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NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND
ECONOMIC SURVEY
JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, DIRECTOR and GEOLOGIST
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
STATE GEOLOGIST
DIRECTOR
1921-1922
RALEIGH
Edwards & Beoughton Printing Company
1923
GEOLOGICAL BOARD
Governor Cameron Morrison, ex officio Chairman Raleigh
Frank R. Hewitt Asheville
C. C. Smoot, III North Wilkesboro
John H. Small Washington
S. Westray Battle Asheville
Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director and State Geologist Chapel Hill
©O O
-J
60
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Chapel Hill, N". C, December 30, 1922.
To His Excellency, Hon. Camekon Morrison,
Governor of North Carolina.
Sir:—There is herewith submitted my biennial report on the opera-tions
of the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey for the
years 1921 and 1922.
Suggestions are made as to what legislation is considered necessary
for carrying out more efficiently the duties that have been assigned to
the Survey.
A financial statement covering the expenditures of the Survey for the
past two fiscal years is also made a part of this report.
Yours respectfully,
Joseph Hyde Pratt,
Director.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction 9
Administrative and Records Division 12
Division of Survey 12
Cooperation with State Commissions and Bureaus 14
Conferences 15
Geological and Mining Division 19
Geological Investigations 19
Examination of Mineral Specimens 20
Mineral Statistics 21
Correspondence 23
Forestry Division 23
Protection of Forests from Fire 23
Forest Fire Statistics 25
Special Examinations 26
Study of White Cedar 27
Reproduction of Spruce and Balsam 27
Study of Longleaf Pine 27
U. S. Forest Products Laboratory 28
Work of the U. S. Forest Service in North Carolina During 1921
and 1922 29
Cooperation with Forestry Associations 31
Forests and Lumbermen 31
Forest Nursery 33
Forestry Legislation 35
State Forest and Parks Division 36
Mount Mitchell State Park 36
Grandfather Mountain Park 39
Linville Gorge Park 39
State Forests 41
Water Resources Division 42
Water Power Conference 42
Water Powers 44
District Engineer Office 46
Reconnaissance Trips 48
County Water Power Surveys 49
Special Reports 49
Stream Flow Records 51
Weather Bureau Stations 51
Sedimentation 51
Municipal Water Supplies 52
Cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey 52
Map Exhibits 52
Utility of Work of Water Resources Division 53
O CONTENTS
PAGE
Drainage and Reclamation Division 54
Drainage of Swamp Lands 54
Overflowed Lands 54
North Carolina Drainage Law 55
Utilization of Reclaimed Land 56
Drainage Conventions 56
Cut-over Lands 58
Biological Division 58
Mapping Division 74
Traverse Map 74
Topographic Map 74
Geological Map 76
Soil Survey Maps 76
Coast and Geodetic Survey 79
Magnetic Declinations 80
Descriptions of Stations 81
Publicity and Publications 84
Addresses 84
Publications 89
Special Articles 90
Other Publications 92
Exhibits 92
Financial Statement 93
Publications 96
BIENNIAL REPORT
OF THE
STATE GEOLOGIST AND DIRECTOR
OF THE
NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY
On the Operations of the Survey for the Two Years Ending
November 30, 1922
By JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, Director
INTRODUCTION
The North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey as now or-ganized
represents the consolidation of various lines of investigation,
conservation and departmental work under the supervision of one Board
known as the Geological Board; and which corresponds to what in
several of the states is called "The Conservation Commission." In
some of the states these various lines of work are still being carried
on under separate commissions, as geological surveys, forestry com-missions,
water power commissions, biological bureaus, drainage and
reclamation commissions, topographic commissions, and fish and game
commissions ; but the prevailing opinion seems to be that more economic
and as efficient results can be obtained by the consolidation of several
or even all of these various bureaus and commissions under one head.
The Act establishing the present Survey, passed by the General As-sembly
of 1905 and amended by subsequent Assemblies in 1909, 1917 and
1919, outlines in considerable detail the character and extent of the
work to be undertaken and carried out by this Department of the
State. As stated in these several Acts, to which references are made
below, the work to be undertaken and carried out by the Survey is as
follows
:
l1
. An examination of the mineral, forest, fishery, and other material
resources of the State.
2 1
. An examination of the geological formations of the State with refer-ence
to their economic products.
31
. An examination of the road-building materials and the best methods
of utilizing same.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, section 1621.
10 BIENNIAL EEPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
41
. An examination and classification of the soils, the forests, and other
physical features of the State, with special reference to their bear-ing
upon the occupation of the people.
51
. An examination of the streams and water powers of the State, with
special reference to the development for manufacturing enterprises
and the preservation of the sources of these streams through the
protection of the forests.
6 1
. The consideration of such other scientific and economic problems as in
the judgment of the geological board shall be deemed of value to
the people of the State.
71
. The preparation of such reports, illustrations, and maps as may be
deemed necessary in placing the results of these investigations be-fore
the public.
8*. And the State Geologist, with the approval of the Geological Board,
is hereby authorized to arrange for and accept such aid and co-operation
from the several United States Government bureaus and
other sources as may assist in completing the topographic surveys
of the State and in carrying out other provisions of this chapter.
91
. An examination of the water supplies of the State, with special refer-ence
to the sinking of deep or artesian wells.
102
. To collect such data and publish such reports as will lead to a more
economic and efficient road-building policy for the State, and to
assist in the educational side of road work by the holding of road
institutes, conventions, and through the publication and distribu-tion
of literature relating to road supplies and road building.
II3
. To work out plans and ways and means for the reclamation of the
vast swamp and overflowed areas of the State and the utilization
of these very rich black soils when reclaimed.
124
. To protect and conserve the forests of the State and to administer the
forest fire law passed by the General Assemblies of 1915, 1919 and
1921.
135
. To administer State forests, and to use same so as to demonstrate the
practical utility of timber culture, water conservation, and their
use as refuges for game.
14e
. To cooperate with counties in the protection of their forests from
fire, and in the development of their natural resources.
15 7
. To assist in the establishment and organization of agricultural develop-ment
districts.
16s
. To cooperate with the Federal Power Commission in the carrying out
of rules and regulations promulgated by that Commission; and
to act on behalf of the State in carrying out any regulations that
may be passed relating to water powers in North Carolina other
than those relating to making and regulating rates.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, section 1621.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, section 6123.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 94, article 5, section 5417.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, article 5 ; Public Laws of 1921, chapter 26.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, article 3.
8Public Laws of 1921, chapter 26.
Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 85, section 4693.
8Public Laws of 1921, chapter 138, section 1.
BIENNIAL EEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST 11
171
. To cooperate with the North Carolina Corporation Commission in in-vestigating
the water power situation in North Carolina and to
furnish said Commission with information regarding location of
water power sites in the State, developed water powers, etc.
182
. To administer and protect Mount Mitchell State Park.
193
. To advertise the natural resources of the State through illustrated
publications, maps and lectures.
20. To cooperate with other State bureaus in making investigations and
publishing data in connection with the working out of certain State
problems.
As will be seen from the above outline, the work that the General
Assembly has assigned to this Department is very varied and exten-sive,
and as it relates to the investigation, conservation, protection and
development of the natural resources of the State, it touches the diverse
interests of all sections of Xorth Carolina and is of interest and value
to every citizen of the State. The complete and successful carrying out
of the work assigned to the Survey is dependent upon the amount of
the appropriations made to the Survey by the General Assembly, and in
making such appropriations the General Assembly should give con-sideration
to the fact that the Survey's work represents what, as is
stated above, is in many states the work of several State bureaus or
commissions.
Where the work is in any way national in scope, the Survey has re-ceived
the heartiest cooperation of the various Federal bureaus, which
have in many cases made liberal appropriations for cooperating with
the State in certain of its investigations; and in this way the work of
this Department has progressed much more rapidly than it could other-wise
possibly have done.
One means of advertising the natural resources of the State is
through newspaper and magazine articles; but before such articles
can be satisfactorily prepared information must be obtained regarding
these natural resources through such investigations relating to their
occurrence, location, quantity, value, facilities for development, etc., as
have been and are being made by the Survey. Reports on these investi-gations
have been prepared for publication, but the printing of several
of them has been delayed for from one to two years on account of lack of
funds for printing same. These reports are not only necessary to
give the information to those who would prepare newspaper and mag-azine
articles—for these articles, to be of real value, should deal with
facts and accurate information—but they are also necessary to enable
'Public Laws of 1921, chapter 138, section 2.
2Public Laws of 1921, chapter 222.
"•Consolidated Statutes, Vol. 2, 1919, chapter 101, article 1, section 6122; and article 2.
12 BIENNIAL KEPOET STATE GEOLOGIST
the State to give to the investor, home seekers and others, as well as the
students, accurate information regarding the State's natural resources.
To be of the greatest value to the State these reports should he printed
and be made available for distribution at the time when they will be of
the most value either in conserving the interests of the people or in ad-vertising
our resources when these resources are in most demand. Some
of these reports, of course, have intrinsic value for all times, but some
have a much greater value if they can be published as soon as the in-vestigation
is completed. Delay in publication may and often does
mean the withholding of information which it has cost the State and
Federal Government thousands of dollars to obtain, and it may cause
the State to lose many more thousands of dollars because the informa-tion
is not available for capitalists who are interested in investigating
and developing at once the resources to which it refers. The demand
for these reports on the natural resources of the State comes not only
from the people of North Carolina, but people from all over the country.
If the investigations are of value to the State, the results of the investi-gations
are worth a great deal more to the State, but unless they are
made available they are of little or no value.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND RECORDS DIVISION
By JOSEPH HYDE PHATT, Director
Divisions of Survey
The work of the Survey is organized and conducted as outlined in the
following chart
:
The work of the Divisions of the Survey is directed as follows
:
Administrative and Records Division—Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director.
Geological and Mining Division—Wm. F. Prouty, Geologist.
Forestry Division—J. S. Holmes, Forester.
Water Resources Division—Thorndike Saville, Hydraulic Engineer.
Drainage and Reclamation Division—Joseph Hyde Pratt, Engineer.
Mapping Division—T. F. Hickerson, Engineer.
Biological Division—W. C. Coker, Biologist.
State Forests and Parks Division—Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director.
The work accomplished by the several divisions and suggestions for
future work and investigations is described in detail under each head.
The personnel of the Worth Carolina Geological and Economic Sur-vey
for the past two years has consisted of the following, who have
been employed either the whole or a part of their time:
Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director and State Geologist.
J. S. Holmes, State Forester.
W. D. Clark, Chief Forest Fire Warden.
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 13
C. H. Burrage, District Forest Warden.
Fred B. Merrill, District Forest Warden.
D. L. Moser, Warden, Mitchell State Park.
Wm. F. Prouty, Geologist.
W. S. Bayley, Geologist.
Jasper L. Stuckey, Geologist.
Thorndike Saville, Hydraulic Engineer.
Warren E. Hall, Hydraulic Engineer.
L. J. Hall, Hydraulic Engineer.
T. F. Hickerson, Civil Engineer.
W. C. Coker, Biologist.
J. N. Couch, Assistant Biologist.
Miss Alma Holland, Scientific Assistant Biologist.
Miss Minnie Queen, Secretary to Director.
Miss Grace White, Stenographer.
Miss Etoyal Parker, Stenographer.
B. W. Sipe, Office Assistant.
Claude V. Jones, Office Assistant.
Forest Fire Wardens and Patrolmen: W. J. Bumgardner, F. C. Gwaltney,
H. L. Hartley, S. D. Nester, Fred L. Shoemaker, R. L. Wiseman, H. A.
Coggins, Will E. Fletcher, Clint W. Howell, T. W. Maney, Tom J. Pittilo,
Grover Robeson, Garland V. Stepp, Lynn Weaver, Thomas Branch, Geo.
Cloer, L. H. Moore, H. B. Steele, Sr., T. J. McDonald, D. W. Swan, J. L.
McClure, H. B. Steele, Jr., Ernest D. Penland, Ed. T. Shearer, C. F. Denton,
Geo. A. Brown, Matt L. Burress, Jonas Medford, Jarvis Palmer, A. J. Sumner,
R. J. Fletcher, J. P. Whitaker, R. F. Jarrett, C. G. Rogers, A. H. Weaver,
Robt. Brinkley, Charlie Hemphill, R. C. Nanney, Geo. Rhom, G. R. Dale,
Lit Durham, H. Forney, W. J. Hardin, G. E. Isaacs, L. B. Murray, Sibbald
Smith, Riley McCall, G. W. Robbins, J. F. Blackburn, Geo. E. Blevins, Geo.
