60 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



the southern portion. In relation to beasts of prey, I may say once for the entire 

 country, that in the unsettled mountainous regions there are yet to be found num- 

 bers of wolves, but few wild-cats, and some bears toward the northern boundary 

 of the State. 



The capacity of this division for producing an abundance of Indian corn is, as 

 you perceive from its character, somewhat limited. 



Iron ores are found in several localities. The most plentiful supply cf this 

 useful mineral is found along the line marking the main geological features of 

 the territory. Ironworks are already established near the Tennessee line on 

 Alaculsa Creek, and at the two points in Cass county marked on this Etov/ah 

 (Hightown) River and Stamp Creek (called on the map Lick Creek). Tiie two 

 latter produce a plentiful supply of manufactured iron and castings. Their })0- 

 sition is within a few (say six and three) miles respectively of the Western and 

 Atlantic Railroad, upon which large quantities of iron are now being transported. 

 Fine white crystaline marble is found in the county of Cherokee in great quanti- 

 ties, at the place marked " Daniels " on the map. It is successfully wrought. 



The water-power is excellent and plentiful. A cotton factory has been for 

 several years established at Roswell, in Cobb county. A number of gentlemen, 

 forming a strong company, propose erecting another on Sweet Water Creek, in 

 the same county. This part of the country is lavishly supplied with springs and 

 rivulets of excellent free-stone water, and is most exempt from stagnant water 

 and the causes of malaria — nevertheless, portions of it have been afflicted with 

 diseases incident to the reclaiming of a forest region. It ofl'ers but few situations 

 for good settlements of land sufficiently extensive to accommodate large neigh- 

 borhoods. 



Parallel to the line we have been considering, and immediately along, the west- 

 ern bases of the mountains referred to, the character of the country is suddenly 

 changed, and the entire region lying west and north-west becomes highly calca- 

 reous. There is no portion of it, except the plains of the Sandstone Mountains, 

 that does not contain abundant supplies of limestone for agricultural and other 

 purposes. 



From the Coahutta and Pine Log Mountains, that sometimes rise two thou- 

 sand feet above the plains below, to the Look-out Mountain, making nearly the 

 same hight, and across the valley of Look-out Creek to Raccoon Mountain, is one 

 continued series of valleys and mountains or mountainous ridges, all bearing a 

 uniform general course from N. N.E. to S. S.W. These valleys are intersected 

 by the valley of the Hightown on the south, by the valley of the Coosawatee 

 near the center of the eastern portion, and the valley of the Coosa through the 

 western portion, and bordered on the north-west with the valley of the Tennes- 

 see. The valleys of the Connasauga and Oostanalau, no way inferior, take their 

 courses along the general line of mountain and valley, and which is very dis- 

 tinctly shown by the course of the Look-out Mountain and Chattooga River. 



If you strike a line corresponding with this general range and passing through 

 Rome at the head of Coosa River, on the easl of it, in this division, the valleys 

 are frequently undulating, while in many places they contain most extensive 

 tracts of level country. Maintaining the same general course, they are more di- 

 versified on account of irregular highlands that divide the waters of the High- 

 town, Coosawatee and Oostanalau Rivers. Each valley usually takes the name 

 of some tributary of the large rivers. 



The hills and mountain ridges of this region arc most usually covered with 

 fragments of white quartz, which scarcely extend below the surface, exposing a 

 fine, close soil beneath, upon which grasses and clover have succeeded well. In 

 some cases a calcareous shale, reddish or blue, and subject to constant disintegra- 

 tion, forms the immediate subsoil. These hills, I have thought, promise the 

 happiest results from the culture of the vine. Nature herself seems to invite us 

 to this highly beneficial l)ranch of Agriculture, by her lavish production of the 

 wild vine upon these lands. 



The part of the country now under particular consideration holds preeminence 

 for the production of wheat, and this may be said Avithout disparagement to any 

 of the other rich and productive valleys of the limestone region. It is delight- 

 fully watered with the finest limestone springs and streams, and contains frequent 

 beds of iron ore, with water power sufiicient for the reasonable economical pur- 

 poses of life. 



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