followed, but it was as.certained that the country 

was extremely rugged and contained no cleared land. The hills there 

lack the symmetry of those seen farther upstream, having steeper 

slopes and being broken into irr~gular shapes by the small valleys 

and gullies which extend up their sides. 

The proportion of cleared land in the basin is small, not more than 

25 per cent of the area being under cultivation. rrhe cultivated areas 

are for the most part confined to the stream valleys and the lower 

upl~n.<ls. Within the last ten ye~rs much land has been partially 
PRESSEY.) TRIBUTARIES OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 129 

The principal drainage basins are briefly described on the following 

pages, in order upstream. 

LONG CREEK. 

The first tributary of any size entering the French Broad above 

Newport, Tenn., is Long Creek, which flows in from the north, draining a small area. At the mouth the valley of the stream is very narrow, the mountains rising high and steep on either side, in walls of 

almost bare rock; but farther up the valley widens greatly, and it is 

estimated that above the forks about half of the basin is cleared land, 

being made up for the most part of rather low hills, with gentle side 

slopes timbered in pine and oak. Corn and wheat are the principal 

crops; about one-third of the cleared land is in grass. 

At the time the stream was visited it was extremely low, its flow 

being too small to gage, but it was carrying a quantity of water estimated to·he between one-fourth and one-third of a second-foot. The 

stream is said to rise very rapidly after rains, reaching an extreme 

height of about 4 feet above low water. The floods are of short 

duration. 

BIG CREEK. 

Big Creek, the next tributary, enters the river from the. south, near 

Dei Rio, draining an extensive area in the high and rugged Stone and 

Smoky mountains, almost the entire basin being forest covered and 

very steep and rough, with a great deal of rock exposed on the hill-

... sides. The cleared land is confined entirely to the narrow strips bordering the stream, but it is small in amount, being probably less 

than 5 per cent of the area of the basin, which may thus be _considered 

entirely forested. 

When this stream was visited it was very low, carrying an estimated 

discharge of possibly 2 second-feet. It rises rapidly after rains, in 

consequence of the great steepness of the hillside slopes over its basin, 

and attains a maximum height of from 5 to 6 feet above low water. 

LAUREL BRANCH, MOONEYHAM BRANCH, AND ROCK CREEK. 

These are very small streams which are practically dry during 

severe droughts. 

·WOLF CREEK. 

Wolf Creek is the next tributary. It is a small stream entering 

from the south, draining a long and ~arrow area which with the exception of one or two small patches of an acre or two near its mouth 

may he considered entirely wooded. The basin is rough and mountainous, with very steep slopes. The forest growth consists for the 

most part of pine, with a dense undergrowth and with some oak and 

chestnut. Extensive lumbering operations have been carried on on · 

IRR 63-02--3 
PRESSEY.} TRIBUTARIES Oft' FRENCH BRO.AD RIVER. 131 

cleared by cutting away the undergrowth and deadening the larger 

trees, the deadened areas being largely cultivated in tobacco or 

corn. The soil is in part red, clayey, and very impervious to water, 

and in part loamy, and is not. very fertile. 

Extensive lumbering operations are now in progress over the basin, 

many small portable mills being located in close proximity to the t.imber, the lumber being hauled to the railroad at either Putnam or 

Stackhouse. Poplar seems to be the timber most sought, though oak 

and pine are also cut. Much chestnut remains, and trees of many 

other varieties are found. 

At its mouth the flood rise of the creek is from 7 to 8 feet. It never 

falls very low, the lowest stage known having been reached in the 

autumn of 1900, when the discharge was about 49 second-feet. While 

the stream is capable of furnishing power in large amounts, it is utilized by o~ly two or three small gristmills, grinding grain for local 

uses. 

Some baryta has been found in the basin, but so far as could be 

learned the principal deposits of this mineral are along the main river, 

on the hills between Stackhouse and Marshall. Talc is also found in 

this region, and some has been recently taken out which is said to be 

of excellent quality. 

Shelton Laurel Creek.-This stream is the principal tributary of 

Big Laurel Creek. Its drainage basin is very similar to that of the 

main stream, although as the creek is ascended the topography flattens 

out to some extent. The stretch of the river between White Rock and 

Alleghany is much more level and more extensively cultivated than 

any seen lower down the stream. The only ext.ensive lumbering operations carried on in the basin are in this locality, being mainly directed 

against the timber which can be reached from the small tributary 

streams, although the operations are more or less general. 

The soil seems similar to that along Big Laurel Creek, but it contains a very large proportion of rock fragments ranging- in size from 

a pea to several inches in diameter, and more quartz is seen, forming 

now an important part of the country rock. 

The slope of the channels of this creek and its branches is very 

great, the storm waters reaching the streams almost. immediately, the 

main creek rising very rapidly and falling ftS quickly. ~ 

BIG PINE CREEK. 

The next tributary gaged was Big Pine Creek, which enters the 

French Broad from t.he south, opposite Barnard, draining a considerable area which is largely forest covered, the cleared and cultivated 

land being confined for the most part to the stream valley and the 

lower hills. The hillside slopes over the basin are almost uniformly 

steep and rocky, and the greater part of the area is mountainous. 
132 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, P'f. II. [No.63. 

WALNUT, LITTLE PINE, AND HAYE& CREEKS. 

Walnut Creek, entering from the north, about 3 miles above Barnard, is a stream of about the same size and general character as Big 

Pine Creek, except that the proportion of cleared and cultivated land 

in its drainage basin is considerably greater, the valley of the stream 

being wider and the slopes less steep and rugged, the topography consisting- for the most part of rather low and rounded hills, largely grass 

covered) although the upper part of the basin is steep and mountainous. The cleared land amounts to probably one-third of the whole 

area, possibly more. The stream reached a very low stage in the 

autumn of 1900, lower than ever before known, it is stated. The discharg6 measured on September 10 was 1.36 second-feet. The maximum rise in flood is about 4 feet. 

Little Pine Creek and Hayes Run are entirely similar streams, 

though much smaller. 

IVY RIVER. 

Ivy River, the next tributary, enters the French Broad from the 

east, and is the principal tributary in North Carolina. It rises on the 

western slopes of the Great Craggy Mountains, near Yeates Knob, 

the headwaters being at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, and flows 

in a general westerly direction, joining the French Broad about 2t 

miles above Marshall, draining an area of 176 square miles. 

For about 3 miles above its mouth the valley of the river is very 

narrow and the banks of the stream are steep, showing much exposed 

rock, but they are forested with a growth of considerable density. 

Above this 3-mile stretch, although _the gorge formation still persists 

for a considerable distance, the hills do not rise to so great heights, 

and the country beyond the summit of the bluffs is composed of a 

succession of hills and ridges of moderate height, very sharp topped, -

and inclosing narrow V -shaped valleys, the hillside slopes ranging 

from 10 to 30 degrees. A large part of the area-perhaps 7 5 per 

cent-is cleared. It is probable that nearly 50 per cent of the whole 

area drained by Ivy River is either under cultivation or is grass. 

Throughout this part of its course, or to beyond Grantville, the stream 

channel is very tortuous. 

As the stream is ascended the topography becomes less strongly 

marked and the country better fitted for agriculture and· stock raising, until a short distance below Barnardsville the mountains begin 

again to encroach on the river and the cultivated lands are confined 

to the immediate valley of the stream. There is considerable timber yet standing in the high mountains about the headwaters, much 

of it being inaccessible. 

Corundum has been found near Democrat, nicket stainings have 

been observed in the rocks at many localities; and a vein of serpentine 

of good quality crosses part of the basin. 
PRESSEY.) TRIBUTARIES OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 133 

The stream has a large fall throughout it,s length, the average fall 

per mile between its mouth and Barnardsville, at the junction of the 

forks, being about 43 feet. It could be made to furnish power in 

large amounts, but as yet very little has been done in that direction. 

About 1 mile above its mouth there is a fall of 6 feet in 200 feet, over 

ledges of solid rock, the width of the stream being between 60 and 70 

feet. 

The most important power site on the stream is about 2 miles 

above its mouth. Here Mr. W. B. Ellis, of Asheville, and others, 

have planned a large power development, which is about half completed. The plans include an arched masonry dam 95 feet in height, 

360 feet, long on top, 60 feet wide at base, and 12 feet thick to the 

83-foot level. The race is to be 860 feet long from the dam to the 

power house, built partly in embankment and partly in open rock cut, 

with 100 feet of tunnel and 250 feet of steel flume, which will carry 

the water to a pair of 22-inch turbines. It is stated that the flow of 

the stream will be sufficient, with proper storage, to develop 2,000 

horsepower under a working head of 110 feet, the natural flow of the 

stream yielding 1,000 horsepower under that head. The power is to 

be transmitted electrically to Asheville, Marshall, and other places at 

a potential of 10,000 or 11,000 volts. During the autumn of 1900, 

when the plant was last visited, all work had been suspended, due 

largely, it was rumored, to lack of water. 

On the basis of 1,000 horsepower developed continuously, the :flow of 

the stream at this place is calculated as follows: It is safe to assume that 

the losses of energy in the wheels, dynamos, and in transmission will 

amount to at least 20 per cent of the total energy due to the water, 

and as it is the intention to deliver 1,000 horsepower at the end of the 

transmission line, this will require of the stream a :flow capable of 

developing 1,250 gross horsepower with a head of 110 feet, or 11.36 

gross horsepower per foot of fall. One second-foot of water falling 

1 foot will yield 0.1135 gross horsepower, so that in order to produce 

11.36 gross horsepower per foot fall a :flow of practically 100 cubic 

feet per second will be necessary, and during times of drought the 

stream does not carry that amount of water. When these not;es were 

made, in October, 1899, although the discharge could not be gaged, it 

was estimated to be not much more than 50 second-feet. When the 

locality was visited in the fall of 1900, at a time when the stream was 

said to be very low, the discharge was gaged a short distance above 

the head of the backwater from the dam and a flow df 41.72 secondfeet was found. 

Just above the mouth of Little Ivy River there is a gristmill with 

an 87foot dam, giving a fall of 10 feet, and at Democrat there is a 

similar mill. 
134 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, P'l'. II. [No.63. 

SANDYMUSH CREEK. 

The next tributary is Sandymush Creek, which joins the French 

Broad about 4 miles above the mouth of_Ivy River. This creek rises 

on the northern slopes of the Newfound Mountains, in a number of 

small creeks which have a general northerly or northeasterly course. 

Including Turkey Creek, which joins it near its mouth, it has a drainage area of 86 square miles. Near its mouth and for a considerable 

distance upstream the creek lies in a deep and narrow gorge, but farther up the valley widens very much and the topography becomes less 

strongly marked over a large part.ef the area. The high hills which 

inclose the valley are rough and steep, most of them ranging from 15 to 

30 degrees, but many of them being much steeper. The proportion 

of cleared land is smaller than in the basin of Turkey Creek, being 

less than half of the whole a1·ea. Above the junction of Little Sandymush Creek the area is entirely mountainous and forested, with the 

exception of small, narrow areas im.mediately along the stream. Pine 

trees seem more numerous than heretofore noted, the character of the 

hard-wood growth remaining the same, also the agricultural products. 

The soil is a fertile loam, the country rock a much laminated and 

contorted gneiss. 

The stream is said to have reached its minimum stage of flow during the fall of 1900 (see measurements in table on page 128). During 

floods it is subject to violent rises of from 6 to 7 feet. 

Turkey Creek.-The valley of this tributary of Sandymush Creek 

is very different in character from that of the main stream. In proportion to its size its valley is broader than that of any stream yet 

described. The proportion of cleared land seems to be about 75 per 

cent over the lower part of the basin, and is probably 66 per cent of 

the whole area. The topography is a succession of hills and ridges 

divided by broad valleys, and the hillside slopes are comparatively 

gentle. The soil is deep and fertile. The country rock seems without exception a gneiss. At ihe time the stream was visited all of the 

land except that in corn was covered with grass, and this is true of 

all this section of country during the fall and summer months. A 

large part of the area is planted in wheat, and when that is harvested 

grass quickly covers· the land, remaining until seeding time comes 

again. 

The creek falls very low at times, reaching, it is said, its lowest 

stage in the fan of 1900, and though subject to floods of 6! to 7 feet, 

these are rare and generally of short duration. 

FLAT CREEK. 

The next tributary is Flat Creek, which enters the F:t;ench Broad 

from the east, about 1 mile below Alexander. It is a small stream 

rising on the western slope of the Flat Creek Mountains and draining 
I'R~EY.) SALUDA RIVER. 135 

a broad and flat valley of considerable extent. The topography is in 

broad and low flattened hills and ridges, the hillside slopes being very 

gentle. Seemingly about two-thirds of the area is cleared land, about 

one-half of it in grass and the other half chiefly in wheat, corn, and 

tobacco. The soil appears deep and fertile. No exposed rocks were 

seen, though the basin is underlain by gneiss or granite. The stream 

is subject to periods of very low flow, and during floods it rises from 

5 to 6 feet at the mouth. 

REEMS, NEWFOUND, AND BEAVERDAM CREEKS. 

Reems Creek, the next tributary, enters the river from the east a 

short distance above Alexander, and seems in every respect similar 

to Flat Creek, just described. Jt was gaged at its mouth, with the 

results given in the table on page 128. The maximum flood rise is 

from 5 to 6 feet. 

Newfound Creek, entering the French Broad from the southwest, 

rises close to the headwaters of Turkey Creek, near Turkey Creek 

Pinnacle, and in soil, topography, and general characteristics is a 

stream similar to Turkey Creek. 

Beaverdam Creek, entering the French Broad from the east a short 

distance below Owenby, drains a long, narrow, and rather flat valley 

containing a large proportion of cleared land, but it is a small and 

unimportant stream. ' 

\ 

SALUDA RIVER. 

About 10 miles above Greenville, S. C., Saluda River is formed by 

the confluence of the North Saluda and the Middle Saluda. 'fhe 

South Saluda, a stream nearly or quite as large as the two other 

streams combined, enters the Middle Saluda a few miles above the 

junction of the latter stream with the North Saluda. The watershed 

of these three branches is defined by the North Carolina-South Carolina boundary line, extending from the Greenville-Pickens county 

line in South Carolina to the western slope of Rocky Spur, 5 miles 

southeast of Saluda, N. C., the total length being about 36 miles and 

the drainage area estimated at about 380 square miles. The watershed includes the southern slopes of the Saluda Mountains and a portion of the Blue Ridge. Below the junction of the three forks the 

main stream flows in a general southeasterly direction through the 

State of South Carolina, joining Broad River near Columbia, to form 

the Congaree. · 

The steep slopes at the headwaters of the river are densely forested, 

but the valleys of even the smaller tributary streams have been 

cleared. Oak and hemlock predominate, but pine and other timber 

are frequently intermingled. The trees are not in good condition, 

however, owing to frequent scars from fire and other destructive 
136 SOUTHERN APPAL.A.CiliAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. I~. [No.63. 

agencies. The soil is largely composed of material derived from the 

decomposition of granite and gneiss. In many parts of the basin it 

has a thick layer of humus and is very fertile; in other parts, however, a clay is formed which is impervious to water and not well 

suited to agriculture. rrhe soil in the former places will not withstand the action of flowing water, and where the forests have been cut 

considerable washing of the top soil can be observed. In the lower 

part of the drainage basin the soil is sandy and is largely devoted to 

agriculture, the chief crops being cotton, sugar cane, and sweet 

potatoes. 

rrhe Saluda is largely outside of the mountain region, its headwaters only being on the slopes of the Blue Ridge. For this reason it is 

·perhaps not of as great importance in the investigation of ~he proposed 

Southern Appalachian Park as the streams which rise and flow for 

many miles through the mountains. ' The preservation of the forests, 

however, is of the greatest importance, owing to the nonresistant 

character of the soil and the danger of heavy wash and floods. 

NORTH SALUDA RIVER. 

This stream rises on the western slope of Rocky Spur and Hogback 

Mountain, at an elevation of 2,600 feet. It is 25 miles long and flows 

in a general southwesterly direction, joining the Middle Saluda about 

3 miles below the confluence of that stream with the South Saluda. 

The elevation at the junction is about 980 feet. The average fall per 

mile is therefore about 65 feet. Most of this fall, however, is on the 

upper portion of the stream, the average fall per mile for a distance 

of 20 miles above the mouth of the North Saluda being only about 25 

feet. 

Around the headwaters of the stream about 15 per cent of the watershed has been cleared. The western sides of Rocky Spur, Hogback 

Mountain, and Glassy Mountain and the eastern slopes of the Saluda 

Mountains have been very little cleared, while the southern slopes of 

the latter mountains are especially well wooded. No lumbering is 

being done in this section, and the land cleared for farming purposes 

is proportionately small. As a natural consequence of its forested 

basin the waters of the stream are never very muddy, although they 

are said to contain more sediment than either the Middle Saluda or 

the Soul,h Saluda. 

After leaving the mountains the flood plain of the river broadens,· 

and the wide, flat bottoms are given up largely to agriculture, the 

chief crop being corn, although considerable cotton is raised. Discharge measurements were taken on the North Saluda 2 miles below 

Humphries's store, at Lima, and at Marietta, with the results given 

in the table on page 138. The river has an average annual fluctuation 

of 10 feet. 
PRESSEY.) SALUDA RIVER. 137 

Fall Creek, a small tributary flowing into the North Saluda about· 

midway between Humphries's store and Lima, has a fall of about 120 

feet to the mile and a mean discharge of 6 or 8 second-feet. 

MIDDLE SALUDA RIVER. 

The Middle Saluda rises' in Jones Gap, in the Blue Ridge, on the 

North Carolina-South Carolina boundary line, at an elevation of 3,000 

feet. Its total length is about 20 miles; the elevation at its mouth 

990 feet. It has an average fall of 100 feet to the mile, but, as in the 

case of the North Saluda, the fall is much greater in its upper portion 

than in its lower course, the average fall for 10 miles above its mouth 

being only 11.6 feet per mile. 

The drainage conditions affecting the flow of the stream are similar 

t,o those of the North Saluda. Its flood plain is quite broad below 

Riverview and is under cultivation. The soil in the river bottoms is 

· rich and loamy and black in color, while the hills are covered with a 

deep, rather rich, light-red soil. A large amount of cotton is raised 

around Marietta, and below that place cotton constituteR the chief 

crop.-

r.rhe wat~r power is better than that of the North Saluda. The 

Cleveland mill, on Mill Creek, a tributary from the east, is a small 

sawmill and gristmill having a working head of about 12 feet. Below 

it shoals are quite frequent on the main stream. Opposite Marietta 

there is a shoal a half mile long, called Long Shoal. The fall is possibly 10 feet in 200 feet. Two miles below the Long Shoal there is a 

· sawmill and gristmill having a dam about 6 feet high and a working 

head of 12 or 15 feet. The average annual fluctuation of the Middle 

Saluda is 9 feet. 

SOUTH SALUDA RIVER. 

This branch has a total length of 30 miles. It rises just behind 

Pinnacle Mountain, at an elevation of 2, 700 feet. The difference in 

elevation between its head and mouth is 1, 720 feet, the average fall 

per mile 57 feet. It has one large tributary, viz, Oolenoy (sometimes 

called Illinois) Creek, it stream about 10 miles long, with an average 

fall of 30 feet to the mile below Sunnydale. It has wide and fertile 

bottom lands, planted chiefly in corn. 'fhe upper watersheds of 

both South Saluda River and Oolenoy Creek have been practically 

untouched by the woodman's ax. 

The only fall observed on the South Saluda was 8 miles west of the 

Cleveland mill, just below the bend in the stream. The fall there is 

30 feet in 100 feet, but the building space is rat,her cramped. The 

flood plain of the river varies in width from 50 to 200 yards, and the 

soil is deep and rich. 

The scenic features of the region surrounding the headwaters of 

the South Saluda and the Middle Saluda are remarkably striking. 
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.68. 

The southern slopes of the Blue Ridge are very steep. Table Rock, 

a mountain with an elevation of 3,157 feet., is surrounded by an escarpment of bare rock on all sides except one, and presents a very forbidding appearance. There is a popular summer resort, owned by 

Furman University, on Coosars Head Mountain. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation measurements were made of the North 

Saluda, the South Saluda, the Middle Saluda, and Fall Creek, as 

shown in the following table. A gaging station has been maintained 

on the main river at Waterloo, S. C., since August 30, 1896, the 

results obtained being published in the subsequent annual reports of 

the s:urvey. 

Discharge measurements of Saluda River and tributaries. 

I 

H Gage Dis- Date. Stream. Locality. . ydrographer. height. charge. 

1901. I . May 24 Saluda River ____ Greenville,S. C ...... -------------· N.C. Curtis _____ _ Feet. Sec.~tt. 

34.5 1,594.0 

1000. I 

Sept. 7 South Saluda FreemanBridge,belowmouthof ..... do ......•..... River. Middle Saluda River. 

14.1 ~.0 

Oct. 14 ..... do .....•........... do .••..••........... ·----------- ..... do------------ 14.! 171.0 

M~~: 31-----do------------ _____ do---------· ............. ··--··· E. W. Mye" _ •--- 12.4 469.0 

Sept. 7 _____ do------ .•.... 2 miles above mouth of Middle N.C. Curtis .....• 6.0 188.0 

Saluda River. 

Oct. 14 ----.do----·· ........... do ••••••••••••.•..•....•.......•..... do ........ ___ _ 6.0 134.0 

1901. 

May 3 ..... do .................. do .....•••....••••••.•. , .• ------ E. W. Myers _____ .... ____ 290.0 

1900. 

Sept. 7 MiddleSaluda 1mileabovemouth ..•.•.•.••••••. N.C.Curtis ...... 11.75 68.0 

River. 

Oct. 13 ..... do~----------- ..... do ................................... do.................... 55.0 

1901. 

May 2 ..... do ...... __ ......... do ...... ---------- .............. E. W. Myers .... . 10.3 181.0 

1900. 

Sept. 7 North Saluda IronbridgeatMarietta ........... N.C.Curtis ..... ~ River. 

14.7 58.2 

Oct. 13 --•- .do ............ ____ .do_----- ...... ------ ...... ------ _____ do------·----- 14.17 80.0 

1901. 

May 3 ...•. do------------ ..... do-----· ........................ ~- W. Myers_____ 13.5 163.0 

1900. 

Sept. 6 ..... do ............ Bridge on Lima-Cleveland Mill N.C. Curtis ______ 12.9 56.1 

road. 

Do ........ do------ ••.•.. 2 miles below Humphries's store ...... do------------ 14.2 26.1 

Do ... Fall Creek.------ Bridge on road to Lima. ____ ------ ..... do ____ -------- ____ ---- "15.0 

"Estimated. 

NOTE.-In making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering 

of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the strea.rn, the reverse of 

the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an increase 

in the gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
PRESSEY.) BROAD RIVER. 139 

BROAD RIVER. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Broad River rises on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge, in McDowell County, N.C., between the Swannanoa and the Edmondson 

mountains. It flows in a southwesterly direction through Hickory 

Nut Gap (see Pl. XXXIII), until it is joined by Green River, when it 

bends to the east and maintains that course for about 20 miles. After 

it is joined by the First Broad it turns abruptly to the south and 

crosses the North Carolina boundary line near Shelby. The river 

and its tributaries were examined as far down as Dellinger, S. C., 

about 1 mile from the State boundary line. Its drainage area in 

North Carolina includes portions of Henderson, Polk, Rut,herford, 

McDowell, and Cleveland counties, and agg.regates 1,400 square miles. 

Its total drainage area is 4,950 squa1·e miles. · 

Three important branch streams contribute their waters to those of 

Broad River, two entering from the nodh, called First Broad and • 

Second Broad, and the other entering from the west and known as 

Green River. These streams drain an area of the Blue Ridge and 

adjacent ridges extending to the State boundary line in Henderson 

County to and including the south side of the South Mountains in 

Rutherford and Cleveland counties. Pool Creek, a small branch 

from the south, discharging 6 or 8 cubic feet per second, is interesting 

on account of the pools which have been formEl'd through the action of 

the water. ~rhere are three of these pools, each resembling a huge 

auger hole 6 feet in diameter. No definite inform·ation was obtainable 

as to their depths. Buffalo Creek, a small stream rising on the east 

side of the Bald Mountains and entering Broad River from the north, 

has a wide flood plain near its mouth and au average rise of 6 feet. 

Just above Ayr it is said to have a fall of 30 feet. This stream was 

not visited. 

After leaving Batcave, where it is joined by Hickory Nut Creek (a 

typical headwater tributary shown in Pl. XXXIV), Broad River flows 

for 6 miles through a gorge which is justly famous for the grandeur 

of its scenery and the number of interesting natural curiosities. The 

mountains rise abruptly on either side to a height of 200 feet above 

the stre~m bed, and for about three-fourths of the way up are clothed 

with a thick forest growth. The upper side of each slope is guarded 

by an escarpment of granit.e absolutely bare of all verdure. This wall 

of rock varies in height from 200 to 1,000 feet. On the northeast corner of Sugarloaf Mountain and overlooking the gorge is a perpendicular mass of rock called Chimney Rock; which is detached from 

the face of the mountain and stands a massive silhouette against the 

sky. Its greatest height is 213 feet, its diameter at the summit 60 
140 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. -(No.63. 

feet. The top of the rock is reached by a wooden stairway. A half 

mile directly west of Chimney Rock are the falls of Fall Creek, which 

are said to have a sheer drop of several hundred feet, but the quantity of water is insufficient for water power. On the left bank of the 

river is a mountain known as Old Rumbling Bald. 

The region possesses a great variety of scenic and agricultural features. The soil is generally loose and porous. The headwaters of 

Broad and Green rivers rise among the high peaks of the Blue Ridge, 

and after winding their way through gaps and gorges finally emerge 

and flow through a region of low, rolling hills. There is very little 

bottom land along any of the larger tributaries. The only extensive 

stretches observed were along the lower portions .of Whiteoak Creek 

and Cove Creek. The entire region is very healthy. The country 

east of the Blue Ridge, including the watershed and the drainage 

basin of Broad and Green rivers, is fair for farming purposes, though 

the soil is not especially rich. 'rhe chief crops in this section appear 

to be corn and wheat. 