W. Bradley, J. T. Byrd, C. H. Colvard, Grant Cothren, G. A. Eller, P. D.
Emerson, A. C. Hendrix, L. M. Jarvis, R. C. Meadows, H. H. Moorehouse,
W. H. Nichols, W. A. Payne, Cama Robeson, J. W. Robbins, D. C. Sebastian,
W. C. Triplett, G. H. Walker, Vance Wright, W. E. Perry, J. A. Bristol,
B. B. Morrow, J. M. Payne, B. M. Young, R. A. Swain, V. G. Groves, Ralph
W. Ledford, J. W. Crisp, W. P. Rose, W. L. Gaddy, Benson Phillips, Jas.
R. Plott, J. P. Bumgardner, G. C. Crawford, Meritt Matthews, John F. Melton,
Jerry Moody, A. C. Watson, W. B. McGuire, A. B. Burgin, Dewey G. Brown,
M. R. Nanney, J. L. Waters, Billie Peterson, W. C. Street, W. W. Jenkins,
Robt. H. McMahan, W. C. Gravely, S. A. Jones, W. J. Owen, Geo. Green,
J. R. May, James Sherwood, G. C. Parsons, J. A. Hannum, Sewell R. Phillips,
Joe Robison, W. R. Rice, J. B. Rice, F. B. Cutler, G. M. Harris, A. B.
Wallace, J. E. Daugherty, A. B. Hawkin, C. J. Heath, J. A. Morton, S. N.
Moore, W. E. Moore, G. F. Bryant, J. W. Carmon, G. M. Evans, S. F. Mitch-ell,
B. C. Nicholson, S. F. Mauney, Oscar Lovedahl, R. W. Christian, G. F.
Hubbard, R. C. Leggett, J. A. McLean, W. T. Reaves, John L. Smith, H A.
Williams, J. Claude Williams, F. C. Yarboro, R. F. Benton, J. W. Dale,
J. M. Gore, W. C. Gore, T. G. Sessions, J. S. Johnson, R. J. Horner, James
F. Berry, N. M. Britt, R. M. Bruton, D. C. Lemon, M. A. Wicker, C. H.
Bonham, T. W. Mercer, Elijah A. Orrell, J. G. Blake, W. H. Lewis, Erie D.
McKoy, W. J. Ennis, R. M. Pearson, and J. L. Underwood.
14 BIENNIAL EEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST
Temporary Geologists and Assistants: M. R. Campbell, Kent K. Kimball,
Lynn John Adcock, Wm. Thomas Cox and D. M. Moodie.
Laborers on Mitchell Park: Artus Moser, Fred Moser, Bingham Downs
and Fred Herron.
Surveyors and Assistants in Water Power Investigations : L. W. Fischel,
G. Wallace Smith, Oscar E. Martin, R. P. Farrell, J. H. Council, A. Y.
Cottrell, Hubert Neville and Norman M. Paull.
Temporary Clerks and Stenographers: Laura Payne Mangum, Jesse R.
Rhue, Edward Wilson, L. W. Fischel, Hazel Ledbetter, L. B. Marshall, Bessie
Merritt, Mrs. Jasper L. Stuckey, Mamie Pickard, R. E. Boyd.
Gauge Readers: J. M. Wall, Ada Kidd, S. N. Reynolds, Martin A. Faulk,
Georgia E. Walldrup, J. Z. Wright, Willie Mengus, J. T. Hayes, W. L.
Wyatt, A. D. Kilpatrick and Allen Kidd.
Draftsmen: A. S. Chase, Roy J. Morton, L. W. Fischel, Raymond J.
Rosenberger, S. C. Austin, J. B. Broach, K. B. Noe, and M. A. Hill, Jr.
Cooperation with State Commissions and Bureaus
The Survey has tried to cooperate in every way possible with the
several State commissions and bureaus.
It prepared and turned over to the State Highway Commission type-written
copies of the results of Mr. Jasper L. Stuckey's investigation
of structural materials of the State.
A cooperative arrangement has been made with the Commissioner of
Labor and Printing in regard to information obtained relating to
water powers, and the Survey in collecting its statistics is obtaining
information at the same time that is especially desired by the Com-missioner
of Labor and Printing. It has also prepared for that De-partment
special reports on the amount of water power produced in
the State.
The Survey has also prepared for the Commissioner of Labor and
Printing information regarding the production of minerals in this
State.
The Survey is cooperating with the Corporation Commission in
collecting information and statistics regarding water powers, trans-mission
lines, etc.
At the request of the Governor, the Survey prepared a special report,
in cooperation with the Fisheries Commission, on the fisheries of the
State, their protection and development.
The Survey has cooperated with the Insurance Department in fur-nishing
information in regard to the value of mineral properties owned
by corporations who are trying to sell stock in North Carolina.
In collecting statistics relating to forest fires the Insurance Depart-ment
is furnished such statistics as they desire relating to buildings
destroyed during the fires.
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 15
The Survey has cooperated with the State Board of Charities and
Public Welfare in investigating prison conditions and suggested legis-lation.
The State Survey has had the hearty cooperation of several of the
Federal bureaus in the following investigations
:
In cooperation with the TJ. S. Geological Survey, the State Survey has
completed the investigation of the magnetic iron ores of Ashe and
Avery counties; and the brown iron ores of "Western North Carolina;
and made a detailed investigation of the Deep River coal basin; and
collected statistics relating to the quantity and value of minerals pro-duced
in the State during the years 1920 and 1921.
In cooperation with the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the Survey has investi-gated
metallurgical treatment of the iron ores of Western North
Carolina ; the method of mining and hazards of mining of the Deep
River coal deposits ; and made coking and washing tests of coal from
this same area.
The U. S. Forest Service has cooperated very extensively with the
State Survey in the protection of the forests from fire, this cooperation
being conducted as authorized by the Weeks Law. The Forest Service
has also cooperated with the Survey through its Experiment Stations
at Asheville and New Orleans in special investigations relating to re-production.
The Survey has cooperated with the Southern Forestry Congress, the
National Drainage Congress, American Forestry Association, the Na-tional
Research Council, the United States Chamber of Commerce, and
the Mississippi Valley Association in national meetings, in investiga-tions
relating to problems in which North Carolina is peculiarly in-terested,
and in presenting information relating to North Carolina
in which the different organizations were interested.
With several State associations the Survey has been very closely as-sociated
and has assisted the North Carolina Forestry Association,
the North Carolina Drainage Association, the North Carolina Agricul-tural
Society, the Made-in-Carolinas Association, and the Made-in-Caro-linas
Exposition in holding conventions and expositions.
Conferences
The following represent the principal conferences that the Director
has held during the biennial period
:
1921
April 28. Before Florida Forestry Congress at Tallahassee, Fla. : Conserva-tion
of the People's Resources, with special reference to forests.
16 BIENNIAL EEPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
April 29. Before House of Representatives of the Florida Legislature:
Forestry Legislation,.
May 3. Before Convention of the Mississippi Valley Association at New Or-leans,
La.: Water-Power Development in Western North Carolina.
May 18. Before Good Roads Mass Meeting at Columbia, S. C: Organiza-tion
of Good Roads Forces.
Conference at Asheville in regard to appropriation from Buncombe County,
in Protection of Forests from Fire, October 10, 1921.
Conference of citizens of Murphy in regard to the Natural Resources of Chero-kee
County and area, August 30, 1921.
Conference at Cranberry with Prof. Bayley and Mr. Burchard and members
of the Cranberry Furnace Company in regard to magnetic separation of
iron ores, July 25, 1921.
Director, National Drainage Congress at St. Paul, Minn., September 22, 1921.
Executive Committee, Southern Forestry Congress at Atlanta, July 20, 1921.
Meetings of the North Carolina Agricultural Society; one in October and
one in December.
Meeting of the National Berkshire Hog Breeders Association at Pinehurst
during Sandhill Fair, October, 1921. .
Conference of the Directors of the Made-in-Carolinas Exposition Company
(September 7).
Meeting of the North Carolina (Society of Civil Engineers at Greensboro
(July 8).
Conference of State Geologists, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tenn., October
13, 1921.
1922
January 24. Conference at Asheville with Major Fiske, and Messrs. Hoyt,
Hall and Matthews in regard to Cooperation between Tennessee River
Survey and U. S. Geological Survey and the North Carolina Geological
and Economic Survey.
On February 2, at Chapel Hill with R. P. Richardson of Reidsville in regard
to various gold properties in the State.
On February 4, at Raleigh with State Fair officials in regard to development
of the State Fair Grounds and policy to pursue with regard to ex-hibits.
On February 12, at Washington, D. C, with J. C. Williams, Manager of De-velopment
Service of the Southern Railway, in regard to the water power
situation in the Southern Appalachian region and the desirability of
the President of the Southern Railway calling a conference to be
held at Asheville of all parties interested in water power and other
development in the South; also in regard to cooperating with them in
making examination of clay deposits along the Southern Railway.
On February 15, at Washington, D. C, with Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt, Presi-dent
of the State Fair, regarding appointment of directors of the Fair,
and shaping policy for the coming year.
On February 16, at Washington, D. C, with Messrs. Lyons and Van Siclen
of the U. S. Bureau of Mines in regard to their cooperating with the
Survey in making an investigation of the best method of mining and
handling the coal in the Deep River coal field.
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 17
On February 19, at Washington, D. C, with Colonel Henry S. Graves of
the Yale Forestry School, in regard to forestry work in North Carolina,
and what was being done in regard to teaching natural resources and
forestry in the University of North Carolina and the A. and E. College.
On February 23, at Washington, D. C, with M. R. Campbell of the U. S.
Geological Survey, in regard to their further cooperation with the State
Survey in making a detailed geological examination of the Deep River
coal field, together with a topographic map of the same.
With J. G. Peters and R. D. Forbes of the U. S. Forest Service in regard to
work of the Forest Service Experiment Station at Asheville and co-operative
work of the Survey with Forest Service under the Weeks Law.
With R. S. Maddox, State Forester of Tennessee, in regard to cooperation
between the two states in the protection of forests from fire in those
counties bordering the North Carolina-Tennessee line.
On February 24, at Raleigh with Secretaries of Chambers of Commerce and
others in planning for a Carolina Products Week. It was decided
that the best time to hold this Week would be in September.
Conference with 0. M. Butler, Forester of the American Forestry Associa-tion,
in regard to cooperation of that association with the various
departments of the several states.
Conference with R. P. Richardson at Chapel Hill in further regard to develop-ment
of gold properties. ,
Conference at Chapel Hill with J. J. Forbes of the Bureau of Mines in
regard to the investigation of the mining conditions in the Deep River
coal field and arranging for his work there.
On March 22, conference at Charlotte in connection with the Made-in-Caro-linas
Association.
On March 10, meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina
Agricultural Society at Raleigh.
March 24, meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Agri-cultural
Society at Raleigh.
April 5, conference in Charlotte in connection with the Made-in-Carolinas
Association.
April 26, conference in Charlotte in connection with the Made-in-Carolinas
Association.
April 27, meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Agri-cultural
Society at Raleigh.
Meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Drainage Asso-ciation
at Goldsboro.
April 29, conference at Goldsboro with F. H. Newell, Consulting Engineer
of the U. S. Reclamation Service, and Congressman W. B. Bankhead
in regard to National Reclamation work and a National Reclamation
Bill.
May 16, conference at Asheville with N. C. Grover of the Water Resources
Division of the U. S. Geological Survey; Major Harold C. Fiske, District
Engineer of the War Department at Chattanooga, Tenn., and Wilbur
A. Nelson, State Geologist of Tennessee, in regard to the water-power
conference of the Southern Appalachian states.
18 BIENNIAL KEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST
May 17, conference at Asheville with Fred Perley in regard to opening and
use of highway to Mount Mitchell State Park.
May 19, meeting of the North Carolina Agricultural Society at Raleigh.
May 22-23, conference at Washington with Herbert Hoover, Secretary,
and C. H. Huston, Assistant Secretary of Commerce; O. C. Merrill,
Executive Secretary of the Federal Power Commission; N. C. Grover of
the U. S. Geological Survey; Col. C. H. Birdseye of the Topographic
Division of the U. S. Geological Survey; J. G. Peters and T. W. Nor-cross
of the U. S. Forest Service; Lincoln Green, Vice-President, and
J. C. Williams, Manager of Development Service of the Southern Railway,
in regard to the Southern Appalachian Water-Power Conference to be
held in Asheville June 20-22.
June 5, meeting of the North Carolina Agricultural Society at Raleigh.
June 6, conference at Macon, Ga., with officers of the Georgia Forestry Asso-ciation
in regard to legislation relating to forestry for the State of
Georgia.
June 19, conference with Asheville Conference Committee of the Southern
Appalachian Water-Power Conference.
June 16, meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Agricul-tural
Society at Raleigh.
June 20-22, meeting of the Southern Appalachian Water-Power Conference
at Asheville.
June 23, Director attended meeting of the Southern Appalachian Section of
the American Foresters at Asheville.
June 29, conference at Raleigh with L. W. Stephenson regarding the publica-tion
of the State report on the Upper Cretaceous Formations of North
Carolina which is being published in cooperation with the U. S. Geologi-cal
Survey.
