Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-07-26
FACTS ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.
Beaver Creek valley.
NO. XXX.

.he best or most desirable valleys of Fast
Tennessee, but because we think it n re-
preventative valley, that is, not one of the
poorest nor one of the richest, but repre-
senting the average of our numerous val
leys.
Between Clinch and Holston rivers lies
an extent of country which, as is usual in
East Tennessee, is divided by parallel
ranges of ridges into long, narrow valleys.
(It is not necessary for the purpose of this
article to give the geological formation of
these ridges and Valleys They extend
northeast and southwest. According to
some circumstance of their formation these
ridges are first narrow and sharp, and |
then wide and flat by alienation. Com |
mencing at Knoxville and going north |
west on the Knoxville and Kentucky Rail !
road after leaving the river country, we
irst pass Poor Valley with thin, shale
land, then Grassy Valley, broad with clay
bottom, fine rolling land then Hinds'Val-
ley, narrow with thin, shale land and
next comes Beaver Creek Valley, the sub
ject of our article. Beaver Creek Valley is
enclosed by the Beaver Ridge, a sharp
ridge, on the southeast, and the Copper
Ridge, flat ridge, on the northwest.
1t is from 80 to 3j miles long, and aver
ages about Il mile and one-half broad. 1t
is watered almost throughout its entire
length by Beaver Creek, which empties
into Clinch river at the lower end of the
valley. On the north side Copper Ridge,
which is about one mile wide, slopes
gently down into the valley. On these
wide slopes many farms are situated, and
the land being gravelly, there is II natural
drainage. This land is what is known by
the inhabitants as mulatto land, and is fine
for producing wheat. In some places
large holows or low places, drained by good
sized brooks extend into these slopes,
in which several farms are situated, and
the people living in them are more or less
secluded from the rest of the valley. As
general thing this is not the most fertile
part of theNalley. The best farms lie lower
down on the creek. However, the elevated
slopes are more suited to fruit growing, as
they face the south. Many of the fine
peaches and apples in the Knoxville mar
ket come from these slopes, although there
is no improved system of fruit culture car
ried on. Pears, plums, cherries berries,
and all kinds of fruit would grow we'll.
This soil is also particularly adapted to
the culture of tobacco. We have seen
some very fine specimens of Virginia to-
bacco growing here. Grapes would no
doubt thrive, though none are planted.
The principal timber of this part is pine,
black oak and chestnut. Other varieties
are plentifully found.
On coming down into the creek bottoms
we find a richer black orgray loam resting
on a red clay base and susceptible of great
improvement. Sycamore, beech, walnut,
poplar, elm, different yarities of oak of
large size, ash, small quantities of sugar
maple and buckeye, and other trees grow
here. Papaw is also oabundant. The finest
farms either lie wholly upon or border
the creek. The land along the creek and
in the valley proper is particularly adapt
cd to producing nay all good meadows
abound. Corn and small grain also grow
we'll. The tilable land of the south side of
the valley terminates abruptly at the foot
of Beaver Ridge. This ridge is very steep
and the land is valued only for It's excel
lent timber. However it would doubtless
make good pasture land for sheep raising,
but is too precipitous for agriculture.
This ridge is very unlike the Copper Ridge
on the north side of the valley II is per
haps about one-third of mile wide. Both
ridges are aboul two hundred or three hun
dred feet high. Beaver Ridge is covered
with blackjack, whlte-oak and Other
vari eties of oak, together with hickory
chestnut aud poplar, b!tt with little or nc
pine on the north side. Post-oak grow:
plentifully on the rolling valley lands.
The creek bottoms and the land on the
south side of the valley requires more ar
tihcial drainage than the Copper Ridg'
slopes. The abruptness of the Beaver
Ridge keeps the early morning sun off o
that side of the valley and renders It coole
both in summer and winter, especially il
winter.
The average production of the land of tn,
entire valley per acre is Corn, 25 bushels
wheat 10 to Il bushels !; oats, ~ bushels
hay, 5000 pounds, and other crops in pro
portion BY proper cultivation this aver
age could he increased 80 per cent
The representative farms ure worth from
twenty-five to thirty dollars per acre
Land ranges from eight to fifty dollars pei
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