RAINFALL. 

The rainfall in the basin of Broad River is approximately 51 inches, 

distributed throughout t.he year as follows: Spring, 13 inches; summer, 13 inches; autumn, 10 inches; and winter, 15 inches. The rainfall in the region above the headwaters is, however, probably much 

greater than this. The bed of the stream is of rock, clay, sand, or 

gravel, but in many places the banks are low and the bottoms are 

overflowed during freshets. 

FORESTS. 

The timbered areas are comparatively small. Very little clearing 

has been done around the headwaters of either Broad River or Green 

River. The drainage basins of the Broad proper, the First Broad, 

and the Second Broad contain little valuable timber. For 2 miles 

above Batcave the land has been considerably cleared for farming, 

corn being the chief crop. The upper watershed of Reedy Patch 

Creek has been entirely eleared, and extensive clearing has been done 

around the heads of Cove, Maple, and Mountain creeks. 

MINERALS. 

The mineral wealth of the Broad River region is considerable. 

Deposits of gold are found about the headwaters of the First Broad, 

the Second Broad, and Silver and Muddy creeks, and these have 

been worked in a crude way since 1830. Several mines are also 

being worked on the flanks of the South Mountains, the ore being a 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXI II 

HICKORY NUT GAP FROM CHIMNEY ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. >XXIV 

H ICKORY NUT C REEK, NORTH CAROLINA. 
PRESSEY.] BROAD RIVER. i41 

very good grade of sulphuret. Here the famous Bechtler dollar was 

formerly coined. Monazite is extensively mined and shipped to the 

North and to foreign countries. Copper, corundum, and tin are 

among the minerals obtained. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation two gaging stations were established on 

Broad River, one at Dellinger, S. C., and the other near Alston, S. C., 

and measurementb were made at these stations and at other places on 

the main river, as shown in the following table. Measurements of 

the tributary streams are given in the table on page 143. 

Discharge measurements of Broad River. 

Date. Locality. Hydrographer. 

1900. 

Feb. 26 NearAlston,S.<M ••.••••••.•••••.•.••... E.W.Myers .............. . Apr. 18 ____ .do.-----------------·-·--···---------·- __ ... do __ ---·_--·-·-------- __ Apr. 20 ..... do .••.... ------------ ............ ------ ..... do---·-------------- ... . May 22 . ---.do. __ ...... ·----------·------••......... _ ... do ________ .... ____ .... .. 

July 5 ..... do ....... ---·-· ...... -----·------ ........... do·--·-------------- ___ _ Aug. 17 ..... do ....... ------ ............................. do ..................... . 

1901. 

May 7 NearBlacksburg,S.C ..................... _. ... do-----------------·----

1900. 

Aug. 30 At Dellinger,S.C ............ --·-------·- ..... do----------------------

Aug. 28 Ford 1 mile above mouth of Second H. A. Pressey----------·--- Broad River, N ortt. Carolina. 

Aug. 25 McClure's bridge, North Carolina·----· N.C. Curtis ............... . Oct. 18 ...•. do .......................................... do ..................... . 

1901. 

Aug. 9 ...•. do ............... ------------------ ____ ..... do---------·------..... . 

1900. 

Aug. 22 Near mouth of Buffalo Creek, North ..... do·--·--------------··--

Carolina. 

Oct. 6 ..... do .•..•..•..... --·-------·------·-- ____ .•... do------·---·· ........ .. 

1901. 

Aug. 10 N~ar Chimney Rock,N. C-----------·--- ..... do·---------------------

1900. 

Gage Disheight. charge. 

Feet. 

- 5.40 

6.28 

13.60 

3.40 

4.25 

2.80 

2.50 

0.80 

5.95 

23.43 

22.67 

20.8 

15.2 

14.59 

14.1 

Sec.-ft. 

8,913.0 

""44;456~0 

4,406.0 

5, 962.0 

2,840.0 

2,418.0 

1,430.0 

649.0 

220.0 

434.0 

683.5 

57.1 

145.4 

247.6 

Aufio~~- -~~~~~~-~~~~~~~:~:-~::::::~~~:::~:~::: ~:~::~~ :~~::::::: :::::::::::: ·---iil:is· 50.1 

48.0 

Oct. 6 ..... do ....... ------------------------ ______ ..... do-------------------·... 10.45 62.4 

N OTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. '!'his is true of all the measurements in the above table except those made near 

Alston and at Dellinger, where bench marks were established and measurements were made, by 

means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench mark to the surfaco of the water. In the 

latter case, therefore, an increase in the gage height means a lowering of the water surface 

and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream. 

The average annual fluctuation of the river at its mouth and near 

Buffalo Creek is 10 feet; at Batcave it is 8. feet. 
142 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

WATER POWERS. 

Broad River rises at an elevation of 3,100 feet. The elevation at 

the junction of Broad and Green rivers is about 780 feet. The total 

length of this portion of the stream is about 40 miles and the difference in elevation 2,320 feet, making the average fall per mile 58 feet. 

The average fall per mile from its head to its junction with Hickory 

Nut Creek, at Batcave, is 125 feet. From Batcave to a half mile 

below the mouth of Pool Creek the fall is also 125 feet per mile, but 

from that point to the mouth of Green River the fall is only 8 feet to 

the mile. As far down as Batcave the stream has a flood plain of 

about 75 yards average width, with no very steep slopes on either 

side. Hickory Nut Creek, a small stream entering the river just 

above the mouth of Reedy Patch Creek, has an average fall of 175 

feet per mile, and the latter stream a fall of 150 feet per mile. 

The water power of the upper section of the river is excellent. and 

has been very little developed. Rock ledges are numerous, and falls 

of 8 feet in 100 feet frequently occur. The only obstacle is the absence 

of good building sites. There are three mills between Batcave and 

Pool Creek, each having a working head of about 10 feet. 

The distance between Poors Ford and Dellinger is 25 miles. The 

water powers, descending the stream, are, briefly, as follows: (1) Big 

Island Ford Shoals, 1t miles below Poors Ford, having a vertical fall 

of 3 feet and a slope of probably 6 or 7 feet in 400 yards, with good 

rock bottom and natural abutments; {2) Durham Shoals, 6 miles 

below the mouth of Second Broad River, with a vertical fall of 7 feet, 

which could be increased to 12 feet at the wheel, and with excellent 

foundations for a dam and building; {3) Palmers Shoals, 1 mile below 

the mouth of First Broad River, with a fall of about 18 feet in a half 

mile {the south bank at these shoals is nearly level, but the rock 

cliff juts out prominently on the north bank); and ( 4) Hopper and 

Blanton shoals, where the river makes a horseshoe bend and the 

difference in elevation across the neck is said to be 30 feet, the short 

shoal on the lower side of the neck being known aA the Hopper Shoal 

and the one on the upper side as the Blanton Shoal. The latter 

power could be developed by piercing the neck of the tunnel and 

damming the water at the Blanton Shoal. 
PRESSEY.) TRIBUTARIES 01!' BROAD RIVER. l43 

TRIBUTARIES OF BROAD RIVER. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation the following measurements were made of 

the principal tributaries of Broad River, in order upstream; 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Broad River. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h Gage DisY rograp er. height. charge. 

1901. 

Mabo~­

May 25 

Feet. Sec.-ft. Enoree River .... Greenville, B. C .................... N.C. Curtis----· 7. 7 100.0 

Tiger River----· 14mileseastofGreenville .............. do .....•...... 19.5 174.0 

Pacolet River .... Clifton, S.C ...... ------------------ __ ... do-----·------ 13.1 900.0 

1900. I 

Aug. 30 FirstBroadRiver Near mouth_--------·------------· ..... do------------ 17.7 Oct. 10 ..... do------ ___________ do ________ ------ ___________________ .. do-----·.---·- 16.2 

Aug. 23 Puzzle Creek ......... do---·--------------·----------- ..... do------------ 6. 70 

Aug. 24 RobersonsCreek At mouth----------·--------------- .•••. do--··----------------

Aug. 23 Hollins Creek _________ do •. ·---·-----·--------- ............. do............ 5. 8 

Do ... CatheyCreek ......... do ................................... do............ 3.35 

Aug. 24 Cane Creek ...... 1 mile above mouth-----------·-·- ..... do............ 5.43 

Do ... Second Broad Bridge on Rutherfordton-Mor- ..... do............ 7.~ 

River. ganton road. 

Oct. 4 ..... do .•............... do ....•...••...........•.••.......... do............ 7.00 

1901. 

Aug.13 ..... do ....••.•.... Iron bridge near Bostic Station .. ____ .do------------ 23.45 

1900. 

Aug. 23 ..... do---·-------- It miles east of Forest City ..........•. do------------

Oct. 5 ..... do ................. do .... ------ ......... _ ............•.. do •.••.. ------ 20.8 

20.32 

Aug. 31 Whiteoak Creek. One-half mile above mouth ............ do------------

Sept. 3 Cove Creek--·--- Near mouth ..... ·----------------- ..... do--------·---

Do ... Green River ..... NearSaluda,onHowardGaproad ..... do------------

~~f.'~ ~~~~ ~ag ==~=== :::::: -~~~~so~~~~~~=====::::::::::::::~=== :::: :ag :::::::::::: 

4.65 

5.40 

17.7 

2'~. 9 

~-6 

1901. 

Aug. 9 ..... do .•............... do---------------··· ...•..•.......... do .•..•••••.•. 21.0 

Aug. 25 Maple Creek..... Near mouth .•...•. ------ ____ .••.•••.... do---····-----

Do __ Mountain Creek ...... do------------------------------ ..... do------·----· 

Oct. 8 ..... do ...... ------ ..... do ...... ------ ____ ------ ________ ----.do ..•..• ------ Aug.22 Cove Creek ...... Bridge at Rutherfordton road ....•... do ........... . Oct. 6 ..... do------------ ____ .do ................................... do----·······-

7. 70 I 6.83 

6.48 

18.65 

18.16 

Aug. 22 Buffalo Creek .... 15 yards below main ford.-------- ..... do .....•..•... Aug. 21 Reedy Patch At mouth ............................... do .••.••...... Creek. 

4.10 

5. 75 

Do .. Hickory Nut ..... do-------···-------------------- ..... do------ .•.... Creek. 

4.80 

285.3 

266.4 

10.0 

24.0 

14.3 

42.0 

17.0 

55.0 

64.0 

273.3 

153.a 

188.3 

64.0 

19.2 

74.1 

299.0 

255.4 

833.2 

8.4 

55.3 

70.2 

69.3 

86.0 

17.0 

13.0 

15.2 

NOTE.-In making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering 

of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse 

of the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an 

increase in the_ gage heigllt represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 

Brief descriptions of the drainage basins and water powers of the 

three largest tributaries are given on the following pages. 

FIRST BROAD RIVER. 

This tributary rises on the southern slopes of the South Mountains, 

in the northern part of Cleveland and Rutherfo-r:d counties, N. C., 

and flowing south joins Broad River about 8 miles south of Shelby, 

N.C. It drains an area of 302 square miles. The fall between the 
144 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63 

crossing of the railroad from Shelby to Rutherfordton and the mouth 

of the stream is about 105 feet, or at the rate of 8 feet per mile. 

The width of the stream at its mouth is about 90 feet. 

The water powers on the First Broad are as follows: Ten miles north 

of Shelby and 3 miles north of the Double Shoals, where is located 

Cleveland cotton mill No. 2, which contains 4,224 spindles and is 

run by water power exclusively, a fall of 13 feet being utilized. 

At the Double Shoals there is a cotton factory which contains 2,000 

'spindles run by water power. The dam is 9 feet high, giving a total 

fall of 15 feet. Three miles southwest. of Shelby are the Lauraglen 

cotton mills, containing 3,500 spindles operated entirely by water 

power. The dam is 14 feet high and 200 feet long, the fall of water 

at the mill 15 feet. Chambers's gristmill, still farther downstream, 

utilizes a fall of 9 feet, though more is available-the stream at this 

point will probably afford 7 or 8 horsepower per foot of fall in the 

low season of dry years. Stices's Shoal, about 4 miles from the 

mouth of the river, has a natural fall of 6 feet in a distance of 80 

feet over a smoot,h rock bed, with considerable fall below. By the 

construction of a dam across the upper part of this shoal the fall 

could be increased still more. The Buck ::1\'IcSwain Shoal is about 1 

mile above the mouth of the river, and has a natural fall of 3 feet in 

150 yards. 

SECOND BROAD RIVER. 

This stream rises on the southern slopes of the South Mountains, in 

McDowell County, N. C., about 10 miles directly south of Marion. It 

flows in a southerly direction, meeting Broad River about 8 miles 

below the confluence of Broad and Green rivers. It drains an area of 

193 square miles, and has a total length of about 50 miles. The elevation of its headwaters is 1,500 feet, of its mouth about 700 feet, giving 

an average fall per mile of 16 feet. 

Comparatively little clearing has been done around the headwaters 

of either Second Broad River or Cove Creek, a tributary of Broad 

River which rises near the Second Broad and drains a c~nsiderable 

portion of the southern slopes of the South Mountains. The proportion of cleared land here is estimated to be about 10 per cent of the 

entire area. Lower down, hewever, along Cathey and .Robersons 

creeks, the amount of cleared land is much greater, probably 50 or 60 

per cent of the whole: After leaving the South Mountains the river 

flows· through a region of low, rolling foothills. The timbered areas 

are thinly covered, the trees being chiefly pines and scrub oaks. The 

soil is rather compact, of a light-yellow color, and not particularly 

rich, and permits fairly good roads to be constructed without much 

difficulty. 

Rutherfordton, the county seat of Rutherford County, about 6 

miles west of the Second :Broad, is on the western boundary of the 

cotton belt. The farming lands of Cleveland County and the eastern 
PRESSEY.] TRIBUTARIES 0]' BROA.D RIVER. 145 

half of Rutherford County are mainly devoted to the production of 

cotton. Some sorghum cane also is raised, and the farmers usually 

make enough molasses for their own consumption. As the head waters 

of the Second Broad and Cove Creek are approached the soil increases 

in fertility. The Cove Creek Bottoms are especially adapted to the 

production of corn, and along the slopes of the South Mountains 

tobacco is easily grown. The climate of the region is salubrious, 

and very little sickness prevails at any season of the year. 

The waters of the First Broad and the Second Broad are never 

clear, even after protracted droughts, but are. a sort of light-brown or 

yellow-ochre color. This is due to the character of the soil and to the 

extensive clearing which the watersheds have undergone. The beds 

of both streams are sandy except where rock shoals OC'cur. 

T}lere are four cotton mills in operation in the Second Broad River 

region. The motive power of two of them is supplied by steam and 

of the other two by water. One of the steam mills is at Rutherfordton 

and the other at Forest City. The two water-power mills are known 

as Henrietta No. 1 and Henrietta No. 2. The former is 6 miles above 

the mout,h of the river, at High Shoals, the latter about 7 iniles above 

the mouth, at Caroleen. Both factories are connected with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad by branch lines. Henrietta mill No. 2 occupies the shoals formerly known as Harrells Shoals and Old Burnt 

Factory Shoals. A masonry dam about 24 feet in height gives a fall 

at the wheel of 29 feet. The natural fall of the shoals is 18 feet. 

The mill contains 35,000 spindles and 1,000 looms. At Henrietta mill 

No. 1 the natural fall is 23 feet, but a stone dam, slightly curving 

upstream, 17.8 feet high, gives a fall at the wheel of 32 feet. 'rhis 

dam is 200 feet long. The race is 300 "feet long, 35 feet wide, and 10 

feet deep. 'rhe mill.operates 25,000 spindlEs and·1,000 looms. Both 

factories have auxiliary steam plants, and sef.m to have been extremely 

successful and profitable to their owners. 1The cotton used is raised 

in the immediate vicinity and hauled to th~ mills on wagons. About 

2 miles from the mouth of the river the stream makes a long curve, 

the hillside§ closing in very clo:se to either bank. · A site has been 

surveyed here for a large mill, and land has been cleared and construction begun. The natural fall between this site and Henrietta 

mill No. 1 is about 40 feet. A dam 23 feet high is to be built. No 

race is to be constructed, but the wheels are to be located at the dam. 

The fall below- the shoals is abrupt for a short distance, and the waste 

water will flow off readily. The building site is fairly good. This 

dam will destroy the water power of Tumbling Shoals, 3 miles above 

the mouth of the river. 

GREEN RIVER. 

Green River rises in Henderson County, near the Transylvania 

Uounty boundary line, on the northwestern slopes of the Saluda MounIRR 63-02-4 
146 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

tains. The elevation of its headwaters is 2, 900 feet, of its mouth 780 

feet, the difference in elevation being 2,120 feet. The total length of 

the river is about 45 miles, making the average fall per mile about 47 

feet. rrhe distance from its head to the point where it emerges from 

the Blue Ridge is 23 miles, and the difference in elevation between 

the two points 1,800 feet, making the average fall per mile in that 

section 78 feet. rrhe length of the remaining section is 22 miles and 

the difference in elevation 320 feet, making t,he average fall per mile 

only 15 feet. The drainage areais 198 square miles. 

Along the upper portion of the river the mountain slopes shut in 

very close, and the timber on the watersheds is practically untouched. 

Consequently the flow of the stream is constant and the water always 

clear and cold. The scenery up Green River Cove and around Saluda 

while beautiful is not remarkably grand. The two most conspicuous 

mountain peaks are Whiteoak and Tryon. The latter has an elevation 

of about 3, 200 feet. 

Bet.ween Zirconia and the mouth of Cove Creek the river flows in a 

narrow gorge. The water power of this section is excellent, but 

building sites are scarce. The two water powers which are considered among the best on the stream were visited. The first of these, 

the Pot Shoals, is about 2 miles below the Southern Railway bridge. 

The fall consists of a drop of 8 feet and a total fall of possibly 30 feet 

in 100 feet. There is a fairly good site for a building here and excellent facilities for constructing a dam. The next power is at The 

Narrows, about 4 miles below the Pot Shoals. Here the stream is 

forced to pass through a narrow and rocky channel 7 feet wide and 

50 feet long. The fall is about 10 feet in 100 feet. Building facilities 

are poor. Another power on the river, known as the falls of Green 

River,· is not so well located as are the Pot Shoals. Here "the fall is 

about 30 feet in 100 feet, preceded by rapids for three-eight.hs of a 

mile, making a total fall of 45 feet. The banks are rocky and very 

steep, so that building facilities are not good." On the whole, the 

water powers of Green River are better than those of the Upper 

Broad, but.they are not so accessible, and the building sites are poor. 

The average annual .fluctuation of the river at its mouth is 11 feet; 

near Saluda it is 9 feet. 

The healthfulness of the Green River region is unexcelled. Saluda 

and Tryon, situated on the Asheville and Spartanburg division of the 

Southern-Railway, are popular summer and winter resorts. 

Great expectations are entertained of the deposits of zircon in the 

valley of Green River. 

'rhe side streams flowing into Green River are mostly short, but 

have heavy falls. Whiteoak Creek is the only tributary of importance. Its fall, however, is small, but it has a very wide flood plain. 

The bottom land is well cultivated, mostly in corn. The soil is loamy 

and rich. The average fall is about 12 feet to the mile; the average 

annual fluctuation 10 feet. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEV WA. TI:R-SUPP1 v P4.Pe:R NO. 63 PL. XXXV 

FALLS ON UPPER CATAWBA RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA. 
PRESSEY.] CATAWBA RIVER. 147 . 

CATAWBA RIVER. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

This river rises near the Buncombe and McDowell county line in 

North Carolina, and flows almost due east through McDowell and 

Burke counties and between Alexander and Catawba counties, where 

it turns to the south and finally enters South Carolina near the Mecklenburg-Gaston-York county line. After a course of about 160 miles 

in South Carolina it joins the Congaree to form the Santee. Below 

the mouth of Big Wateree Creek the river is known as Wateree River. 

Its drainage area in North Carolina is 3,085 square miles. Its total 

drainage area is 5,225 square miles. 

The Catawba receives its headwaters from the southeast.ern slopes of 

the Blue Ridge, the main st,ream rising at the junction of the latter 

mountains with a spur known as the Edmondson Mountains. At 

Oldfort the waters of Mill Creek, with its branch, Jarrett Creek, are 

added to the Catawba, forming a river of considerable size. The 

drainage basins of these streams are decidedly mountainous, with 

steep, wooded slopes. The streams are swift mountain torrents, with 

large falls and great fluctuations of discharge. The flow at times of 

low water, however, is fairly large. On Catawb~ River above Oldfort there are precipices many feet in height, over which the river 

plunges in its descent toward the Piedmont Plain. (See Pl. XXXV.) 

In the first 6 miles of its course the river falls 1,500 feet. Below Oldfort the character of the drainage basin changes, becoming very like 

that of the Yadkin, described on pages 158 to 164. The valley broadens out, especially on the south side of the river, the land immediately contiguous to the stream being flat or gently rolling. The Blue 

Ridge is not far distant, however, extending to the northeast, with 

frequent ridges projecting toward the Catawba, between which flow 

the numerous northern branches of the stream. The tributaries from 

the north are Curtis, Crib, Clear, and Buck ·creeks, North Fork, 

Paddy Creek, Linville River, Cane Creek, Upper Creek, John River, 

and Lower Creek. These streams for the most part receive their 

waters from either the Blue Ridge or the Linville mountains, and in 

their upper courses run between parallel ridges with steep slopes 

heavily wooded. In their lower courses they reach the Piedmont 

Plain, where the fall becomes less and their valleys more open, being 

generally cultivated to some extent. 

The river receives several tributaries from the south between the 

source of the stream and Morganton. The chief of these are Crooked 

Creek, Muddy Creek, and Silver Creek, meandering, comparatively 

slow-flowing streams, with a large part of their drainage areas under 

cultivation. 
14;8 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

The reconnaissance of the drainage basin of Catawba River extended 

only from its headwaters to Morganton, N. C., that being the portion 

of greatest interest in connection with the studies of the proposed 

Southern Appalachian Park. Below Morganton t,he river receives a 

number of large tributaries and has many water powers in its course 

across the Piedmont Plain, but they were not visited. 

RAINFALL. 

The average rainfall in the basin of the Catawba is about 50 inches, 

distributed as follows: Spring, 12 inches; summer, 14 inches; autumn, 

10 inches; and winter, 14 inches. Toward the upper part of the 

stream, however, the rainfall in winter increases, and is probably 

g~:eater than in summer. 

FORESTS. 

The region of the headwaters of the Catawba and its chief branches, 

which flow from the· steep slopes of the Blue Ridge, is heavily forested. At the foot of the mountains the timber consists of beech, 

poplar, linn, oak, and ash, changing to pines as the slopes are 

ascended, and near the summits to balsam fir. In the broad valley of 

the main stream a large part of the land has been cleared and is now 

used for agricultural purposes. The soil is deep and fertile, the top soil 

being largely flood deposits of the river. When the forests are cleared 

from the bases of the steeper mountain slopes considerable difficulty 

is experienced from the washing away of the top soil, leaving only 

the barren subsoil or clay beneath. This wash is often so extensive 

as to completely destroy large areas of land. Pl. XXXVI shows the 

effect of deforesting areas which can not properly be protected from 

this agency. 

The banks of the Catawba are subJect to overflow during the highest 

floods, and great damage is often caused. Jt, is not uncommon for a 

fine stretch of farming laud to be completely ruined in a single day 

by the high waters washing away the soil down to the bottom clays or 

gravels. (See Pl. XXXVII, A.) It has been estimated that in the 

drainage basin of the Catawba a· single flood has caused damage to the 

extent of a million dollars. (See Pl. XXXVII, B.) That these floods 

are checked to some extent by the forests there can be no doubt; and 

·in the absence of other regulators, such as lakes or marshes, the forests on the mountain sides form the only protection that the people 

dwelling in the valleys below have from the violence of flood waters. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation temporary gaging stations were established on Catawba River near Morganton, on John Rive-r near Morganton, and on Linville River near Bridgewater. For several years the 
U. 8. GEOLOGICAL SUHVEY WATER·SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXVI 

A. 

B . 

VI EWS SHOWING HILLSIDE WASH IN VALL EY OF CATAWBA RIV ER. 
U, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXVII 

A. VIEW SHOWING REMOVAL OF SOIL IN VALLEY BY FLOODS. 

B. VIEW IN VALLEY OF CATAWBA RIVER, SHOWING DESTRUCTION BY FLOODS. 
PRESSEY.) OATA WB.A RIVER. 149 

Survey has maintained two stations on. the Catawba River-one at 

Catawba, N. C., and the other at Rockhill, S. C.-the results of which 

have been published in the annual reports. The results of all measurements made on the river during the investigation are contained in the 

following table; the results of measurements on the tributaries in the 

table on pages 151 and 152. 

Date. 

1900. 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Apr. 13 

Apr. 21 

May 21 

July 4 

Aug.16 

Oct. 26 

1901. 

Apr. 4 

!o-_pr. 23 May 23 July 20 

1900. 

July 3 

Aug.14 

Nov. 7 Dec. 18 

1901. 

Mar. 29 

Apr. 27 

July 25 

1900. 

June 13 

June 18 

July 6 

Aug. 8 

Sept.24 

'Nov. 1 June28 

Aug. 20 

Sept.20 

Discharge measurements of Catawba River. 

Locality. Hydrographer. 

