AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. 19 



of the county. This is a progressive county, and has a thrifty popula- 

 tion of old and new settlers. All the usual crops do well, and the orange 

 groves look as well as in any section ; market gardening is also profita- 

 ble here. 



Lake Butler is the county seat, though Starke is the largest, both in 

 population and business, and is situated directly on the line of the rail- 

 road. 



BAKER COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Georgia, east by Nassau and Duval Counties, south 

 by Bradford, and west by Columbia County. Area, about 500 square 

 miles. Its topography, soil, and general characteristics are similar to 

 Bradford County. Mostly level, heavily timbered ; soil, where culti. 

 vated, productive. The Central Eailroad runs through the county from 

 east to west, furnishing easy transportation to Apalachicola Eiver on 

 the west, to Jacksonville and Fernandina on the east, and connecting 

 with the railroad system north. Sanderson, on the line of the railroad, 

 is the county seat. Many small farmers are settling in this county. 



COLUMBIA COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Georgia, east by Baker and Bradford Counties, 

 south by Alachua, and west by Suwannee and Hamilton Counties. 

 Area, about 864 square miles. Its soil includes pretty much every variety 

 found in Florida. The surface is generally level ; the southern portion 

 well timbered : the western part, high rolling pine lands of good quality 5 

 very little waste land unfit for cultivation. There are twelve lakes of 

 moderate size, Alligator Lake being the largest ; all abound in good 

 fish. Muck, marl, limestone, sandstone, and clay suitable for bricks 

 are found. Several streams aiford good mill sites, and at Suwannee 

 Shoals, on border of Hamilton County, there is sufficient water for large 

 manufacturing establishments. 



The railroad from Jacksonville runs through the county from .east to 

 west, with a depot at Lake City. Lake City, the county seat, is a neat 

 place, surrounded by lakes ; is the center of a well settled agricultural 

 country, and does a large commercial business. Besides cotton, cane, 

 rice, tobacco, corn and root crops, raising vegetables for shipment to 

 North and West is becoming a large industry. Orange and grape cult- 

 ure is receiving special attention, with best results. Some of the largest 

 vineyards in the State are in this county. 



CLAY COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Duval County ; east by Saint John's Eiver, which 

 separates it from Saint John's County; south by Putnam, and west by 

 Bradford County. Area, about 425 square miles. The county is well 

 watered, sufficiently high and iineven to afford water-power on several 

 streams. Black Creek traverses the county, and is navigable for river 

 steamers to Middleburg, the center of the county. The Atlantic, Gulf 



