AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. 23 



HAMILTON COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Georgia, east by Columbia, south by Suwannee, 

 and west by Madison County. Area about 400 square miles. The Su- 

 waunee Eiver forms its southern and eastern boundary, the Withla- 

 coochee Kiver its western, the Alapaha Eiver dividing in nearly in the 

 center. The Savannah and Gulf Bail road crosses from south to north, 

 nearly in the center of the county. The general surface is rolling, soil 

 light in some portions, with fine hammocks near streams. Jasper is the 

 county seat. 



HOLMES COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Alabama 5 east by Jackson, from which it is sep- 

 arated by Holmes Creek ; south by Washington and Walton; west by 

 Walton County. Area over 500 square miles. The Choctawhatchie 

 Kiver runs south through the center of the county, affording steamboat 

 communication with the Choctawhatchie Bay and the Gulf. Stock-rais- 

 ing, cotton-growing, and farming the principal business; sugar-cane, 

 corn, potatoes, and other food crops raised for sale and home consump- 

 tion. The laud is mostly level, good pine lands, well timbered, varied 

 by rich hammocks. The great need of this and adjoining counties is 

 railroad communication. The Pensacola and Mobile Railroad will pass 

 through this county at or near Cerro Gordo, the county seat, which is 

 pleasantly situated on the high banks of the Choctawhatchie. A rail- 

 road is in process of rapid construction that will connect the county 

 with Pensacola and Jacksonville. 



JACKSON COUNTY. 



Bounded on the north by Alabama; east by Decatur County, Geor- 

 gia, and Gadsden County, Florida, from which it is separated by the 

 Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Elvers ; south by Calhoun and Wash- 

 ington Counties, and west by Washington and Holmes Counties; has 

 an area of 1,000 square miles. It is considered as one of the richest 

 agricultural districts of the State. Lands are rich, undulating ham- 

 mock; soil composed of clay, loam, and lime, in various proportions, 

 and pine lands of good quality of soil. The Chipola Eiver, rising in 

 Alabama, flows south nearly through the county, emptying into the 

 Apalachicola; is navigable for boats of moderate draft. At a small 

 expense the river could be made navigable for steamboats. The Apala- 

 chicola and Chattahoochee Eivers, on the eastern boundary, afford trans- 

 portation to markets. The county exports largely cotton and other 

 agricultural products. 



Marianna, the county seat, is a beautiful place, doing a large busi- 

 ness ; is located on the Chipola Eiver, the lower valley of which is well 

 adapted to orange- growing, as also other fruits ; soil rich arid remark- 

 ably exempt from frost. The extension of the Jacksonville, Pensacola 