Rockhill,S. C .....••...•.•...• ------ •..... E. W. Myers--------------- ..... do ____ ............ ------------------ ....... do .......... ------------ -.... do .......... ------. ___ ..... ----- ........... do------.--------------- . ___ .do . ----- _______ .• ----- ••...• ------ ____ ..... do ..... -- ... ---... ------

····.do .... ------------------ .. ---- ........ ·---.do ____ .... -------------- .---.do _ ----------- _ ..... ______ ------ __________ .do ------ .... ------ ------ .---.do ___ • ----------.-----.-----. ----· ---- . ___ .do.----- •. -------------- ·--:.do------------------------------- ........... do----------------------

____ .do .... -------- ...... ____ ------ ________ ..... do.----------------·----

_____ do . ----------------------------------- ..... do ____ ------------------ ..... do ----· ... ---------------- ________ ......... do-----------·------ ... . ..... do _ ----- -- ____ ----· _ ------------------ ____ .do ____ .----.·------•....• 

Catawba, N.C .•...• ---------------------- ----.do-----------·------ .•.. ----.do .. _____ -----.----- _. ---- ---- ________ ...... do ________ ....•• -------- ----.do . ----- ____________ ------ .••. ____ ... _____ .do_-------------....... --

----.do ------------ ----·- ____ ----. ----· ________ .do ... _------··_---.-----

