THE ALABAMA OPPORTUNITY. 161 



forest g-iants of ash, oak. hickory, poplar and walnut do not 

 grow on soil lacking in elements of fertility, hence we first 

 invite attention to the present remaining silent witnesses as to 

 the great fertility of the soil. 



The Tennessee river drains this section from east to west, 

 it is' a river of great beauty, rapid current, and many shoals 

 and -falls. The celebrated Muscle shoals, lying between Col- 

 bert and Lauderdale. We refer to this as an evidence of rapid 

 drainage, and beg to state that the conclave slope is towards 

 this river from North and South, and that emptying into it are 

 many swift and beautiful large streams of clear crystal water, 

 passing over shoals and white gravel beds. Owing to the 

 topography of the country th^re are no sluggish streams pos- 

 sible in this section, hence but little if any local cause for ma- 

 laria. The beautiful crystal streams the outlet of innumerable 

 springs are entitled to a place in the evidences of the grandeur 

 of this' section. The waters are clear, cold and sparkling, 

 they mirror the beauties of heaven and smile when touched 

 by the wing of a pleasure seeking bird. No malaria finds 

 place in these swift, bubbling laughing waters. In their bosom 

 can be found the bass, sun perch and game salmon in abund- 

 ance. To those who have lived in flat countries with sluggish 

 streams, the banks of our little rivers present a picture of 

 health restoring virtues. The reader must understand that 

 our lowest point is six hundred feet above the Ohio Valley, 

 if this were not true, our beautiful Tennessee, with its pic- 

 turesque falls, would be running up hill to Paducah, Ky., 

 \\?here it empties its crystal waters into the Ohio. The magni- 

 ficent drainage of the Tennessee Valley makes it the homes 

 of the most robust vigorous manhood and loveliest type of 

 womanhood. It is said to be the natural nursery for teething 

 babies, that fewer die in this climate than elsewhere on earth 

 and they are brought here from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

 often in a dying condition, to recover their health. This is 

 but an evidence we cite of the health conditions of this coun- 

 try. There may be a narrow strip of land subject to over- 

 flow along the banks of the Tennessee, but there are no 

 svv^amps possible. 