Meeting of the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Agricultural
Society.
The Mississippi Valley Association, of which the Director is the director
for North Carolina and Mr. Small is the vice-president of the Water-
Power Section, held its annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, April
25-26, and was attended by Mr. Small.
July 9, with Directors of Made-in-Carolinas Association at Charlotte.
August 11, with representatives of Western North Carolina at Asheville
in regard to holding a Western North Carolina tourist industry con-ference.
August 24 and 25, with W. D. Tyler, President, and R. D. Forbes, Secretary,
of the Southern Forestry Congress, in regard to annual meeting of this
Congress.
November 18, with Dr. H. F. Moore, Deputy Commissioner of the U. S. Bu-reau
of Fisheries, Washington, D. C., regarding North Carolina fisheries.
November 21, with Col. C. H. Birdseye of the Topographic Division of the
U. S. Geological Survey, regarding cooperation with the State Survey
in preparation of map of North Carolina.
November 22, with W. C. Mendenhall, Chief Geologist of the U. S. Geological
Survey, and Wilbur A. Nelson, State Geologist of Tennessee, in regard
to publication of the cooperative report on the magnetic iron ores of
Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.
BIENNIAL BEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST 19
With J. G. Peters of the U. S. Forest Service in regard to cooperative work of
the Forest Service with the State Survey in protection of the forests
from fire.
November 24, at Greensboro with members of the Committee of One Hundred
on Prison Reform.
GEOLOGICAL AND MDfOG DIYISION
By JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, State Geologist
Geological Investigations
During the past two years the principal geological investigations of
the Survey have related to iron ores; structural materials; clays and
clay products ; coal ; talc ; and barytes ; and the preparation of a geologi-cal
map of the State.
Iron Ores.—The investigation of the iron ores of Western North
Carolina has been completed and the results will be published in two
bulletins: one on the Iron Ores of "Western North Carolina, by Prof.
"W. S. Bayley; and the second one on the Magnetites of "Western
North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, by Prof. "W. S. Bayley, which
will be published as a joint bulletin by the Tennessee and North Caro-lina
Surveys. Both these reports have been sent to the printer, but
owing to lack of funds have not yet been printed. Several typewritten
copies of the report on the brown iron ores were made and distributed.
Condensed reports of these two bulletins have been published as bul-letins
of the TJ. S. Geological Survey, as all this work was cooperative
between the Federal and State Surveys. These reports give detailed' in-formation
regarding the location, geological and physical occurrence of
the iron ores, methods of mining, and treatment of the ores.
Structural Materials.—Results of the investigations made by Mr.
Jasper L. Stuckey on structural materials have been typewritten and
several copies sent out to interested parties, including the State High-way
Commission. On account of lack of funds this report has not
been printed. This report gives the occurrence of gravel and certain
sand deposits in North Carolina and calls attention to many of the
stone deposits.
Clays and Clay Products.—There has been an unusual demand for
information relating to the clays and clay products of North Carolina,
and in this work the Survey has had the services of Mr. D. M. Moddie,
who has had long years of experience in the clay industry. He has
made examinations of clay deposits in Forsyth, Davidson, Stanly,
Moore, Montgomery, Richmond, Anson, Burke, McDowell and Madison
counties, and special reports have been typewritten and sent to those de-siring
same.
20 BIENNIAL EEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST
The clay industry is one of the more important mineral industries in
the State and the Survey should be in a position to assist the industry in
every way possible. There is urgent need of a ceramic laboratory for
the Survey in which any and all tests can be made relating to the clay
and clay products of the State. At the present time the Survey is only
in a position to make preliminary tests, and all final and complete tests
have to be made at outside laboratories. Most of this work is done for
the Survey by the Ceramic Laboratory at Columbus, Ohio. Such a
laboratory is also needed by the University of JSTorth Carolina, and the
Survey and the University could very efficiently use one laboratory.
Coal.—One of the more interesting investigations that has been con-ducted
during the past two years has been that relating to the coal
deposits occurring in the Triassic formations of Lee, Chatham and
Moore counties. This investigation, which has been under the direct
supervision of Mr. M. R. Campbell, geologist of the U. S. Geologi-cal
Survey, assisted by Mr. Kent K. Kimball and Mr. fm. T. Cox, has
shown the existence of a basin of coal which contains, as estimated by
the geologist, at least sixty million tons of commercial coal. This in-vestigation
was made in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey.
The result of this investigation will be ready for publication during the
month of February.
Talc.—During the summer of 1922, Mr. Jasper L. Stuckey made
a thorough investigation of the talc (pyrophyllite) deposits of Moore
County, adjoining the Triassic formations. This investigation was
taken up to determine something more definite regarding the occurrence
and origin of the pyrophyllite, as well as its quantity and methods of
mining.
Barytes.—A report has been prepared by Mr. Anson G. Betts on the
barytes deposits of Madison County. This report has not been printed
on account of lack of funds.
Geological Map.—A geological map has been compiled by Prof. Wm.
F. Prouty, of the University of North Carolina, and the Director; and
this will be ready for publication early in the spring. There is a very
large demand for this map, as none has been published since the Kerr-
Holmes map of 1890.
Examination of Mineral Specimens
There were received at the Survey office during the past two years
385 samples of minerals and rocks for examination. These were care-fully
looked over and examined, and reports made to the senders as to the
character of the sample and its possible commercial value. Most of
BIENNIAL, REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 21
the samples received do not represent anything of commercial or scien-tific
value, but occasionally samples are received which are of real in-terest
and have led to development of commercial supplies of these
minerals.
The Survey makes no charge for such mineralogical determinations,
but when an assay or chemical analysis is considered worth while the
Survey arranges, if desired, for such analysis to be made, for which
there is a special charge.
Mineral Statistics
In cooperation with the IT. S. Geological Survey statistics have been
collected regarding the mineral production in North Carolina during
1920 and 1921, with the exception of the statistics relating to clay prod-ucts
in 1921, and gold and silver. These statistics have usually been
published by the Director in a report on the mining industry of the
State for the biennial period, but owing to lack of funds this report has
not been printed for the last four years.
The total value of the minerals and mineral products produced in
North Carolina during 1920 was $8,183,661 and the mineral prod-ucts
produced were brick and tile, granite, mica, feldspar, sand, gravel,
iron, marble and other forms of limestone, pottery clay, kaolin, coal, talc,
soapstone, peat, quartz, sandstone, barytes, millstones and mineral wa-ters.
There were 229 producers of the above minerals, who obtained
their productions from the following 67 counties: Alamance, Anson,
Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Caswell,
Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumber-land,
Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Gaston, Guil-ford,
Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Johns-ton,
Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mecklen-burg,
Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, ISTash, New Hanover, Northamp-ton,
Pasquotank, Pender, Pitt, Randolph, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan,
Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Union, Yance,
"Wake, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson and Yancey.
The total value of the minerals and mineral products produced id
North Carolina during 1921, with the exception of clay used in the
manufacture of brick, tile, and terra-cotta products, was $4,894,806, and
the mineral products produced were : barytes, clay (including kaolin and
stoneware), coal, feldspar, gold, granite, iron, limestone, marble, mica
(including muscovite and biotite), millstones, mineral waters, peat,
sand and gravel, sandstone, silver, talc and soapstone. There were 76
producers of the above minerals, who obtained their production from
22 BIENNIAL EEPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
the following 3"6 counties : Anson, Avery, Buncombe, Caswell, Chero-kee,
Cleveland, Craven, Cumberland, Durham, Forsyth, Haywood, Hen-derson,
Jackson, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell,
Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, New Hanover, Rocking-ham,
Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Union, Vance, Wake,
Wayne, Wilson and Yancey.
Arrangements have already been made with the U. S. Geological Sur-vey
for the collecting of similar statistics for 1922, as per the following
agreement
:
Agreement.—For cooperation in the collection of statistical data between
the United States Geological Survey and the State Geologist of North
Carolina.
In order to avoid duplication of requests for statistical information of
mine and quarry operations, and also in order that the State Geologist may
be kept in touch with the mineral producers of the State, the following
agreement between the Director, Geological and Economic Survey, and the
Director of the United States Geological Survey is made for the collection
of the statistics of mineral production (with the exception of gold, silver,
copper, lead and zinc) in 1922.
As soon as possible after the first of December a numbered list of the
mineral producers in the State of North Carolina (a duplicate of the working
list of the Federal Survey) will be sent to the State Geologist, who will
check it with the data in his office and notify the Federal Survey of any
additions and corrections. These corrections will be made on the list of
the Federal Survey, properly numbered, and the State Geologist advised
of the list number given.
The blanks for the collection of statistical data will be printed at the
expense of the United States Geological Survey and stamped with the state-ment
that the work is done in cooperation with the State Survey. The
inquiries will be mailed from the United States Geological Survey, but will
contain a franked envelope for the return of the reply to the State Geologist.
If the State Geologist considers a report incorrect he will attach a
memorandum of the points questioned to the statistical card before forward-ing
same to the Federal Survey. If correction is obtained by the Federal
Survey through correspondence with the producer or in any other way, a
copy of the corrected report will be furnished the State Geologist.
The second and third requests for information will be prepared in the
office of the Federal Survey in the same manner as the first request. The
fourth request will be sent by registered mail. After all means to secure
returns by mail have been exhausted, the State Geologist will undertake
to secure the reports of delinquents by personal visits of himself or his
assistants.
Before any publication of results is made, the totals for each subject must
be checked and agreed upon by the State Survey and the United States
Geological Survey, in order that there may be no discrepancy in the published
data. Figures representing the output of less than three producers will
not be published, unless authorization therefor has been obtained in writing
from the producers interested. It is understood that in all preliminary or
BIENNIAL KEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST 23
press notices relating to the mineral embraced under cooperation, issued
by either the Federal Survey or the State Survey, credit for the cooperative
plan will be given.
(Signed) Geo. Otis Smith,
Director, United States Geological Survey.
(Signed) Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director,
North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey.
Dated October 19, 1922.
Correspondence
Considerable time of the Director and State Geologist is taken up
in answering inquiries regarding the location, occurrence, and quantity
of the various minerals that are known to occur in North Carolina. In
many instances the information desired is available in the publica-tions
of the Survey, which can be sent to the inquirer. In many other
cases, however, the information has not been published and it is neces-sary
to write out the information desired in each case. Such inquiries
have been received requesting information relating to iron ores, gold
and silver, copper, lead, zinc, and tin ores; talc, coal, barytes, mica,
feldspar, garnet, lime, marl; cement, clays and clay products, includ-ing
pottery, tile, terra-cotta and brick; zircon, rutile, ochre, peat, and
gem minerals. In several instances the information submitted has led
to the investigation of many properties and investment in same.
FORESTRY DIVISION
J. S. HOLMES, State Forester
The work of this Division has been under the direct supervision
of Mr. J. S. Holmes, State Forester, assisted by Mr. W. D. Clark,
Chief Forest Fire Warden. By reason of the increase in the appropria-tion
for the work of the Survey made by the General Assembly of 1921,
considerable additional work was taken up in this Division during the
biennial period. The principal extension in the work was in the pro-tection
of greater areas of forest from fire.
Protection of Forests From Fire
All the work done in this State by the Survey in connection with
the prevention of forest fires is in cooperation with the U. S. Forest
Service under the Weeks Law. Mr. W. D. Clark, Chief Forest Fire
Warden, is in direct charge of this work, assisted by Messrs. C. H.
Burrage and Fred B. Merrill, District Wardens, who have the direct
supervision of the work of the forest wardens. Considerable time has
been spent by Mr. Holmes, Mr. Clark, the District Forest Wardens,
and the Director in interesting the several counties of the State in co-
24 BIENNIAL EEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST
operating with the Survey in the protection of their forests from fire
as authorized by the General Assembly of 1921. (Public Laws 192 J,
Chapter 26).
The Survey has carried on forest fire prevention work in the counties
listed below, and has appointed within those counties 14:5 forest wardens,
as indicated: Alexander 2, Ashe 1, Avery 4, Beaufort 3, Buncombe 8,
Burke 2, Caldwell 2, Cherokee 6, Clay 6, Columbus 5, Craven 6, Cum-berland
11, Graham 3, Harnett 1, Haywood 8, Henderson 2, Jackson 9,
Macon 1, McDowell 8, Mitchell 3, Montgomery 2, Moore 2, New Hanover
3, Pender 3, Polk 1, Eutherford 2, Sampson 3, Surry 2, Swain 3, Tran-sylvania
4, Watauga 4, Wilkes 21, Yancey 4.
The appointment of the wardens in those counties which are co-operating
with the Survey is on recommendation of the county com-missioners.
The organization of these fire wardens is becoming more
effective, and as they become better acquainted with the work expected of
them they consequently are much more efficient.
