The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-07-19
OUR VALLEY
By s. p. WERNER


The elevation of our valley
above sea-level may be given as
practically 1000 feet. This ele-
walton for the river rises to near
ly four thousand at the SUBMITS
! of the highest peaks. The influ-
ence of the elevation upon eco
nomic conditions is shown primar-
lily in moderating the temperature
in summer. The latitude would
normally exhibit a relatively high
temperature. Another benefit
from the elevation is the good
drainage, the comparative free
dom from swamps and marshes
such as characterize the coastal
plain region of the southern
states. Another is the moderate
ly rarified air. Conducting to
lung development in the popula-
ton. An examination of the
lung expansion of some Transyl-
wanna school children brought out
the fact that the average lung
expansion was we'll above that of
the mean for the state. Still an
other benefit is in the relative
purity of the water, as compared
with that in the lower lands. The
differences in elevation also con-
duce to the immense variety in
the native plant life, probably
greater than in any similar area
lin America. Finally, the eleva-
ton produces many high-head
water powers, and the influence
of the mountains upon the mois-
ture-laden winds from the At
lantic produces an abundant and
fairly regular precipitation.
The topography Of the valley
has a highly important bearing
upon its future, as it has had up
on its past. Six main Topographic
cal features mag be enumerated;
the shelf-plateau of the Blue
Ridge; the long slope of the AL
lleghanies; the practically level
lands along the river; the rim of
gently sloping uplands between
the bottoms and the steep noun
tain slopes; the deep coves along
the tributaries of the French
Broad, from their sources in the
high mountains to the points
where they reach the floor level
of the valley; and the mountain
lcrown at the remote upper end
of the valley where spurs from
the Blue Ridge and the Alleghan-
les meet and close up the valley.
| 1t will be seen that the valley
is thus enclosed by mountains on
three sides; fact having a high
lily important influence upon the
winter climate. The mildness of
1.-THE winters in most of Henderson
and all of Pennsylvania counties
is a fact not nearly as widely
known and appreciated as it
ought to be. The writer has Of
ten gone in winter to the Pied
mont and other sections from the
valley and found heavy snow or
ice when he left home without a
sign of either or with only slight
snowfall or a light freeze. Even
Asheville is colder than Brevard
in winter. The winds are cut off
from the valley by the surround
ing mountains. There have been
many occasions when destructive
, atmospheric disturbances have &C.
casioned disastrous effects in sec
tions of South Carolina across
the Blue Ridge 30 miles away
! without affecting the valley. Per-
haps one reason why the fine
winter climate is not so well
known is because of the long,
standing summer-resort reputa-
ton of the region; tourists and
vacationists usually leaving at
the end of the summer season
and not discovering the splendid
fall and winter conditions. An
other may have been the poor
roads in winter before the recent
construction of modern highways
into the valley. The months of
September and October are really
; the finest of all.
Typographical variations also
affect plant life so as to produce
a variety of fruit and vegetable
crops. For example while peaches
, may not always do we'll on Ger.
tain exposures or in some local..
ties, a fine crop is usually pro-
duced every year on the plateau