Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-07-15
Scientific.

tgron tho Monthly Report IN Isr,cu;iurc.l
iJI.sEicai Explorations Ia East Tennessee.
In accordance with instructions, I
have made, since the lst of June, Il
brief botanical exploration of the high
mountain region of East Tennessee,
bordering on the boundary line divid-
ing this state from North Carolina,
travelling the usual southwestern route,
by. tho Virginia valley, into East Ten
nessee. ] left the railroad at Carter
station, about twenty miles south OF
the State line, and proceeded thence
by rough mountain road, crossing
the Watmga River, to IGliZabethton,
the county seat of Carter County,
This place, located in an Irregular al
luvial basin on the Doe River, just
above its junction with the Watauga,
is surrounded by moderately high
wooded mountains, the clear rapid
mountain stream on which it is loca-
ted afTording excellent water-power,
which is only partially improved
From this point, following up the in
creasingly rugged and contracted val
| ley of Doe River, which at the time
was swollen by recent rains to the size
of formidable stream, difficult of
crossing by the ordinary method OF
! fording, the next settlement reached
was Doe River, seven miles distant,
up to which point a branch railroad
| has been graded and prepared for track
| laying, intended eventually To pass
! through the mountains on the east to
connect with the railroad system OF
| North Carolina and the Atlantic coast.
| Twelve miles further above this point
| reached the upper settlement OF this
section, directly adjoining the nlgh
| mountain range of the Roam ana Iron
! Mountains, dividing Tennessee from
] North Carolina. AT Elizabethton l
secured the services of MIR. George
| Emmert "a guide, who, in addition "a
an intimate knowledge of the whole
country adjoining, is possessed of the
tact and ingenuity peculiar to noun
taineers in all countries. Never at loss
for n trail, always ready to meet emer'
gencies, he was just the companion I
stranger to the country would mos
desire on such trip.
In making the principal ascent o
Roam Mountain, we followed up oh'
of the numerous branches INTO whici
Doe River divides, passing through
dense growth of hardwood forests
consisting mainly of sugar maple, tu
lin tree. beech, oak, birch, chestnut
and linden. interspersed with occasion
al growths of wild cherry, magnolia
and horse-chestnut. The underground
nrescnted a dense mass of shrubbery
I including the kalmia laurel, rhododen
dron, azalea, oil nut tpysmdrtd,l AM
other forms common 10 more northefl
forests. The rich loamy and clay sol
was everywhere saturated win hlois
ture, resulting from recent rains. ON.
Z rarely, and mt long intervals, was ther
any exposure of granite rocks, which
| as well as the decayed fallen trunks {
l trees, were densely covered with no'
ses and folioceous lichens. The olea
streams dashed over rocky beds, VII
Z crystal pools along their course, iroi
which the guido took out, IN an hour
, time, a fine string OF mountain trou
In making the stoeper ascents q
I, reetly mt the base of the mountai
rjdVe. there was gradual dWarhng
\ the forest growth, In which the oruiI
. orv specics. so abundant below Civ
place 20 nearly exclusive prepohhe
ance of birch, which was conunuOl
I'm its dwarfed aspects to the SUNNI
: van. Not till reaching this point, III
II IL fivo thousand feet above the -
Y l9vel were we RECALLED with more thn
y n passing glimpse of the range ,whie
n we were so laboriously ascending
Il Here. however, the view opens ON u
> smooth grassy Slopes known by u
country people under the signineal
~ name Of "Mountain Balds." lhe
!. grassy or bushy slopes are intersperns, y n'
, here and there by dark groves OF oa
~ sam and spruce, which serve to give
nlrasant variety TO the landscape