Areas bordering the National Forests in North Carolina have been
designated by the Director as forest fire districts, and forest wardens
have been appointed to patrol these areas, although some of them are
in counties which are not cooperating with the Survey. This was
considered advisable inasmuch as it gave a very large contiguous area
of forest land that was patrolled and has made a splendid illustration
that satisfactory results can be obtained in protecting the forests of
such large areas from fire, and illustrates further what might be ex-pected
if the State would make adequate provision for protecting all
its forested area.
On account of the requests from counties for cooperation in the
protection of their forested areas the Survey will be obliged during
the next biennial period to withdraw its wardens from those counties
which do not cooperate except in the limited areas in those counties
adjoining the National Forests. It will be very greatly to the advantage
of this phase of the work of the Survey if a sufficient appropriation
could be made by the State to enable the Survey, in making its coopera-tive
agreement with the counties, to state in the agreement that the
county will be called upon to pay only the cost of putting out the
fires, while the State will pay the cost of all the wardens.
At a conference with representatives of the U. S. Forest Service a
plan of organization for the next biennial period was decided upon
which is somewhat different from that in force during the past two
years. There will be appointed in each county a county forest warden
who will have direct supervision of the work of the forest wardens
in his county, and in addition there will be appointed deputy forest
BIENNIAL, REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 25
wardens who will only be called upon for service when there is a
forest fire. It is believed that with such an organization forest fires
can be located within a very short time after they start, and a suffi-cient
force collected at the scene of the fire to enable it to be extinguished
before very much damage has been done.
Under the "Weeks Law there was allotted for cooperative forest fire
protection work in North Carolina for the fiscal year July 1, 1921, to
June 30, 1922, the sum of $35,000, but owing to lack of funds the Survey
was only able to take advantage of approximately $10,000 of this amount.
For the year July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923, the Forest Service would
have allowed the State $24,000 if the State could have met the appro-priation.
The allotment was cut to $12,000 which the State Survey
was able to meet. For the fiscal year July 1, 1923, to June 30, 1924,
the State can probably receive $24,000 if the General Assembly makes
sufficient appropriations so that it can meet this allotment on a fifty-fifty
basis. There is now a bill before Congress increasing the Federal
appropriation for cooperating with states under the Weeks Law, and
if this bill is passed the State's allotment would be from fifty to seventy-five
thousand dollars.
Forest Fire Statistics
Statistics relating to forest fires, their causes, area burned over, re-sulting
damage, etc., have been collected for the years 1920 and 1921.
At the beginning of January each year a questionnaire on forest fires
was sent out to some two thousand voluntary forest fire correspondents,
representing nearly all the townships in the State. The forest wardens
also make reports. The statistics thus collected from these several
sources represent approximately the damage the State is suffering from
forest fires. There is given in the following table the results of
these investigations for the years 1920 and 1921 :
1920 1921
Number of fires 1,607 1,632
Area burned over 190,000 271,430
Standing timber destroyed (M. ft.) 39,000 35,000
Value of young growth destroyed $ 514,000 $ 552,000
Total damage reported 1,258,000 1,092,500
There is no doubt but that a considerable percentage of this loss
could have been prevented if the Survey had had sufficient funds to
organize the protective forces in each county. Before forest fire pre-vention
work can ever be made the most effective it will be necessary
to have the support and cooperation of the people of the State, and
this can be obtained when they are made to realize that each one is
materially affected by this loss from forest fires.
26 BIENNIAL REPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST
Special Examinations
As far as practicable, the Survey has made special examinations of
forested areas for individuals and corporations where such examinations
were in the interest of solving some particular problem, or where the
investigations made would give information of value to the State as a
whole.
During the biennial period the State Forester has made the following
special examinations
:
In April, 1921, the Hermitage Plantation at Castle Hayne, New
Hanover County, was examined in company with the owner, Mr. Geo.
C. Burgwin of Pittsburgh, Pa. The problems considered were the
preservation and conservation of the forests, and reproduction.
In June, 1921, the Forester visited the property of Mr. Bennett Nelme
near Ansonville to study the damage done to the forested area of the
farm by a hailstorm and to advise as to what was the best thing to
do with the timber.
In September, 1921, the Forester met the Boulevard Committee of
Chapel Hill and Durham to arrange plans for planting and reserving
shade trees along the Chapel Hill-Durham Highway.
In October, 1921, in company with Mr. Chapin Jones, State Forester
of Virginia, and Mr. C. F. Korstian of the Appalachian Forest Experi-ment
Station, the State Forester made a preliminary investigation of
the growth and condition of white cedar on the forested area of the
property of the Richmond Cedar "Works.
An examination was also made in October by the Forester, in com-pany
with Mr. Korstian of the U. S. Forest Service, of Riverside
Park, Rocky Mount, belonging to the Pocky Mount Mills. It was
desired to develop this park for the benefit of the public, and the For-ester
prepared a plan for thinning of the trees and preservation of
the trees to be retained, and for the general development of the
park.
In February, 1922, the Forester, in company with Mr. E. F. McCar-thy
of the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, visited Cranberry,
Avery County, and measured sample trees and plots of yellow poplar
which were originally laid off and measured in September, 1920. Seed-lings
of yellow poplar had come up in abundance on the thinned
areas and both Foresters were greatly impressed by the rapid growth
and very favorable development of the yellow poplar on this tract.
In September, 1922, the Forester, together with Messrs. E. H.
Frothingham and C. F. Korstian of the U. S. Forest Experiment
BIENNIAL BEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST 27
Station at Asheville, examined certain forested; areas in Orange County
as example of Piedmont forests.
Study of White Cedar
At the request of the Survey, the Experiment Station agreed to cooper-ate
with the Survey in the study of white cedar or juniper in the
Dismal Swamp region of North Carolina. The Forester, with repre-sentatives
from the Experiment Station, has made several trips into
Eastern North Carolina in Pasquotank, Tyrrell, Dare, and other counties
in connection with this investigation. The object of the study is to
determine, if possible (1) how lands once in white cedar but now
densely covered with shrubs can be brought back to the original growth
;
(2) how logging can best be conducted in order to secure reproduc-tion
of white cedar after logging; (3) to determine the rate of growth
and general sylvicultural requirements of the white cedar in such situa-tions.
Preliminary reports were made to the interested landowners, and a
final report will be published by the State or Eederal Government.
Reproduction of Spruce and Balsam
In cooperation with the Forest Service Experiment Station at Ashe-ville,
the Survey is making an investigation relating to the reproduc-tion
of spruce and balsam. Very satisfactory results have thus far
been obtained in the reproduction of these species on the Mount
Mitchell State Park, which has been protected from fire for the past
six years. An area partly on the Park and partly on the National
Forest and lying on the east slope of Mount Mitchell, which was
devastated by forest fires before it came into the possession of the
State and Federal Governments, is to be replanted. This is done
for two purposes, one to demonstrate that it is possible to reforest such
an area by the planting of seeds and seedlings, and the other to bring
back into forests an area which is an eye-sore to the tens of thousands
of visitors that are now visiting the State Park each year and have to
pass this area en route.
Study of Longleaf Pine
A study of second-growth longleaf pine has been made in Eastern
North Carolina in cooperation with the National Research Council.
The work was done by the Forester. The object of the study was to
obtain reliable data on the yield per acre of even-aged, well stocked
second-growth stands of longleaf pine. Measurements were made on
24 plots. The most noticeable result of the investigation was that only
28 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
a very small amount of second-growth longleaf pine could be found,
which is due without doubt chiefly to the frequent burning of the land
and the presence of hogs.
U. S. Forest Products Laboratory
The Forest Products Laboratory of the IT. S. Forest Service, which is
located at Madison, Wisconsin, sent out a party of skilled men to make
a study of waste wood in factory use at several chair factories in Pied-mont
North Carolina. They visited and studied conditions in the
factory of the Thomasville Chair Company and the Standard Chair
Company at Thomasville, and of the Hickory Manufacturing Com-pany
at Hickory. This laboratory is making some very interesting
investigations relating to the use of woods, substitution of woods, etc.,
and placed at the disposal of the Survey for distribution to the wood-using
industries of the State copies of their report of what is being
done. The laboratory is ready to cooperate with the Survey and
assist our wood-using industries in solving the problems that are
confronting them.
Copies of the report of the work of this laboratory were forwarded
by the Director to nearly all the wood-using industries in the State,
accompanied by the following letter:
Gentlemen:—In these times of keen competition it is essential that manu-facturers
of wood products should be in possession of the latest informa-tion
regarding the properties of the various kinds of wood and their suit-ability
for different uses.
With the object of putting you in touch with such information, I am
enclosing a circular describing the aims and work of the Forest Products
Laboratory. This circular has been kindly furnished by the U. S. Forest
Service for distribution in this State.
If you are already familiar with the work this most valuable Govern-ment
institution is doing, please pass this book on to some other interested
party; but, if not, I hope you will read it and then take advantage of the as-sistance
and advice which is offered all users of wood in the industries. If
there is any assistance that you desire or if you have any suggestions re-lating
to investigations you think should be made, please write to us regard-ing
same.
With the growing scarcity of certain kinds and grades of timber some
modification in the lumber requirements and specifications of our wood-using
industries is inevitable; and if the Survey can assist you to a
more economical use of the so-called inferior grades which have heretofore
been often misused or wasted, it will be only too glad to do so.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director.
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 29
Work of the U. S. Forest Seryice in North Carolina During 1921 and 1922
The following is a condensed report of the activities of the U. S.
Forest Service in North Carolina during the past two years, as re-ported
to the Survey: During the years 1921 and 1922 there was
approved for purchase in North Carolina, under the Act of March
1, 1911, 24,421 acres of forest land at the headwaters of navigable
streams and located largely in Madison, Macon, Avery and Caldwell
counties. This makes the total area purchased or approved for pur-chase
in the State of North Carolina up to July 1, 1922, 349,870.20
acres, situated in three National Forests—the Unaka, the Pisgah, and
Nantahala.
The administration of the National Forest areas in North Carolina
has been featured in 1922 by the most severe fire season in the history
of these areas as National Forests. Progress in perfecting the fire
protection system has been steady, however, and reports for the year
will show a smaller acreage burned over than in preceding seasons.
The North Carolina National Forests are becoming steadily more popular
as public recreation areas. It is estimated that 10,000 people passed
over the Pisgah motor road during the past summer, while some
22,000 traveled the scenic road to Mount Mitchell. The National
Forest road and trail programs are being pushed ahead as rapidly as
funds will permit. The timber sale business on the North Carolina
Forests has been dull during the past two years due to the general
depression in the lumber industry, but there are many indications
pointing toward a revival of timber sale activities in the Appalachian
Forests in 1923.
As in previous years the Forest Service during 1921 and 1922 con-tinued
cooperation with North Carolina in the protection from fire
of the forested watersheds of navigable streams. The area of forested
land brought under protection is estimated to havej increased by
5,000,000 acres over the area protected in 1920. In carrying on this
work the Federal Government expended $2,226 in 1921 and $9,506.91
in 1922, or a total for the two years of $11,732.91. The North Carolina
Geological and Economic Survey expended for the same purpose from
State moneys $5,052.77 and $9,506.92, respectively, during these two
years, or a total of $14,559.69. The Federal expenditure of $9,506.91
in 1922 could have been at least doubled if State funds had been
available to meet the increase in Federal expenditure.
One of the most forward steps taken during the years 1921 and 1922
was the establishment in July, 1921, of the Appalachian Forest
Experiment Station with headquarters at Asheville. It is fully be-
30 BIENNIAL BEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST
lieved that this station in the Southern Appalachian Mountains will do
as much towards solving the forestry problems in that region, not
only in North Carolina but in the other Southern Appalachian states,
as the agricultural experiment stations have done for the agricultural
problems in the different states. The general purpose of such a
station is to secure concrete facts concerning the life-history and
growth of the forests and their response to climatic conditions, dif-ferences
in slope, altitude and aspect, the effect of lumbering upon
the forests, and what can be expected in the way of growth and
development of the timber under the great variety of conditions which
are found in the region. It is believed that economic forces in the
Southern Appalachian states are rapidly approaching a condition which
will make the practice of forestry an objective even with commercial
timber operators. The region is possessed of many very valuable
timber trees whose growth is rapid and whose perpetuation it is be-lieved
can easily be brought about. The force at the experiment
station consists as yet only of four technical men and a clerk, but
since these men devote their entire time to forest research problems
they should be able to accomplish a good deal for the region. The
first study undertaken was that of determining the requirements neces-sary
to keep forest lands in the region productive. Other projects in
progress include a study of the methods of cutting and natural re-generation
of the hardwood forests, the success and growth which
has attended the planting of trees on the Biltmore Estate, damage to
the forests by fire, relation between reforestation and grazing, and
special studies of the yellow poplar and southern white cedar, and re-forestation
both natural and by planting of the spruce-fir type at
the high altitudes. In all of this, of course, the experiment station
force has consulted with the organizations interested in forestry in the
region and has picked out the more urgent problems as the ones
which ought to receive first attention. Whenever possible, cooperation
has been arranged with such organizations.
