improvement. Butter, cheese, wool, slaughtered animals, honey, tobacco, cotton, peas, beans, potatoes, hay, and garden and orchard products manifested an equally gratifying development, both in quantity and value.

The minerals of Arkansas are chiefly iron, coal, lead, zinc, manganese, gypsum, and salt. The coal embraces deposits of the anthracite, cannel, and bituminous varieties.

Gold is said to have been found in White county. Near Hot Springs is a quarry of novaculite, or oil-stone, superior to any other on the globe, inexhaustible in quantity and of great variety of fineness. There is manganese enough in the State to supply the world's demand. In zine Arkansas ranks next to New Jersey. It has more gypsum than all the other States, and is equally well supplied with marble and salt. The lead ore is largely associated with silver. Lead mines were worked extensively during the civil war to answer military necessities. Arkansas has not engaged in manufactures to any considerable extent, they having been restricted to the production of the simpler indispensable articles. In 1860 the State had 518 establishments, with a capital of $1,316,610. The annual product was $2,880,578. The cost of labor was $554,240, and of raw material $1,280,503, leaving a profit of $1,055,835, or eighty per cent., on the capital. Over three-fourths of this production consisted of lumber, flour, meal, and leather. Manufacturing enterprise was greatly stimulated during the civil war, but no statistics have been reported to show the amount of such improve

ment.

The extensive and widely diffused internal navigation of the State has supplied so well the limited wants of a hitherto sparse population, that railroads have not been completed to any considerable extent. The eastern section of the Memphis and Little Rock railroad, thirty-eight miles, has been finished, and several hundred miles additional have been projected, which will soon be placed under construction. The State has a large trade with New Orleans. An internal navigation of over one thousand miles brings every part of the country in communication with the great streams of commerce. The settlement of the back counties will add very materially to the volume of this domestic trade.

Little Rock, the capital, on the right bank of the Arkansas, three hundred miles from its mouth, is built upon a rocky promontory fifty feet above the river level, commanding an extensive prospect in all directions."

It contains a population of about four thousand, a number of fine public buildings, and church accommodations equal to the requirements of the population. Superior building clay, slate and granite are abundant in the surrounding country. These have attracted capital and enterprise from the North, which will form the basis of a considerable export trade. Lines of steamers connect with prominent ports on the western and southern rivers.

Arkansas Post, Van Buren, and Fort Smith, are thriving trading towns. Prior to the opening of the late civil war the financial condition of the State was very safe, the revenue being largely in advance of the expenditures.

The present financial condition is not found reported in any late statistics. There are yet to be disposed of in this State about eleven million seven hundred thousand acres of public land.

MISSISSIPPI, in shape approaching an oblong parallelogram, is one of the southern States on the left bank of the Mississippi river, from which it took its Its length from north to south is three hundred and thirty-four miles, with an average breadth of one hundred and fifty, the area being 47,156 square miles, or 30,179,840 acres.

name.

From the elevated plateaus of the eastern and central portions the land descends gradually towards the west and southwest, whither all its water-courses run. The Mississippi bed is marked by two ranges of bluff, irregular in outline, sometimes closely approaching the river, overhanging it in cliffs two hundred

feet high and then receding, leaving the intervening space a low flat plain overflowed by annual freshets and resulting in swamps, one of these extending from below the Yazoo river to Memphis, Tennessee, sometimes one hundred miles in width, occupying an area of seven thousand square miles.

This whole region is often covered with water, the northeastern part of the State being beautiful prairie. The southeastern portion is low but undulating, abounding in pine. The southern coast is a sandy level country, covered with heavy growth of pine interspersed with cypress swamps, prairies, and hills of slight elevation. Near Natchez are groups of ancient mounds of very remarkable construction. There are several medicinal springs in the State, among which is Cooper's well, in Hinds county, twelve miles from Jackson. The waters of this well are strongly impregnated with sulphur, also iron, and considered beneficial in cutaneous and intestinal diseases. Lauderdale springs, in the county of that name, are charged with white sulphur and chalybeate.

