192 THE ALABAMA OrPORTUXlTY. 



Clouds ami JVcathcr. — Average number of clear clays, 8; 

 partly cloudy days, 13; cloudy days, 9. 



Wind. — The prevailing winds have been from the southwest. 

 The average hourly velocity of the wind is 7 miles. The high- 

 est velocity of the wind was 54 miles from the northwest. 



THE state's resources. 



The taxable property of the State has most perceptibly in- 

 creased in the past five years, and now the real estate is' made 

 up of 31,804,153 acres of land, and city lots and homes valued 

 at $179,959,552; personal property, valued at $127,693,112; 

 with a total valuation tif $307,643,704, paying a tax of $770,- 

 743.14. The wagons are valued at $1/323,409; mechanical 

 tools, $269,309; there are 95,091 sheep, valued at $152,252; 

 44,198 goats, valued at $28,706; cattle, 176,840, valued at $1,- 

 648.769; horses, 96.793, valued at $28,755.44; mules, 131,774, 

 \alued at $8,093,786; studs, jacks and jennies 1,167, valued at 

 S105.478; hogs, 19.858, valued at $40,113. The tax rate is 

 comparatively low, ranging from 75 cents on the hundred in 

 1876, to 65 cents on the hundred now, that being the maximum 

 constitutional limit. That for general purposes is now only 

 25 cents on the hundred, the balance being made up in special. 

 ap]>ropriations for the public schools, pensions, etc. 



THE minerals. 



Alabama is third in iron ore production among the States of 

 the Union. In 1902 the product was' 3.574.474 long tons, 

 which was a little over 10 per cent, of the iron ore mined in the 

 United States; valued at the mines *at $1.10 per ton, or $3,936,- 

 812. There are ^2 coke furnaces and 6 charcoal furnaces in 

 operation ; charcoal furnace* graduallv going out of blast. In 

 pig iron production, the State ranks fourth ; this high rank 

 is due greatly to the close proximity of the ore, the stone, 

 and the co'al needed for the production of the iron. 



The mineral region of the State is being- rapidly developed, 

 c'nd explorations show the resources of this section to be al- 

 most without limit. The smoke from the smokestacks anil 

 tlie glare from the furnaces show that life and activity have 

 £gain s])rung u]), and that man is fast taking advantage of 