..... do --·· ----------------------•......... N.C. Curtis----------------

~~~=:a~ :::: ===~ ==== ==== ==== ========== =~ ==== -~--~0~:.~=~- ~==== =~=======: 

Near Morganton,N. C ......... ____ ---------------~-----------·····---- _____ do------------------------------------------------------------------ _____ do ____ --·---------------------·-·· ____ ------------------------------ ----.do . __ . _. ---- _ ----- ........ ____ .... ____ .. __ .. __ . _ ........•..• -------- ____ ._do ............ ------------ ____ .... ____ ------------------ ...... ----·· ..... do ___ ·-------------------------· ______ ..... _______ ---------------- Oldfort, N. C _________ ---· -------------.:. H. A. Pressey--------------

----.do ------------ .... ------ ------ .... .... N.C. Curtis----------------

---.do -------------- .....• ---- ____________ ...•. do ...... ------ ...... ----

a Greatest flood ever known on river. 

Gage Disheight. charge. 

Feet. 

2.63 

5.28 

2.75 

9.07 

2.42 

2.86 

1. 70 

3.30 

9.80 

4.65 

a24.15 

2.00 

3.45 

2.10 

2.95 

2.59 

5.83 

4.37 

2.95 

1.33 

2.50 

1.30 

0.60 

0.50 

1.50 

10.10 

12.70 

12.78 

Sec.-feet. 

3,803 

16,791 

4, 703 31,610 

3,703 

5,623 

1,936 

8,843 

33,150 

10,314 

150,783 

3,822 

3,372 

914 

2,083 

2,100 

5,640 

4.354 

2,805 

1,393 

4,030 

1,164 

558 

525 

1,374 53 

11 

12 

NoTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This.is true of all the measurements in the above table except those made at 

Oldfort, where a bench mark was established and measurements were made, by means of a steel 

tape, of the distance from the bench mark to the surface of the water. In the latter case, therefore, an increase in the gage height means a lowering of the water surface and a corresponding 

decrease in the discharge of the stream. 

The following table, computed by E. W. Myers, shows the comparative minimum flows of Catawba River at the Catawba and Rockhill 

stations, which are about 60 miles apart, for the years 1895 to 1899. 

The drainage area at Catawba is 1,535 square miles and at Rockhill 

2,987 square miles. Comparing this table with a similar one for 

Yadkin River, published in Water-Supply Paper No. 36, page 119, it 

will be seen that the run-off per square mile does not vary more than 

would be ~xpected. The Catawba station was established in 1896, 

the Rockhill station in 1895. 
150 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. (N0,63. 

Table showing comparative minimum flows of Catawba River at gaging stations 

at Catawba, N. C., and at Rockhill, S. C. 

Mean flow 8er Minimum flow 

Driest month. Mean flow for s1uare m1 e Minimum flow :rer square driest month. · or driest for year. mile for the 

Year. month. year. 

Rock- Cataw- Rock· Cataw- Rock- Cataw- Rock- Cataw- Rock-~ Cataw- hill. ba. hill. ba. hill. ba. hill. ba. hill. ba. ----

1895 ---········· 

Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Sec.-ft. Septa .. ·cici: ~==~ 1,3L8 """"865" 0.441 ··o:oo·· 1,300 0.435 

1896 ............ Aug .... 1,604 .54 b1,330 770 .445 0.501 

1897 ...... ---··· Sept .... Sept_ ___ 1,817 1,017 .61 .66 c1,575 d850 .526 .553 

1898 -----· ...... June ... Jnne ... 2,091 1,069 . 70 .69 1,600 910 .535 .592 

1899 ...... ····-· Nov .... Nov .... 2,492 1,340 .835 .873 2,300 1,2"ZO .770 .793 

a Seven days' record. 

bAlso in July, August, and September. cMinimum occurred in January. September minimum was 1,700 second-feet, or 0.569 second· 

foot _per square mile. . dMinimum in October. September minimum 900 second-feet, or 0.579 second-foot per square mile. 

WATER POWERS. 

Between Morganton and the mouth of Mill Creek, a distance of 50 

miles, there are 197 shoals with an average fall of about 2 feet. In 

McDowell County the fall of the river is very great, there being in 

one or two cases vertical drops of 100 feet, but the channel is sonarrow that the power is not of great value for development. Rock Ford 

Shoal, at Morganton, has a natural fall of 9i feet in a distance of 

about 1,500 feet. 

Although the investigation embraced only the portion of the drainage basin above Morganton, as some of the chief water powers of the 

river are below that place they will be mentioned in this connection. 

Briefly described, they are as follows: 

Devil Shoal has a fall of 14 feet in a distance of 1 mile, and is well 

located for improvement. Horseford Shoal, 3 miles north of Hickory, 

has a fall of 31 feet in 2.9 miles; the power is utilized to only a limited 

extent. The Great Fall Shoals have a fall of 14.8 feet in a distance 

of 1 mile. Canoe I~anding Shoal, about 2 miles above the mouth 

of Lower Little River, has a fall of 8.9 feet in a distance of 1.87 miles. 

The Lower Little River Shoals are between the upper end of Druin 

Island and the lower end of Three-Cornered Island, with a fall of 9. 7 . 

feet in a distance of 1.16 miles. Lookout Shoal, about 6 miles above 

Catawba Station, has the greatest fall of any shoal on the river in 

North Carolina, the descent being 54. 25 feet in a distance of 3. 2 miles. 

About 30 feet of this fall is said to occur in a distance of three-fourths 

of a mile. The Buffalo Shoals have a fall of 11.4 feet in a little more 

than a half mile; they are a short distance below the Western North 

Carolina Railroad crossing. Long Island Shoal, about 7 miles southeast of Catawba Stt:ttion, has been improved and a cotton factory 

constructed to utilize the power. Monbo Shoal is utilized by a cotton 

mill. Beatties Ford Shoal has a fall of 13 feet in 2. 38 miles, and 
TRiBUTARIES OF CATAWBA RiVER. i51 

Cowan Ford Shoal a fall of 27 feet in a distance of 4.17 miles. Mountain Island Shoal is utilized to a small extent by a cotton factory 

containing 6, 300 spindles and using a fall of 22.5 feet. Tuckasegee 

Shoal, about 9 miles above the State line, has a natural fall of 11 feet 

in a distance of 1 mile, and is utilized by a cotton mill of 6,000 spindles. Near the State line there are several shoals with falls of from 

3 to 5 feet, some of which have been used to a limited extent, but 

considerable difficulty has been experienced from high water. 

TRIBUTARIES OF CATAWBA RIVER. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation the following mea~urements were made of 

the important tributaries of the Catawba above Morganton, N. C., in 

order downstream: 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Catawba River. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h Gage DisY rograp er. height. charge. 

1900. .Feet. Sec.-ft. June28 Mill Creek .....•.•... Oldfort •...•.••...••..•........ H. A. Pressey____ 3.85 85.0 

Aug.20 ..... do .•...•...........•... do .......................... N.C.Curtis ...... 6.73 27.0 

Sept.20 ..... do ....•.••..••......... do .................... ------ ..... do.................... 13.0 

June28 Jarrett Creek ....... Near Oldfort .................. H.A.Pressey .... --····-- 17.0 

Do ... CurtisCreek ......... 200 feet above ford of Oldfort ..... do............ ........ 82.11 

road. 

Aug. 20 ..... do .•••..••............. do .. ------ .................. N.C. Curtis ...... -------- 16.50 

June28 CribCreek ........... Nearfordofmainroad ....... H.A.Pressey .... 4.9 28.03 

Aug. 28 ----.do ..................... do .............. ------------ N.C. Curtis ...... -------- 10.0 

,June28 Clear Creek ..•..•.... 200 feet above ford of main H.A.Pressey .... ________ 25.25 

road. 

Aug. 28 ..... do ..................... do .............. ------------ N.C. Curtis-------------- 12.0 

June 14 Buck Creek .......... t mile above ·mouth, at main H. A. Pressey____ ________ 51.91 

ford. 

Aug. 20 ..... do-------------·-- ..... do-·------------_----------- N.C. Curtis------ 5.35 41.4 

July 3 North Fork of Ca- Firstfordabovemouth ....... H.A.Pressey .... ------·- 240.2 

tawba River . Aug.18 

Sept.21 

June 15 

June20 

June 14 Jun~l6 

July 10 

Aug.17 

Sept.21 

,Junel4 

June16 

July 10 

Av.g.17 

June21 

June24 

Jnne14 

July 3 

July 10 

Aug. 17 

Sept 21 

Junel4 

June18 

Aug.17 

Junel4 

Aug.10 

Sept.24 

1901. 

June14 

..... do .......... ·---·- ..... do--------------·-···--·---- N.C. Curtis ...... _______ _ . --·.do ____ .-----._._ ___ ..... do------------. _____ . ___ . ___ ..... do ••.... _____ . 3.18 

Turkey Cove Creek. Just above second ford------- L. V. Branch ..... 1 5.75 ..... do---·----------·- ____ .do-----------··----- ________ ..... do ........ ____ 5.30 

Muddy Creek ........ Bridgewater ............. ~----- H. A. Pressey.... 5.80 ..... do----··------ ......... do ........ ----·-------- ...... L. V. Branch..... 4.1 ..... do----------··---- ..... do---· .......... ------------ ..... do··-·--------- 6.0 ..... do ........ -----·-· ..... do--------------.----- ______ N.C. Curtis------ 6.43 ..... do .......... ------ ..... do ________ ------ ................. do............ 6.34 

Paddy Creek ........ Near Bridgewater ............ H. A. Pressey __ ·__ 11.3 

~====~~ ==== ~~~~:: :::::: :=~=:~g ·.::: :::::::::::::::::::::: -~--~d~:-~~~~::: :~ 1t &, I ..... do-----·.----. _____ ..... do ....... _ ............•..... N.C. Curtis...... 12.35 

Linville River ....... Linville------ .................. H. A. Pressey .. __ 14.83 ..... do ..................... do ___ ---·--.--------------- ..... do ............ 14.23 .... do ................ Near Bridg-ewater-----------··------------------. 9.92 ..... do------ ............... do ........ _----- __ ..... _.... ....... ...•. .... .. .. 9. 54 ..... do---------------· ____ .do .... ____ ------------------ ------ ...... ____ .... 9. 90 ..... do ___ .. -----.----- ..... do .. _. _____ ..... _----- ...... _______ ----- .... _.. 10.15 ..... do---------- .......... do ................... ______ ------------ ____ .... 9.8 

Cane Creek-----·---- Lowest ford of main Morgan- H. A. Pressey.... 5. 72 ton road. ..... do .... -----· ........... do .............. ------ ...... L. V. Branch ... .. ..... do ..................... do .................... ------ N.C. Curtis ..... . Silver Creek ......... Near Morganton-------------- L. V. Branch .... . ..... do ____ .••..• ------ ..... do ............ -----· .... ____ N.C. Curtis ..... . ••••. do ....•..•.•..•........ do .... -----··-·· •..... _----- ____ .do ........... . 

5.85 

6.3 

6.8!1, 

8.30 

8.20 

..... do ..................... do .......................... E. W. Myers..... 13.08 

67.3 

61.69 

21. !1,8 

164.8 

161.9 

618.0 

119.2 

98.6 

101.7 

19.78 

203.67 

11.5 

7.0 

21.0 

90.22 

104.0 

216.0 

116.0 

78.0 

55.0 

18.58 

28.45 

7.2 

124.0 

48.4 

56.0 

995.0 
152 SOUTHERN .A.PPAL.A.OBI.A.N MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. (No.63. 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Catawba Rive1'-Continued. 

Date. Stream. Locality. Gage Dis- Hydrographer. height. charge. 

1900. Feet. Sec.-ft. June 13 Upper Creek .•..•... t mile above month ..•..•••... N.C. Curtis...... 2.2 182.4 

July 6 ..... do ..................... do .•...• ·----------·-------- L. V. Branch..... 2.3 50.0 

Aug. 8 ..... do ..... ----------- ____ .do .... .. J. _ ..... ______ ------ N.C. Curtis ....... _____ .. 85.05 

Sept. 24 ..... do ................ ____ .do ___ . ___ ............ ------ ..... do ______ ...... ______ .. 60.0 

June20 ..... do ............... _ Ford at Henderson's milL .... H. A. Pressey____ 12.9 20.42 

Do ........ do ................ Upper Creek Falls ....... ·----- ..... do-----------· -------- 27.0 

Do ... Steel Creek .......... Footbridge 100 yards above ..... do............ 3.20 100.21 

mouth. 

Sept. 25 John River--·- ...... Collettsville_ ...... ------------ N.C. Curtis...... 4. 77 

Nov. 6 ..... do ..................... do .. __ .................. ____ ..... do ....... __ .. _ 4. 47 

j~~~ ~g :~~~~~~ ~~~::: :::::::::: -~~~Jo~~~~~~~~~-~:::~::::::::: :::::::::::::::: -~:~ :: ~ July 6 ..... do ..................... do .......................... ·------------------- 2.63 

Aug. 8 ..... do ..................... do.............................................. l.!JO 

Sept.24 ..... do ..................... do............................................. 1.90 I 

Nov. 7 ..... do ..................... do .............. · ............ -------------------· 2.32 

Sept.25 MulberryCreek ..... Atmouth ...................... N.C.Curtis...... 7.85 

Nov. 6 ..... do ...... ---------- ..... do ............................... do............ 7.95 

Do... Wilson Creek ........ : .... do ... _ .. _____ .. --------· ......... do_ ..... _----- 0. 75 

Junel3 LowerCreek ........ 2milesabovemouth .......... E.W.Myers. ___ 14.58 

~~-J ~====!~ :~~~==:~==~~===~ ~:::=~~ =~=::::::::::::::::::::::: -~-:b~~~~~~~~~:::: ~=ii~~~: 

40.0 

135.0 

465.0 

1,202.0 

511.0 

135.0 

148.0 

367.0 

17.0 

39.0 

208.0 

209.0 

132.0 

69.0 

56.0 

NoTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This is true of the measurements in above table of John River near Morganton 

and of Linville River near Bridgewater. In making all of the other measurements, however, in 

each case a bench mark was established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, 

of the distance from the bench mark to the surface of the water. In these cases, therefore, an 

increase in the gage height means a lowering of the water surface and a corresponding decrease 

in the discharge of the stream. 

The principal tributary drainage basins and water powers are briefly 

described on the following pages. 

CENTER, CRIB, AND CLEAR CREEKS. 

Of the tributaries from the north, Center, Crib, and Clear creeks 

have drainage areas of a similar character. There is considerable fall 

near their sources, which gradually becomes less as the streams are 

descended, the valleys- broadening out and being ·partially cultivated. 

About three-fourths of the drainage areas are forest-covered. The 

streams are too small for extensive water-power development, but 

two small gristmills have been built on Crib Creek. r:Phe low-water 

flow of the stream is so small, however, that the mill can not be run 

during the dry season. 

BUCK CREEK. 

This creek r~ses in Buck Creek Gap, and has a drainage basin 

similar to the creeks just described, though much larger. The fall 

is very great along its upper course. Six miles from its mouth are 

the falls of Buck Creek, with a vertical drop of 12 feet. A rough 

and rocky highway, leading from Marion through Yancey County, 

follows the stream throughout its course. The scenery near the gap 

is very fine. Two mills have been constructed, and are run during 

a part of the year. Near the mouth of the creek there are some 
PRF.'3SEY.) TRIBt1TAR1ES OF CATA W:BA RIVER. 153 

good farms. About a quarter of a mile above the mouth the MarionOldfort road crosses the creek. Here measurements were made of the 

discharge (see table on page 151). 

NORTH FORK OF CATAWBA RIVER. 

This stream enters the Catawba near Marion. At its headwaters it 

is a mountain stream with very heavy fall, dl'aining the narrow valley 

between the Blue Ridge al\d the Linville mountains. The mountain 

slopes are covered with a valuable growth of timber, practically no 

cutting having been done on them. About 7 miles downstream the 

valley broadens slightly and furnishes a very fertile soil excellent for 

agricultural purposes. This valley land has been cleared and is now 

largely in grain or grass. About three-fourths of the drainage area 

is still in forest. Two small combined gristmills and sawmills have 

been built on the stream, with falls of 6 and 8 feet. Turkey Cove 

Creek, a bran~h of the North Fork, is a mountain stream of considerable fall, with wooded slopes. The total drainage area of the North 

]~ork is 835 square miles. 

PADDY CREEK. 

This creek has the same general characteristics as the other northern tributaries of the Catawba in the region. Its headwaters are on 

the steep slopes of the Linville Mountains, and its lower course is 

across the Catawba Valley. Its watershed is long and narrow, being 

close to Linville River on one side and flowing nearly parallel to the 

Catawba on the other. 

LINVILLE RIVER. 

This river is formed by a number of small streams which head on 

Grandfather and Sugar mountains ;:tnd in Linville Gap. The sources 

of most of the streams are large springs, which are numerous throughout the region, furnishing perfectly clear and chemically -pure water. 

Grandfather Mountain has an elevation of 5,964 feet; the ·heads of 

most of the streams rising upon its slopes are at an elevation of 5,000 

feet. The elevation of Sugar Mountain is 5,289 feet, while Linville 

Gap, between these two high peaks, has an elevation of 4,097 feet. 

Four miles south of Grandfather Mountain is Grandmother Mountain, 

elevation 4,686 feet, upon which rise~ Grandmother Creek, which flows 

into Linville River 1 mile below the village of Linville. 

The mountain slopes are steep and rocky, the small streams falling 

in a series of cascades. The virgin growth of timber is still on the 

mountain sides and extends to the RUmmits, practically no cutting 

having been done. Three miles below Linville, at Pineola, there is a 

healthy growth of white pine, but from Linville upstream the river 

is above the white-pine belt, the growth changing to spruce, chestnut, 
154 SOUTHERN APPALACHiAN :M:olfNTAI:tf REGiON, PT. Ii. [No.63. 

white and red oak, pqplar, linn, ash, buckeye, birch, beech, cherry~ 

a.nd, on the highest eleva.tions, balsa.m fir. The temperature is usually 

low, frosts ha.ving been known to occur in each month of the yea.r. 

Below Grandmother Creek the river has no tributaries of any size. 

From Grandfather J\llountain to Linville Falls its valley is narrow, the 

land on both banks rising abruptly to the mountain summits, permitting only short tributaries and a narrow drainage area. Linville, a 

village of about thirteen houses and a summer hotel, is between the 

river and Grandmother Creek, on a comparatively fiat area, and Pine~ 

ola, 3 miles below, a village built up largely during 1900, occupies 

another fiat section. 

The falls of the Linville, located near the Mitchell-Caldwell-McDowell County line, have an aggregate fall of 90 feet in four clear leaps. 

The first fall is 50 feet upstream from the main fall,. and is a vertical 

drop of 15 feet. There are then three drops in quick succession of 25, 

10, and 40 feet, respectively. The water at the last drop (see Pl. 

XXXVIII) falls in one sheet into a still pool, from "'which it flows 

through a narrow gorge 10 miles long between Gingercake Mountain,-

Hawks Bill, 'rable Rock, and Shortoff Mountain on the east and the 

Linville Mountains on the west. The walls of this gorge are precipitous, in many places almost vertical, and rise to heights of from 

500 to 2,000 feet. Through it the Linville has no tributaries, receiving only the water which falls on the steep slopes and the flow 

from the springs on the mountain sides. It may well be considered 

one of the greatest mountain features of the region. 'rhe high and 

rocky walls are so close to the river that there is no space for highway or railroad. In fact it is with the greatest difficulty that one can 

make his way through the chasm, jumping from rock to rock, clinging to roeky ledges, and in places where no foothold is offered on 

either side wading the stream. The scene is grand and inspiring, 

viewed either from the chasm, where immense vertical rocky eliffs 

rise on either hand, showing nothing beyond but the blue sky, or from 

the upper edge of the gorge, where one ean look vertically down several hundred feet and see the rapid, sinuous stream cutting its way to 

the valley below. 

At Linville Falls, at the upper end of the chasm, the drainage 

basin of the main stream and. its tributaries has an area of 50 square 

miles. rrhe next 10 miles of the course of the river is through the 

gorge. After emerging from the rocky walls of the chasm it flows for 

8 or 9 miles as a comparatively quiet stream through Birch Bottom 

and Catawba Valley, finally joining its waters to Catawba River. 

At Linville records of rainfall have been kept by the United States 

Weather Bureau for nearly eight years. These records show that the 

annual precipitation is about 46 inches, distributed as follows: Spring, 

11.50 inches; summer, 13.50 inches; autumn, 9.50 inches; and winter, 

11.50 inches. The climate is pleasant and very healthful, so that 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXVIII 

LOWER FALLS OF L INVI LL E RIVER, NORTH CARO L INA. 
PRESSEY,] TRIBU'r.ARI~S OF CATAWBA RIVER. 155 

numerous summer visitors take ad vantage of the excellent hotel 

accommodations at Linville, at the foot of Grandfather Mountain. 

There are opportunities for development of water power on the Linville and its tributaries. On Grandmother Creek the Linville Improvement Company has built a timber-crib dam across the stream near 

its mouth, t_o form a fish and ice pond. The dam is 20 feet high, but 

its height could be increased and a small water-power plant installed. 

There is another site farther up the creek where a fall of 15 or 20 feet 

could be developed. 

At Linville Falls, on the main stream, at the head of th-e gorge, 

considerable power could be developed, though the chasm is so narrow 

that there would be difficulty in finding space for buildings. From 

Linville Falls to the point where the river enters the flat plain of the 

Catawba Valley the fall of the river is large, with frequent drops of 

3 or 4 feet. About 2 miles below Linville Falls, near Bynums Bluff, 

-there is a fall of 5 feet, and li miles farther down is what is known as 

Cascade Rock, where the river falls vertically 12 feet. From the foot 

of the falls to the Catawba Valley the fall of the river is about 

1,800 feet. None of the power in the gorge or at the falls has b-een 

developed. 

There are several small mills on the river. One mile above Linville 

there is a small sawmill and gristmill with an S-foot timber dam, which 

has sufficient water to run throughout the year. Two miles above 

Linville Falls, at the mouth of Camp Creek, there is a sawmill and 

gristmill utilizing an 8-foot fall, and 1 mile above the falls there is a 

sawmill with a timber dam 10 feet high, a 46-inch turbine being used 

to run a circular saw. At the Franklin mill, a half mile above the 

falls, Pine Creek has a .10-foot fall, and power is furnished by overshot wheels and turbines. About 4 miles above the mouth of the 

river, at Berry's mill, an 11-foot head is utilized with a 4-foot homemade wheel, and 3i miles lower down, at Pool's mill, a 9-foot fall is 

utilized for a gristmill run by a 20-inch and a 36-inch wheel. On July 

3, 1900, a gage was established at the latter mill, and the miller reads 

the height of the river every day. Measurements of flow have also 

been made, the results of which are given in the table on page 151. 

In ordinary years the river has a fluctuation of about 8 feet at Pool's 

mill, though on September 6 and 7, 1898, the water rose 18 feet in 

..forty-eight hours. This is the highest stage known, but in 1882 there 

was a rise of about 17 feet. 

CANE CREEK. 

Cane Creek, flowing into the Catawba from the north, drains 16 

square miles of comparatively flat and open country, much of which 

is under cultivation. There is v-ery little fall in this stream. The 

measurements made are given in the table on page 151. 
156 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

UPPER CREEK. 

This stream, the next important t,ributary of the Catawba from the 

north, rises on Jonas Ridge and Cranberry, Cold, and Park mountains, at an elevation of about 4,000 feet. The sides of these mountains are for the most part steep and precipitous and are covered with 

a dense forest growth. The most common trees are chestnut, oak, 

white pine, and poplar. Very little of the original timber has been 

cut, though fires have spread over considerable areas, seriously injuring the forests. As the. fires, however, were widely separated, both 

in time and in area, the drainage basin near the headwaters of the 

stream is almost entirely forest covered, either with the original timber 

or with a younger forest growth. 

A large part of the regular flow of the creek is made up of effiuents 

from springs, which are numerous on the mountain slopes. To this 

flow, however, is added the surface drainage from the mountain sides, 

which in the upper part of t'h.e creek reaches the stream quickly, so 

that during a rain the creek rises rapidly and falls soon after the rain 

ceases. 

Throughout this and the neighboring watersheds will be found 

shady ravines, with springs breaking forth and adding their waters 

to other springs until a considerable stream is formed with a comparatively constant flow. The Piedmont Springs, 9 miles from the 

source of Upper Creek, have been celebrated for thirty years, and 

formerly many people from the Southern States visited them as a summer resort, being accommodated in a large hotel close at hand. The 

springs are charged with iron and soda. Though still flowing, they 

are not now much visited and the hotel has fallen into decay. About 

2i miles from the source of Upper Creek is Cold Water Spring, where 

a hotel has recently been built to accommodate summer visitors. 

The fall of Upper Creek and its tributaries is very great from the 

headwaters down to Piedmont Springs. The two forks of the creek 

have a fall of 250 ·feet per mile to their junction. In the next mile 

there is a fall of 1,000 feet, largely made up of a series of small 

- falls of from 5 to 10 feet. About one-fourth of a mile below the Cold 

Spring hotel there is a single fall of 90 feet. On June 20, 1900, the 

stream was measured a few feet above these falls, and the quantity 

flowing was found to be 27 second-:feet. The low-water flow is probably about two-thirds that amount. The walls here are steep and 

rocky, with good natural abutments for a dam, though the fall is so 

great that the storage capacity would not be very large. About threefourths of a mile above these falls there is a combined shingle mill, 

sawmill, and gristmill. An 8-foot dam has been built across the 

stream, giving an 18-foot head on the wheel-a Smith-Morgan turbine. 

A half mile farther down there is another small sawmill and gristmill. 

Between the main falls of Upper Creek and the gristmill there is a fall 

of at least 200 feet in a distance of three-fourths of a mile. 
PRESSEY.) TRIBTJ'l'ARIES OF CATAWBA RIVER. 157 

The low-water flow of the creek is quite large, owing to the many 

springs in its watershed and to its forested basin. From Jonas Ridge 

down to Joy the drainage area is completely covered with forest from 

the river bank to the summits of the mountains. The most common 

trees are chestnut-oak, white pine, and poplar. At Joy there is a 

small gristmill with a 6-foot timber dam, and a half mile below there 

is a gristmill and sawmill with a flow of about 8 feet over a timber dam, 

two 36-inch .turbines furnishing the power. There is another gristmill on Upper Creek near the mouth of Irish Creek. From Joy to the 

mouth of Upper Creek the valley is wider and the hills bordering. 

the watershed are comparatively low and flat, rising on either side 

about 100 feet above the stream. The hillsides are largely covered with 

forests, the growth extending to the banks of the creek. There are, 

however, open cultivated areas through the valley, the chief crops 

being corn and wheat. It is probable that two-thirds of the total 

drainage area of Upper Creek is forested . 

. Below Joy there are two mills-Turner's and Wakefield's. In the 

next mile there is a fall of about 25 feet, t.he ordinary high-water rise 

above the present stage being about 7 feet. Turner's mill is a gristmill and sawmill with a fall of about 8 feet, two 36-inch Smith-Morgan 

turbines being used. The 7 -foot dam backs the water about a quarter 

of a mile. At lowest stages the water is about 6 inches lower than at 

the time of measurement, when the discharge was 20.42 second -feet. 

In 1898 there was unusually high water, the stream rising 16 feet. 

Three miles below Turner's mill is Caldwell's gristmill, owned by 1\'Irs. 

W. C. Anderson.· There is a fall of 7t feet here and backwater for 1 

mile. There is said to be 14 horsepower available with one SmithMorgan turbine 20 inches in diameter. At lowest stages the stream at 

this point falls about 4 inches below the surface elev:ation at the time ~ 

of measurement, and at such times it has about one-third less flow. 

During high-water period~ the rise is about 6 feet. The highest water 

known was about 12 feet above the surface elevation at the time of 

measurement. 

Steel Creek.-This tributary of Upper Creek, which rises on Hawks 

Bill and neighboring mountains, enters the latter creek near Joy. Its 

drainage area has the same general characteristics as that of t.he upper 

part of Upper Creek, and its fall will average 530 feet per inile for the 

first il miles, 200 feet per mile for the next 2 miles, and 50 feet per mile 

the rest of the way. 

JOHN RIVER. 

John River, the largest tributary .of the Catawba, adds its water to 

the latter stream about 3 miles northeast of Morganton. Its drainage 

area contains 213 square miles'and is extremely rough and mountainous in its upper part, the topography becoming gradually more gentle 

as the river is descended. It receives its headwaters from t.he many 
158 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

fine, large springs and the run-off on Grandfather Mountain and the 

other mountains in the region near Blowing Rock. 

1,his drainage.basin, with its fine views, its dense forests, its numerous springs, and its salubrious climate, is one of the most beautiful 

and delightful parts of the Southern Appalachian region. The many 

summer guests at the hotels at Blowing Rock and Linville are well 

repaid for their visit by a day spent on the summit of Grandfather 

Mountain, from which is obtained a most magnificent view of the great 

billowy sea of mountains stretching away from it in every direction. 

A ride over the Y onahlossee road, the finest mountain road in the 

South, with its frequent glimpses of river valleys and mountain peaks 

beyond, with its numerous little streams which dash down the mountain sides, cross the road, and leap from rock to rock in their descent 

to join John River or one of their tributaries far below, is a pleasure 

to be long remembered. 

The main stream and its upper tributaries, chief among which are 

Mulberry and Wilson creeks, have falls of 2,000 or 3,000 feet in the 

first few miles of their courses. Vertical fall" are frequent, especially 

on Wilson Creek, and considerable power could be developed. Above 

Collettsville, at the junction of Mulberry Creek with John River, the 

drainage area is rough, the valley narrow, and the mountain slopes 