The population of Mississippi in 1800 was 8.850; in 1820, 75,448; in 1840, 375,651; in 1850, 605,948; in 1860, 791,305; and notwithstanding the ravages of war, may now be estimated at 900,000. The first settlements were made by the French. They were almost exterminated by Indians, but received a re-enforcement of French colonists driven out of Nova Scotia upon the English conquest of that peninsula. The admirable agricultural character of the country soon began to attract immigration from the British colonies on the Atlantic coast. The average fertility of the State is of a high standard. The northern and central valleys, though subject in places to severe sand washings, are very productive. Excessive cotton culture has injured the soil of this region, which is now devoted in general to lighter and less exhausting staples.

The prairie region of the northeast has a rich black adhesive mould impregnated with lime and very prolific in cotton and maize.

In the southeast fruits flourish in sandy soil, which, with the exception of a few valleys, is not sufficiently strong to support the heavier crops.

Cattle also abound to such an extent that it is called the "cow country." The southern pine forests afford considerable trade in tar, pitch, and turpentine, but the land does not possess any especial agricultural capacity. The "bottoms" of the Mississippi, with their measureless depths of black mould, constitute par excellence the most productive lands of the State.

The establishment of permanent and sufficient embankments to protect them from the annual destructive overflow of the Mississippi is all that is requisite to make these lands a great planting region.

Their inexhaustible richness will bid defiance even to the appetite of the cotton plant, which has devoured the fertilizing principles of the soil of the central valleys.

The climate of Mississippi partakes very strongly of some of the characteristics of the torrid zone Its winters, however, like those of Louisiana, have an average temperature a few degrees below the same seasons on the Atlantic coast, in the sa e parallels. The protection of the southwestern "bottoms" from overflow, will soon dissipate the error that the climate of that region is naturally unhealthy, and attract a large population.

The agricultural capacity of Mississippi is incalculable. In the amount of land reduced to cultivation the returns of 1860 show an increase in the number of acres of sixty per cent. in ten years, and in the value of farms and agricultural implements of over two hundred per cent. The live stock have on the whole enlarged their numbers, and more than doubled in value. The animal products of butter, cheese, wool, slaughtered animals, and honey, have increased their volume in some cases fifty per cent. The cereal crops, with tobacco, cotton, peas, beans, potatoes, and hay, have had a still greater increment.

The products of orchards and market gardens have tripled and quadrupled. The reorganization of labor will require time after the struggles of the late

civil war. With an entire revolution in the theory of the industrial system of the State, it is beyond doubt that the agricultural interests of Mississippi will yet be one of the great productive powers of American civilization.

No mineral deposits of any great extent have been developed in the State; some gold was found in Marion county, but coal and marble have as yet been discovered only in small quantities.

The presence of iron is attested by the existence of a few iron foundries in the State.

The manufacturing enterprise of Mississippi has been limited, the statistics of 1860 showing nine hundred and seventy-six establishments, involving a capital of $4,384,492, producing articles valued at $6,500,687; and deducting from this an expense of $4,764,956 for raw material and labor, there remains a profit of $1,735,731, or nearly forty per cent. on the capital.

The free development of the American industrial system will soon establish manufactories near the centres of original production, thus saving unnecessary transportation of the raw material. This diffusion will open to all the States of the Union a thriving future of industrial enterprise. The avoidance of all unnecessary processes of manufacture, transportation, and mercantile exchange, seems to be the tendency of modern civilization.

The commerce of Mississippi is mostly carried on through the ports of New Orleans and Mobile. The facilities of internal navigation are scarcely less extensive and valuable than those of Louisiana. The same causes have retarded the development of railroad enterprise as in that State. In 1860 there were but eight hundred and seventy-two miles of railway completed and in operation. The great railroad spirit of the age, however, is now advancing in this State, giving reason to expect in the future great expansion.