The Forest Service has also been able to give some attention in the
matter of educating the public in forestry matters. Particularly
through the preparation, in cooperation with the Forester of the
North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, of a popular forest
tree manual which will be of use in identifying and describing about
70 of the more common forest trees of the State. A publication of
this kind is very badly needed.
BIENNIAL EEPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST 31
Cooperation with Forestry Associations
The Survey has cooperated with the North Carolina Forestry Asso-ciation
in holding a State Forestry Convention at Wilmington, January
27, 1922.
The Survey has also cooperated with the Southern Forestry Congress
in forestry conventions held at Tallahassee, Florida, in April, 1921
;
Atlanta, Georgia, in July, 1921; and at Jackson, Mississippi, in Feb-ruary,
1922. The Director is chairman of the executive committee of
the Congress. At each convention representatives of the State Survey
appeared before the legislatures of the several states to give information
and answer questions in regard to State forestry legislation.
It is believed that such cooperative work of the Survey with these
forestry associations is of inestimable value to the general forestry
work in the State, as it enables the Survey to keep in direct touch
with forestry problems that are coming up in other states and in
the Nation, the solving of which gives information that is beneficial
in working out similar problems in this State.
Forests and Lumbermen
The following statement, taken from the January 28, 1922, issue of
the Southern Lumberman, quotes largely from one of the forestry
circulars of the Survey, and is in accord with the principles recognized
by the Survey and which it is trying to put into practice in its re-lation
to lumbermen and users of timber
:
It is so seldom that a kind word is said for the lumbermen in publi-cations
and treaties concerning forestry, we can not refrain from calling
particular attention to a recent circular issued by the Forestry Division
of the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey entitled "The
Forest Problem in North Carolina." This circular, after a few preliminary
sentences regarding the diminution of the forest supply by exploitation and
destruction by fire, has this to say, under the subheading of "Forests and
Lumbermen":
"Much blame for our deforested condition is thrown at our lumbermen.
It is no purpose of this discussion to hold any brief for any mistakes of
the lumberman. It is rather an attempt to point out the true underlying
cause of ruthless forest exploitation, placing the blame where it honestly
belongs, to the end that we may find an adequate solution of the very
serious problem of forest restoration that confronts us. Lumbermen did
not create the enormous demand for their wares. This demand originated
in the God-given impulse within mankind for progress and development.
"The lumbermen have been the instrument through which the demand has
been supplied. They have been the experts in the conversion of trees into
lumber shapes for building the homes which fill our land and make it
bloom; for the construction of railroads and bridges, ships and piers
32 BIENNIAL EEPOET STATE GEOLOGIST
to transport all necessary supplies, and to distribute to their various markets
the produce of farm and factory. The lumbermen supplied the raw
materials for manufacturing furniture, farm implements, vehicles, boxes,
crates, paper pulp, musical instruments, toys, and all other articles made
from wood. They have built their rail and tram roads, their flumes and
sled roads into the wild and inaccessible places from our loftiest mountain
tops to the lowest swamps. They have bridged the canyons and hurled
steel cables from tail to spar and made the huge logs yield to irresistible
force. By the application of powerful and wonderfully designed machinery
they have gathered the raw products of the forest, converted them into
usable shapes, and distributed them to our local markets for further
fabrication. Their spirit of adventure, courage, hardihood, hazardous risks
for large capital, able management and skill have never been exceeded
in any line of endeavor by any race of men. The countries of the world
have sent their agents to them for instruction in the harvesting of forest
crops. He has succeeded most in the lumber industry who has been able
to supply best and at lowest cost what the consuming public has demanded.
Keen competition and hazardous risks of large investments have threatened
him with financial ruin, and many there have been who failed. Mere self-preservation
has been the restraining force keeping the woods operator
from conducting selection cuttings, from leaving seed trees, from providing
adequate protection against forest fires and from carrying on all other
methods advocated for the public interest and for future generations. Such
measures necessitate scattered logging over extensive areas and could
have been adopted only at increased costs all along the line. One operator
could not incur such expenses unless all operators would do the same.
One operator could not increase the price of, his product in order to
cover such increased costs unless his competitor would do likewise. Every
purchaser of lumber has sought the cheapest market. What purchaser
ever stopped to inquire as to whether the price he was about to pay for
his lumber would justify the manufacturer in taking steps to ensure a
new crop of trees on the cut-over area? If the operators made any
attempt to unite for the purpose of increasing their selling price they re-ceived
a quick call from the guardians of the Sherman anti-trust law. That
they were between an upper and nether millstone in this matter is perfectly
clear. The point which should be appreciated is that the cost of growing
timber as a crop has never been included as a factor in determining the
selling price of lumber. To what extent the cost of growing timber should
govern the cost of lumber in the future is a mooted question. But that
we must have future forests, and that we all must pay in some way or
other for the growing of them, is beyond dispute."
It is unfortunate that all of those who write of the forestry problem
do not approach the subject in such a spirit of sanity and understanding.
It is admitted that the preservation of the forest resources of the country
is a duty to the public, but the fact should not be overlooked that the owners
and users of the timber have some rights in the matter. Never will the
forestry problem be settled—at least settled properly—until this funda-mental
principle is recognized, and it is distinctly encouraging to see it so
generously recognized by the forestry officials of one of the South's leading
timber-growing states.
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 33
Forest Nursery
There is great need for a forest nursery in this State which can
supply desirable material for planting at reasonable cost:
(a) For ornamental and shade trees along our State-wide system
of highways.
(b) For planting on school grounds for purposes of shade, ornament
and demonstration.
(c) For farm planting on waste or eroded and abandoned lands for
the production of fence posts and other farm timbers.
(d) For the planting up of more extended areas of cut-over and
devastated private lands for the production of timber.
(e) For planting by the State institutions on State land and by
municipalities on their public land for improvement of the property
and protection of watersheds.
There has already been considerable inquiry for planting stock for
these purposes.
Our best native pines, with the exception of the white pine, cannot
be purchased anywhere, so far as the Survey is aware, in quantities
and at a rate to justify planting for timber production, and these are the
species that are recommended for most situations. Again, to give
best results, trees should be grown in the same climate in which they
are to be planted. And, again, larger trees for highway planting are
usually very expensive at commercial nurseries—when they can be
secured at all. The State nursery should provide them at cost or free
of cost to the State Highway Commission, which should be authorized
and instructed to plant, reserve and protect roadside trees.
A reference to what some other states are doing along this line may
be of interest.
Pennsylvania, in 1920, had six nurseries producing more than five
million trees a year at a cost varying from 50c to $4.00 per thousand.
"Forest trees are distributed free of charge in lots of 100 or more, for
planting in Pennsylvania, the applicant to pay the cost of packing
and transportation. Shade and ornamental trees will be given free
of charge for planting by municipalities, State institutions and public
schools, the applicant to pay the cost of packing and transportation."
Michigan State Forest Nurseries sell nursery stock to private parties
for forest planting within the State at a price varying from $1.50 to
$7.00 per M. to cover cost of production, packing and delivery to
3
34 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
railroad station. Fifty per cent more is charged to parties outside
the State.
The New York Conservation Commission has six forest nurseries
with 115 acres available for producing trees in 1921. In that year
they distributed more than 3 million trees to private landowners, muni-cipalities
and State institutions, and planted a large number on their
own State Forests. At the end of the year they still had nearly 22
million trees on hand.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation has several nurseries,
which turned out in 1920 more than two and a quarter million trees.
These were distributed for private planting, to State institutions, State
Forests and to towns and cities. The latter were furnished trees free
of cost for planting on watersheds.
The Maryland State Board of Forestry has a small nursery on the
lands of the State University, and the State Forester in his last report
strongly recommends its considerable enlargement to provide especially
for growing large trees for highway planting. His argument is so appli-cable
to North Carolina conditions that it is given here:
It has been found in every state where forestry has made progress,
that in order to encourage the planting of waste lands and lands more
suitable for forest growth than for other purposes, it is necessary for the
State to produce stock suitable for planting at the lowest possible cost, and
to render every reasonable assistance to encourage such planting.
A few years ago, when the Roadside Tree Law was enacted, providing
for the planting of trees along the highways, there developed a demand
for large-sized trees suitable for the purpose. The forest nursery has en-deavored
to meet this demand in a limited way, by devoting a considerable
part of the space to the growing of large-sized trees. This large-sized stock
is sold only to those who will plant it along the public highway. Such trees
are frequently planted on private property fronting the road.
Since there is only a limited appropriation for the maintenance of the
nursery, forest and roadside tree planting stock cannot be furnished free,
but is distributed at the actual cost of growing it. Only trees are grown
that are of proven value for forest or roadside planting. The public in-terest
in the planting of trees along the highways to beautify them, and
make travel more comfortable and attractive, has increased tremendously
in the last few years.
It is strongly recommended and requested that the Survey be given
sufficient appropriation and the necessary authority:
1. To purchase sufficient land suitable for a forest nursery within
convenient distance of the Survey headquarters.
BIENNIAL KEPOET STATE GEOLOGIST 35
2. To erect a toolhouse and storehouse on the property, buy nec-essary
tools and seeds and employ the necessary labor to start a small
forest nursery.
After the first few years the nursery should be self-supporting except
for supervision and for the stock used by the Survey in planting State
forests and parks and by other State departments.
Forestry Legislation
North Carolina has a very good forest-fire law, and if it was enforced
to the extent that it should be it would very materially lessen the num-ber
of forest fires and bring the people to a realization of the need of
the protection of the State's forests from fire and the need of the co-operation
of the people in preventing these fires from starting.
In order to bring this question more directly to the attention of
the people of the State, the judges of the several Superior Court dis-tricts
were requested by the Survey to mention in their charges to the
juries the forest-fire laws, the need of the protection of the forests
from fire, and the value of the forests to the people of the State.
It is believed that, when the people once realize the need of these
measures and the enforcement of the law, there will be need of but
very few prosecutions. The first thing necessary is for the people
to realize and know that there are laws relating to forest fires, and
that these laws are to be enforced; and our people will, it is firmly
believed, comply with the law.
It is also believed that, in the interest of the prevention of forest
fires, legislation should be passed relating to the elimination of special
fire hazards, and which would empower the Geological Board to declare
certain things, such as uncleaned railroad right of ways and large ac-cumulations
of brush and slash adjoining municipal or other public
lands, to be special fire hazards and that the Board could require those
responsible for such conditions to clean them up so that they would
not be a menace to neighboring property. Similar regulations are
now being applied by the Insurance Department to special fire hazards
in connection with buildings.
36 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
STATE FOREST AND PARKS DIVISION
By JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, Director
Mount Mitchell State Park
The General Assembly of 1921 passed a bill placing the Mount Mitch-ell
State Park under the jurisdiction of the Geological Board (Public
Laws of 1921, Chapter 222), and authorizing the Board to exercise
and perform all the rights, powers, duties and obligations that had
been theretofore exercised and performed by the Mount Mitchell Park
Commission and the Mitchell Peak Park Commission. The Board
was further authorized and empowered to charge and collect fees for
the use of such improvements as have already been constructed or
may hereafter be constructed on the Park and for other privileges con-nected
with the full use of the Park by the public; to lease sites for
camps, houses, hotels, etc. ; and to make and enforce such necessary
rules and regulations as may best tend to protect, preserve, and increase
the value and attractiveness of the Park.
It is believed that if a nominal charge was made for all visitors
entering the State Park sufficient funds could readily be obtained for
paying all costs connected with the administration and protection of
the Park. This, however, does not seem to be a just thing to do; and
it seems that it would be a much better policy for the State to throw
the Park open to the public, under certain regulations, and provide
funds out of the general treasury for its upkeep and protection. That
the Park is appreciated by the public is shown from the number
of visitors that each year ascend Mount Mitchell. Before the con-struction
of the highway to Camp Alice, which is about a mile from
the summit of Mount Mitchell, there were approximately a thousand
visitors per year to the Park. With the completion of the highway
to Camp Alice in June, 1922, there were over twenty thousand visited
the Park during the months of July, August and September. This
large number of visitors very naturally increases the cost of the
maintenance of the Park; and while, as stated above, a small fee of
twenty-five cents from each one would have raised sufficient funds to
have paid all costs in connection with the maintenance of the Park,
it did not seem that the Board was justified in making this charge.
Another year there will be two or three times as many visitors to the
Park as during the past year. These people come from all sections
of the country. In the table below there is given the number of people
by State and foreign countries who registered at Mount Mitchell
State Park during the years 1921 and 1922. These lists, of course, only
represent a portion of the people who visited the Park, but they do
indicate from where they come.
