PIKE COUNTY. HE county of Pike was created in 1821. Its name was given in honor of General Zebulon M. Pike, of New Jersey. It has become one of the most progressive counties in the Timber Belt since the construction of the Mobile & Girard Railway, and the Alabama Midland. Its countyseat, Troy, has been noted, of late years, for the enterprise and thrift of its citizens. By reason of its geographical location it has become, to a large degree, a distributing point to much of the territory lying south. Pik county has an area of 740 square miles. Population in 1880, 20,640; population in 1890, 24,423. White, 15,349; colored, 9,074. sugar-cane, Area planted in cotton, 66,625 acres; in corn, 46,480 acres; in oats, 4958 acres; in wheat, 9 acres; in rye, 7 acres; in 400 acres; in sweet potatoes, 883 acres; in tobacco 1. Cotton Production, 25,879 bales. The northern and central portions of Pike are hilly; the remainder of the county is largely of a level surface. The land is quite varied in its fertility. Along the sandy ridges which prevail in different portions of Pike, the lands are thin, with an accompanying clay foundation of red or yellow. In the eastern part is seen the formation of the famous Chunnenuggee ride. Upon the topmost lands of this ridge there is a surface of sand, but the slopes are of a limy character and have a lasting and productive soil. In the bottoms, between these lime hills, the lands are of the best character. Their productive virtues will be inexhaustible for many years to come. South of this Chunnenuggee formation there is a strip of lime country. From the city of Troy southward a number of miles, there is a stiff lime and clay soil of wonderful fertility, while still further south the lands grow thinner and more sandy, and are overgrown by the finest pine timber. Throughout this southern section of the county there is a prevalence of pine forests with occasional interspersion of oak and hickory lands. Where these last-named lands appear they are highly appreciated for their productive qualities. In the southeastern portion of the county there are many superior farming lands. They are of a stiff, clayey nature, but are much prized for their fertilty. Than this there is not a better farming section in the whole county. In the western and central portions of Pike there are occurrences of pure limestone in sufficient quantities to supply the evident deficiency in the soils of the pine lands. Judiciously distributed over the surface of the thin pine soils, their valuation would be greatly enhanced. The most of the lands that can be used in Pike for farming purposes lie quite favorably for enrichment with fertilizers. This fact has encouraged the importation of many fertilizers into the county. The annual sales of these manures at Troy are immense. This gives us a bird's eye view of the county of Pike and of its varied soils. Upon these lands are generally grown corn, cotton, oats, wheat, rye, rice, sorghum, sugar-cane, and potatoes. Large crops of peas and peanuts are also produced. The county has long ranked among the foremost in the State in its capacity to produce sweet potatoes and the Cuban sugar-cane. Both these crops thrive wonderfully well. These soils produce as fruits, apples, peaches, plums, pears, grapes, quinces, figs and pomegranates, together with melons, cantaloupes, raspberries and strawberries. To visit Troy during the fruit season is to witness the luxuries produced in orchard and garden alike in the surrounding country. There is a perceptible progress in the improvement of the stock of the county, especially about the centers of interest. This is promoting the raising of grasses and clovers. More attention is gradually being given to the raising of swine. The timbers of the forests of Pike are oak, hickory, elm, poplar, cypress, beech and pine. Of the last named there are very great forests, valuable alike for its flammable qualities and its turpentine and lumber. Mills for the manufacture of lumber are found in every part of the county. Pike is drained through two main streams and their tributaries. These are the Conecuh and Pea Rivers. Many very fine branches and creeks penetrate the county, and seek their outlet through these principal channels. The waters are wonderfully clear, the bottoms of the streams being often overspread with a sand of snowy whiteness, and again with beautiful pebbles. Many fine fish are caught from these streams. They are also used, as in the adjoining counties, for floating the massive pine timbers to the markets on the Gulf. The centers of interest in Pike are Troy, a beautiful little city of 5,000, Brundidge and Orion. These are important social centers, and are proud of their educational facilities. Troy has a collegiate institute, besides other schools of merit A normal college has been established there. A good common school system reaches every portion of the county. Troy is a point of unusual importance because of its relation to the surrounding region of country. Troy has become an important distributing center. It serves as a valuable cotton market, and receives a considerable quantity of this staple every season. Immigrants will be able to purchase lands in Pike county for sums ranging from $1.50 to $10 per acre. Government lands, subject to entry, are found in the county. Men seeking homes. will be welcomed to Pike, and so will capitalists seeking investments. The people are mostly of a progressive spirit, and are eager to see their unpopulated districts peopled with men of pluck and enterprise. Government land to the extent of 1,040 acres exist in the county. COFFEE COUNTY. REATED in 1841, this county took its name from that of General John Coffee. It is highly favored with respect to its climate and superior healthfulness. It lies in the heart of the great Timber Belt, and all the characteristics which belong to that beautiful region are found existing here-extensive domains of forests of pine, with here and there a stream of crystal clearness, and carpeted throughout with pastures of perennial green; with a slightly undulating surface, affording lands of varying fertility, and with conditions of soil favorable alike to the pursuits of agriculture, horticulture and stock-raising. Remote from the great arteries of commerce and centers of trade, its attractions are unknown; but it is questionable whether a more populous section can be found in Alabama than just here when the intrinsic worth of this region shall have become known. Its area comprises 700 square miles. Population in 1880, 8,119; population in 1890, 12,170. White 10,237; colored, 1,933. Area planted in cotton, 35,449 acres; in corn, 28,787; in oats 4,665 acres; in rye, 7 acres; in wheat, 3 acres; in rice, 21 acres; in sugar cane, 254 acres; in sweet potatoes, 474 acres; in tobacco, 3 acres. Cotton Production-11,791 bales. In the main, the surface of Coffee county is level; but in the northern portion it is broken and hilly. The northern and southern portions differ very much in this respect-the southern being quite level. Above Elba, the county-seat, there are what are locally called "the red clay hills," which, together with the intervening bottoms, are fairly productive. Going southward from the point indicated, one gets a view of the most magnificent forests of yellow pine upon the globe. It is impossible to estimate the wealth treasured up in these splendid trees, the forests of which abound for many miles throughout the county of Coffee. As yet, the lands over these vast ranges are used for little less than grazing purposes. Subsoil tillage will eventually place them among the most attractive agricultural lands in Alabama. At present, they are the haunts of extensive herds of cattle and sheep. The richest pasturage prevails here almost throughout the year. This is true of the pine districts. Turning our attention to other qualities of soil, we find it in cultivation and producing quite readily. Previous to this, the farming interests of the county were restricted to the northern portions, but within the last two or three years a thrifty class of farmers have entered more than 40,000 acres of land in the southern part, and are rapidly improving the soil. The productions of |