Jackson, the capital of the State, on the right bank of Pearl river, is a prominent cotton depot; it is situated in the midst of a fine large plain; its population is about four thousand. Natchez, on the Mississippi, two hundred and eighty miles above New Orleans, is situated on a bluff two hundred feet above the river, and is the centre of a large cotton trade. Vicksburg, one hundred and twenty miles above Natchez, is also a great cotton mart. Columbus, Aberdeen, Holly Springs, Canton, and Grenada, are important towns. There are yet to be disposed of in this State about four million nine hundred thousand acres of public land.

ALABAMA, one of the Gulf States, derives its name from the aboriginal language, signifying "here we rest." Its extreme length from north to south is 336, and the breadth ranges from 148 to 200 miles. Its area is 50,722 square miles, or 32,462,080 acres.

The Alleghany mountains terminate in the northeastern part of Alabama, subsiding into low hills. From the north the surface gradually declines towards the coast, which is depressed and level, with hilly country in the centre. The limited sea-coast is broken by Mobile bay, a beautiful sheet of water 30 miles long and from 3 to 18 broad, with depth of 15 feet on the entrance bar at low tide. The southward deflection of the general level causes the rivers to run in the same direction. These are numerous and of very considerable length and volume.

The population in 1820 was 122,901; in 1840, 590,756; in 1850, 771,623 ; in 1860, 964,201. Even after the desolations of war the present population cannot be less than 1,250,000.

The first white men that set foot upon the soil of this State were the adventurers under De Soto in their famous march to the Mississippi. They found the aborigines a formidable obstacle, eviucing a more intelligent manhood and higher social organization than their compatriots further north.

The first settlement was made by the French under Bienville, who built a fort

on Mobile bay in 1702. Nine years afterwards the present site of Mobile was occupied

The peace of 1763 transferred to the British crown all the territory north of the Gulf and east of the Mississippi. Its agricultural value soon attracted an Anglo-American immigration, in the mass of which the original French element was absorbed. Alabama in point of population now ranks as fourth among the southern States.

The soil varies with the geographical locality and elevation. The mountain region of the north is well suited to grazing and stock-raising, and is interspersed with valleys of excellent soil. The undulating surface of the central portion is well watered, and, especially in the river bottoms, highly charged with fertilizing

elements.

The valley of the Alabama is one of the richest on the continent. The removal of the canebrakes of Marengo and Greene counties has disclosed soil of surpassing quality. Towards the coast the vegetation becomes decidedly tropical. Cotton is the great staple, but sugar-cane is cultivated on the neck between Mississippi and Florida, and indigo has been produced in considerable quantit es Oaks in great variety, poplars, hickories, chestnuts, and mulberries, cover the northern and central parts, while in the south the pine, cypress, and loblolly are the prevailing species.

The climate varies with the latitude, approaching within seven degrees of the tropies. The southern coast is strongly assimilated to the torrid zone in its temperature. The nights, however, are alleviated, even in the hottest weather, by the Gulf breezes. During the coldest seasons the rivers, even in the north, are seldom frozen, and the general winter temperature of the State is very mild. The low lands near the rivers are malarious, but the State generally is remarkable for salubrity.

The agricultural stati-ties of 1860 disclose an advance in ten years of fifty per cent. in the amount of land brought under cultivation, and of nearly two hundred per cent. in the value of farms and farm implements.

Live stock presents some enlargement of aggregate numbers, and more than doubles in value. Animal products, such as butter, cheese, wool, honey, and slangi tered an mals, have increased fifty per cent. Cereals, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, and hay show like increment. Market garden products nearly double in value, white orchard products increase nearly fifteen fold. Like the neighboring Gulf States, an injudicions cultivation of cotton, tobacco, and other heavy staples has somewhat exhausted the fertility of portions of the land. Tillage and rotat on of crops will remedy the mischief and restore the elements of productiveness. The agricultural development of Alabama awaits the final adjustment of the system of labor, the State possessing elements promising a bright

future.

