The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-19
TIMBER RESOURCES OF
WESTERN N. Carol INA
By JOSEPH HYDE PRATT
State GcOlOgiSt,

An article, evidently intended to
bring buyers Of timber and timber
lands to Asheville, has recently been
given wide circulation in the State
press, and. as it conveys such an err
roneOus idea Of the timber resources
Of the Appalachian region of North
Carolina 1t Is thought that a brief re-
sumo of the estimate made some three
years ago by the state geological and
economic survey, assisted by the Uni
ted States forest service, would be Of
interest and at the same time would
correct any false impression which
may have been received.
Inc mountain region OF the State,
loosely spoken of as western North
Carolina. consists Of the sixteen coun-
ties west Of the Blue Ridge, now sew
enteen counties since the creation Of
Avery county. To this might be added
strip along the east slope Of the
Blue Ridge varying in width from
five to fifteen miles extending into
seven counties which, however, on
the whole belong more properly to
the piedmont region Of the State
In the summer Of 1903 technically
trained fOrcsters went through all
these western counties estimated the
amount of forest land, the stand Of
timber per acre, and the proportion
OF the different species Of timber trees
in the various counties. They also
secured information about the rate at
which the timber is being cut for the
various purposes, and the prospects
for a second CROW and for the further
perpetuatiOn Of the forest. Approx
mately two weeks were spent III each
county, travelling all over it, and inter
viewing lumbermen and owners Of
timberland.
of the Blue Ridge apprOXimates A.
100000 acres, rs per cent. Of which
is forest land. varying from 81 per
cent. in Allegheny county to "a per
cent. in Swain county. This forest
land sustains an average stand Of
S,425 board feet per acre, or a total
of 1918, 100000 board feet for the
region. This estimate Is supposed to
include all timber above ten inches
in diameter, but does not include the
cordwood which may be cut from the
laps and tops, or from the defective
crooked or otherwise u1merchantable
trees. The stand per acre in the vari-
Gus counties varies greatly, being less
than 1000 feet per acre in Cherokee
Buncombe, Henderson. and Transyi
vania, while in Graham it was est1-
mated at over 5000 feet per acre
and in four other counties nearly s..
900 feet per acre.
The principal timber trees Of the
region occur in about the following
proportions: Chestnut 28 per cent, rec
oak II per cent, white oak per cent
poplar 8 per cent. hemlock Z pei
cent, chestnut oak per cent, maple
Eastwood, hickory and yellow pine
about per cent each, while white
pine red spruce, beech. ash and buck
eye average about Ia Der cent. eacn
was approximately 33,000,00O cubl
feet. To this must be added for vast
IN the woods and in manufacturing :
together with an estimated domesu
consumption Of 12,0O0,0OO cubic zee
for fire wood, rails, posts, etc. maklni
in all about 59,OOO,000 cubic feet. TN
is equivalent to a cut Of nearly 10 Gu
bic feet per acre for all forest land
the region in 1909 or about ~
board feet per acre.
j is estimated that uncared 10
hardwood forests, such as those l
Western North Carolina, are grown
at the rate Of from lao to $50 boar
feet per acre per year. 1t is therefor
plain that a great deal more is beln
cut than is growing. so that 1t IS ON
a question Of time, and not yer
long time at that, before the tlnpe
resources Of this region Will oe ea
hausted. If, however, by protectln
forests from fire and by taking ord1
nary precautions in cutting, the dn
nual yield could be increased by 1rol
SO to 100 feet per acre-whlch is pei
rectly possible, the present rae {
cutting might be continued lndeihl.t
ly. This is a very important point ~
the wood-using industries or Nort
Carolina is the place where the grea'
er part of it should be produced.
Timber Resources Of Western fleo
mont North Carolina
Tbs. total cut Of timber Tor COft