228 ELBERT COUNTY. 



very fertile, but have been impoverished by bad cultivation, 

 although they still continue to produce well. The lands on the 

 Savannah and Broad rivers are very superior, adapted to the 

 cultivation of corn, cotton, and wheat. The lands on Savan- 

 nah river are less subject to freshets than those on the Broad 

 river, and are worth, on an average, ten dollars per acre. 

 There is in this county a section known by the name of the 

 Flat Woods, extending from Broad to Savannah river, from 

 five to seven miles in breadth, commencing just below Colonel 

 Heard's plantation, and extending to Mr. Tate's, about seven 

 miles. The growth is black-jack and whortleberry. The soil is 

 of a black colour, mingled with oxyde of iron, adapted to corn. 

 It retains manure better than the other lands. Value, $5 per 

 acre. There are excellent lands on Beaver Dam creek, worth 

 from five to eight dollars per acre. 



Productions, Average Product per Acre. — The pro- 

 ductions are cotton, corn, wheat, rye, oats, tobacco, &c. 

 Grasses do not succeed. Cotton averages 500 pounds per acre, 

 corn three barrels do. ; wheat, seven bushels do. 



Manufactures, Mills, Boating Business. — It is proposed 

 to erect a cotton factory* on Broad river, four miles above its 

 junction with the Savannah, where there is a fine fall. Capi- 

 tal $32,000. It is intended to run 5,000 spindles; 1500 are 

 procured. 



Elbert factory, on Beaver Dam creek, six miles from 

 Ruckersville. 



Much of the produce of this county is carried in boats 

 down the Savannah river, to Augusta. The boats are gene- 

 rally 75 feet in length, six feet wide, pointed at both ends, and 

 having round bottoms. When loaded, they draw 15 inches. 

 They are under the care of a patroon and six hands, and carry 

 from 40 to 60 bales of cotton. The trip to and from Augusta 

 consumes six or seven days. Rates of boating to Augusta, 

 from 75 cents to $1 per bale. 



Roads, Bridges, Ferries. — The roads are in a bad condi- 

 tion, as well as the bridges. Six public ferries on the Savan- 

 nah, six on Broad river, besides several private ones. 



* Now in successful operation. 