BIENNIAL KEPOET STATE GEOLOGIST 37
VISITORS REGISTERED AT MOUNT MITCHELL PARK DURING
SUMMERS OF 1921 AND 1922
State 1921 1922*
50 75
1
11
5
1
2
55
73
3
3
1
4
160
204
16
7
30
10
9
88
3
5
4
4
35
1
9
6
81
14
1
1
6 7
2
8
545
6
2
20
1
88
1
55
6
40
3
4
3
10
26
1,465
Ohio 16
2
16
338
130
16
77
3
24
Foreign Countries
1
1
Cuba 2
4
1
1
1 1
2
•Through September 5, 1922.
38 BIENNIAL EEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST
The automobile highway which was constructed from Black Mountain
to Camp Alice, which is about one mile by trail below the summit
of Mount Mitchell, and opened to the public in June, 1922, is a one-way
toll road. It is believed that with the large number of automobiles
that will travel this road from year to year it will very soon become
necessary for a two-way road, either as a circular road or widening
the present road, to be built. The State, under the Highway Commis-sion
Act passed by the General Assembly of 1921, has authority to
construct roads from State highways to connect same with State parks.
It is believed it will pay the State to arrange through its Highway Com-mission
to construct a road from Mount Mitchell Park to Asheville
along the route of the crest of the Blue Ridge Highway, via Stepps
Gap, Balsam Gap, Craggy Mountain and Bulls Gap. Such a road
would be equal in its scenic attractions to the celebrated Columbia
River Road of the State of Oregon which is so thoroughly advertised,
and would be traveled each year by tens of thousands of automobiles and
teams.
Reproduction of Balsam.—The reproduction of balsam on the State
Park is extremely satisfactory. The State Park has been examined
several times by the Forester and members of the Appalachian Forest
Experiment Station at Asheville, and a study made of reproduction
and the method of protection from forest fires that is in vogue on the
Park. Dense reproduction of balsam under the forest cover was ob-served.
Counts of twenty plots of one foot square showed an average of
sixteen seedlings to the square foot, equal to nearly three-quarters of
a million seedlings to the acre. Seedlings from three to six years old
were found on several of the areas that had formerly been burned over,
before the tract was acquired by the State. On areas cut over, but from
which the fires had been kept out completely, many young trees from one
to three feet in height were observed. This reproduction on the State
Park indicates what can and should be obtained on the forests throughout
the mountain region, if they are protected from fire.
Height of Mount Mitchell.—For some time certain scientists and
mountain climbers have been claiming that Mount LeConte was higher
than Mount Mitchell. Recently the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey sent
one of its experts, Clem L. Garner, to measure Mount LeConte, the
height of Mount Mitchell already having been definitely determined as
being 6,711 feet. Mr. Garner measured LeConte up and down and
around, and has reported to the Survey that it is only 6,580 feet, giving
the ISTorth Carolina mountain the honor of being the higher by 131
feet. The result of the measurement has been officially conveyed to
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 39
the Survey by the Director of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in
the following letter
:
U. S. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY
Washington, July 6, 1922.
Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt,
State Geologist,
Chapel Hill, N. C.
My dear Colonel Pratt:—In response to your inquiry of the 5th instant,
I take pleasure in informing you that the recent trigonometric leveling to
determine the elevation of Mount LeConte, Tennessee, shows that the brass
tablet on the middle peak is 6,547 feet above mean sea level and the elevation
of the earth on the east peak is 6,580 feet above mean sea level. These re-sults
may be in error by plus five feet.
This office will be glad to be of further service to you at any time.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) E. Lester Jones, Director.
Grandfather Mountain Park
The Grandfather Mountain area, comprising something over a thou-sand
acres, was at one time offered to the State by the McRaes of
Wilmington for a State park, but at that time the State was not in
a position to accept, maintain or protect such a park. It is now
a question as to whether this area shall be turned over to the United
States Government to become a national monument or park, or whether
it shall become a State park. Grandfather Mountain is a unique
mountain and should be retained for the use of the public, and par-ticularly
the people of North Carolina. It is recommended that the
General Assembly take such action as may be deemed wise in the
interest of securing for the people of North Carolina the Grandfather
Mountain area to become the Grandfather Mountain State Park.
Linville Gorge Park
Another area that should become a State park is the Linville Gorge
area which stands out unique as a natural attraction and should
forever be preserved in its wild and natural beauty for the people of
the State. There is quoted below a recent letter from Dr. H. F.
Moore, Deputy Commissioner of the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries,
in regard to Linville Gorge.
40 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Fisheries
Washington, December 5, 1922.
Col. Joseph Hyde Pratt, Director,
Geological and Economic Survey,
Chapel Hill, N. C.
My dear Colonel Pratt:—As you know, I have long been acquainted,
in my official capacity, with Eastern North Carolina and, recently, I have
added to my pleasant associations with the State the experiences of two
vacations at Linville Falls.
I have been deeply impressed by the great value of the asset which
North Carolina possesses in Linville Gorge, and am concerned that its
wonderful natural beauty should be preserved unimpaired for the en-joyment
not only of the people of the State, but of the ever-increasing
host of tourists who are seeking health and recreation afield.
I believe that Linville Gorge is unique in the eastern part of the country,
and that it would be a matter of more than State-wide concern should
its wild and rugged beauty be destroyed. Its scenic value lies not only in
the deep sculpturing of the gorge, the waterfalls and rapids, but also
in the forestation of its limiting mountain slopes and ridges. The foliage
in 1921 was not excelled by anything that I have ever seen elsewhere. It
is an asset to the State on which no pecuniary valuation can be placed.
It is now wild and unspoiled throughout its length, and steps should be
taken to keep it so. Once spoiled, it cannot be restored. It should be
protected from fire, from spoliation by unscientific and reckless lumbering
operations, and from unnecessary diversion of its waters.
The State is now spending many millions of dollars on its road sys-tem.
One way of earning a dividend on this large investment is to attract
tourists who will not merely pass through the State and wear out its
roads, but who will tarry and spend their money or invest permanently
in taxable property, and who will find health and pleasure to serve as
an incentive to come again.
All New England profits greatly from its summer vacationists, and in
Maine, in particular, the service of the summer visitor and the sports-man
attracted by hunting, fishing, and life in the open, enriches the State
by millions of dollars annually.
Our great national parks are visited each year by hosts of people,
many of whom come from the east. There are many more who would
visit these parks, but who cannot afford the time and money for distant
travel. North Carolina gets some of these, but if she will advertise the
recreational resources of her mountains, the wonderful scenery, the fishing,
hunting, and the possibilities for healthful life in the open, she can at-tract
many more. If its attractions were made more generally known,
Linville Gorge would bring many visitors to the State, but this influx of
travel would bring its own perils, as the hazard of fire would be increased
from the acts of the normal proportion of reckless and careless persons
to be found in any group.
It is not necessary nor advisable to make so-called "improvements," which
would possibly merely .spoil what nature has done so well, but the gorge
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 41
and its environs should be under competent supervision and have ade-quate
protection that its beauty may be preserved for the enjoyment of
generations to come. Cannot the State do this? In a few years it may
be too late. Sincerely yours,
(Signed) H. F. Moore,
Deputy Commissioner.
Linville Gorge lies within the limits of the Boone Purchase Area,
within which lands are being acquired for national forest purposes
by the United States Government through the United States Forest
Service, and has already had negotiations with the owners of the prop-erty
which includes the gorge. While the gorge might become part
of a national forest, it is still believed that this unique area should
be owned and controlled by the State.
State Forests
There is need, and it is believed the time is now opportune, for
the State to begin the purchase of cut-over timber lands and hold
and conserve same as State forests. It is firmly believed that this
can be done very economically and profitably to the State. Such cut-over
lands suitable for this purpose and which should not be considered
at the present time, and perhaps for the next hundred years or. more,
as agricultural lands, can be purchased at from $2 to $5 per acre.
Such areas can be purchased that are well stocked with second growth
or contain sufficient quantity and quality of seed trees that will ensure
reproduction. These areas can be effectively protected from fire at a
reasonable cost, and the State can be ensured of a marketable growth
of timber at the end of a definite period of years.
Three hundred thousand acres of cut-over lands, which is a less area
than the Federal Government now owns in this State, should not cost
over $1,500,000. The State should issue fifty-year bonds to pay for
this land. The interest charge on this amount for the fifty years at
five per cent would be $3,750,000. The cost of maintenance of the
300,000 acres and its protection from fire would be approximately
three cents per acre per year, or $9,000 per year for the entire area.
For the fifty years this would make the maintenance charge $450,000.
The total cost at the end of the fifty-year period for the 300,000
acres of State forests would be as follows:
Bond issue to pay for land $1,500,000
Fifty-year interest charge 3,750,000
Fifty-year maintenance charge 450,000
Total $5,700,000
42 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
At the end of the fifty-year period there should be marketable tim-ber
on this land of from 8,000 to 15,000 feet per acre. At a low
estimated value of $5 per thousand on the stump for the timber this
would make the timber value per acre, estimating the lowest amount
of 8,000 feet per acre, of $40 per acre. At 15,000 feet, it would be
$75 per acre; and for the 300,000 acres the value of the timber would
be from $12,000,000 to $22,000,000. The total cost as indicated above
would be $5,700,000, leaving a net profit to the State of from $6,300,000
to $16,800,000.
It is believed that this is an economic problem that should be
given serious consideration by the General Assembly. There are
something like 20,000,000 acres of forest lands in the State, a large
proportion of which will be and should be maintained in forests for
several generations to come; and the State could well plan to buy in
several million acres of these lands as cut-over lands and maintain
them as State forests.
If a satisfactory arrangement in regard to taxing growing timber
can be worked out, there are undoubtedly many individuals and cor-porations
who would at once begin the reproduction and cultivation
of forests.
WATER RESOURCES DIVISION
THORNDIKE SAVILLE, Hydraulic Engineer
Water-Power Conference
During the past ten years the attention of the people has been
turned almost constantly to the water-power resources of the State.
More inquiries have been received at the Survey office for information
regarding magnitude, extent and location of water powers than in
any other equal period. Questions of riparian rights, location of dam
sites, silting of storage reservoirs, evaporation record, etc., are con-stantly
being asked, which shows that the value and need of such
information when considering the development of any water power is be-ginning
to be realized. The Survey is cooperating with all agencies
possible to collect and give out this information. The discussion of
water powers in the daily press and magazines and the inquiries re-ceived
in correspondence indicated that the present was an opportune
time for calling a conference to consider the water-power situation
in the State and in the whole Southern Appalachian region. After
considerable correspondence between the several State Geologists, it
was decided to call such a conference and to hold it at Asheville, June
20-22, 1922.
BIENNIAL EEPOET STATE GEOLOGIST 43
The following extract from one of the State papers gives a good
idea of the conference
:
INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED
Permanent Organization Formed at Meeting in Asheyit.t.e
The gathering of the South's most eminent hydraulic engineers and other
representatives of the great hydro-electric industry in the South, which
was held at the Battery Park Hotel, Asheville, June 20-22, came to an
end with the formation of a permanent body to be known as the Southern
Appalachian Water-Power Conference. Of this body, Col. Joseph Hyde
Pratt, Director of the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, is
President; the Vice-President is Lincoln Green, First Vice-President of the
Southern Railway; Professor J. A. Switzer of the University of Tennessee was
elected Secretary, and Thorndike Saville, Chief of the Division of Water
Resources of the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, was
made Treasurer.
The meetings of the conference at Battery Park were unusually well
attended and the papers presented were of great value, many of them
describing new methods in water resources studies. The U. S. Government
had a representative present from nearly every Federal Department, in-cluding
N. C. Grover, Chief Hydraulic Engineer of the U. S. Geological Sur-vey;
O. C. Merrill, Executive Secretary of the Federal" Power Commission;
C. H. Birdseye, Chief Topographer of the U. S. Geological Survey; C. V.
Hodgson of the Coast and Geodetic Survey; T. W. Norcross, Chief Engineer
of the U. S. Forest Service; Colonel H. B. Ferguson, Assistant Secretary of
War; Warren E. Hall, District Engineer of the U. S. Geological Survey;
and others.
The important industries of the South were also well represented by
such men as Lincoln Green, First Vice-President of the Southern Railway;
0. G. Thurlow, Chief Engineer of the Alabama Power Company; W. S.
Lee, Chief Engineer of the Southern Power Company; P. A. Tillery, General
Manager of the Carolina Power and Light Company; B. R. Chestney, Chief
Engineer of the Central Georgia Power Company; H. L. Wills, Operating
Manager of the Georgia Railway and Power Company; T. C. Williams,
Vice-President of the Columbia Railway and Navigation Company; Major
Harold C. Fiske, District Engineer of the Norfolk and Western Railroad;
and others.
The conference was generally regarded as the most important affair of its
kind ever held in the United States, and was taken as inaugurating an
era of cooperation between the hydro-electric utilities, the Federal and State
commissions, and promoters of water-power development. It is expected
that as the work of the conference gets under way it will mean much for
the development of water power in the South Atlantic states.
