12 



ALABAMA. 



pitch, and turpentine. On the low lands along 

 the rivers is found white, black, and Spanish 

 oak, also bald and black cypress, the timber 

 of which is noted for its durability. The soil, 

 composed largely of sand and clay in its nat- 

 ural condition, is best adapted to the cultivation 

 of grapes, apples, peaches, and pears ; but, by 

 manuring, may be made productive of cotton 

 and corn. The mild climate and the natural 

 pastures of the pine-forests afford unusual ad- 

 vantages for profitable stock-rearing. Fish 

 and oysters in great abundance are supplied 

 from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the 

 Bay of Mobile. This section is watered by the 

 Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, and has good 

 railroad facilities in all directions. It has long 

 been a popular summer resort for families 

 from all parts of the State. Land here is in- 

 creasing in value, but good locations may be 

 obtained at prices ranging from $1.50 to $4 

 per acre. 



The cotton region joins the timber region 

 on the north, and has a width of about one 

 hundred and two miles on the western, and 

 sixty miles on the eastern line of the State. 

 This belt of land, interspersed with large 

 prairies, with an unsurpassed climate, and 

 having a stiff, black soil, remarkably rich, from 

 two to twenty feet deep, is especially adapted 

 to the cultivation of cotton, corn, and provi- 

 sions, and is considered one of the most 

 healthy and fertile agricultural tracts in the 

 South. Its railroad and river facilities afford 

 easy access to markets. Prior to the late 

 war, this section was much sought after by 

 planters, on account of its great advantages of 

 soil and climate, and plantations commanded 

 prices ranging from $30 to $50 per acre. Now, 

 rich, cultivated plantations, convenient to 

 rivers and railroads, may be obtained for from 

 $5 to $10 per acre. This land will produce 

 from fifty to sixty bushels of corn, or 800 to 

 900 pounds of seed-cotton per acre. 



Immediately north of the cotton region 

 lies the agricultural and manufacturing district, 

 extending eastwardly and westwardly across 

 the State, and having an average breadth of 

 about thirty -five miles. The soil, being sandy, 

 is poor; but there are numerous streams, 

 affording good water-power for manufacturing 

 purposes. This is a healthy section of country, 

 and has good railroad facilities. 



The mineral region occupies the north- 

 eastern corner of the State, extends in a 

 southwesterly direction about 160 miles, and 

 has an average width of about eighty rniles. 

 In the southeastern corner of this section, 

 white marble of remarkable brilliancy is 

 found, some of it not inferior to Carrara marble, 

 and lias been successfully worked. Soapstone, 

 flagstones, graphite or plumbago, and granite, 

 of good quality, are also quarried here. In 

 this region there are three distinct coal-fields, 

 covering an area of 4,000 square miles, namely, 

 the Warrior, Cahawba, and Tennessee fields. 

 The beds of these fields are from one to eight 



ALASKA. 



feet thick. The coal is bituminous, generally 

 soft, and well adapted for generating steam, 

 and for the manufacture of gas, coke, and 

 iron. Near these coal-fields are extensive beds 

 of limestone, sandstone, and iron-ore; the 

 iron mines have been worked with good re- 

 sults, the ores producing from 36 to 58 per 

 cent, of metallic iron. There are also abun- 

 dant materials, of good quality, for the manu- 

 facture of bricks, lime, and millstones. In the 

 mineral region are numerous fertile valleys, 

 well adapted to the production of wheat, corn, 

 and cotton, and the rearing of 'stock. Lands 

 in the mineral district may be bought at prices 

 ranging from 12-J- cents to $2 per acre. 



The stock and agricultural region occupies 

 the northwestern portion of the State : its prod- 

 ucts are cotton, corn, grains, grapes, and 

 stock. The climate is mild and healthy, and 

 the soil rich. Previous to the war, there were 

 many valuable plantations here, and extensive 

 stock-farms ; cultivated lands were valued at 

 from $30 to $50 per acre. Present prices vary 

 from $5 to $10 per acre. 



Alabama is a valuable timber country, which 

 produces in abundance nearly every kind of 

 useful timber. Besides the long-leaf yellow 

 pine, there grow here the different varieties of 

 oak white, red, black, Spanish, port-pin, and 

 overcup ; also sweet and black gum, poplar, 

 ash, walnut, hickory, locust, chestnut, red and 

 white cedar, dogwood, maple, and elm. By 

 its great advantages of soil and climate, Ala- 

 bama has always held a high rank as an agri- 

 cultural State ; and, from the above exhibit of 

 its industrial resources, it will be seen that 

 good advantages are offered to those wishing 

 to engage in the raising of cotton, corn, or 

 stock, fruits or vegetables ; making wine ; 

 manufacturing cotton, iron, or lime; or sup- f 

 plying coal, marble, or granite. 



ALASKA. As yet there has been little in- 

 crease in the white population of this Territory, 

 which is still under the military government 

 of the United States. Time enough has not 

 elapsed for the acquisition of much infor- 

 mation in regard to its industrial resources. 

 Our knowledge is confined mostly to its shores, 

 comparatively little being known of the inte- 

 rior. Since Alaska became a part of the Uni- 

 ted States, an Anglo-Russian newspaper has 

 been projected, and is carried on with success. 

 It is reported that game abounds, but none 

 except Indians hunt it. Ducks are abundant, 

 and the grouse are of excellent flavor. There 

 is a large variety of fish, of which the salmon 

 is said to be most delicious; but no oysters 

 have yet been discovered by the whites. Of 

 shell-fish, there is the crab, enormously large, 

 and whose sweetness increases with its size, 

 the clam, and the muscle. During the past 

 summer there was an abundance of berries, 

 principally a berry called the salmon-berry, 

 from its strong resemblance to the roe of that 

 fish, both in color and in its collection of little 

 globules like fish-eggs ; it is very palatable, 