steep and well timbered. Below the junction the valley widens considerably, and where cleared of trees it presents a splendid farming 

country. There are great tracts, however, which are still in timber. 

On the ridge to the west of the river there has been considerable 

prospecting for gold, and a plan has been considered of constructing 

a flume to carry water from Wilson Creek across John River for use 

in hydraulic mining. 

LOWER CREEK. 

Lower Creek, the next tributary of the Catawba from the north, has 

a comparatively flat watershed. The fall is not so· great as that of the 

upper branches, and in every way the creek has more the nature of a 

stream of the Piedmont Plain. 

YADKIN RIVER. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Yadkin River rises on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge, in Caldwell and WatJauga counties, near Blowing Rock, N. C. Its course is 

almost south, until at Patterson it turns to the northeast. It was 

examined and gagings were made as far down as Ararat River, a 

large tributary from the north. In this portion of its course it flows 

throughCaldwell and Wilkes counties and between Yadkin and Surry 

counties. 
PRESSEY.) YADKIN RIVER. 159 

Beginning at Siloam, where the flood plain of the river is about 

three-fourths of a mile wide, the bottom land gradually widens as the 

head of the stream is approached, being in some places nearly 2 miles 

in width. The flood plain is subject to occasional overflows. Its soil 

is very deep and fertile, the result of washings from the mountain 

slopes above. The river basin between Patterson and Siloam varies 

in width from 5 to 25 miles. 'The divides which separate it from the 

basins of the New and the Catawba are high and steep, so that the 

tributary streams are not very long, but they have large falls. On the 

north the river is flanked by the Blue Ridge, whose highest peaks 

attain elevations of more than 4,000 feet. On the soujih, and lying 

closer to the stream, are the Brushy Mountains, a low ridge which in 

places attains an elevation of 2,000 feet. 

The upper part of the valley of the Y adkin is very well wooded, and 

the forests, with the deep soil on the mountain sides, tend to make t.he 

flow of the stream more const,ant than might be expected in the 

absence of lakes or marshes t? act as regulators. The highest flood 

of which there is any record extant was in 1878, when the river rose 

23 feet. The floods are of short duration, generally subsiding in from 

thirty-six to forty-eight hours. It is said that twenty-five years ago 

high floods very rarely occurred, and their frequ~ncy now is•accounted 

for by the clearing of the hills and the removal of obstructions from 

the river. a The lowlands are more frequently overflowed than formerly, and more damage is done to the crops. The annual rainfall 

in the upper valley varies from 44 to 50 inches. 

Between Patterson and Wilkesboro the lowlands are in places a mile 

or more in width and are exceedingly fertile. This region is known 

as Happy Valley, and is considered to be among the finest agricultural sections of the State. The chief products are corn, wheat, 

tobacco, cotton, cane, and fruits. The corn and wheat raised are 

especially good. Pasture land in the immediate vicinity is poor, but 

along the slopes of the Blue Ridge grazing is better and considerable 

hay is produced. The climate is salubrious. The Wilkesboro divi-

. sion of the Southern Railway passes up the north banks of the Yadkin 

as far as the town of North Wilkesboro. The only two towns of any 

importance along this part of the stream are Elkin and Wilkesboro. 

Both are growing rapidly and give promise of continual development. 

The well-defined river basin of the Yadkin is marked by an apparently unbroken valley floor lying at an average elevation of 1,200 feet. 

This floor, which rises by a gentle inclination from about 1,100 feet 

along the river to 1,400 feet at the bases of the bounding ranges, can 

be seen to best advantage when standing on the steeper slopes of the 

mountains, as, for instance, on the road from Lambsburg to Cold 

Spring, in the northern part of Surry County. As soon as one 

approaches the tributaries or the river itself, it is evident that the 

valley floor is not continuous, but that it has been deeply trenched by 

•Ann. Rept. Chief of Engineers U.S. A., 1878, p. 628. 
160 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

nearly all of the streams belonging to this portion of the Yadkin river 

system. The trench now occupied by the main river is from 300 

feet to 400 feet below the general level of the valley, and varies in 

width from a half mile to a mile and a quarter. The width of_ the 

trench is clearly influenced by varying resistance in the rock series 

crossed by the stream; the depth, however, seems to increase uniformly 

downstream, without relation to rock resistance. rrhe bottom of the 

main trench is covered with alluvial sands, gravels, loams, or clay to 

a depth of from 15 to 20 feet. Through the bot,toms thus formed the 

river pursues a meandering course, being sunk about 10 feet below 

the general level of the valley floor at Siloam and not more than 5 

feet below in the vicinity of Patterson's mill. 

The trenches cut by the tributary streams are narrower than the 

main trench, have steeper bounding slopes, which are sometimes precipitous, and have narrower bottoms, which often extend far up the 

streams. Near their mouths the tributary valleys are very narrow, 

their channels steep, and usually a number of low cascades over resistant layers characterize the debouchments of the streams upon the 

broader bottoms of the river. 

Along the steep slopes of the trench of the main stream, and overlooking the lower bottoms, are two sets of river terraces, which have 

been partially cut out of t,he deeply decayed gneissic rocks and 

partially built up of stratified gravels, sands, and clays. These two 

terraces are at elevations of 20 and 60 feet above the lower bottoms. 

In places traces of a third terrace, at about 100 feet, can be seen. 

Deposits similar in character and form can be found in the tributary 

gorges, usually at the 100-foot elevation. 

SOILS. 

In general the rocks of the region are schists of moderate compactness, with gneissic and slaty bands in the vicinity of Blowing Rock. 

Near Mount Airy the metamorphic crystallines seem to have been cut 

by compact granitic rocks, which withstand weathering much better 

than the surrounding formation, and thus have formed low hills standing above the general level (1,200 feet) of the valley floor. ':rhe granitic rocks on disintegrating produce clays and sands; but the areas 

covered by the resulting soils are small. The metamorphic rocks generally produce clayey subsoils, with a not very porous top soil. In some 

localities an unusual amount of quartz in the rocks has resulted in the 

production of sandy soils. Thus the soils of the valley floor are generally rather heavy, with an impervious subsoil. Consequently neither 

heavy rains nor the average moderate precipitation penetrates to a 

great depth. Instead the water gathers into surface rills and rapidly 

finds its way into the streams, at the same time carrying with it a 

. large portion of the looser surface soil. · 

The nearly level elevated valley floor has been almost wholly 

cleared of timber. In it areas of remarkable fertility occur at inter-
PRESSEY.) Y .AD KIN RIVER. 161 

vals. These have been extended in size and in depth by the wash 

from the mountain sides. 'rhe soil of the slopes on the north side of 

the stream is largely siliceous and is well mixed with humus and vegetable mold, affording rich pasture and farm lands: The soil of the 

mountain slopes on the south side of the river is shallow and comparatively poor. 

FORESTS. 

The forest growth consists chiefly of oak, chestnut, poplar, and 

linn, with some pine, and with occasional patches of hemlock. Near 

the railroad considerable cutting of the best trees has been done, but 

in many parts of the area the timber is practically untouched. Considerable damage has also been caused by forest fires, though in most 

places the injury from this cause has not been serious or permanent. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

During the investigation the following measurements were made of 

the river at various localities along its course: 

Discharge measurements of Yadkin River. 

Date. Locality. Hydrographer. Gage Disheight. charge. 

Feet. Sec.~eet. 

13.30 82.0 

1900. 

June 20 Second ford below Patterson's milL.__ N.C. Curtis and Cleveland 

13.50 100.3 

13.40 76.2 

13.53 43.0 

26.73 780.0 

Abbe, jr. July 14 ..... do------------------------------------ _____ do _____________________ _ 

Aug. 7 _____ do-----------------·------------ ...... _____ do .... -----------------· Sept.26 ____ .do ______ ------------ ____ ------ _____________ do. ___ ------------------ June21 Wilkesboro---------------- .... ---------- ..... do _____________________ _ 26.14 1, 737.0 

26.83 663 . .0 

27.05 488.2 

27.20 386.0 

27.20 369.1 

June 23 ____ .do ------ ------ ______ ------ ------------ ____ .do------------ ____ ------ July 4 1 ••••• do -----------------------------------· ..... do _____________________ _ July 12 ____ .do ------ ________ ------------ -----· ________ .do .....• ------------ ___ _ Aug. 6 ..... do------------------------------------· _____ do ________________ ------ Oct. 1 ____ .do ··---- ____ ------ --·--- _J ____ -·--•••• _____ do ....... ----------- ___ _ Nov. 4 ..•.. do-------------------- ...... ------ ____ ..... do .....•...... -----· ___ _ 26.22 1,331.0 

1901. 

June 8 ..... do ------------------ __ ---------- ------ ____ .do .... -----·-------- ___ _ 25.81 1, 762.0 

June 14 ____ .do ______ .... ____ ------------ ____ ·----- ..... do ____ ·----- ______ ------ 16.50 11,667.0 

14.22 12,582.0 

23.80 3, 727.0 

June 15 ____ .do _______ . _____ -----.----- ...... -----· ____ .do_-----.----------- ____ _ June Ul . ___ .do ____ ------ ------------ .... ____ ------ ..... do ______ -----------· __ __ 

2.90 1,367.0 

2.60 1,218.0 

3.10 1,469.0 

JJf~il Siloam---------·------·--------- __ ' _____________ do ...... ---------··· ___ _ Aug. 3 ____ .do------ ______ -----------·------------ ..... do ______ ------------ ___ _ Oct. 31 ____ .do------------------------------------ ..... do .... ------ ______ -----· I 

NOTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This is true of the measurements in the above table at Siloam. In making all 

of the other measurements, however, in each case a bench mark was established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench mark to the surface 

of the water. In these cases, therefore, an increase in the gage height means a lowering of 

the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream. 

For several years the Survey has maintained a gaging station 

on Yadkin River at Salisbury, also one at Norwood, both farther 

downstream than the present investigation extended, the results of 

which have been published in the annual reports. The station at 

Norwood was discontinued in January, 1900, 

IRR 63-02--5 
162 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

WATER POWERS. 

Between Patterson's niill and the town of Patterson, about 4 miles 

farther upstream, Y adkin River is a meandering stream, with slight 

fall, occupying a wide, terraced trench about 80 feet below the general level of the trenched valley floor already described. Although 

there are many shoals with gravelly bottoms between Patterson and 

the mouth of Little Ararat River, there are no good water powers, 

because of the broad, alluvium-lined valley, which offers no anchorage for dams; nor are there any sharp falls or even important rapids 

sufficiently high to furnish useful power. About 1 mile above 

Brown's ford, 4 miles west of Wilkesboro, what seem to be gravelly 

shoals in the river accompany a fall in the channel of 5 feet within a 

quarter of a mile. rrhe bottom lands on the north bank of the river 

at this place are only 200 feet wide. On the south side, however, 

t1hey are somewhat wider .and seem to afford poorer holding ground. 

Again, about 3 miles above Ronda the river runs at the bottom of a 

narrow, rock-ribbed trench, and its channel is cut across by rough 

ledges of hornblende-schist. This locality, with a channel fall of 5 or 

6 feet., seems to be the best on the whole stretch of the main stream, 

having a good foundation for a dam and natural abutments. 

There are no mills on the main stream between Patterson's mill and 

Siloam. At Patterson, 4 miles upstream from the mill mentioned, 

there are two mills. The first one, a cotton mill, has a fall of about 

10 feet. The other one, a few hundred yards upstream, is a woolen 

factory operat,ed during the greater part of the year by water power, 

but having an auxiliary steam plant for use during unusually low 

water. This mill uses a fall of 25 feet, obtained by sluicing the water 

200 yards from a 15-foot dam. 

Above Patterson the river occupies a narrow, rock-walled gorge, 

affording many good powers, though a number are at present inaccessible. About 1 mile above the woolen mill and sawmill just mentioned the whole volume of the river crosses Ripshin Mountain 

through a narrow water gap floored and flanked to a great height by 

firm gneiss and schist. The channel at this point has a drop of cert.ainly 5 feet within half as many rods, and a dam 100 feet long and 

10 feet wide would completely flood broad meadow lands to a distance 

of a mile upstream. About 1-k miles upstream from this gap through 

Ripshin Mountain a small mill has been built to utilize a fall of 10 

feet, and on Mill Fork, one-fourth mile above its confluence with the 

Yadkin, another mill, with an 8-foot fall, has been established, while 

about 1 mile above Kirby Gap this same stream (Mill Fork) has an 

almost perpendicular fall which is estimated to be 250 feet. 

The following table contains interesting data regarding the elevation, fall, etc., of the river in various portions of its course above the 

mouth of Ararat River: 
PRESSEY.] Y ADKIN RIVER. 163 

Elevation, fall, etc., of Yadkin River above Ararat River. 

Place. I . 1 Average Distance Eleva- Distance Fa l Fall per annual 

from tion. bet~een bet:ween mile. fluctuaSiloam. pomts. pomts. tion. 

-----------~--1----1·----1---- ------------

Miles. Feet. Miles. Feet. - Feet. Feet. 

Mouth of Ararat River------ .... ______ •..... .... 798 .•.. ...... .... ...... .... ...... 6 

---------- ---------- 50 130 2.6 --·------- Wilkesboro----------------------------- 50 928 .......... .......... .......... 7 ---- ............. --- 32 322 10.06 ----------

Patterson ........... ------------ --· ----- -------~~- ----~: ~- -·--·--ia· ----2:250· ---i7:i:o7" ...... ---~ Head of stream......................... 95 3,500 .......... ---------- ................... . 

Above its junction with J\'Iill Creek the river pursues a winding 

course, flowing at the bottom of a very deep and narrow gorge, with 

an averag~ fall of about 50 feet to the mile. 

Below Ararat River the valley of the Yadkin averages 50 miles in 

width, much of it composed of fertile bottom lands. At several 

places, however, the hills close in upon the river, confining it between 

steep and rocky banks. In this lower portion of its course there are 

many places where water power could economically be developed. 

The following table gives the locations of the principal powers: 

Summary of water powers on Yadkin River. a 

Ill Total fall. Gross horsehower 

;§ available. 

Q) Q) -+" ~~ -+" 

oS ~= .Sf 00 ~ ~al Q)Q) 

Locality. s i 0 ~~ ,.QI> Q) Remarks. ,.Q ;:.s. 0 .... .... ci'S 00 ~ ..... Q) ..... .8"0~ Q) 0 s S.Q 0 bli ...; ,.Q ::I ::IQ) Q)l=l<ll 

l=l oS s s,.Q tlDoP.. l=l ,.Q -+" 

~ ·; bli bO f~>· :§ ,.,..-+" 

00 '(j) l=l l=ll-< alQ)M 

iS .... Q) .... 0 1>-oo'O 0 p::: ~~ ~~ ..:l ~ ~ .... < ---------

Miles. Sq. mi. Feet. Feet. 

Bluitts Falls ........... 12.0 6,650 9.00 1,000 1,500 1,900 2,170 Grassy Island Shoal ... 13.0 6,624 36.00 b4.5 5, 970 7,600 8,680 Swift Island ShoaL .... 42.0 4,323 18.00 b2.5 1,942 2,476 2, 796 

Gunsmith Shoal ....... 57.5 4,300 9.50 2, 500 11, 020 1,300 1,470 

Narrows--------------- 60.0 3,938 91.00 b5 S,954 11,375 12, 922 

Bull Island Shoal ...... 65.0 3,800 29.00 b2 2,854 

);t~~;: Undeveloped. Penningtons Shoal .... 67.0 3,900 74.00 b 4. 5 --- ---.. Milledgeville ShoaL .. 70.0 3,500 14.00 bO. 7 1,378 Motts Falls. ____ .. __ .... 72.3 3,400 13.50 b 0. 8 .. -- -.-- Do. 

Bald Mountain ShoaL 73.8 3,300 8.50 b0.5 ................. .................. .. ....... ---- Do. 

Flat Swamp Mountain 78.3 3,000 10.20 l.!G.5 ................... .................. ..... "''"' ·--- Do. 

Shoal. 

Fries Manufacturing and Power Co. 

131.5 1,865 10.00 1,600 ...................... -------- ·------- Rock bottom. 

Langenhour 

son's dam. 

& Nea- 138.5 1,827 4.57 ·--·--... - 220 280 :m Do. 

Shallow Ford ShoaL .. _ 145.0 1,812 7.89 5,560 375 485 550 Rock and gravel bottom. 

Shoal above Shores 155.2 1,633 7. 73 9,662 330 430 490 Do. 

Island. 

Bean Shoal (head)_ .... 164.7 1,521 39.17 b4 1,560 2,030 2,320 Rock bottom. Lime Rook Shoal _ .... _ 169.3 1,165 10.62 b2.59 325 425 490 Do. 

Shoal below Rockford. 174.8 1,097 8.38 4,500 240 320 360 Do. 

Seven Island Shoal .. _. 177.0 1,066 4.02 2,630 112 145 165 Do. 

Long ShoaL.----------- ·182.0 949 11.18 b1.61 205 335 385 Do. 

Woodruff Fishtrap 185.Q 925 4.55 1,800 105 134 155 Do. 

Shoal. 

Mitchell Island Shoal . 186.6 925 4.00 2,740 90 115 135 Gravel bottom. 

Swan Creek Shoal ..... 196.7 739 5.40 3,160 100 125 H5 Rock bottom. 

Reeve Island ShoaL ... 206.5 540 3.86 2,700 50 65 75 Rock and gravel bottom. 

Blair Island Shoal ..... 216.5 420 3.44 1, 700 36 46 53 Gravel b·Jttom. 

a From Bull. No.8, N.C. GeoL Survey. b Miles. 
164 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN_ MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [N0.63. 

It will be seen that the fall is not in the form of direct vertical 

drops, but in shoals of considerable length. One of t.he greatest 

drawbacks to the development of power in a large part of the Yadkin 

is the lack of proper means of transportation. 

TRIBUTARIES OF YADKIN RIVER. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS. 

The following measurements were made of the important tributarieR 

of the Yadkin to and including Ararat River, in order downstream: 

Discharge measu1·ements of upper tributaries of Yadkin River. 

D t 

I ~ I Stream. L ''t H d h Gage Dis-

---------1------o_c_a_ll_Y_·-----1--y-ro_g_r_a_p_e_r_. -lh_e_i_g_ht. charge. 

1000. I 

June20' ElkCreek---------·-- One-fourthmileaboveford __ ClevelandAbbe, 

Feet. 

2.4 • , jr., and N. C. ; Curtis. 

~~-- ~~ 1 ~~~==a~~~==~====~===~== =====~g = ===== :::::: ====== ==== ==== :::: ~~g = ===== = ===== ~: * i~Y.ii I: s;]~ ~r~~~:::::: ::: :~~~n~~~~: ~~:~:~~:~~~ ::::::: ::JL::: :::::: _} ~ ~~~~~~ ~-Lou1~ Fork ·<>rY:a<l~- -:Foo~biidge; oli-M:(;un-i "Pieas~- :::::a~======:::::: ~Jb kin River. ant road. 

~~i i=~JL;~i~::~::::: =dr;;~~~i~~=~~=~~~~~:::: =~dL~~~ ~:::~: Ji 

Oct. i~~-1{ 1 i~=:::a~============:=== ..... do---------------· ____ 

=====a~========-================= .do------------ ••...• ________ ----·do :::::a~============--~~--~~- ...... ------ 25.25 

June23 Mulberry River ..•.. Trestle of Greensboro and ..... do ............ 21.93 

Wilkesboro division of 

SouthernR.R. , July 3 ..... do ..................... do·----------------·------ ______ .do ...... ------ 22.25 

Aug. 4 ..... do ..................... do ............................... do ............ 22.50 

~ecf:· 2~ I :::::a~================ :::::a~::::::::::::::::::::::::== :::::g~ :::::::::::: --~~~- June25 Roaring River ....... Greensboro and Wilkesboro ..... do ...... ------ 23.68 

July 9 

Aug. 4 

Sept.27 

Nov. 2 

Sept.27 

R. R. bridge. _ --· .do ............ ________ .do __ .......... ______ ...... ______ .do ....... ----- 25.45 

_ .... do----·-.---··---- --- .. do_-----------.----·-----· .. _____ do . ----- _ ----- 25. 75 _ .... do.-----.----·_ ... ____ .do ______ ··---·_-----...... __ ..... do_.----·----- 25.13 ..... do.-·---. _______ .. ____ .do_ ...... _____ . _____ .----- ______ .do............ 24.27 

BigBugabooCreek .. Ford of road from Roaring ...•. do.___________ 1.28 

River to Elkin. 

June25 BigElkinRiver ..... Greensboro and Wilkesboro •.... do ............ 24.53 

July 9 

Aug. 4 

Sept.27 

June26 

July 10 

Aug. 3 

Sept.28 

Nov. 1 June26 

~ ,July 10 

Aug. 3 

Sept.28 

Nov. 1 June27 

July 11 Aug. 2 :::;ept.29 

Oct. 31 

R. R. bridge . ..... do .•...•.......... _____ do ............. _____ -------- ____ .do ...... ------ 25.95 ____ .do._---· ......... _ ..... do·----- .................. ______ .do ______ ...... _______ _ ..... do. _____ .----· ____ ..... do ............ ______ ........ ____ .do_........... 26.22 

Mitchell River ...... ____ .do ______ ...... ------- _______ ..... do ...... ______ 21.63 ..... do-_---- __ .... ________ .do_-----.... __ .. ____ ........ ____ .do----.... ____ 24.00 ____ .do __ . ___ . ________ . ____ .do __ ...... _. ____ ...... ------ ___ .. do ________ .... 24.25 ____ .do_-----. _____________ .do------ ______ ------ ____________ .do_-------____ 24.25 ____ .do _____ ..... _________ .do ____________ .. _____ ...... __ ..... do ____ .... ____ 23.89 

Fisher River _________ Greensboro and Wilkesboro ..... do............. 20.93 

R. R. trestle. ...... do ..................... do------------ ............ __ ..... do........... 23.38 

·---.do .. ____ .......... _____ do ... ___ ........ ____ ...... __ ----.do .......... __ 23.60 

____ .do------ .......... _____ do ______ ----------------·--- ..... do------------ 23.72 ____ .do ______ ...... ____ .. ~ .. do ...... ------ ...... --...... ----.do_ ......... __ 23.70 

Ararat River-------- ____ .do ______ -----~ ...... __ ------ ..... do----------__ 23.9 ____ .do .. _____ . _______ . ____ .do ...... ______ .. : ... ------ __ ... _.do_ ......... __ 26.0 

..... do ..................... do-------------------------- _____ do---- ------- 26.25 ..... do ............ ______ ... do ............ _ ..... ________ ..... do------------ 26.46 __ ... do ..................... do ______ ................... __ ..... do............. 25.66 

Sec.-ft. 

119.0 

61.0 

37.0 

30.0 

78.4 

80.5 

50.0 

31.10 

127.0 

99.0 

69.0 

63.0 

218.1 

98.1 

93.0 

60.2 

108.4 

50.3 

39.25 

61.2 

55.0 

520.2 

161.4 

117.0 

109.0 

197.0 

30.0 

65.0 

29.0 

24.0 

27.0 

393.1 

139.2 

119.0 

160.0 

216.0 

549.0 

172.0 

126.0 

119.0 

235.0 

801.0 

317.1 

265.44 

243.0 

307.0 

NOTE.-In making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering 

of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse 

of the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an 

increase in the gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
P:R.ESSEY.] TRIBU'rARIES OF Y ADKIN RIVER. 165 

The drainage basins and water powers of the principal tributary 

streams are briefly described on the following pages. Practically all 

of the tributaries whose water powers are worth considering flow into 

the Yadkin from the north. The divides a:p.d spurs, between which 

are the basins of the tributary streams, are seldom more than a mile 

wide and form many picturesque coves and valleys. 

ELK CREEK. 

This stream was measured at a foot log about one-fourth of a mile 

above the road ford at Elkville. At the point of measurement and 

for a short distance abo~e and below are cascades over broad ledges 

of gneiss, and the stream is bounded by steP-p, rocky slopes. The 

natural fall is estimated to be at least 10 feet within 200 yards. 

Higher up the stream there are undoubtedly other fair powers, but 

they were not examined. 

STONY CREEK. 

This stream enters the Yadkin from the north about 6 miles below 

Elkville, and possesses a splendid power at its mouth and for a short 

distance upstream. Throughout the last half mile of its course the 

banks are the steep, rocky sides of a narrow, V-shaped gorge. Within 

this distanc~ the stream has an estimated fall of at least 50 feet, :flowing 

over a series of ledges in falls or casca~es of from 6 to 10 feet each . 

• T ust at the mouth of the creek there stands a combined sawmill and 

gristmill driven by turbine power. The dam is only 6 feet high, but 

is so favorably placed on ledges that about 18 feet head is obtained. 

This is an excellent mill site, but the road leading down to it from 

the surrounding country is poor and is on a steep grade. The stream 

was measured at a foot log about 3 miles above its mouth, where it 

:flows through a sandy meadow or bottom one-fourth of a mile wide. 

So far as examined this stream offers a number of good mill sites, 

for its valley is everywhere bounded by steep mountain sides, and in 

many places is narrow, by reason of the occurrence of bands of 

resistant gneiss and schist. 

LOUIS FORK. 

This stream has a large drainage basin, served by its two branches, 

East :B'ork and West (or South) Fork. The valleys of these branches 

are generally open and are largely cleared, the bottom lands, of which 

there is a large area, being under cultivation. The discharge was 

measured (see table on page 164) at a foot log where the Mount Pleasant road crosses the stream, just below the con:fluence of the East 

and West forks. The bottom at this place is rather sandy and gravelly, with some large bowlders. About one-fourth of a mile downstream, however, the creek leaves the meadows and enters a narrow, 
166 SOUTHERN .APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

steep-sided gorge containing many rocky ledges. There are one or 

two small gristmills on the forks above the point of measurement, 

which is nearly 3 miles from the mouth, but so far as known there 

are none below it.. 

UNNAMED TRIBUTARY EAST 0F LOUIS FORK. 

There is a small stream which heads in the mountains northeast of 

Purlear and enters the Yadkin from the north about a mile west of 

Brown's ford, on which there is considerable fall, over rock ledges, at 

the mouth. This fall is utilized by a gristmill and yields a head of 10 

feet, although the dam is only 5 feet high. The stream is so small 

that it was not possible to measure its discharge satisfactorily with 

the large meter. Judging from the wooded character of its valley, 

however, it has a fairly uniform flow throughout the year, and its 

steep grade gives much more power than is now used. 

REDDIE RIVER. 

This river heads far up among spurs of the Blue Ridge, between 

Horse Gap on the west and Mulberry Gap on the east. ·Its headwaters are moderately well wooded, but along its middle course there 

is more open and cleared valley land. There are several mills on the 

str~am, the more important, ones being a gristmill at Whittington and 

two mills at its mouth, just above North Wilkesboro. The latter mill 

site is an admirable one, the shoal being 10 or 15 rods wide, rockfloored, and excellent rock abutments being furnished by the ledges 

on either bank. The natural fall in the channel is about 10 feet, half 

of which is utilized, by means of a 9-foot dam, by a gristmill and 

flour mill on the west bank. One hundred yards below the dam a sash 

factory uses a fall of about 14 feet, obtained by sluicing the water 

from the dam to the east bank of the stream. 

The river is reported to be not subject to rapid fluctuation, thus 

distinguishing it from most of the other streams of the neighborhood. 

MULBERRY RIVER. 

"rhis river also rises far back in the Blue Ridge, starting near Mulberry Gap and flowing southeastward. Its valley, which is rather 

broad, is covered with alluvium and offers relatively few mill s-ites.· 

The average grade of the channel seems to be much less than that of 

most of the streams of the district. In the upper stretches falls and 

rapids are more numerous than in the lower portions of its course. 

About halfway between Mulberry and Halls Mills there is a shoal 

which affords fall for Wood's gristmill and sawmill, giving the wheel 

8 feet head. So far as known this is the only mill on the stream. At 

the crossing of the road between North Wilkesboro and the town of 

Roaring River there is an excellent little fall of about 6 feet, due to 
PRESSEY.) TRIBUTARIES OF YADKIN RIVER. 16·7 

a broad ledge of rock which crosses the stream and furnishes a good 

abutment on the west bank. At the Southern Railway trestle there 

is also a series of cascades furnishing 6 feet fall, with good abutments 

on the east bank. The river was measured at the trestle, which is 

about halfway between the Yadkin and the steep hillside forming the 

northern boundary of that river's flood plain. 

ROARING RIVER. 

This stream is much larger than Mulberry River and possesses 

many good water powers. Those at present best known are the one 

about 4 miles below Dockery, which is near the junction of the eastern and western forks, and the one at the mouth of the stream. 

Just above the confluence of the two chief forks a small stream 

enters the west.ern fork from the southwest. Where the road from 

Round Mountain to Dockery crosses it the average fall is 100 feet per 

mile. Here Spencer Blackburn has built a small mill which uses a 

fall of 20 feet. Passing on to the two ·forks and to the main stream 

below the ford of the eastern road from Round Mountain to Dockery, 

the river is very rapid and is confined between high and steep banks. 

Its fall averages 20 feet to the mile, and the shoals, including the 

Big Shoals, cover a distance of about 1 mile. All of this fall can be 

made to furnish excellent power, both on th·e main stream and on the 

northern fork, which joins the river .at this point, after draining a 

region to the northeast lying between Hank Store and Lomax. 

Though narrow and steep sided in the vicinity of the Big Shoals, 

the valley widens a short distance below, and the stream possesses 

no valuable powers until about one-fourth mile above the railway 

trestle at its mouth, where a series of cascades over firm rock ledges 

causes the channel to drop 15 feet within half as many rods. At the 

trestle the valley opens out into the sandy flood plain of the Yadkin. 

BIG ELKIN RIVER. 

1,his stream has three noteworthy falls, which give it an important place among the water powers of the upper Yadkin Valley. The 

most important falls, or series of falls, so far as water power is concerned, are Carters Falls, about 3 miles above the mouth of the 

stream,· at a place known as Cool Spring Church. When visited 

during the summer of 1900 these falls had a comparatively small 

volume of water. They are occasioned by a broad band of resistant 

hornblende-gneiss. The upper fall, which is the greater, was measured by a hand level and found to be 60 feet in. a distance of 100 

yards. From the foot of this fall the stream runs over low ledges 