The mineral resources of Alabama are sufficiently known to indicate their aband ince and var ety. The central region is underlaid by vast beds of iron ore, alternating with thick coal measures of great extent. Te juxtaposition of these minerais favors mining operations and the processes of preparing iron for market Lead, manganese, ochres, and marbles, are found in different localities, and even gld is reported. Sulphur and chalybeate springs are of frequent

occurrence.

The returns of 1560 show 1,459 manufacturing establishments, with a capital of $9,098,181, producing articles valued at $10,588,571, at an outlay for labor and raw material of $7,622.903; the margin of profits was $2.965,665, or nearly 30 per cent, on the expital invested. A new era in manufacturing enterprise may be expected in the reorganization of labor now in progress in this and other States, in which this great industrial interest will find its true position and influence in the social system.

The natural advantages possessed by Alabama are very important. The

magnificent bay of Mobile and a river navigation of 1,500 miles form an outlet not only to her own productions, but also to those of the neighboring States. A very considerable foreign and domestic commerce has its seat at Mobile, which will increase with the development of the State. The natural advantages are being supplemented by an extensive system of railroads yet in its infancy. In 1860 Alabama had 743 miles completed and in full operation, with several hundred more in process of construction or projected. These will connect Mobile with the prominent railroad centres of the country and permeate the whole State with their beneficial influence.

Montgomery, the capital, with a population of 10,000, on the left bank of the Alabama, 340 miles above Mobile, is admirably located for a domestic commercial depot. Its railroad communications are extensive and increasing, while the Alabama, which never freezes and is seldom affected by drought, is one of the best steamboat rivers in the country. The city is well built, with numerous literary institutions and periodicals circulating extensively through the State. Its commercial transactions are on an important scale.

Mobile, on the river bearing the same name, three miles above its mouth, is, next to New Orleans, the greatest cotton market in the Union. Its position in a large sandy plain is just sufficiently elevated for the purpose of drainage. The streets are wide and luxuriantly shaded by tropical trees. The city is well supplied with pure water from springs several miles distant. It is not compactly built, except the business portion. The religious, literary, and commercial institutions are numerous. Its position being well defended both by art and nature, it presents superior commercial facilities. It is connected by lines of steamers and railroads with all the prominent points on the coast and in the interior, and carries on an extensive commerce with foreign nations.

Tuscaloosa, Blakely, Marion, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Selma, and West Point, are among the principal towns.

There are yet to be disposed of in this State about 6,900,000 acres of public land.

LOUISIANA is the most southerly of the first tier of trans-Mississippi States. Its extreme length is 292 miles, and average breadth 250, embracing an area of 41,346 square miles, or 26,461,440 acres. The surface of the State, not more than 200 feet above the level of the Gulf, is in many places so low that extensive districts, especially in the south, are submerged during the stages of high water in the rivers. West of the Mississippi basin the land rises in hills towards the northwestern part of the State, broken, however, by the marshes along the several arms of the Red river. The delta of the Mississippi, included by the rivers Atchafalaya and Iberville, and amounting to one-fourth of the area of the State, is nowhere more than ten feet above the sea, and is subject through its entire extent to annual inundation. Large forests of pitch pine occupy the northern and western highlands, interspersed with oaks, elms, cypress, and honey locust. In the parish of Concordia are numerous mounds, built by a former race of intelligence and capacity superior to the Indians. They contain human bones, pottery, and arrow-heads. These elevations being beyond the reach of the annual overflow, are much prized for gardens and orchards.

The population in 1810 was 76,556; in 1830, 215,739; in 1850, 517,762; in 1860, 708,002. This State having been originally colonized by French and Spanish settlers, that element is large in the present population.

The soil of the rivers is of the most productive character. In some cases the rich black surface mould is one thousand feet deep. These "bottoms" produce the sugar cane and rice, which, with cotton, are the great staples of Louisiana. Two-thirds of the alluvial land is covered with heavy forests and an exuberant undergrowth of cane. These lands are easily drained and constitute the most valuable districts in the State. The prairie lands are not always very fertile,