A number of important committees were appointed, which are to sub-mit
reports at the next meeting of the conference. It is expected that
the work of these committees will be of great value. One, on Energy
Supply, will consider the location of undeveloped water powers in the
Southern Appalachian states, the order of development, the location of
auxiliary steam plants, the making of water-power surveys, the taking
44 BIENNIAL EEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST
of stream-flow measurements, the problem of silting, etc. Another will treat
of interconnection of the various power developments; and a third will
consider proper Federal and State legislation to aid in water-power develop-ments
and to regulate such developments in the interest of the public
for maximum proper encouragement to hydro-electric enterprises.
Water Powers
The demand for water powers in North Carolina is considerably
in excess of the developed supply. Many progressive municipalities
are becoming seriously concerned at the power shortage and are seeing
industries locating elsewhere and the growth of their own cities re-tarded
by lack of power. For this reason some of our municipalities
are contemplating municipal development of water-power sites. Many
of our large cities are well situated for this purpose, being near un-developed
sites. Today the initial expenditure for construction of large
dams, power houses and transmission lines is so great and the return
on the investment is often so small that it is not attractive to private
capital; but municipalities can afford to spend large sums in such
developments at a small rate of interest on the investment, since the
difference between what their plant may earn and what stockholders
in a private corporation would demand is the benefit accruing to the
municipality through the possession of power which it can offer to
industrial plants, the location of which within the municipality adds
largely to its revenue. While such a return is intangible, it is yet very
real and a benefit to every element in the city. There are many water-power
sites capable of developing from 500 to 2,500 horsepower and
so located in regard to railroads that a factory built near the railroad
and developing one of these water powers and building five miles of
transmission line can become independent so far as power is concerned.
Interconnection.—One of the questions that comes up in regard to the
utilization of water power and its maximum efficiency is in regard
to interconnection of the smaller and large water powers. While there
has been some investigation made in regard to the utilization of the
southern water powers, not much thought has thus far been given to
definite interconnection of the various power developments into a
larger system. It is very interesting to note that this question was
answered to some extent by an occurrence during the summer of 1921
when the Carolina Power Company of Raleigh, North Carolina, was
short of power on account of the unprecedented low water at that time,
and could not get sufficient water to enable it to run its auxiliary steam
plant. Raleigh at that time was on a part-time water supply. The
Carolina Power Company applied to the Southern Power Company
for power, but this latter company had no excess power. It in turn took
BIENNIAL BEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST 45
up the question of supply with the Georgia Power Company, but
this company was also without any surplus power, and took up the
question with the Alabama Power Company. This company operated
its steam plant at night and supplied the Georgia Power Company with
the needed power; it in turn supplied the Southern Power Com-pany,
which in turn supplied the Carolina Power Company, and thus
enabled this latter company to serve its customers. This is an example
of interconnection and utilization of power which as it is developed
will make the hydro-electric development nearly 100 per cent efficient.
It is believed that many of our smaller water powers in various areas of
the Southern Appalachian states can be interconnected into a larger
system and thus become more and more efficient. While it does not
seem necessary at the present time to consider a super-power zone
similar to what has been worked out between Washington and Boston,
yet the time is at hand when it is considered necessary that more
consideration should be given to interconnecting systems of power lines
through Southern Appalachian region.
Information needed when considering water-power development.—
When considering the development of any water power a great deal of
information is needed before an engineer can determine the value of
the water power or what it can produce, such as data relating to
stream flow, rainfall within the river basin, evaporation records,
maps (such as topographic maps, geological maps) and information
regarding the rocks, forested areas of the river basins, etc. Such
information cannot be collected by the individual, nor always by a
state, and as its value is of interest to an adjoining state its collection
becomes possible only through Federal cooperation. At the present time
there are many Federal and state agencies collecting data and informa-tion
of value to those interested in water-power devlopment, such as
:
Interior Department
U. S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Division
Topographic Division
Agricultural Department
U. S. Forest Service
Weather Bureau
Department of Commerce
Coast and Geodetic Survey
War Department
Corps of Engineers
Air Service
^Federal Power Commission
46 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
Geological, economic and natural history surveys
Forestry departments
Conservation commissions
Water-power commissions
Corporation and public-service commissions
Municipalities
STATE
!
Public utility and water-power corporations
Railway companies
Industrial corporations with water power developments
In order to make the information collected by these various agencies
the most efficient and available there should be the closest cooperation
between all of them in regard to making their information available
to the others and to prevent duplication of work. There are many
problems in which water-power companies are extremely interested, the
investigation of which they are carrying on to some extent, but which
it is believed that if there was a close cooperation between the water-power
companies and the various state and Federal agencies these
problems could be more quickly and satisfactorily solved.
It is believed that as a result of the water-power conference referred
to above and of the resultant permanent organization there will be a
much closer cooperation between the various interests in water powers,
in making available information regarding their developments, data
on stream flow, etc.
District Engineer Office
The work of this Division is done very largely in close cooperation
with the "Water Resources Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey, and as
North Carolina was cooperating in a much larger measure than any
of the other South Atlantic states, the U. S. Geological Survey's dis-trict
office was moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Asheville, North
Carolina, and while a sub-office was retained by the Survey in Atlanta,
practically all the work for the South Atlantic states has been done
from the Asheville office. This office is in charge of Major "Warren E.
Hall of the U. S. Geological Survey.
'
About ninety-five per cent of all stream-gauging and stream-flow
measurement that has been done from this office has been on North
Carolina streams, and this stream work represents to a considerable
degree the chief work of the office. Before this office was moved to
Asheville there were but fourteen gauging stations in operation, as
follows
:
BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 47
Roanoke River at Old Gaston, N. C.
Yadkin River near Salisbury, N. C.
Yadkin River at Donnaha, N. C.
French Broad River at Asheville, N. C.
French Broad River at Dandridge, Tenn.
Pigeon River at Newport, Tenn.
Tuckaseigee River at Bryson, N. C.
Little Tennessee River at Judson, N. C.
Little Tennessee River at McGhee, Tenn.
Nantahala River at Wesser, N. C.
Hiwassee River at Murphy, N. C.
Hiwassee River at Reliance, Tenn.
Valley River at Tomotla, N. C.
Nottely River near Ranger, N. C.
All of these stations have been maintained except Nantahala River
at Wesser, N. C, which has been removed to Almond, N. C, on the
same river, during 1921.
After thorough investigation of available sites the following gauging
stations have been installed and put in operation
:
Roanoke River at Buggs Island, Va. (Just above N. C. line.) •
Dan River near Pinnacles, Va. (Near Brim, N. C.)
Deep River at Ramseur, N. C.
Yadkin River at High Rock, N. C. (Tallassee Power Co.)
Yadkin River at North Wilkesboro, N. C.
Fisher River near Dobson, N. C.
Ararat River near Pilot Mountain, N. C.
Wilson Creek near Adako, N. C.
French Broad River at Blantyre, N. C.
French Broad River at Redmond, N. C.
French Broad River near Newport, Tenn. (Just over N. C. line.)
Davidsons River near Brevard, N. C.
Swannanoa River at Biltmore, N. C.
Pigeon River near Crabtree, N. C.
Tuckaseigee River near East Laport, N. C.
Scotts Creek at Sylva, N. C.
Oconalufty River at Cherokee, N. C.
Little Tennessee River at Franklin, N. C.
Cullasaja River at Cullasaja, N. C.
Nantahala River at Almond, N. C.
Hiwassee River near Hayesville, N. C.
Shooting Creek near Hayesville, N. C.
"Watauga River near Elizabethton, Tenn. (Near N. C. line.)
North Toe River at Spruce Pine, N. C.
From the above it will be seen that 37 gauging stations, either on
North Carolina streams or on streams just entering or just leaving
the State, have been in operation during the past two years. It has
be^n possible to operate this number only by having the hearty coopera-
48 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
tion of the Tennessee District and of private parties operating under
orders of the Federal Power Commission.
Of the total number of stations put in operation it has since been
found advisable to discontinue the following:
Ararat River near Pilot Mountain, N. C. (Gauge, flooded by backwater
from dam being constructed downstream.)
Wilson Creek near Adako, N. C. (Federal Power Commission project
abandoned.)
Scotts Creek at Sylva, N. C. (Section found to be poor.)
Nantahala River at Wesser, N. C. (Abandoned in favor of a better
section at Almond.)
Dan River near Pinnacles, Va. (Private cooperative funds discontinued.)
This leaves 32 stations in active operation and another station
is to be installed on Morgan's Creek near Chapel Hill, which will make
a total of 33. Within a short time it is expected to again begin
using the old station on the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville, N". C.
At present automatic gauges are in operation at Buggs Island, Va.,
Old Gaston, 1ST. C, Ramseur, 1ST. C, and High Rock, 1ST. C. Automatic
gauges are shortly to be installed at Chapel Hill, Asheville and Redmond,
K C.
Besides the work of establishing and maintaining the gauging stations
mentioned above, which entailed a great amount of field work, the
office has constantly been engaged on computation, compiling and
furnishing advance data to parties interested in water powers within
the State.
As an illustration of the value of stream gauging to a state, the
following extract of a letter from the Chief Hydraulic Engineer of
the Aluminum Company of America is self-explanatory
:
It will be quite agreeable to us and I believe it will be advisable for you
to state that had it not been for the stream-flow records that have been
taken by the Government on the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries
since 1898, it is doubtful if our; company would have undertaken this preten-tious
development. It would seem to me that in making this statement you
will have an opportunity to bring out forcibly the beneficial results that
have accrued in this particular case, and use this as an argument for
securing larger Government appropriations for studying the stream flow of
the rivers throughout the country. I believe the Engineer Department at
large appreciates this, but unfortunately we cannot make our Congressmen
and Senators view the matter in the proper light.
Reconnaissance Trips
During the summer of 1921 Major "Warren E. Hall of the TJ. S.
Geological Survey and Mr. Thorndike Saville of the State Survey
made a detailed reconnaissance of possible water-power sites on the
BIEXNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST 49
following streams : Hiwassee, Valley, Tuekaseigee, Scotts Creek, Ocona-lufty,
Nantahala, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Upper Catawba,
Swannanoa, Linville, North Cove Creek, North and South Toe, Cane,
North and South Forks of New River, Upper Yadkin, Elk Creek,
Reddies, Roaring, Mitchell, Fisher and Ararat. Copious notes and
photographs were taken along all of these streams, and as a result
of the investigation the State Geological and Economic Survey has
data in hand regarding the best available sites for power development,
the approximate amounts of power which can be developed by dams
of different heights and the storage possibilities on the various streams.
During the summer of 1922 the same parties made a reconnaissance
of the following streams : Haw, Deep, Cape Fear, New, Little, Neuse,
Swift, Rocky Broad, and Linville rivers.
As a result of these reconnaissances the State Survey is now in
a much better position to discuss with counties the question of co-operation
with the Survey in making a detailed investigation of their
undeveloped powers, and are in a much better position to give more
or less specific information to manufacturers, industrial interests and
municipalities who make inquiry of the Survey as to location of
desirable water-power sites.
County Water-Power Surveys
Surry and Wilkes Counties.—The reports on the water-power sur-vey
of Surry and Wilkes counties has been printed and distributed.
On account of the delay in getting this report printed and the many
requests that were being received for it, several typewritten copies
were made of all and portions of this report to satisfy these requests.
As a result of this survey, several water powers have already been
developed.
Clay and Cherokee Counties.—During the summer of 1922 a field
party was maintained in Clay and Cherokee counties for investigating
the larger water-power resources of the Hiwassee River and its tribu-taries.
This survey is attracting a great deal of attention, both
locally and from prospective development interests. The result of
the work of this party will be published as a report of the Survey.
The water-power surveys made of these four counties have been in
cooperation with the counties.
Special Reports
During the biennial period special reports on water powers, water
supply, etc., have been made by this Division of the Survey, as
follows
:
4
50 BIENNIAL KEPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
A detailed report lias been made to the industrial agent of the
Seaboard Air Line Railway Company relating to the water powers
on the Roanoke River near Weldon.
A report has been made to the industrial agent of the Southern
Railway Company relating to large undeveloped water-power sites in
North Carolina.
A detailed report has been made to the North Carolina Corpora-tion
Commission regarding the water-power situation in North Caro-lina.
A letter report was made to Mr. McN. Carr, of Rose Hill, Duplin
County, relative to drainage investigations and designs.
A special report was made to the President of the University of
North Carolina on the development of a water power on Morgan's
Creek, Orange County.
A special report was made for Hill, Montague of the Roanoke
Rapids Power Company on the possible water-power development
on the Roanoke River.
To the Industrial Development Service of the Southern Railway Company
on Bean Shoals.
To J. A. Ertle of Middletown, Ohio, on Bean Shoals.
To Dr. P. J. Klutz of Hickory on a power site on the Catawba River near
Hickory.
To Albert Milmow of Charlotte on a proposed power development on the
South Branch of the New River near Boone, North Carolina.