for an eighth of a mile to a lower fall which is about 15 feet high. 

The latter fall is utilized by a small turbine-driven gristmill on one 

bank and by a small lumber mill on the other bank. The owner of 
168 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. fNo.63. 

the land states that he has measured the total fall here, from the 

head of the upper to the foot of the lower falls, by means of.accurate 

instruments, and finds it to be 92 feet, which seems quite possible. 

The banks of the gorge are steep and of firm rock, affording the finest 

water-power site between Ararat River and the source of the Yadkin. 

About a half mile below the lower falls mentioned there is a fall of 

about 25 feet, part of which has been u~ilized by Butler's gristmill, 

which has a dam 6 feet high yielding 14 feet head. By extending 

the race ·a few yards farther downstream a head of 20 feet could be 

obtained. During high water there is a maximum rise of 3 feet above 

the top of the dam. 

The other powers are near the mouth of the river, in the towns of 

Elkin and Elkin Valley. · At the former place, where there is a favorable rock bottom and decided falls, are two dams; at t,he latter place, 

which is higher upstream, there is a gristmill and flour mill with a 

10-foot dam and a fall of 18 feet. 

MITCHELL RIVER. 

This stream was measured just below a series of low rapids over 

rocky ledges, marking the point of transition from the rocky channel 

of back country to the sandy flood plain of the Yadkin. The fall, 

about 10 feet, has not been utilized though it is favorably situated. 

About 1 mile upstream Burch's flour mill obtains power from a tributary-Snow Creek. At Guyer Ford, 6 miles above the mouth, there 

is a broad shoal which would give 5 to 7 feet fall within a quarter of 

a mile. 

The valley of Mitchell River is similar to that of Fisher River, 

being rather narrow, with steep side slopes, but it has been somewhat more cleared than the latter valley. Perhaps half the area of 

the immediate slopes is now bare of trees, while in the valley of 

Fisher River two-thirds of the timber seems to be standing. · 

FISHER RIVER. 

This stream was ascended only a short distance. No improved 

mill sites were found, though a number of small mills are reported 

along its upper course. Many mills, however, are located on small 

tributaries of the river. The stream is a large one, being 30 to 40 

miles long, rising far back upon the Blue Ridge, in about the 

same latitude as Mount Airy. Probably the only good mill site is 

at the neck of what is known locally as The Oxbow or The Horseshoe, 

a semicircular bend in the river about 5 miles southeast of Dobson. 

The two arms of this loop come within 100 yards of each other at the 

narrow neck, and there is said to be a difference of 20 feet in the surface level of the river on the two sides. It has been suggested that 

this difference in level be utilized by piercing the neck with a tun-
-PRESSEY.] NEW RIVER. 169 

neled race, but nothing in that direction has yet been done. At the 

ford of the road between Snow's mill and But.cher there are shoals 

due to a .fall of perhaps 5 feet in one-fourth of a mile, and at the ford 

southwest of Butcher there is a long shoal giving 4 or 5 feet fall in 200 

yards. The valley appears too wide for dam construction, but just 

below the second shoal mentioned it narrows and closes in for a short 

distance. 

ARARAT RIVER. 

Ararat River is the largest of the upper tributaries of the Yadkin. 

It rises on the Blue Ridge, about 10 miles north of Mount Airy, at an 

elevation of 2,500 feet, and flows almost due south for 30 miles, emptying into the Y ad kin 1 mile below Siloam. The average fall per mile 

from the mouth to Mount Airy, a distance of 20 miles, is 14.6 feet. 

Above Mount Airy, where the fall is much greater, there are a number 

of small gristmills. 

NEW RIVER. 

New River rises in Watauga County, N.C., and flows in a general 

northeast~rlydirection through Watauga and Ashe counties. It then 

follows the North Carolina-Virginia State line for about 12 miles, 

when it turns to the north and joins Kanawha River, its waters finally 

reaching the Ohio. Just before it intersects the North CarolinaVirginia boundary line there is a confluence of two branches of almost 

equal size, known as the South Pork and the North Fork. The North 

Fork drains the eastern slopes of the Iron Mountains along the southwestern border of Ashe County, N. C. Both forks are formed by the 

junction of several branches which drain the mountain slopes. The 

total drainage area of the two forks is 631 square miles. 

Examination of the drainage basin of the river was made as far 

down as Oldtown, in Grayson County, Va., about 7 miles below the 

confluence of the North and South forks. The upper part of the basin 

is rough and mountainous, the stream flowing through gorges and 

narrow valleys with rocky slopes and bottoms. The occasional widening of the valleys, however, furnishes favorable sites for dams and 

mills. The soil is for the most part deep and fertile, making a fine 

agricultural region. According to the census of 1880, 92,000 acres 

were under cultivation, 57,000 acres were in grass, and 240,000 acres, 

or 61 per cent of the whole, were in original timber. The annual 

rainfall in the basin, as indicated by a single station, viz, Blowing 

Rock, is about 49 inche's, distributed as follows: Spring, 11.3 inches; 

summer, 16.2 inches; autumn, 9. 7 inches; and winter, 11.8 inches. 

The region is rich in mineral resources, especially in iron and copper, 

though very little has been done in the way of development. 

The total length of the river between the junction of the forks and 

Oldtown, Va., is about 35 miles, and the average fall per mile about 
110 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. [No.63. 

8.5 feet. The river winds its way in narrow gorges formed by the 

shutting in of the hills on either bank. Bottom land is therefore 

scarce. The section of Virginia through which this portion of the 

river flows is chiefly devoted to stock raising. The land is fe.rtile and 

the soil deep and of a reddish color. The region is well settled, the 

people thrifty, and large and well-cultivated farms can be seen everywhere. Wheat-and other grains are the chief crops. 

During the investigation a gaging station was established (July 31, 

1900} near Oldtown, Va., and two measurements were made there (see 

table below). Measurements were also made of tributaries of the 

river between the confluence of the North and South forks and Oldtown, as shown in the following table. The basins of the North and 

South forks are described under separate headings, and the measure .. 

ments made on those streams and their tributaries are given in the 

tables on pages 172 and 174. 

Discharge measurements of New River near Oldtown, Va., and of its tr,ibutaries 

between confluence of North and South forks and Oldtown. 

Date; Stream. Locality. d h Gage Dis- Hy rograp er. height. charge 

1900. Feet. Sec.-ft. 

July 28 Wilson Creek ...... __ 2 miles above mouth-----·---· Cleveland Abbe, 6. a 35.1 

jr., and N.C. 

Curtis. 

Oct. 28 ..... do ..•.••............... do ............................... do............ B.l 78.0 

July 29 Fox Creek .•......... One-fourthmileabovemouth ...... do ............ ---- .. , 85.0 

Oct. 28 ..... do ....••............... do .•...•...........•............. do ....•.•.....•....... 1 144.0 

1901. 

.June 28 ..... do .....•............... do ...••...•.•........••......•... do............ ..... ... 352.0 

1900. 

July 31 PeachBottomCreek 200 yards above motith ............ do............ 4.9 

Oct. 29 ..... do ..................... do ...........• ____ ............... do .......•........ ---· July 31 Little River •••...... Ford of Independence-Old· ..... do............ 9.1 town road. 

Oct. 29 ..... do .......•............. do .............••................. do .•.................. July 30 Elk Creek ............ 200 yards above mouth ............ do······------ 4.0 

~~l: ~ -~~~~i-~~~-~=====~===1-~~~Jo~~~~~~~====~·.:::::~~ :::.· ~=:::a~:::::::::::: ~:~ 

21.4 

36.0 

199.0 

318.2 

57.1 

1,541.0 

2,293.0 

NoTE.-In making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a E:teel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the v,age height, therefore, means a lowering 

of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse of 

the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an increase 

in the gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 

The water powers of all of the streams mentioned in the foregoing 

table are excellent, and many of them have already been developed. 

At the mouth of Wilson Creek there are two mills-the lower one a 

grain mill with a fall of 12 feet, and the upper one a woolen factory, 

owned by Fields & Hash. On Peach Bottom Creek, 2 miles east of 

Independence, is the gristmill of D. C. Mallory. The total fall here 

is about 65 feet. 
PRESSEY.] NEW RIVER. 171 

SOUTH FORK OF NEW RIVER. 

GENE~_lL FEATURES. 

This stream js formed by the continence of the East Fork, the Middle Fork, and Flannery Fork, near Deckhill, Watauga County, N. C. 

The Middle l!,ork, which is the largest of the three tributaries mentioned, rises just north of Blowing Rock, at the boundary line between 

'\Vatauga and Caldwell counties, at an elevatimi of between 3, 700 and 

3,800 feet. The elevation at the jun(>tion of the North and South 

forks being 2,500 feet, the difference in elevation between the head 

and the mouth of the South Fork is 1,300 feet, the distance 45 miles. 

This gives an average fall of 29 feet to the mile. As the course of the 

stream, however, is extremely crooked the slope is hardly 20 feet to 

the mile. Shoals and available water powers are not numerous on 

the main stream, but on the branch streams they are more freque.nt 

and have been more extensively utilized. 

The area drained by the South Fork presents ~very great diversity 

of scenic features. ':rhe general course of the stream is parallel to 

the Blue Ridge. On the north are very high knobs and ridges. The 

highest of these is Snake Mountain, 5,594 feet high. The scenery 

presented though not rugged is extremely beautiful. The basin of 

the river is for the most part closed, and there are no extensive 

bottom lands. 

The proportion of unimproved cleared land in Watauga and Ashe 

counties is small compared vdth the agricultural lands. On many 

of the mountains the timber is prnctically untouched. The trees, 

however, are not of the most valuable varieties. They are chiefly 

maples and chestnuts. The larger portions of the cleared land are 

devoted to the production of grass and· hay, and consequently the 

raising of cattle and sheep is a most important industry. The chief 

crops are corn, wheat, i1uckwheat, and cabbages,. to all of which the 

soil is especially well adapted. Large quantities of apples are also 

produced. The people are well to do and prosperous. The region is 

very healthful; typhoi<l and malarial fevers,are unknown. 

No railroad has yet penetrated Watauga County, thongh a route 

has recently been surveyed and a tax voted. The route surveyed 

crosses t,he Blue Ridge at Cook Gap. The country roads are for the 

most part good and are being improved and kept open for .travel. 

1.~he turnpike between Boone and Blowing Rock is remarkably well 

graded~ and it is possible for. loaded wagons to cross the Blue Ridge 

to Lenoir throughout the year. Lenoir is at presffilt the shipping 

point for the produce of the county. The people of Ashe County are 

not so progressive in the matter of road building as are the people of 

Watauga County. 
172 SOUTHER-N APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN R.EGION, PT. II. . [No.63. 

Both the North Fork and the South Fork are at times swollen by 

heavy freshets, which are often vw·y destructive to crops on the 

bottom lands. Occasionally the soil Is entirely removed from the 

bottoms and the bed rock exposed. More often, however, where the 

current is not very swift, a rich coating of black mud from one-half 

inch to 4 inches thick is deposited, enriching the lowlands considerably. · 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS IN BASIN~ 

During the investigation a gaging station was established on the 

South Fork at New River, N. C. The measurements made there, as 

well as those made at Riverside, also the measurements n:iade on the 

tributaries, are given in the following table, in order downstream: 

Discharge measurements of South Fork of New River and its tributaries. 

Date. Stream. Locality. d h Gage Dis- Hy rograp er. height. charge. 

1900. Feet. Sec.-ft. 

July 28 South Fork of New New River-------------· ...... Cleveland Abbe, 2.70 751.0 

River jr., and N. C. 

Curtis. 

Oct. 28 ..... do.----- ............ __ .do .... ________ ...............•... do------------ 2. 60 1,635.0 

I901. 

June 27 ..... do ..................... do ............................... do............ 3. 90 I, 976.0 

1900. 

July 18 ..... do ................ Riverside ........................... do .....••..... 11.85 165.0 

Oct. 25 ..... do ..................... do .... ________________ ........... do............ 11.00 741.1 

I901. 

June24 ..... do ..................... do •....•.......................... do ............ _____ ... 968.0 

Do ......•. do .......•...•.... Ford near mouth of Middle ..... do............ 7.10 159.0 

Fork of New River, near Boone. 

Do ... Wes_t Fork ........... Near Boone .....•..... -------- ...•. do............ 5.40 108.0 

1900. 

July 23 Flannery Fork ...... Ford of Boone-Blowing Rock _ .... do .... -------- 6.35 10.4 

road. 

Oct. 24 ..... do .... ---- .... --~- ..... do ............................... do ...... ------ 5.35 107.0 

July 23 Middle Fork ......... Ford of Boone-Ahoroad ........... do............ 5.70 24.4 

Oct. 24 ..... do .......•....•........ do ________ ....................... do............. ... ..... 234.0 

July 23 EastFork ................. do ............................... do .... -------- 5. 70 10.4 

Oct. 24 ..... do-------- ............ do-------------------- ______ ..... do------...... 5.10 109.0 

July 18 Meat Camp Creek ... One-fourth mile below Mor- ..... do............ 9.00 35.3 etz. Oct. 25 •... do •....•.....•......... do ........•...................... do............ 8.65 89.0 

1901. 

June 24 ••.•. do ••..••...•••••....... do ............ ____ .......••....•. do............ 7. 90 164.0 

1900. 

July 24 Elk Creek ........•.•. Elk Crossroads ..................... do........ ... 8.00 10.0 

July 18 Old Field Creek ............................................ do............ 6.1 19.4 

July 24 Gap Creek .........•. One-eigl.thmileabovemouth ...... do............ 4.85 23.4 

July 19 Beaver Creek ........ At mouth ........................... do............ 6. 00 22.4 

July 27 Mulberry Creek ..... Near mouth ........................ do............ 5.1 109.0 

Do ... Prather Creek ....... One and one-half miles below ..... do............ 8.6 25.0 

Scottville. 

NoTE.-In making the measurements recorded in the above table bench marks were established and measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench 

mark to the surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering 

of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse of 

the results at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an 

increase in gage height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
PRESSEY.] - NEW RIVER. 173 

WATER POWERS IN BASIN. 

There are· a number of undeveloped water powers on the South 

Fork and its tributaries, the chief of which are the following: 

On the Middle Fork, about 5 miles from Blowing Rock, there is a 

fall of possibly 15 feet in 100 feet, with a good dam site, though the 

Hpace for building purposes is somewhat cramped. On Meat Camp 

Creek, at Moretz, there is a mill with a dam about 8 feet high. On Elk 

Creek, at Elk Crossroads, there is a small sawmill. The discharge of 

this stream is slight, but a fall of about 20 feet has been obtained. 

On Beaver Creek, at the town of Beavercreek, is Hamilton's corn a1~d 

flour mill, with a working head of about 10 feet. 

Near the mouth of the South Fork are the remains of an old dam. 

The site is a good one, a rock ledge running entirely across the stream 

and high hills shutting in close on both banks. A dam 40 feet in 

height could easily be constructed here. Near Scottville the river 

makes an almost closed loop, and it has been proposed to tunnel 

through the neck of the loop and in that waydevelop a fall. It is 

said that the difference in the elevation of the surface of the water 

on the upper and lower sides of the loop is about 30 feet. 

Owing to the steep slopes of the adjacent mountains the river and 

its tributaries are subject to floods, and dams and buildings for the 

development of the water powers would have to be built strong and 

substantial. 

NORTH FORK OF NEW RIVER. 

GENERAL FEATURES. 

The North Fork is formed by the junction of Hoskin Fork and 

Brush Fork in the extreme southwestern part of Ashe County. 

The character of the region through which it flows is more mountainous than the basin of the South Fork; the same general agricultural 

and forest conditions prevail here as in the latter basin. The stream 

is not so tortuous as the South Fork, but its side streams are more 

numerous and the fall greater. Its total length is about 30 miles. 

The difference in elevation between its head and the junction with the 

South Fork at Weaversford is 1,800 feet, making the average fall per 

mile 60 feet. 

Its main upper branch, Hoskin Fork, rises on the eastern slope of 

Snake Mountain, at an elevation of 4,300 feet. It flows between 

closed hills, and its flood plain is very narrow. 

The ratio of cleared_ to forest-covered land in the watershed "is 

estimated to be about 1 to 5. The region about the headwaters 

is very thinly settled. The scenery is magnificent, especially near 

Creston and Solitude. The cleared land is chiefly devoted to cattle 

grazing. 
174 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. fN0.63. 

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS IN BASIN. 

On July 27, 1900, a gaging station was established on the North 

Fork at W eaversford, N. C. The measurements made_ there, as well 

as those made at other points along the river, also the measurements 

made on its tributaries, are given in the following table, in order 

downstream: 

Discharge measurements of North Fork of New River and tn"butaries. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h Gage DisY rograp er. height. charge. 

Feet. Sec.~tt. 

0.60 536.0 

1900. 

July 28 North Fork of New Weaversford -------·---------· ClevelandAbbe, River. jr., and N. C. 

Curtis. 

Oct. 27 ..... do ..................... dO------------··---------··- .•.•. do .....•...... 0.90 708.0 

1901. 

1.40 1,377.0 

1.00 313.0 

June 27 ..... do.----· ____ ........... do ...... ---·---·-··· .... ---· ..•.. do ........... . June 20 •.... do................ Below mouth of Laurel Creek ...... do ........... . 

1900. 

July 21 ..... do ...•.. ---------- 1 mile below Creston ..•............ do............ 6. 7 49.3 

Oct. 26 ..... do ..................... do ...•....••..•••.••.••....••.... do ...... ~----- 6.0 194.0 

1901. 

June20 ...•. do-------·-------- ..... do ...•.••....•....•....•.•..•..•. do------------ 5.5 ·196.0 

1900. 

July 20 ..... do ________ -------- i mile from Creston, on road ..... do--------.... 2.65 ·to Solitude. 

Jug02i- -~~~~~~~~-~~~~-=~::: -~-~~~tg~-~~:: :::: :::::::~::~::::: :::::~~ ::::~::::::: ¥:~ July 20 Big Laurel Creek .... 100 yards above mouth ............. do............ 6.40 

Oct. 26 ..... do ................ ____ .do--···-. ___ .... -------- ......... do------------ 6.30 

July 20 Buffalo Creek------- tmile above mouth ................ do------------ 5.43 

Oct. 26 ...•. do .....•..•••...•...... do ............................... do ............ --------

1901. 

32.2 

130.0 

37.0 

26.2 

80.4 

44.0 

67.0 

June20 ..... do---------------- Near Jefferson---------------- ..... do .. ·--------- 4.30 140.0 

1900. 

July 25 Horse Creek ......... tmileabovemouth ...••••......... do.___________ 6.6 M.3 

Oct. 27 .••.. do ..................... do .....•••.•..••.•....••••••..... do.___________ 6.05 140.0 

1901. June 25 ..••. do ...•••.•.•••.•.•..... do ............................... do .......... __ 5. 35 444.0 

1900. 

July 25 HeltonCreek ........ Below Peasley's milL .............. do.___________ 4.28 30.0 

Oct. 27 ..... do .•••. ___ •............ do ___ . ____ .... ___ .·------· ... ___ .do __ .. ____ .. __ .... __ .. 105.0 

NoTE.-At regular stations of the Geological Survey gages are installed by which the rise of 

the river is measured, an increase in the gage height representing an increase in the discharge 

of the stream. This is true of the measurements in the above table made at Weaversford. In 

making all of the other measurements, however, in each case a bench mark was established and 

measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench mark to the 

surface of the water. In·the lattercase!l, therefore, an increase in the gage height means a lowering of the water surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream. 

WATER POWERS IN BASIN. 

There are a number of water powers in t,he basin. Those of Threetop Creek are very good. Four mills were observed, with falls ranging 

from 6 to 15 feet. Shoals and dam sites are numerous. At the falls 

of Long Hope Creek, a branch of Threetop Creek, there is a total fall 

of 300 feet in 400 yards. The average discharge of Long Hope Creek 

is about 10 second-feet. On the North Fork about 3 miles west of 

t~e mouth of Buffalo Creek, near Dresden, there is an important 

water power which at one time was utilized, but the dam was destroyed 

by a freshet and has not been rebuilt. The hillsideE~ at this point shut 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER.:-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XXXIX 

LOWER FALLS OF CU LLASAG EE CR EEK, NO RTH CAROLINA, A TRIBUTARY OF LITTLE 

TENNESSEE RIVER. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WAT~R-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XL 

OCON.ALU FTY VALLEY , NORTH CAROLINA. 
PRESSEY.] STREAMS SOU'rHWEST OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 17 5 

in close, and a rock ledge extends across the stream. A fall of 30 or 

40 feet could readily be obtained. Horse Creek and Helton Creek are 

both large streams with considerable fall. No water powers were 

observed on the-former. A combined sawmill and gristmill is located 

about a half mile above the mouth of Helton Creek. The fall obtained 

is about 10 feet and the power is developed by turbines. This is also the 

site of the old Helton iron works, where hammered iron was formerly 

worked, the ore being obtained in the vicinity. On the North Fork 

about 2 miles from its mouth is Dixon's corn and flour mill. A dam 

about 8 feet in height has been constructed here. The flume leading 

to the forebay is a tunnel cut through a projecting shelf of rock, 

behind which is a mill ho~1.se. A masonry dam 40 feet high could be 

constructed and the power greatly increased. 

STREAMS SOUTHWEST OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 

South and west of the region already described is a large, mountainous area with many of the same characteristics. From this territory 

flow the headwater~ of four of the largest rivers in the Southeastern 

States. First comes the Tennessee River, the basins of several of the 

largest branches of which, namely, ·the Holston, the Watauga, the 

Nolichucky, and the French l.>road, have been described in detail in 

this paper. Farther south are the Oconalufty, the Tuckasegee, the 

Nantahala, the Hiwassee, the Okoee, and other rivers which enter the 

Tt.;mnessee and after a long and winding course add their waters to 

the Mississippi. (Typical views of these streams are shown in Pls. 

XXXIX to XLIV.) The second large river is the Sayannah, which 

receives numerous tributaries and flows in a southeasterly direction 

into the Atlantic. The third stream is the Apalachicola River, which 

with its chief tributary, the Chattahoochee, rises close to the headwaters of the Tennessee and after a southBrly course between Georgia 

and Alabama and through Florida enters the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachicola. The fourth large stream is the Mobile, which receives its, 

headwaters from the mountains of Tennessee and northern Georgia, 

through the Coosa, the Conasauga, and the Etowah, and flowing 

through the State of Alabama enters the Gulf at Mobile. 

Hydrographic studies and numerous measurements of discharge, in 

charge of Prof. B. M. Hall, have been made by the United States 

Geological Survey of the headwaters of all of these streams and of 

their chief tributaries. Most of the streams rise on the steep slopes 

of the mountain sides, at elevations of from 2,000 t'o 4,000 feet above 

sea level, and have large falls throughout, their courses. In many 

places the streams flow through mountain gorges with steep, vertical 

sides and with very small flood plains. 

Only a small proportion of the region is under cultivation, the 

greater part being still covered with the original forest growth, consisting of oak, hickory, chestnut, poplar, locust, pine, buckeye, linn, 

ttsh, maple, sassafras, walnut, and other varieties. The ground is 
176 SOUTHERN .APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. (NO. 63. 

frequently covered with trailing arbutus, maidenhair and other 

ferns, deep-green mosses, and a great variety of wild flowers and rare 

medicinal plants. The climate is mild throughout the year, making 

it a fine resort in winter as well as in summer. Wild animals, such as 

deer, bears, and wolves, once so numerous, are now nearly extinct, 

but there are still many wild-cats, catamounts, minks, foxes, opossums, ground hogs, polecats, weasels, wild turkeys, pheasant,s, squirrels, rabbits, quails, etc. The land now under cultivation is practically all that is available for ordinary farming, the remainder being 

steep, rocky, and rugged, with only occasional patches of deep, fertile 

soil. Near the rivers considerable timber has been cut, but the hunbering has not extended far up the mountain sides. Means of transportation are exceedingly meager, the Murphy branch of the Atlanta, 

Knoxville and Northern Railway being about the only outlet. For 

this reason the few farming products that are raised can not be 

transported economically to the populated districts, so that there is 

little incentive to agricultural pursuits. The greater portion of the 

grain raised is made into moonshine whisky, and the summer apples 

are largely used for apple-jack. Wheat, cabbages, Irish potatoes, 

and the hardier fruits grow well. 

The mineral resources are practically untouched and comparatively 

unknown, but they are evidently important and varied. Gold, corundum, asbestos, marble, talc, kaolin, ocher, iron, and mica are known 

to exist. The whole region is sparsely inhabited. Water powers are 

very numerous, though few are developed, and most of these on orily 

a small scale, for gristmills and sawmills. The large undeveloped 

powers on the lower parts of the streams are well distributed and are 

very valuable for manufacturing purposes.. After the rivers leave 

the mountain region and flow across the broad, elevated plains, large 

falls frequently occur, some of which have in recent years been 

developed and have proved to be most lucrative investments. 

The results of the measurements upon the streams in this region 

are given in the following tables, arranged in chronologie order: a 

Discharge mea1mrements of tributaries of Tennessee River north of Hiwassee River. 

Date. Stream. 

1901. 

Feb. 18 Conasauga Creek •... 

Feb. 19 Tellico River--------

Do ... Little Tennessee 

River. 

Feb. 20 Little River_, ______ _ Feb. 21 West Fork of Little 

Pigeon River. 

Locality. H Gage Dis- ydrographer. height. charge. 

Near Cambria, Tenn __________ B. M. Hall and 

Feet. Sec-:ft. 

101 

assistants. 1! miles above mouth _______________ do------------ -------- tmile below mouth ol Tellico ..... do-----·------ 3.10 

River. 

1 mile above mouth_------ _________ do------------ ----·· __ At bridge just above mouth_-______ do------------ --------

316 

4, 774 

:m 

133 

a In making the measurements recorded in these tables bench marks were established and 

measurements were made, by means of a steel tape, of the distance from the bench mark to the 

surface of the water. An increase in the gage height, therefore, means a lowering of the water 

surface and a corresponding decrease in the discharge of the stream, the reverse of the results 

at the regular stations of the Survey, where gages are installed and where an increase in gage 

height represents an increase in the discharge of the stream. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XLI 

TUCKASEGEE RIVER NEAR DILLSBORO , N. C. 
U. S . GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WAT ER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XLII 

T UCKAS EG EE FAL LS , NO RT H CAROLINA. 
PRESSEY.] STREAMS SOUTHWES'l' OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 177 

Discharge measurement.~ of tn"butaries of Tennessee River north of Hiwassee 

River-Con tin ned. 

Date. Stream. Locality. H d h Gage Dis- Y rograp er. height. charge . 

.,.----t----------1--------------l--------1----

1901. Feet. 

Feb. 21 Little Pigeon River_ Atbridgejustabovejunction B. M. Hall and 

Feb. 22 East Fork of Little 

Pigeon River. 

Do ... Cosby Creek ........ . Feb. 23 Big Pigeon River ... . 

Apr. 3 Tellico River--------

Do .... Little Tennessee 

River. 

with West Fork of Little assistants. 

Pigeon. 

Near mouth ........•............... do ____ ........ --------

At mouth •........... ------ ..... ___ .do------·----- ---· ---- At bridge above mouth of ..... do ............ -----·-- Cosby Creek. 

At bridge It miles above ..... do ______ ............ .. mouth. 

McGhee, Tenn _ ..................... do ................... .. 

Apr. 4 Little River--------- Halfway between Louisville ..... do .......... . and Knoxville, Tenn., at A., 

K. and N. Ry. bridge. Sept.ll Collins River ........ McMinnville,Tenn ...........•..... do............ 2.60. 

Nov. 4 L\li\~eJ.'ennes.,ee McGhee, Tenn .••••••....•.......... do------------ 2.50 

Do ... Tellico River-------- At bridge 1t miles above ..... do ...... ------ ....... . mouth. 

a Estimated. 

Discharge measvrements of Hiwassee River and tributaries. 

Sec.~rt. 

167 

60 

778 

2,580 

30,536 

2,012 

310 

2,675 

180 

Date. Stream. Locality. Gage I Dis- Hydrographer. height.1charge. 

