84 
northern extremity the geological formation is metamorphic, presenting lime- 
stones of very considerable economic value. The southern portion of the 
county lies in the upper margin of that wide belt of the cretaceous formation 
which stretches entirely through the State, and which furnishes some of the 
richest lands in the cotton-growing States.” In Marengo county, near the 
western border of the State, the decrease is sixty-six per cent., though some of 
the best lands in the State, worth in 1860 $20 to $75 per acre, are included 
within its limits. The reporter says: “In the section known as the ‘Cane- 
brakes,’ plantations rarely changed hands during the lifetimes of the owners. 
A gently undulating surface, a soil of great fertility, and a pure air characterize 
this portion of the county. Cedar of large size originally covered most of the 
land and constituted the fencing material. The soil, being largely impregnated 
with lime, is admirably adapted to the cereal crops, while cotton, in favorable 
seasons, yielded large returns. Corn, cultivated on the same land for thirty 
years without manure, frequently yields fifty bushels per acre. ‘These lands 
are intrinsically as valuable as any in the United States. In other parts of the 
county are large areas of improved fertile ‘ post-oak’ and river lands, that were 
worth, in 1860, $20 to $30 per acre. All these advantages must in time make 
the county exceedingly attractive to immigration. Cut up into small farms, 
and cultivated by an intelligent population, these lands will rapidly attain their 
former value, and probably exceed it.” There is a class of canebrake lands in 
many counties of central Alabama of a similar character. 
2. The average price of unimproved lands may be stated at $1 75, the range 
being from twelve cents to $5, ineluding a variety in quality and natural capa- 
bilities. In Macon, Conecuh, Butler, Chambers, Morgan, Tuscaloosa, and some 
other counties, the general character of such lands is poor; pine forests, with 
a thin soil, covering large areas. The timber constitutes the chief value of such 
lands, though in some cases, when cleared, especially upon the banks of the 
small streams, they produce well. In some other sections of the State the un- 
cultivated lands are heavily timbered with pine, oak, hickory, poplar, walnut, 
mulberry, &c. They are generally attached to plantations, and are used as 
summer ranges for cattle and hogs. With a proper system of culture, and an 
industrious, energetic population, a large proportion of the now unimproved 
lands will be reclaimed, and prove of great value. 
3. The inducements presented for the investment of capital and the immigra- 
tion of intelligent labor in the agricultural and mineral resources of the State 
must, at some future time, make it one of the most desirable portions of the 
country. 
Immense forests of the finest qualities and most valuable kinds of timber 
cover large tracts of land in the counties of Marengo, Clark, St. Clair, Clay, 
Marshall, Randolph, Lee, Baine, Hale, Chambers, Montgomery, and many 
others; while in Tuscaloosa, Perry, Butler, Conecuh, Coosa, Calhoun, and 
Macon, pine, in seemingly inexhaustible quantities, awaits the introduction of 
steam saw-mills. As yet but little lumber is sawed beyond the wants of the 
resident population, in part owing to the want of cheap transportation. 
Minerals have been lavishly distributed. Coal, iron, gold, silver, copper, 
lime, granite, and serpentine are found in many localities, and in some instances 
were successfully mined before the commencement of the war. In Randolph 
county gold was discovered in 1836, and fortunes were made by mining. In 
Baine county the indications of copper and lead in the mountains have been 
sufficient to induce efforts, on a small seale, to develop them. Lee county pro- 
duces granite of an inferior quality, and also a coarse serpentine, which was 
worked by the aborigines into water vessels, and is now used for backing fire- 
places, &c. 
4, Previous to 1860 cotton received by far the greatest share of attention, 
and constituted almost the only article of export. Other crops were raised for 