To S. B. Staton of Tarboro on a sample of sand sent in to be analyzed by
the Survey. (See next page.)
To Professor Lancaster of State College, a description of the power re-sources
of the State.
To Burns & McDonnell, Consulting Engineers of Kansas City, a com-prehensive
description of the location of developed and undeveloped water
powers in North Carolina.
To Professor J. A. Switzer, Tennessee Geological Survey, an extended
interpretation of certain clauses in the Alabama Power act.
At the request of the Board of Health of Wilmington a detailed
report was rendered upon the underground and surface water supplies
suitable for use by that city, and related to quantity, quality, and
distribution. The report was said to have been the best of a number
submitted in the past, and was instrumental in bringing about the
use of the Northeast Branch of the Cape Fear as the new source of
water supply, now under construction.
Numerous special reports have been made from time to time dealing
with the water-power developments. Requests for information have
come from the Southern Railway, cotton manufacturers' associations,
chambers of commerce, and others.
BIENNIAL EEPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST 51
The profile map of the Deep River at Carbonton was re-run in May,
on account of a possible discrepancy in our levels affecting certain
power interests on the river. The original profile was within the
allowable limit of error, and as a result of our report the parties
at issue are about to compromise their differences.
Stream-Flow Records
A compilation of stream-flow records since 1907 has been prepared.
There is being added to this report rainfall records and a certain
number of duration curves of stream flow. This method of showing
stream flow will be found very advantageous for the use of engineers,
and has been used in the Survey's reports which give the results of
the water-power surveys in the several counties.
Weather Bureau Stations
Chapel Hill.—In cooperation with the TJ. S. Weather Bureau an
evaporation station was established by the Survey at Chapel Hill in
March, 1921, and regular observations were begun April 1st. This
station comprises standard United States "Weather Bureau equipment
for measuring maximum and minimum temperatures, wind velocity,
rainfall, and evaporation; and has been located in an enclosure west of
the Peabody Building on the University campus.
Mount Mitchell.—A station has been established on Mount Mitchell
State Park in cooperation with the U. S. Weather Bureau and the
Appalachian Experiment Station of the U. S. Forest Service.
Sedimentation
The silting up of storage reservoirs has become a serious problem
in North Carolina, and it is believed that laboratory investigations
could be and should be carried out to advantage, and the Survey
is planning, in cooperation with the University, to consider the fol-lowing
points
:
(1) The size of silt particles in suspension, determined by formula, and
also by direct observation with ultra-microscope.
(2) The velocity necessary to transport these particles and keep them
in suspension.
(3) The time necessary for these particles to settle at full storage in
quiet "water.
(4) The nitrogen value of the settled silt to be determined by the
U. S. Bureau of Soils, with the idea that these silts may have some fertilizer
value.
(5) The effect of hydrogen on concentration of the water upon the rate
of precipitation.
52 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
Operators of hydro-electric plants at North Wilkesboro are now
making certain observations under the direction of Mr. Thorndike
Saville, one of the hydraulic engineers of the Survey, to determine
on a large scale some of the points noted above. "We have been re-quested
by the State Board of Health to make these determinations
on account of the importance of information relating to the degree
of sediment in streams used for water supply purposes. The turbidity
is of equal importance on account of the effect on rate of silting
of storage reservoirs used in water supply and water-power projects.
Municipal Water Supplies
The Survey is frequently called upon for advice and suggestions
regarding water supplies for municipalities and manufacturing plants,
and as a result of its investigations regarding the underground water
resources of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions and of the drain-age
areas and flow of our various rivers and streams, it is continually
in a better position to give such advice and suggestion.
Water supply investigations and reports have been made for the
towns of Carthage, High Point, Wilmington and Hickory. Such
studies relate solely to adequacy of stream flow, and do not overlap
but supplement the domain of the private consulting engineer.
Cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey
The moving of the District Engineer's office of the Water Resources
Branch of the U. S. Geological Survey was the beginning of a much
closer cooperation between the State and Federal Surveys in investi-gating
the water resources of this State. There is maintained at
the Asheville office the District Engineer, Major Warren E. Hall;
Field Engineer, Mr. L. J. Hall; and Clerk, Mrs. Effie T. Workman.
The expenses of this office, which are approximately ten thousand
dollars per year, are maintained jointly on a fifty-fifty basis by
the two Surveys. The efficiency of this office will be very much
increased by the employment of an office engineer, and it is expected
that, beginning with the next biennial period, this can be done.
Map Exhibits
Map exhibits have been prepared showing the location of electric
generating stations and high voltage transmission systems in the
State. Copies of this exhibit have been requested by the Corporation
Commission, by the U. S. Geological Survey at Asheville, and by
the Southern Appalachian Water-Power Conference. The latter or-ganization
has requested the Survey to prepare a similar map for the
BIENNIAL REPOKT STATE GEOLOGIST 53
entire Southern Appalachian region and has appropriated money for
this purpose.
Utility of Work of Water Resources Division
1.—Stream-Flow Measurements and Publication of Data.—The value
of this information to those contemplating water-power developments
is very great, and the Survey is constantly receiving requests from
engineering firms and power companies for data on stream flow. Ac-curate
information as to amount of water available at power sites
on streams is absolutely necessary before developments can be made.
The longer such data is available the more valuable it becomes. One
of the largest companies generating power in this State has asserted
that its development would not have been made had not the stream-flow
data for several years been available. More gauging stations are
needed that information on stream flow may be furnished those con-templating
making water-power developments in the State.
2.—'Water-Power Surveys.—There has been a very large demand for
copies of the reports on Surry and Wilkes counties from all over
the country. The Industrial Development Departments of the South-ern,
Seaboard Air Line, and Atlantic Coast Line railroads are
constantly sending for reports of this character and placing them di-rectly
in the hands of industries which contemplate locating in North
Carolina and wish information on undeveloped power sites. Within
the State numerous firms make use of the information in these reports,
and even before they are issued many requests are filed for advance
sheets dealing with specific sites. Interest in the undeveloped water
powers of the State is widespread, and the Survey is unable to answer
many queries sent it, as the county surveys can be made only as funds
are available. Thus far the Survey has been able to do this important
work only because the counties themselves have contributed one-half
the cost. This means, of course, that some of the more important un-developed
water powers of the State are not fully investigated be-cause
the counties in which they are situated do not desire to pay
for one-half the cost of an investigation and the Survey has not funds
sufficient to make independent studies.
3. Statistical Compilations.—The Survey is the only State body
issuing authoritative information on developed and undeveloped water
power; the output of electric generating stations; the power situation
in the State; the economic aspects of hydro-electric development in
the State, etc. Such data are eagerly sought by all trade papers and
by business and professional interests. They serve to accurately de-pict
important elements in the State's industrial progress, and indi-
54 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
cate certain phases of its economic position as compared with other
states.
k- Special Investigations.—It is of considerable value to the State
to have an organization equipped to make investigations and reports
upon special technical and engineering matters. Such diverse sub-jects
as water-power development, river and harbor improvement,
fisheries improvement, water supply, port development, and under-ground
waters have all received the attention of the Division during
the past two years and been made the object of special study. As
the enterprises of the State expand and become more varied, recourse
must be had in increasing measure to some qualified engineering
authority of the State. Within the fields covered by its activities
the Water Resources Division of the State Geological and Economic
Survey stands ready to render such service on an impartial and un-biased
basis.
DRAINAGE AND RECLAMATION DIVISION
By JOSEPH HYDE PRATT, Director
In addition to the drainage and reclamation of swamp and over-flowed
lands of North Carolina, the work of this Division includes
the reclamation and economic utilization of cut-over timber lands.
Drainage of Swamp Lands
The drainage of swamp lands is confined largely to the Coastal
Plain region of North Carolina, and since the passage of the "North
Carolina Drainage Law" there has been approximately 600,000 acres
of land reclaimed. Where formerly these lands were estimated to
be worth from 25c to $2 per acre, they are now worth from $50 to
$100 or more per acre, and represent a net increase of nearly $30,000,-
000 to -the assets of the State. During the past two years four addi-tional
drainage districts have been started in Eastern North Carolina.
When completed, these will add about 50,000 acres to the reclaimed
land of that part of the State.
OTerflowed Lands
The reclamation of overflowed lands in the Piedmont section of
North Carolina has been as successfully carried on as the drainage
of the swamp lands in Eastern North Carolina, the North Carolina
Drainage Law being as applicable in the reclamation of the former
lands as in the latter.
BIENNIAL REPOBT STATE GEOLOGIST 55
During the past two years four new districts have been started in
the Piedmont area. The reclamation of these overflowed lands has
not only brought into cultivation some of the finest agricultural lands
in Piedmont North Carolina, but it has eliminated malaria in those
sections.
The Survey has assisted in the organization and carrying through
of many of these districts, both in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain
regions.
There is urgent need of the addition of a drainage engineer to the
Survey staff, so that the work in connection with reclamation can be
carried on continuously and more effectively.
The passage by the General Assembly of 1921 of the act amend-ing
the North Carolina Drainage Law, in which North Carolina
drainage districts are declared to be and do constitute political sub-divisions
of the State (Public Laws of 1921, Chapter 7, section 1),
has materially facilitated the sale of drainage bonds. Several dis-tricts
in the past few years have been handicapped in their development
by the difficulty experienced in the sale of their bonds, due to the fact
that attorneys for the bonds buyers were uncertain as to whether
North Carolina drainage districts were to be considered political
subdivisions of the State.
North Carolina Drainage Law
Many questions relating to the North Carolina drainage law are
constantly being referred to the Director, and in his interpretation
of the law he has had the most cordial cooperation of Mr. John
H. Small, a member of the Board. Drainage engineers and commis-sioners
are also seeking advice and suggestions regarding methods of
drainage, authority of drainage engineers and commissioners, etc.
Early in 1922 the Survey learned that many statements were being
made in connection with the nonpayment of drainage assessments,
and the idea seemed to be becoming prevalent that there was a great
deal of land within drainage districts that was being advertised for
sale on account of this nonpayment of drainage assessments. An in-vestigation
was immediately begun through inquiry of drainage en-gineers
and commissioners and sheriffs of the several counties in which
drainage districts are located, with the result that the report was
found to be very greatly exaggerated. In fact, considering the num-ber
of districts and outstanding bonds, the percentage of districts in
which land had to be sold was extremely small. If the officers who
are directed by law to make and collect the assessments had done their
full duty all the districts would have had a perfect score. In New
56 BIENNIAL REPORT STATE GEOLOGIST
Hanover County, Drainage District No. 3, some lands were advertised
and sold. In several districts in "Wayne County lands were advertised
for sale, but the assessments were paid up and no land sold. One dis-trict
in Craven County has had some legal difficulties and the interest
and principal on bonds has been held up until the court decision
was rendered. No land in Piedmont districts has been reported for
sale.
Utilization of Eeclaimed Land
But little trouble is experienced in bringing into cultivation the
reclaimed overflowed lands of the Piedmont area. These are usually
held in small areas by a great many people and represent the most
valuable agricultural lands of adjacent farms; and are in nearly
all cases already cleared. The owners are usually ready to begin
cultivation as soon as the land is reclaimed.
In the Coastal Plain region, however, where the reclaimed swamp
lands are usually held in very large tracts and covered with such
timber as is left after logging, there is more or less difficulty ex-perienced
in bringing these lands under cultivation. This is the
greatest problem now confronting the State in connection with its
reclamation work. Although these lands represent the richest agri-cultural
lands of North Carolina, it is necessary to thoroughly advertise
these lands as to their agricultural value, their location with respect
to market, transportation facilities for crops, location with respect
to schools and churches, and availability of supplies of pure drinking
water. "With additional funds the Survey could be of very great as-sistance
in this work by establishing a publicity bureau which by
means of newspaper articles, addresses before agricultural conven-tions,
agricultural expositions, and similar meetings, could bring be-fore
the people of the State and country the extent and value of these
reclaimed lands. Care, however, must be taken that in whatever
method of advertising is used only accurate information and facts
are given. The truth regarding them makes a sufficiently vivid story
that will attract home seekers when they realize what Eastern North
Carolina can offer them.
Drainage Conventions
North Carolina Drainage Conventions.—The Survey has cooperated
with the North Carolina Drainage Association in holding two drain-age
conventions, one on April 12 and 13, 1921, at Elizabeth City,
and the other April 28 and 29, 1922, at Goldsboro.
As a result of the conferences of the Elizabeth City convention
considerable progress was made in the reclamation of certain swamp
BIENNIAL KEP0RT STATE GEOLOGIST 57
lands in Pasquotank County, and in obtaining closer cooperation
between interested parties throughout the State in the development
and utilization of the black lands of the Coastal Plain region. During
the convention the Director of the Survey had a conference with
drainage engineers of the State, at which various questions were
discussed relating to the drainage of the swamp lands, in what way
the Survey could be of more assistance to the engineers, what was
interfering with the organization and completion of certain districts,
etc. As a result of this conference th