1901. Feet. 

Jan. 10 StanleyCreek ....... 1mileabovemouth ........... B. M. Hall and 

Do.~. 

Jan. 11 Do ... Do ... Jan. 12 

Do .. . Do .. . 

Big Creek ____ . _ ...... Noon tootly Creek __ _ Toccoa River_ .... .. Skeenah Creek ..... . Rock Creek ______ .. .. Cooper Creek ....... . Toccoa River ...... .. 

assistants. 

Near mouth_ ....................... do ____ .............. .. At foot log t mile from mouth ...... do.----- ....... ---- .. .. At VanSant's bridge _____ ......... do------...... 5.05 

1 mile above mouth ................ do ............ -------- Near mouth _______ ................. do ............ -------- Bridge 1 mile a hove mouth .. .. .. .. do ................... . 1t miles above mouth of ..... do ................. .. Cooper Creek. 

Do ... Mill Creek. ______ .... At mouth ...................... __ .. do ______ ------ ....... . Do ... Toccoa River ........ Just above mouth of Mill ...... do .................. .. Creek. 

Jan. 14 Suches Creek ........ Near mouth------------- ........... do r·--·· ...... -------- Do ... Toccoa River ......... Just below Suches Creek _____ ..... do.------ ........... .. Do ... Coosa Creek_....... Bridge about 2t miles from ..... do .......... .. mouth. 

Do .. Nottely River ...... Bridge H mile::> from Bla.irs- ..... do............ 1.45 · ville, Ga. 

Just below bridge at mouth ....... do ....... ----- ...... .. At Choestoeroad ................... do .................. ... t mile from mouth ______ ........... do ............ -------

Do ... Butternut Creek .. .. Jan. 15 Arququah Creek ... _ Do ... TownCreek ....... .. Do ... i:::itink Creek ________ _ 1 mile above mouth----------- ..... do .................. .. Do ... Nottely River ....... At foot log just above mouth ..... do .................. .. of Stink Creek. 

On south sideofNottely River ..... do ............ -------- 1 mile above mouth _____ ............. do ...... ----- ...... .. t mile above mouth __ .............. do .................... .. At 'rhompson's bridge at Ivy ..... do............... 1.20 

Do ... Wolf Creek. _______ _ 

Jan. 16 Young Cone Creek .. Do ... Ivy Log Creek ...... . Jan. 17 Nottely River ....... . Log, Ga . . Jan. 18 Brasstown Creek .... At bridge near mouth ............. do------------ ...... .. Jan. 21 Hiwassee River ..... Just above mouth of High- ..... do .................... .. tower Creek. 

Do... Bell Creek. ____ ........ At mouth ..... : ........................ do ..................... . Do ... Hightower Creek .... Near mouth _________ ............... do------------ ...... .. Jan. 22 Hiwassee River _____ Bridge H miles below Hi- ..... do ............. -------- wassee, Ga. 

Jan. 24 Hemptown Creek ... Just above mouth of Young- ..... do ........ --------------

Do ... Jan. 25 

Jan. 26 

Aug.l9 

Aug.20 

stone Creek. 

Hothouse Creek ..... About 2 miles above mouth ........ do ...... ------ ........ . Greasy Creek ........ Near mouth_ ............................ do ....... ------ .... __ __ Okoee River ......... Parksville, Tenn -------------- .... do .................. .. Toccoa River........ 1t miles south of Gaddistown, ... __ do ......... __ .... __ .. .. Ga. 

Williams Creek ...... t mile south of Gaddistown, ____ .do ______ ......... Ga. 

Do ... NickleCreek ........ ±mile south of Gaddistown, ..... do .......... .. Ga. 

IRR 63-02--6 -

Sec.-ft. 49.0 

86.0 

207.0 2,475.0 

109.0 

132.0 

387.0 

396.0 

122.0 

4.'3.0 

64.0 

175.0 

75.0 

450.0 

32.0 

40.0 

85.0 

48.0 

131.0 

55.0 

94.0 

33.9 

616.0 

149.0 

152.0 

24:.0 

116.0 

306.0 

159.0 

75.0 

88.0 

1,602.0 

67.4. 

22.8 

12.8 
178 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. (No. 63. 

Discharge measurements of Hiwa.<;see River and tributarie.<;-Continued. 

Date. I Stream. 

-I Locality. I Gage Dis- Hydrographer. iheight. charge. 

1901. I , . Aug. 20 roccoa River _______ _ Feet. Sec.~ft. 

t mile southeast of Gaddis- R. :M. Hall and 147. 6 

Do.- Suches Creek ________ 1 ~fi!\?o~-theast of Gaddis- ---~~d~s~~~ -~~------- -------- 144.0 

town, Ga. 

Do. __ Cooper Creek ........ Near fork b6tween Gaddis- _____ do ______ ------1----.... 251.5 town and Blairsville, Ga. ' Do ... Mulky Creek-------- ..... do--------------------- ______ ..... do ______ -------------- 75.0 Do ... NottelyRiver ....... 1 mile southwest of Blairs- ..... do ............ -------- 955.0 

ville, Ga. · Aug. 21 Christopher Creek .. , 2t miles southeast of Blairs- ..... do ______ -------------- 39.1 1 ville, Ga. Do ... 96.0 

1

. Arququah Creek .... i 3t J?iles southeast of Blairs- _____ do .. __________ -------- 1 ville, Ga. 1 

Do __ Foun Creek .. ________ 6 miles southeast of Blairs- ____ .do------ ...... ____ ____ 279.0 

ville, Ga. Do __ Stink Creek - ________ Near Choestoe, Ga------ ...... _____ do ______ ------ ____ ____ 167.0 Do -- Choestoe Creek ______ 5! miles southeast of Choe- _____ do ...... ------ -------- 160.0 

stoe, Ga. 

Aug. 23 Miller Creek. ________ t mile northeast of Blairs- ..... do ................ __ __ 87.0 

ville, Ga. Do .. Brasstown Creek .... 1t miles southwest of Young ..... do------ ...... ________ 139.0 

Harris, Ga. 

Aug.26 LongBulletCreek .. 3miles northwest ofHiwas- ..... do ............ ________ a26.0 see, Ga. Do .. Hog Creek.------ ____ It miles northwest of Hi was- ..... do ...... _____________ _ 42.0 see, Ga. Do .. Hiwassee River ..... 1 mile northwest of Hiwas- ..... do. ___________________ 1,039.0 

see, Ga. Do __ Fodder Creek _______ 3 miles southeast of Hiwas- ..... do------------ ____ ____ 110.7 see, Ga. Do __ Hiwassee River _____ 3 miles north of Mountain _____ do ............ ________ 529.8 

Scene, Ga. Do __ Cinth Creek---------, 2 miles north of Mountain _____ do------------ _______ _ 

_ . I Sc!-'ne, Ga. . Aug. 27 Hiwassee River -----1 t mile north of Mountam ..... do------ ...... _______ _ 1 Scene, Ga. 

89.0 

92.0 

Do __ OwlCreek .. -,--------~1 &!~e.~:.th of Mountain 87.1 

1 

..... do ____________ --------

Aug. 21 Fightingtown Creek 

1

8 miles from mouth _____ ........... do ______ ...... -------- 236.0 

Aug.22 WeaverCreek ....... 2milesfrommouth ___________ ..... do ............ --------- 97.0 

.. Estimated. 

Discharge rnea.<;urernents of Duck and Elk rivers, Tennessee. 

~Date. I Stream. Locality. I Hydrographer.lch~~~e. 

1901. j' I Sec.-ft. Feb. 9 Duck River .......... [ Columbia, Tenn----------------- ...... Max Hall ........ l 2,418 Do -~ Elk River------ ...... Fayetteville, Tenn ...... ____ ------ ____ ..... do ______ ------ 1,828 

Apr. 19 Duck RiJVer .......... Columbia, Tenn ............................ do............ 9,504 

Discharge mea.<;urements of tributaries of Savannah River. 

Date. I d h 

I 

Gage Dis-

' Hy rograp er. height. charge. 

-------l----------------l-------------------------1 

Stream. Locality. 

1001. 

Apr. 24 Rocky River ......... 5t miles northwest of Cal- R M. Hall and 

Feet. Sec.-ft. 546.0 

houn Falls, S.C. assistants. 

Aug.12 ..... do ..................... do ................................ do ............ -------- Aug.l3 LittleRiver .......... 5mileswestofCalhounFalls, ..... do ............ 1.35 

S.C. 

Sept.30 Stekoa Creek------- 2 miles south of Clayton, Ga ........ do------------ ....... . Do .. Mill Creek----------- ..... do ...... ____________ ........ ____ .do .•....•..... -------- Oct. 19 TigerCreek ......... Tallulah Falls, Ga., t milel _____ do ................... .. above mouth. i 

448.0 

107.0 

71.0 

7.9 

151.0 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. X LIII 

WATER-POWER DEVELOPMENT O N TUCKASEGEE RIVER NEAR PAINTER, N. C. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 63 PL. XLIV 

OKOEE RIVER NEAR DUCKTOWN , TENN. 
PRESSEY.] STREAMS SOUTHWEST OE' FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 179 

Discharge measurements of Flint River and tributaries. 

Date. Stream. 

1901. 

Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

Sec.-ft. 

Mar. 9 

Do __ _ KinchafooneeCreek Albany,Ga. ---------------------------- B.M.Hall........ 1,208 

Muckalee Creek ... __ It miles above mouth .•.... ------------ ..... do------------ 1, 777 

Do __ Blue l::!pring Creek .. 4 miles below Albany, Ga ...... -------- _____ do------------- 95 

Mar. 26 Kinchafoonee Creek Albany,Ga. ------------------ ______ ·--- F.A. Murray---- 1,920 Do Muckalee Creek ..... _____ do ______ ---· .......... ---------- ____ ..... do------------ 3,244 __ _ 

Apr. 17 

Apr. 18 

Do ... 

Flint River __________ 1 mile south of Montezuma, Ga.------ ..... do---- ... ---- 5,099 

KinchafooneeCreek Albany,Ga. ------------------------ ......... do----------- 1, 741 

Muckalee Creek .......... do ...... ------ _______________ ........... do------------ 2,600 

July 18 

July 19 

Do ... 

Flint River .......... It miles east of Montezuma, Ga.------ ----.do------------ 2,398 

KinchafooneeCreek Near Albany, Ga.---------------------· ..... do ........ --- 714 

Muckalee Creek .......... do-----·-------- ........ --·--------- ----.do------------ 1,001 

Discharge measurements of Chattahoochee River and tributaries in Georgia. 

Da~. Stream. Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

-----------------------------1---------------------------l--------------l------

1901. Sec.-ft. 

Jan. 7 Nancys Creek_------ .... ___ _ 7 miles northeast of Atlanta, on Peachtree road. J. C. Conn..... . 45.9 

May 15 Sweetwater Creek---------- Austell, Ga .... _____ .... -------- 3t miles northwest of Gainesville, Ga. 

K. T. Thomas___ 188.0 

June25 Chattahoochee River ....... . F. A. Murray .... 1,306.0 

Oct. 24 BaldridgeCreek. __________ _ Near Buford, Ga ____ ---------- Max Hall-------- 23.5 

Discharge measurements of Chattahoochee River and tributaries. 

Date. Stream. 

1901. 

Jan. 12 Yahoola ditch ..... . 

Do ... l YahoolaCreek. ------

Ja~0i3-!; ~:~~;;:o~~:~san~- 1 teeCreek. 

Do ... 1 Dukes Creek ........ Do .. _! Chattahoochee River 

Do ... Bean Creek ______ .... Do ... ChickamaugaCreek. Jan. 14 Soque River _________ _ Do ... ShoalCreek ________ _ Do ... : SoqueRiver ________ _ Jan. 151 Haz~l Creek _______ __ Do_.. Whttes Creek .... __ __ 

Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

Sec.-ft. 1mileeastof Dahlonega, Ga .......... B. M. Hall and 39.5 

assistants. 2 miles east of Dahlonega, Ga ......... _____ do------·----- 309.2 5 miles east of Dahlonega, Ga ......... _____ do ...... ------ 1,477.1 

Smiles northeast of Cleveland, Ga ......... do------...... 10.3 

1tmilessouthwestof Nacoochee, Ga ....... do·-----------

Nacoochee, Ga ...... ------------------ ..... do------------

1 mile east of Nacoochee, Ga ...... _________ do ...... ------ 3t miles northeast of Nacoochee, Ga ....... do------ .•.... 4 miles south of Soque, Ga ...... ------ ..... do------------

t mile above mouth .... ______ .... ------ ..... do------------ 7 miles south of Soque, Ga ........ ---- _____ do------------ Demorest, Ga __________ .... _ ... _____________ do ______ -----· 7 miles west of Demorest, Ga _________ ..... do ___________ _ 

Mossy Creek, Ga ............. ---------- ..... do ______ ------

265.2 

424.0 

12.3 

109.8 

132.0 

50.1 

202.2 

94.8 

38.2 

Do ... 51.1 

1 

North Prong of 

J\llossy Creek. 

Do ... 1 S~~!sypC~~e~~ of ..... do ....... ------------------- ............... do------------

Do ... I Flat Creek ........ ___ Glades, Ga------ ........... ------ ........... do·----- •..... 

25.0 

22.5 

Jan. 16 i East Prong of Little I 2t miles west of Glades, Ga ........ ____ ..... do .•.... ------ 36.4 

River. · 

Do ... West Prong of Lit- 4 miles west of Glades, Ga .. ---------- ..... do-----·------

tle River. 

Do ... Wahoo Creek ........ Do .. _ Chestatee River __ ... Aug. 17 Yahoola Creek ....... 

Do ... Tate Creek ........ .. Aug.l9 Cane Creek ........ .. 

Aufi~~- ~t~t~!h~~~t!e-Rfver Do .. _ East Tessantee Creek 

Aug. 30 Chestatee River .... . Aug. 31 I Crooked Creek ..... . Do ... CbestateeRiver ... .. Do ... Yellow Creek ...... .. 

4 miles east of Price, Ga .............. _ ..... do ........... . New bridge, Ga ................... ------ ..... do---·-- ••.... Bridge 1 mile northeast of Dahlonega, . _ ... do .......... . Ga. 

1 milesoutheastof Porter Springs, Ga ...... do .......... __ 3t m!les northwest of Dahlonega, Ga ...... do ___ ...... .. t mtle east of Santee, Ga ................... do .... · ...... .. 1 mile west of Nacoochee, Ga .............. do ........... . 2 miles north of Cleveland, Ga. ________ ... do .. _________ _ 3 miles southeast of Dahlonega, Ga ........ do ..... __ .... . 2t miles southwest of Dahlonega, Ga ... , _.do_ .......... . New bridge, Ga ................... ------ ..... do .......... .. 2 miles southeast of New bridge, Ga ....... do ........... . 

52.4 

89.0 

717.2 

241.0 

32.6 

40.5 

316.8 

605.6 

27.8 

744.1 9.0 1,141.3 41.0 
180 

Date. 

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN REGION, PT. II. (NO. 63. 

Discharge measurements of Etowah River and tributarie.<J. 

Stream. Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

1901. Sec.-ft. Jan. 7 WillieoCreek ........ ±-mileabovemouth ___________________ B. M. Hall and 20.1 

Jan. 8 

Do __ 

Do __ 

Do __ Do __ 

Do .. Do .. Jan. 9 · Do __ 

Jan. 10 

Do .. 

fan. 11 

Do .. Jan. 17 

Do .. Jan. 18 Do __ 

Jan. 19 

Aug. 31 

Date. 

1901. 

Jan. 28 

Jan. 29 

Mar. 28 Do __ 

Mar. 29 Do .. Apr. 25 

I Date. 1 

Coopers Sandy Creek 

South Prong of Little River. 

assistants. 

1mile north of Crabapple, Ga. ___ ......... do ____ ·------- 2 miles south of Freemansville, Ga ........ do ........... . 

North l<'ork of Lit- 2 miles north of Freemansville, Ga ........ do-------- .... tle River. 

Smithwick Creek ... tmileeastofOrange, Ga ------------- ..... do .......... .. Buzzard Flopp er 3 miles east of Orange, Ga ....... ------ ..... do ........... . Creek. 

Board tree Creek ____ 1mile south of Creighton, Ga .............. do .......... .. Settingdown Creek. Creighton, Ga .................. -------- ..... do-----· .... .. Etowah River_ ...... t mile north of Hightower, Ga ............. do .... ---- .. .. Yellow Creek ........ 6 miles northeast of Hightower, Ga ....... do ...... ------ Amicalola River .... Afton, Ga ---------- ____ ...... ___ ............ do .......... .. 

:r1bi~:: i~:e~: .~ -1 ~::~ ::~~ ~;~~~~.- ~~~ ~ ~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ : ~ ~: ::: ~ ~ ~:~~ ~ ~ ~ :~~ Etowah River.------ 5t miles east of Randa, Ga ------------ ..... do .......... .. Cogbnrris Creek ____ 1! miles above mouth ....................... do ........... . Etowah River ....... Hightower, Ga .............................. do .......... .. Settingdown Creek-~ t mile above mouth .......... ---------- ..... do------------

Boardtree Creek .... 1 mile south of Creighton, Ga .............. do-----··------

Willieo Creek ........ t mile above mouth ......... ____ ------ ..... do------ ..... . Etowah River-------~ 1 mile west of Auraria, Ga ...... ------ ..... do------------

Discharge measurementt:~ of Cahaba River and tr't"butaries. 

9.0 

21.5 

13.4 

~-2 

6.5 

7.2 

74.0 

512.4 

32.0 

166.4 

58.3 

383.3 

1,881.0 

14.6 

676.1 

178.3 

9.8 

31.0 

173.0 

Stream. - Locality. Dis- Hydro~rapher.· charge. 

Hawkins Spring ... .. Cahaba River ..... .. Valley Creek _ .... __ . Blocton Creek ..... .. Cahaba River------- Buck Creek ...... ___ _ 

Cahaba River . ------

Sec.-ft. t mile from Hawkins Station--------- K. T. Thomas.... 15.8 

Sydenton, Ala------------------------- ..... do ...... ------ 549.0 

Adjers Station, Ala .. ------------ ...... J. R. HalL.----·--- 378.0 Blocton, Ala ....... ______ ................... do____________ 107.0 

t mile south of Sydenton Station, Ala ...... do ______ ... ::. 1,117.0 

t mile above mouth ...... ---------- ......... do.----------- 179.0 

2 miles east of Harrell, Ala ................. do------------ 6,560.0 

D'tscharge measurements of Tombigbee River and tributaries. 

Stream. Loc.ality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 1-----------------l-------------------------------l--------------

1901. 

Feb. 16 

Feb. 18 

Mar. 7 Mar. 11 

Apr. 15 

Apr. 16 

June26 

Oct. 31 

Date. 

1901. 

Feh 14 

Feb. 15 

Sec.-ft. 

Tombigbee River ... Waverly, Miss----------· ........ ----·· K. T. Thomas.... 6, 726 

Luxapelila Creek ... Columbus, Miss ........ ______ .......... --~--do ...... ______ 957 

Yalabusha River ____ Grenada, Miss _______ ...... ------------ ..... do------...... 1,336 

Luxapelila Creek __ _ Columbus, Miss .... ____ ..................... do............ 2, 459 

Big Black River ___ .. 1 mile east of Goodman, Miss ...... ---- ..... do------...... 614 

Luxapelila Creek ___ Columbus, Miss ............ ------------ ..... do------------ 873 ..... do ...... ------ ___ ..... do ---------------------------------- ..... do------------ 109 ..... do.----------- .. _______ do .... _ -----------------.----------- ____ .do .. _______ .... 126 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Mississippi River. 

Stream. 

-I Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

Sunflower River ____ Baird, Miss _____________________________ K.T. Thomas.... 3,'761 

I 

~~ Sakatouchee River .. Mhoon Valley, l\'liss ........................ do·--:........ 559 
PRESSEY.] STREAMS SOUTHWEST OF FRENCH BROAD RIVER. 181 

Discharge measurements of Tallapoosa River and tributaries. 

Date. Stream. Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

1901. Sec.-ft. Jan. 7 

Feb. 11 

Do .. '{.fl~~c~~:r!~-~~ ~ = = = 

2 miles from Tallapoosa, Ga ......•.... Max Hall-------- 329 

About 4 miles above mouth ........... J. R.HalL........ 66 

Feb. 13 Saugahatchee Creek Thaddeus,Ala --·-····-------···------- ..... do--------···· 453 

Blue Creek ......... . t mile from Susanna, Ala ................... do---------·-· 117 

Do .. Chenehatchee Creek 3miles above mouth .......••.•.•........... do---·-··-···· 80 

Feb. 27 

Mar. 5 

Mar.11 

Mar.12 

J€~~~~1!\:a~e:ek-=== ~~:raM~~a ~~<5.~A.ia·~~=~==== =~~~=====:· ~~~~ ~~~ ~===~= ==~==~ ~ra Moores Creek ....... . Chattahaspa Creek .. ltmiles north of Dudleyville,Ala .......... do------···--- 29 1 mile south of Patillos crossroads, ..... do............ 203 

Chambers County, Ala. 

Do -- Cohoasoncsa Creek .. 2t miles below and west of Milltown, ..... do------ .•.... 122 

Ala. 

Do-- Highpine Creek----- t mile south of Chambers and Ran- ..... do ........... . 89 

dolph County line. 

Do .. BeaverdamCreek ... 1milenorthofLovina,Ala ................. do............ 30 

Mar.13 Cornhouse Creek .... Near Level Roads. Ala--------- ............ do............ 31 

Do .. WildcatCreek ....... Near Gay P.O.,Ala ......................... do............ 32 

Do -- Tallapoosa River .... About 3 miles below confluence of ..... do............ 2,400 

Big and Little Tallapoosa rivers, at Blakes Ferry. 

Do __ Crookedt.Jreek ...... -------·--········-········· ................... do ........... . Do .. Hurricane Creek .... 1 mile north of Almond, Ala---------- ..... do------------

Oct. 21 Tallapoosa River .... Near Tallapoosa, Ga ..... -------------- Max Hall--------

Do ....... dO---------------- ..... uo ---------------------·· ----------- ..... do .......... .. 

Discharge Tneasurements of tributaries of Coosa River in Alabama. 

183 

29 

119 

96 

Date. Stream. Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

1901. Sec.-ft. Apr. 5 ChoccoloccoCreek .. 1tmilesnorthofJenifer,Ala ....•.... J.R.HalL ________ 1.,170.0 

Oct 16 Big Wills Creek----- 2 miles north of Attalla, Ala. ___ ...... F. A. Murray.... 107.3 

Do-- ..... do .................... ·.do ....................................... do........... 106.8 

Discharge measurements of tributaries of Oostanaula River. 

Date. Stream. Locality. Dis- Hydrographer. charge. 

1901. 

Jan. 7 Mountaintown 3tmilesfromEllijay,Ga .............. B. M. Hall and 

Creek. assistants. 

Ja~: ~~ -~~~i~~i~~~-~~==:::: -~~~~!~;~~~~=~~~::::~~=:==:::::::::::: :::::at:::::==:::: 

Do -- Anderson Creek. ____ 1 mile above mouth ...... -------------- ____ .do·----- .... .. Jan. 9 Tickanetley River . . 1 mile above mouth of Anderson Creek ..... do ...... ------ Jan. 28 Jacks River--------- Near its junction with Conasauga ..... do .......... .. River. 

Do-- Conasauga River _____ 1 mile above mouth oJ' Jacks River ........ do ......... --- Do -- Sheets Creek----·--- Just above mouth .. --------------- ____ ..... do------------

Jan. 29 SumachCreek ....... At junction of North and South ..... do .......... .. prongs. Do .. NorthProngof Su- Near junction of North and South ..... do ........... . mach Creek. prongs. Do __ South Prong of Su- ..... do ........................................ do .......... .. mach Creek. Do __ Do __ Do __ 

Aug.19 Do __ 

Mill Creek ......... .. Holly Creek---------

Rock Creek ........ .. Talking Rock Creek. 

Talona Creek ......... 

Nea.rDunn, Ga ............................. do ........... . Near Fast Mountain, Ga ................... do ...... ------

¥:fkr:~·R~k~-Ga:::::: :::::::::::::::: :::::3g :::::::::::: 

t mile above mouth .......................... do-----· ..... . 

Sec.-ft. 162.0 

165.0 

250.0 

207.0 

37.0 

43.5 

186.0 

119.0 

12.0 

58.3 

19.8 

38.5 

41.8 

107.0 

41.0 

215.0 

714.0 

INDEX TO PAPERS NOS. 62 AND 63. 

A. 

Page. 

Abbe. Cleveland,jr.,acknowledgmentsto 11 

Agriculture, extent and character of.... 39,41 

Amicalola River, measurement o: .... ____ 180 

Anderson Creek, measurement of........ 181 

Ararat River, features of.------------.... 169 measurements of______________________ 164 

Arququah Creek, measurements of.... li7, 178 

Atcheson Creek, measurements of....... 62 

Avery Creek, meas'\}r_ement of----------- 128 

B. 

Bald Creek, measurements of------------ 109 

Bald Mountain Creek, measurements of. 109 

Baldridge Creek, measurement of..______ 179 

Balds, occurrence and character of -----· 20-21 

Balsam, occurrence and character of . ___ 26 

Balsam fir (wind-dwarfed), view showing 26 

Balsam Mountains, features of.------____ 13 

highest peaks in.---------------------- 14 

Bark industry, extent and injury of.____ 26 

Bean Creek, measurement of_____________ 179 

Bell Creek, measurement of______________ 177 

Bear Creek (Middle Fork Holston), features of. _______ ------ __ .. ---------- 77 

measurements of .•.... ------ ____ ...... 73 

Bear Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of.------ ______________________ •..... 108 

Bear Creek (North Toe), water powers of 113 

Beaver Creek (New), measurement of... 172 

water power on ....... ________ -------- 173 

Beaver Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of.-----·---------·---------- 108 

Beaver Creek (North Toe), water powers 

of ____ ...... ____ ..... ____ ------------ 113 

Beaverdam Creek (French Broad), features of----··---------------------- 135 

measurements of .. ----------.......... 128 

Beaverdam Creek (Laurel Fork Holston), 

features of.-----· ____ ----·- ........ 65-66 

Beav0rdam Creek (South Fork Holston), 

measurements oL ... ______ -------- 62 

Beaverdam Creek (Tallapoosa), measurement of ... _ .............. ____ ------ 181 

Beaverdam Creek (Watauga), features 

of. ____ ...• ---- __ ---------------- .... 92-93 

measurements of...................... 86 

Beech Creek, features of.................. 92 

measurements of. ..... ·----·-·-------- 86 

Beidelmans Creek. See Sinking Creek 

(Holston). 

Big Creek (French Broad), features of __ . 129 

Big Creek (Hiwassee), measurement of._ 177 

Big Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of................................... 109 

Page. 

Big Black River, measurement of. ..•... , 180 

Big Bugaboo Creek, measurement of---- 164 

Big Dry Run, measurement of...... . . .. . . 86 

Big Elkin River, features of_ ___________ e7-168 

measurements of. ... ________ .......... 164 

Big Ivy River, measurements of......... 128 

Big La.urel Creek (French Broad), features of._ ........... ____ ...... ____ 130-1:31 

measurements of...................... 128 

Big Laurel Creek (New), measurements 

of. ......... ·------.................. 174 

Big Pine Creek, features of ............. __ 131 

measurements of ...... ____ .... ____ . __ . 128 

Big Pigeon River, measurement of...... 177 

Rock Creek (Nolichucky), m8asurementsof -----------------------·--· 108 

Big Rock Creek (North Toe), features 

of. .. ______________________ -------- 113-114 

Big Wills Creek, measurements of....... 181 

Black Mountains, features of. ____ ...• ---. 13 

highest peaks in-------- .... ----------- 15 

lumbering in.---------- .... ------------ 28 

name of, derivation of .......... ------ 21 

view in ........ _______________ ---------- 30 

Blevins Creek, measurement of ____ ------ 86 

Blocton Creek, measurement of. ___ ------ 180 

Blowing Rock, N.C., escarpment ;;f Blne 

Ridge at, view showing........... 16 

Blue Creek, measurement of.............. 181 

Blue Ridge, escarpment of, view of.------ 16 

features of.. ________ ---- .... ____ ---- 12-1:3, 17 

rivers rising in . ----------------- ------ 17 

Blue Spring Creek, measurement of..... 179 

Boardtree Creek, measurements of------ 180 

Boone Fork of Watauga River, features 

of. ________ .-----.---------..•..• ---- 94-95 

measurements of. •...• ------------.... 86 

Bowlems Creek, measurements of ..... ___ 109 

Boylston Creek, measurement of......... 128 

Branch, L. V., acknowledgments to -----· 11 

Brasstown Creek, measurements of. ... 177,178 

Broad River, drainage basin of_-------- 139-140 

features of............................. 19 

forests in basin of........... • ..... .... 140 

measurAments of...................... 141 

minerals in basin of------------------- 140 

rainfall in basin.of -----------·-------- HO 

tributaries of, features of. .... ------ 143-146 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 143 

water pbwers of....................... 142 

Brown Creek, measurements oL... .....• 109 

Brush Creek (Nolichucky), measure- mentsof .......... ______________ .•.• 108 

Brush Creek (Watauga), features of.____ 87 

measurements of .............. -------- 85 

183 
184 INDEX. 

Page. 

Brushy Fork of Cone Creek (Watauga), 

measurement of___________________ 86 

Buck Creek (Cahaba), measurement of__ 180 

Buck Creek (Catawba), features of ____ 152-153 

measurements of .... ____ ----------____ 151 

Buffalo Creek (Broad), measurement of_ 143 

Buffalo Creek (New), measurements of. 174 

Buffalo Creek (Watauga), features of ___ 87-88 

measurements of.. __ ------____________ 85 

Buncombe County, N.C., features of __ 118-120 

Butternut Creek, measurement of.______ 177 

Buzzard Flapper Creek, measurement of 180 

Byars Creek, features of .•.... ------------ 75-76 

measurements of·-----------------____ 73 

c. 

Cahaba River, measurements of ____ ------ 180 

tributaries of, measurements of______ 180 

Cane Branch (Nolichucky), measurements of--------------------------- 109 

Can9 Creek (Broad), measurement of.... 143 

Cane Creek (Catawba), features of ------ 155 

measurements of._____________________ 151 

Cane Creek (Chattahoochee), measurement of---------------------------- 179· 

Cane Creek (Nolichucky), measurements 

of ___________ ------ ____ -------------- 108 

view of.---------------- ____ ----________ 105 

Cane Creek (North Toe), features of_____ 113 

Caney Creek, measurement of____________ 128 

Caney River, features of .......... ------ 114-115 

measurements of ________ -------------- 109 

Oarlocks Creek, features of. ____ ------..... 75 

Cartecay River. measurements of .••• ____ 181 

Catawba River, drainage basin of ••..•. 147-148 

falls on, view of •• ----_-------------____ 146 

features of_.----·------------_-----____ 19 

floods in, view showing effects of . _ _ _ 148 

flow of, minimum-------·--------·---- 150 

forests in basin of ______ ------------____ 148 

hillside wash in valley of, view showing----·---------------------------- 148 measurements of. ___________________ 148-149 

rainfall in basin of ••..•• ----------____ 148 

tributaric:-s of, features of ... ------- 152-158 

tributaries of, measurements of ...• 151-152 

water powers of. ___ ·--- _______ ------ 150-151 

Catawba River, ~ orth Fork, features of_ 153 

measurements of ______ .... ____ -------- 151 

Cathey Creek (Broad),measurement of.. 143 

Cathey Creek (French Broad), measurement of---------------------------- 128 

Cattail Branch, measurements of. __ ._. __ . 

Cedar Creek, features of ...... -----------· 

measurement of-----------------------

Center Creek, features of.~-- _____ --------

Chattahaspa Creek, measurement of .•... 

Chattahoochee River, measurements of. 

tributaries of, measurements of ...... 

Cheever Improvement Company, forests 

owned by------ ______ ---··----------

Chenehatchee Creek, measurement of __ . 

Chestatee River, measurements of._.----

Chestnut, occurrence of·--- ______ ---------

Chickamauga Creek, measurement of_ ... 

Chilhowie Creek, features of-------------

Choccolocco Creek, measurement of~----

109 

74 

73 

152 

181 

179 

179 

29 

181 

179 

27 

179 

75 

181 

Page. 

Choestoe Creek, measurement of_________ 178 

Christopher Creek, measurement of_____ 178 

Cinth Creek, measurement of............. 178 

Clay deposits, views showing............. 34 

Clear Creek, features of------............ 152 

measurements of .... -----------·------ 151 

Climate, f(>atures of _________ ...• ---------- 22-23 

Clingman, General, quoted.-------------· 31 

Cloudland, N.C., features of------------ 113-114 

Cocke County, Tenn., features of------ 121-123 

Cogburris Creek, measurement of._______ 180 

Cohoasoncsa Jreek, measurement of_____ 181 

Col bert Creek, measurements of . _. _ •. __ _ 109 

Collins River, measurement of.----·----- 177 

Conasauga Creek, measurement of ------ 176 

Conasauga River, measurement of....... 181 

Conn, J. C., acknowledgments to_________ 11 

Cooper Creek, measurements of _______ 177,178 

Coopers Sandy Creek, measurement of__ 180 

Coosa Creek, measurement of·----------- 177 

Coosa River, tributaries of, measurements of----- ...... -----·_.-------- 181 

Cornhouse Creek, measurement of_______ 181 

Cosby Creek, measurement of _____ ------- 177 

Cove Creek (Broad), measurements of... 143 

Cove Creek (Watauga), features of. _____ 93-94 

measurements of._____________________ 86 

Cowee Mountains, features of·-------____ 13 

Crabtree Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of.----·------------ .... ------ 108 

Crabtree Creek (North Toe), water 

powers of.-----------·-----________ 113 

Craggy Range, highest peaks in.......... 15 

Cranberry Creek, measurement of .. ----- 86 

Crib Creek, features of. ___ ----·----------- 152 

measurements of------ ____ ------------ 151 

Crooked Creek (Chattahoochee), measurement of _____________ --·-·-·----- 179 

Crooked Creek (Tallapoosa), measurementor-----------------··--- ..... 181 

Cullasagee Creek, N.C., falls of, view of. 174 

Curtis, N.C., acknowledgments to.------ 11 

Curtis Creek, measurements of ------ •••• 15l 

D. 

Dam, splash, view of----·--- .... ---------- 108 

Dark Ridge Creek, measurement of______ 86 

Davidson River, measurements of_______ 128 

Deforestation, effects of--··-- 29-30,31-33,58,74 

effects of, views showing·-------- 32,34,148 

Denton Valley Creek, features of-------- 61 

measurements of ____ ------------------ 53 

Doe Creek, features of------.------·------ 90 

measurements of __ -------------------- 86 

Doe River, features of_ .•..•••••••••••• ---- 88-89 

measurements of. ........•••••••••.••• 85--86 

Doe River Valley, view of---------------- 88 

Drainage basins, map showing----------- 14 

Dry Creek, features of-------------------- 55 

Duck River, measurements of............ 178 

Dukes Creek, measurement of____________ 179 

Dutch Creek, features of.-----------...... 94 measurements of ___________ ----------- 86 

E. 

East Amicalola River, measurement of.. 180 

East Branch or Fork of any stream, see 

the stream. 
INDEX. 185 

Page. 

Elk Creek (New), measurements of---- 170,172 

water power on ...... ______ ------_----- 173 

Elk Creek (Watauga), features of------- 91-92 

measurements of .... ------------------ 86 

view of .......•.... ·--·-- ____ ........... 90 

Elk Creek (Wataug:a), North Fork,measur~ments of---------------------------- 86 

Elk Creek (Watauga), South Fork, measurements of. ..... ------ ________ ---- 86 

Elk Creek (Yadkin), features of.......... 165 

measurements of._________________ 16<1 

Elk Falls, N.C., view of------------------- 90 

Elk Fork Creek, measurements of________ 109 

Elk River, measurement of ......••.•.. ___ 178 

Elk Shoal Creek, measurement of-------- 109 

Ellijay River, measurement of_------____ 181 

Empire Company, forests of and lumbering by ________________ ...... -------- 27 

Emuckfaw Creek, measurement of_______ 181 

Enoree River, measurement of. ...• ·----- 143 

Erosion, extent of .. _----------- ________ 29,31-32 

effects of, views showing ...• ____ .• 32,34,14-8 

Etowah River,measurements of--------- 180 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 180 

F. 

Fall Creek, measurement of----------·--- 138 

Fifteenmile Creek, features of............ 62 

measurements of ...... _-----_-----.... 53 

FightingtownCreek,measurementof.. . 178 

Fires, destruction by_ ..... __________ --·--- 29-30 

First Broad River, features of __________ 143-144 

measurements of._____________________ 143 

Fishdam Creek, features of ......• -------- 58 

measurements of.·----·------------·-- 53 

Fisher River,featuresof. _______________ 168-169 

measurements of. ..... ---------·------ 164 

Fish Spring, Tenn.,features of----------- 82 

Flannery Fork,measurementsof.________ 172 

Flat Creek (Chattahoochee), measurement of ________ ------------________ 179 

Flat Creek (French Broad), features of. 134-135 

measurements of-----------·------ ___ . 128 

Flint River,measurementsof.____________ 179 

tributaries of, measurements of------ 179 

Flo~ds,destruction by-------------------- 32-33 

effects of.---- ____ --------.---.--------- 32-33 

effects of, View showing_ ..... ____ 34,106,148 

Fodder Creek,measurementof___________ 178 

Fogey Creek, measurements of ..... ------ 86 

Forests, destruction of--------·----- 26-27,28-29 

extent and character of_._ 20, 21,25-30,82-83 

fires in--------------------------------- 29-30 

value of-------------------------------- 31-32 

views showing.------------------------ 20,26 

Forge Creek, measurement of __ ..... ___ .• 86 

Foun Creek, measurement of-·----------- 178 

Fox Creek,measurementsof........ ...... 170 

French Broad River,drainage basin of. 115-123 

features of .... ___ ---·-----·------------ 18-19 

measurements of---------------------· 124 

rainfall in basin of. ________ ------------ 123 

streams southwest of,features of .. 175-176 

transportation facilities in basin of _. 124 

tributaries of. features of----------- 129-135 

tributaries of, measurements of .... 127-128 

Page. 

FreuchBroad River, views of---------- 120,124 

water powers of _______ ·------------- 125-127 

French Broad River, East Fork, measurement of--------------------------·· 128 

French Broad River, Middle Fork, measurement of ... -------------- .... ____ 128 

French Broad Riv~r, North Fork, measurements of. _____ -----·------------ 127 

French Broad River, South Fork, measurement of ____ -------------------- 128 

French Broad River, West Fork, measurementsof. •.... ------ --·--- ------ 128 

G. 

Gaging stations, location of._---------.... 35 

map showing location of----------____ 14 

Gap Creek tNew), measurement of...... 172 

Gap Creek (Watauga), features of_______ 88 

measurements of ....... _________ ---... 85 

Geology, features of---·-·------ ____ ------ 15-17 

Gneiss (decomposed), erosion in, view 

showing ............... ------··------ 32 

Grandfather Mountain, elevation of..... 153 

features of .••.... ____ ------------ 21-22,81-82 

forests of ..•.•••...• ------·------------- 21,26 

views of. ________________ ------.----- 22, 26,38 

Grandmother Mountain, elevation of.... 153 

Grassy Creek, measurements oL....... . . 108 

Graves, E., acknowledgments to......... 11 

Greasy Creek, measurement of------.... 177 

Green River, features of. ..... ---------- 145-146 

measurements of------------.......... 143 

Grose Creek, features of. ... -~-----------· 68 

measurements of---------------------- 63 

H. 

Hall, B. M., acknowledgments to ......... 11,175 

Hall, J. R.,acknowledgments to.......... 11 

Hall, M., acknowledgments to............ 11 

Hall, W. E., acknowledgments to .... ____ 11 

Halls Creek, features of.·--~-- .... -------- 75 

measurement of .... -------· ------ ____ 73 

Hard woods, occurrence and character of. 26,28 

Hatcher Creek, features of-----------.___ 55 

measurement of. .... ------- ...... .... 53 

Hawkins Spring, measurement of........ 180 

Hayes Creek, features of .... ···---------- 132 

Hazel Creek, measurement of------...... 179 

Helton Creek, features of ........... ____ 175 

measurements of ____ ------ ________ .... 174 

Hemptown Creek, measurement of. .. _.. 177 

Henderson County, N.C., features of .. 117-118 

Hen sons Creek (Nolichucky), measurement of ________ .................... 109 

Hensons Creek (North Toe), low-water 

fl.owof .•.... -----· ---------- ____ ____ 113 

water powers of.------.----· ____ ---·-- 113 

Hickory Nut Creek, measurement of.... 143 

view of.--------- ............... ----.... 140 

Hickory Nut Gap, N.C., view of......... 140 

Highpine Creek, measurement of........ 181 

Hightower Creek, measurement of------ 177 

Highways. See Roads. 

Hillside slopes, agriculture on .•.... ------ 29,30 

Hillside wash. See Erosion. 
186 INDEX. 

Page. 

Hiwassee River, measurements of _____ 177,178 

tributaries of, measurements of. ... 177-178 

Hog Creek, measurement of. _____ -------- 178 

Hogthief Creek, features of ------ ____ ____ 74 

measurements of._____________________ 73 

Hogtrough Creek, features of ·----- ------ 68-69 

measurements of. _________ ------------ 63 

Hollins Creek, measurement of------____ 143 

Hollow Poplar Creek, features of._______ 110 

measurements of. _____ --------·---.... 108 

Holly Creek, measurement of------------ 181 

Holmes, J. A., acknowledgments to ...... 9,11 

Holston River, agriculture in basin of... 41 

drainage basin of-------- ........ ------ 36-40 

features of ___ .......... ____ ........ ____ 18 

lumber in baE<in of. ________ ...... ------ 41 

minerals in basin of. ...... ------______ 41 

rainfall in basin of.------ ____ .. __ ------ 40 

transportation facilities in basin of.. 41-42 

Holston River, Middle Fork, drainage 

basin of .... ------ .... ------ ....•••. 69-70 

measurements of .... ·---------------·- 70 

tributaries of, features of.-----· ______ 74--77 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 73 

water powers of.---- ........ ------ .... 70-73 

Holston River, South Fork, drainage 

basin of------------ ...... ------ .... 42-46 

fall or slope of.------------ ...... ------ 42 

forests in basin of. ____ ........... _____ 47 

measurements of. ..... --·------- ___ ..• 48 

minerals in basin of_ ........ ____ ...... 47 

rainfall in basin of -------- --···· ______ 47 

transportation facilities in basin of . . 47 

tributaries of, features of. .... ____ .... 53-69 

tributaries of, measurements of. __ 53, 62-63 

water powers of. ...... ________ -------- 48-53 

Hominy Creek, measurements of........ 128 

Horse Creek (New), measurements of... 174 

Horse Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of _ ...... ____ ------ ____ ...... 109 

Hothouse Creek, measurement of._______ 177 

Hot Springs, N.C., features of __ ..... _. .. . 121 

Hungry Mother Creek, features of.._..... 76 

measurements of __ .... ------ ...... ____ 73 

Huntsdale, Tenn., development of. ... ____ 28 

Hurricane Creek, measurement of . . ..... 181 

Huttons Branch, features of ...... ____ .... 75 

measurements of----·· .•.... ---------- 73 

I. 

Indian Creek, features of . ------ .... ------ 54: 

Ivy Log Creek, measurement of-------··· 177 

Ivy River, features of------------------- 132-133 

J. 

Jack Creek, measurements of. •..... ------ 108 

Jacks River, measurement of ____ .... ____ 181 

Jacobs Creek, features of----------------- 60 

measurements of---------------···____ 53 

Jarrett Creek, measurement of.---------- 151 

Jim Scot Branch, measurements of.------ 63 

Jonah Creek, features of------------------ 58 

measurements of---------·____________ 53 

John River, features of. _______ ------ ____ 157-158 

measurements of ............ ------.... 152 

Johnson County Cove, features of________ 38 

K. Page. 

Keith, A., quoted on geology of region ___ 15-17 

quoted on soils and deforestation ____ 31-32 

KentuckyForkof North Toe River, measurement of .... ____ .........• ------ 109 

Kinchafoonee Creek, measurements of.. 179 

King Creek, measurement of_____________ 128 

Kowaliga Creek, measurement of........ 181 

L. 

Laurel Branch, features of_. _____ .. 129 

Laurel Creek, features of ....... ---------- 93,94 

Laurel Creek, lower. See Lower Laurel 

Creek. 

Laurel Creek, upper. See Upper Laurel 

Creek. 

Laurel Fork of Doe River, features of___ 89 

measurements of----------............ 85 

Laurel Fork of Holston River, features of_ 63-67 

measurements of .... ------------...... 62 

Lees Creek, measurements of------------ 128 

Lime, manufacture of .................... 43,46 

Linville Gap,elevationof -------------·-· 153 

Linville Improvement Company, lands 

owned by-------------------------- 21-22 

Linville River, falls of, view of........... 154: 

features of ....... -.----------- ........ 153-155 

measurements of---- .... ____ ------.... 151 

Little River (Chattahoochee), East Prong, 

measurement of. ............ -----· 179 

Little River (Chattahoochee), West 

Prong, measurement of _____ ...... 179 

Little River (Etowah), North Prong, 

measurement . __ ... ------ ...... 180 

Little River (Etowah), South Prong, 

measurement of ..... -------------- 180 

Little River (French Broad), measurements of-----·--------------·...... 128 

Little River (New), measurements of.... 170 

Little River (Savannah), measurement of 178 

Little River (Tennessee), measurements 

of ........... ---- ............ ------ 176,177 

Little Bald Mountain Creek, measurements of----------- ...... ---------- 109 

Little Crabtree Creek (Nolichucky), 

measurements of .......... ----____ 109 

Little Crabtree Creek (South Toe), features of------------------------···· 114 

Little Doe River, features of------------ 88-89 

measurements of---------------------- 85 

Little Elk Creek, measurement of------- 86 

Little Pigeon River, measurement of____ 177 

Little Pigeon River, East Fork, measurement of-----·----------······--___ 177 

Little Pigeon River, West Fork, measurement of .... --------------.... ...... 176 

Little Pine Creek, features of ...... ------ 132 

measurements of ____ ............ ·----- 128 

Little Tennessee River, measurements 

of_ .... ____ .... _ ....... __ . ___ ...... 176,177 

Locust Creek, measurements of.......... 109 

Long Creek, features of .......... -------- 129 

Long Bullet Creek, measuremt"nt of_____ 178 

Louis Fork of Yadkin River, featmesof.165-166 

measurementsof ---------------------- 164 

Lower Creek, features of. ..... _ .. -.-....... 158 

measurements of. _____ ...... ---------- 152 
INDEX. 187 

Page. 

Lower Laurel Creek, measurements of.. 86 

Lumbering, extent and methods of •••••• 25-29 

Luxapelila Creek, measurements of..... 180 

M. 

Madison County, N.C., features of ____ 120-121 

Maple Creek, measurement of____________ 143 

Map, drainage basin and gaging stations. H 

mountain ranges and drainage_...... 11 

Martin Creek, measurements of --------- 108 

Meat Camp Creek, measurements of_____ 172 

water power on-------------------____ 173 

Middle Creek, measurements of. _____ . . . . 109 

Middle Fork or Branch of any stream, see 

the stream. 

Middle Saluda River, features of ..... ___ • 137 

measurements of------ ____ ------------ 138 

Mill Creek (Catawba), measurements 

of---------------------------------- 151 

Mill Creek (Hiwassee), measurement 

of_------ __________ ------------------ 177 

Mill Creek (Oostananla), measurement 

of_------------------------ ____ ------ 181 

Mill Creek (Savannah), measurement of. 178 

Mill Creek (South Fork Holston) features 

of ____ ------ _____ --------------_----- 68 

measurements of ____________ ---------- 63 

Mill Creek (Watauga), features of. __ ---· 90-91 

measurement of----------------------- 86 

Miller Creek, measurement of____________ 178 

Mills River, measurements of._ ---------- 128 

Mineral resources, character and extent 

of __ ----_. ____ .... ___ ----·"·----- .• __ _ 33 

Mitchell, Professor, quoted--------------- 21 

Mitchell River, features of.-----------____ 168 

measurements of------------------____ 164, 

Moody Mill Creek, measurement of______ 86 

Mooneyham Branch, features of --· _ ____ _ 129 

Moores Creek, measurement of---------- 181 

Morganton Improvement Company, forests owned by_----------------.... 29 

Morrills Creek, features of _____ ....• ______ 55~~6 

Mossy Creek, North Prong, measurement 

of_-----_.----._----_ .. ___ .••. __ ____ _ 179 

Mossy Creek, South Prong, measurement 

of •..•.• ----.-----. ___ .----- _____ .... 179 

Mountain Creek, measurements of.------ 143 

Mountaineers, homes of._. _____ ...• _______ 30 

homes of, views showing ____ ------____ 30 

Mountains, elevations of ______ ------------ 12 

geology of ....... ----------------------- 15-17 

physiography of~-------·-------------_ 11-15 

Mountain Island Shoal, North Carolina, 

view of ______________________ ------- 124 

Mountain town Creek, measurement of__ 181 

Mount Mitchell, features of-------------- 21 

Muckalee Creek, measurements of.______ 179 

Mud Creek, measurement of ________ ------ 128 

Muddy Creek, measurements of_________ 151 

Mulberry Creek (Catawba), measurements of---·-------------- .... ·---_ 152 

Mulberry Creek (New), measurement of_ 172 

Mulberry River, features of ______ ------ 166-167 

measurements of. _______________ ------ 164 

Mulky Creek, measurement of----------- 178 

Myers, E. W., acknowledgments to------ 11 

N. Page. 

Nantahala Mountains, mean elevation uf. 13 

Nancys Creek, measurement of-------·-- 179 

NewRiver,fPaturesof --·-·-····------- 169-170. 

measurements of •••... ---------------- 170 

tributaries of,features of ____ .-----_ 170-175 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 170 

New River,East Fork, measurements of. 172 

New River, Middle Fork, measurements of .... ____ ------------ .... ____________ 172 

water power on .••••• ------··-- ____ ---- 173 

New River, North Fork, features of._____ 1:3 

measurements of______________________ 174 

tributaries of, measurements of______ 174 

water powers in basin of ..... ____ ------ 174 

New River, South Fork, features of. ___ 171-172 

measurements of ____ ---··------------- 172 

tributaries of, measurements of._____ 172 

water powers in basin of______________ 173 

New River, West Fork, measurement of. 172 

Newell, 1!'. H., letter of transmittal by___ 9 

Newfound Creek, features of. ...... ------ 135 

measurements of----·-·--·-·---------- 128 

Nickle Creek, measurement of. ------ ____ 177 

Nimblewill Creek, measurement of------ 180 

Nolichucky River, drainage basin of. __ 105-106 

features of.·----· ...... ------------____ 18 

forests in basin of-------------------·- 106 

measurements of----------------_----· 107 

minerals in basin of ___ -------------- 106-107 

rainfall in basin of..-------.----------- 106 water powers of _____ ------ _____ ... ____ 107 

tributaries of, features oL ------ ____ 110-115 

tributaries of, measurements of. ... 108-109 

views of------------------------________ 106 

Nooutootly Creelr, measurement of-----· 177 

North Branch or Fork of any stream, see 

the stream. 

North Indian Creek, features of .. -------· 110 

measurements of ____ ------------------ 108 

North Saluda River, features of ____ ---- 136-137 

measurements of-- .. __ ------------____ 138 

North Toe River, features of_---------- 111-112 

measurements of .... ____ -------------- 108 

tributaries of, features of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 112-114 

Nottely River, measurements of. ______ 177,178 

0. 

Ocona1ufty Valley, view of. .•.. __________ 174 

Okoee River, measurement of. ..... ------ 177 

view of.-------------------------------- 178 

Old Field Creek, measurement of________ 172 

Oostanaula River, tributaries of, measurements of_·----··--------------- 181 

Owl Creek, measurement of.............. 178 

P. 

Pacolet River, measurement of__________ 143 

Paddy Creek, features of-----.·---------- 153 

measurements of---------------------· 151 

Pawpaw Creek, measurement of ____ ..•.. 128 

Peach Bottom Creek, measurements of.. 170 

Pedee River. See Yadkin River. 

Physiography, features of. _____ ---------- 11-15 

Pigeon Creek, me>asurements of ______ •••• 108 

Pigeon Roost Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of-------·······---------- 108 
188 INDEX. 

Page. 

Pigeon Roost Creek (North Toe), features of ____ '"""----- ___ -----------. 113 

Pinchot, Gifford, reference to .. ----------. 

Pine, forest of, view showing ___ ---------· 

Plant growth, character and extent of. .. 

density of, view showing ... ______ --·· 

Plumtree Creek (Nolichucky), measurement of_ ... -----------------·--· ... 

Plumtree Creek (North 'roe), water pow25 

26 

31 

30 

109 

ers of. ___ --------------------·--···· 113 

Pomer Creek, features of ....... ------···· 69 

measurements of. ___ -----·............ 63 

Poplar, forest of, view showing----...... 26 

occurrence of------.----·---·--···----- 27 

Powdermill Creek, features of------·.... 113 

Prather Creek, measurement of--------- 172 

Precipitation, extent and character of ___ 23-25 

Price Creek, measurements of_.......... 109 

Pulp mills, wood cut for------............ 28 

Puzzle Creek, measurement of........... 143 

R. 

Railroads, names and location of......... 20, 

25, 27',28,29,47, 58,83 

See also Transportation. 

Rainfall. See Precipitation. 

Reddie River, features of.----............ 166 

measurements of. ... __ ----··.......... 164 

Reedy Patch Creek, measurement of.... 143 

Reems Creek, features of _______ •......... 135 

measurements of. ..... ---------········ 128 

Rhododendrons, occurrence and character of .••.... ------------ ________ .... 

thicket of, view showing .•......••.•• 

Richland Valley, view of ......••.... ---··· 

Riddle Creek, features of. .....•........... 

measurements of.----- ___ ....... _ .... _ 

Ritter Company, forests of and lumber58 

53 

ing by __________ -------------------- 27-28 

Rivers, general features of--------------- 17-20 

Roads, character of--- ---------------- 20,33-34 

views of __________ ... ---------------- 34,36,38 

Roan Creek, features of-----·········---- 89-91 

measurements of...................... 86 

Roan Mountain, features of-------------- 21 

Roaring Creek (Nolichucky), measurement of--- ... ---------·____________ 109 

Roaring Creek (North Toe), features of. 113 

Roaring River, features of----------·____ 167 measurements of. ___________ ,_________ 164 

Robersons Creek, measurement of. ..... _ 143 

Rock Creek (French Broad), features of. 129 

Rock Creek (Hiwassee), measurement of 177 

Rock Creek (Nolichucky), measurements of ••..••. __ .... __________ ..... _____ 108,109 

Rock Creek( Oostanaula),measurement of 181 

Rock disintegration, extent of ____ ------- 31-32 

Rockhouse Creek, measurements of ----- 86 

Rocky bed of mountain streams, view 

showing------.----- .... ----........ 105 

Rocky River, measurements of........... 178 

Rosenbaums Creek, features of.......... 67 

Rush Creek, features of.-----------·...... 67 

measurements of--- .......•..•...• ____ 63 

Run-off, effect of sinks on ......•......• 39-40,43 

s. Page. 

St. Clair Creek, features of. •.... -----· 68 

measurements of---------------------- 63 

Sakatouchee River, measurement of---- 180 

Saluda River, features of _________ 19-20,135-138 

measurements of. ..... ------ ...... ---·· 138 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 138 

Sand deposits, views showing------------ 34 

Sandymush Creek, features of----------- 134 

measurements of----·- ____ ...... -----· 128 

Santee Creek, measurement of.__________ 179 

Sapphire country, N. C., topography in, 

view showing ........ -------------- 24 

Saugahatchee Creek, measurement of _.. 181 

Savannah River, tributaries of, measurements of·-------- .•.... ------------ 178 

Sawmill and gristmill, combined, view 

of~ __________ .---·-.----- ... ---·______ 108 

Scadin, R. H., acknowledgments to------ 11 

Scenery, features of .... ____ ---------- ____ 20-22 

Second Broad River,features of .... ---- 144-145 

measurements of ____ .... ----··-------- 143 

Settingdown Creek, measurements of... 180 

Shady Valley, features of ______________ 38,65-66 

Sharp Creek, features of. ..... ------------ 58-59 

measurements of. _____________ -------- 53 

Sheets Oreek,m~asurementof____________ 181 

Shell Creek, measurement of·------------ 85 

Shelton Laurel Creek, features c,f._____ __ 131 

ShoalCreek,measurementof ·-··-------- 179 

ShutinCreek, features of----------------- 130 

measurement of-------------·--------- 128 

Silver Creek, measurements of ____ ------ 151 

Sinking Creek (South Fork Holston), features of----------------·--·-------- 56-57 

measurements of---------------------- 53 

Sinking Creek (Watauga), features of... 87 

measurements of---------------------- 85 

Sinks, occurrence and features of .. 39,43, 78,87 

Skeenah Creek, measurement of.. •...•. 177 

Skyuka Falls, N.C., view of______________ 24 

Smithwick Creek, measurement of------ 180 

Smoky Mountains, features of ....... _ _ _ _ 13-14 

highest peaks in-------- .... ----------· 14 

Snow Creek (Nolichucky), measurement 

of ...•...•.... ____ ..... ----.......... 108 

Snow Creek (North Toe), water powers 

of. ______ .... ____ ........ ·--- .... ---- 113 

Soil and vegetation, character and extent 

of .....• ------------------- ---------- 30-83 

Soque River, measurements of.---------- 179 

South Branch or Fork of anystream, :;ee 

the stream. 

South Indian Creek, features of.......... llO 

measurements of---------------------- 108 

South Saluda River, features of ____ .... 137-138 

measurement!'! of---------------------- 138 

South Toe River, features of------------- 114 

measurements of ...... ---------------- 109 

Splash dam, view of.-------- .... ----...... 100 

Spring Creek (French Broad), features 

of.·-----------------· ---------- .... 130 

measurements of--··.................. 128 

Spring- Creek (South Fork Holston), features of •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 59-tiO 
INDEX. 189 

Page. 

Spring Creek (South Fork Holston), 

measurements of .......... ---·---------- 53 

Springs, occurrence and character of.. . 19, 

21, 39-40, 82 

Sprucepine, N.C., road near, view of____ 36 

Squirrel Creek (Nolichucky), measurement of----------------------·----- 109 

Squirrel Creek (North Toe), features 

o.:: _____ ------------------------------ 113 

Staleys Creek, features of ________ ---- ____ 76-77 

measurement of--------- ________ ------ 73 

Stanley Creek, measurement of__________ 177 

Steel Creek, features oL ·----- ___________ . 157 

measurement of _____________ ---------- 152 

Stekoa Creek, measurement of. ____ ------ 178 

Stink Creek, measurements of _ ... __ ... 177, 178 

Stock raising, extent of. ________ ·--- 30-31,41,47 

Stokes, H. G., acknowledgments to_______ 11 

Stony Creek (Watauga), features of----- 89 

measurements of---------------------- 86 

Stony Creek (Yadkin), features of------. 165 

measurements of ____ ........ ____ ------ 164 

Stream flow, relation of forests to ____ 30,31-33 

Stream measurement, methods oL. ------ 34,48 

Suches Creek, measurements of . __ . _ _ _ _ 177, 178 

Sugar Mountain, elevation of------------ 153 

Sumach Creek, measurement of. •.. -----· 181 

Sunflower River, measurement of------- 180 

Swannanoa Rapids, view of----·--------- 118 

Swannanoa River, measurement of._____ 128 

Swannanoa River, North Fork, measurement of---------------------------- 128 

Sweetwater Creek, measurement of___ 179 

T. 

Talking Rock Creek, mea<;urement of___ 181 

Tallapoosa River, measurements of...... 181 

tributaries of, measurements of...... 181 

Talona Creek, measurement of. ____ .---·. 181 

Tate Creek, measurement of ·----- --· ____ 179 

Tellico River, measurements of. _______ 176,177 

Temperature, variation in------ ____ ------ 22-26 

Tennessee River, features of. _____ ------- 17-18 

tributaries of, measurements of. ___ 176-177 

Tessantee Creek, East Fork, measurements of.-----------·-------------- 179 

Thomas Creek, features of ____ ------------ 57 

measurement of ••.... ------------ --·- _ 53 

Three Fork Creek, measurement of...... 109 

Threemile Creek, measurements of...... 108 

Threetop Creek, measurements of....... 174 

water powers of ____ ------------------- 174 

Tickanetley River, measurement of •.. __ • 181 

Tiger Creek, measurement of----·------- 178 

Tiger River,measurement oL ...... ...... 143 

Toccoa River, measurements of ________ 177,178 

Toe River, measurements of _________ ..... 108 

Tombigbee River, measurement of______ 180 

Topography, smoothly rounded, view 

showing ......... ___ --------··------ 24 

Town Creek (Hiwassee), measurement of ..... ___ ...•. ________ . ___ .. _ .. _ ___ 177 

Town Creek(Watauga),features of______ 91 

measurements of------------ ____ ------ 86 

Transportation, means of ______ -------- 47,58,83 

See also Railroads. 

Page. 

Transylvania County, N. C., features 

of •... ----------------------------------- 116-117 - Tuckasegee Falls, viewof_________________ 176 

Tuckasegee River, view of----- ___ .-----· 176 

water-power development on, view 

of. ___________ . ______________ .. ______ 178 

Tucker Creek, measurement of__________ 128 

Turkey Creek, features of--------------- 134 measurements of __________________ ---· 128 

Turkey Cove Creek, measurements of.-- 151 

u. 

Unaka Mountains, features of. ___ ---· .... 36-38 

Upper Creek, features of ....... ________ 156-157 

measurements of _______________ ....... 151 

Upper Laurel Creek, measurements of.. 86 

v. 

Valley Creek, measurement of.__________ 180 

Valley of East Tennessee, features of. 20,38-39 

Valley River Mountains, mean elevation 

of ... ____ . _______________ .. __________ 13 

Vegetation and soil, character and extent 

of.------ ...... _ ..................... 30-33 

w. 

Wahoo Creek, measurement of---------- 179 

Walker Creek, features of .... ------------ 75 

measurements of. ..... ---------------- 73 

Walnut Creek, features of. ___ .... ________ 132 

measurements of. ________________ ----- 128 

Watauga Lumber Company, forests of 

and lumbering by-------__________ 'lrl 

Watauga River, drainage basin of_-----· 77-81 

features of _______ ------------ ______ ---- 18 

measurements of ____ ---------- ....... 83-84 

minerals in basin of _______ .. ____ . . . . . . 83 

rainfall in basin of .. _ --- _________ . ____ 81-82 

springs in basin of. _______ .. _________ .. 82 

timber in basin of ___ ... ___ . __ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ 82-83 

transportation facilities in basin of _ _ 83 

tributaries of, features of ____________ 87-95 

tributaries of, measurements of. _____ 85-86 

water powers of _________________ .. __ __ 84-85 

Water resources, features of _______ ------ 17-20 

. Wateree River. See Catawba River. 

Weaver Creek (Hiwassee), measurement 

of.---- ______ .----- ........ __________ 178 

Weaver Creek(South Fork Holston), features of ••.•.•...... ------------____ 55 

Wedstone Creek, features of .. _____ ...... 68 

West Branch or Fork of any stream, see 

the stream. 

Whiteoak Creek (Broad), measurement 

of ......•.•...•...• ------- __ .... ____ . 143 

Whiteoak creeks (Nolichucky), measure- ments of _____________________ . ----- 109 

Whites Creek, measurement of------____ 179 

Whiteside Mountain, features of_·------- 22 

view of .. --------- ______ ------------.. .. 24 

Whitetop Creek (Laurel Fork Holston), 

features of_ ... _------_ ..... -------- 66-67 

Whitetop Creek (South Fork Holston), 

measurements of ______ .... __ .. .. .. 62 

Widner Creek, features of.--------------- 67 
190 INDEX. 

Page. 

Wildcat Creek, measurement of .... ------ 181 ... Williams Creek, measurement of _______ . 177 

Willieo Creek, measurements of.......... 180 

Wilson Creek (Catawba), measurement 

of.-------·------ .... _________ ------ 152 

Wilson Creek (New), measurements 

of. ______ ---------·-- ..... -----------· 170 

Wilson Creek (Watauga), measurement 

of ___________ ·-------------------..... 85 

Wind Creek, measurement of------------ 181 

Wolf Creek (French Broad), features of. 

129-130 

Wolf Creek (Hiwassee), measurement 

of. ______ ------------ ____ --------____ 177 

Wolf Creek (South Fork Holston), features of---------------- ____________ 60-61 

measurements of ••.... ---·-- ____ ------ 53 

0 

Y. 

Yadkin River, drainage basin of .. -- ..•• 158-160 

features of ___ ... ----------------------- 19 

forests in basinoL.................... 161 

measurements of. .............. :...... 161 

soils in basin of ........ -------------- 160-161 

tributaries of, features of. ...... ____ 165-169 

tributaries of, measurements <1f __ . ••• 164 

water powers of ... ------------------ 162-16! 

Yahoola Creek, measurements of .... _____ 179 

Ya1abusha River, measurements of------ 180 

Yellow Creek (Chattahoocheel,measurement of---·-·---------·-·--·------- 179 

Yellow Creek(Etowah), measurement of. 180 

Yellow Mountain,elevation of............ 13 

Yonahlossee road, view of................ 38 

Young Cone Creek, measurement of.---- 177