impregnated with iron, sulphur and other minerals.

Near the eastern border of the county, below the Kahatchee Hills, is found the well-known Sulphur Spring. It is said to possess the most attractive surroundings of all the watering places in Alabama.

ance.

One of the coming industries of the county will be stock-raising, as the greatest inducements to this pursuit exist in abundLuxuriant grasses and wild clovers grow spontaneously, and when cultivated they are quite fine. This consideration, taken in connection with the prevalence of perpetual streams, makes it a most desirable section for this branch of industry, which is just now assuming such proportions in the South.

Within the limits of Talladega are found extensive forests of splendid timber. These forests embrace a great variety of timber, consisting of yellow or long-leaf pine, the different varieties of oak, hickory, yellow poplar, black walnut, red cedar, ash, gum, elm, persimmon and sassafras.

In some instances there are broad domains of forest, as yet untouched by the rude hand of invasion.

The minerals of the county are varied and valuable. Investigation has shown that there are three gigantic ranges of deposits of brown hematite ore running throughout Talladega. These are calling into operation numerous furnaces, and are causing the construction of an increasing number of railway lines. The marble quarries of Talladega are noted; limestone, lithographic stone and slate are also found in considerable quantities, with large quantities of gold, silver, copper and lead. Not until within the last few years has public attention been called to the vast mineral resources of this county. Since that time there has been a continual growth of population, and real estate is gradually increasing in value. Among the industries of the county may be mentioned the Clifton Iron Company, at Jenifer, the furnace at Ironton Junction (formerly Alabama Furnace). Of late, extensive gold mines have been developed in the county and are now being worked with decided profit.

Formerly there were worked near Talladega and Syllacauga extensive marble quarries, but of late the work has not been prosecuted to any considerable extent. A block of marble from

these quarries has a place in the great Washington Monument, at the National Capital. These valuable marbles will again win attention, and assume more than their original importance in the markets.

A gigantic enterprise, in the form of a lumbering interest exists at Renfroe, in Talladega county. It is located at the terminus of the Talladega & Coosa Valley Railroad, which is being extended across Coosa River to Broken Arrow, in St. Clair county, making connection with the East & West Alabama Railroad. Of late, unusual attention has been called to the Cragdale water power on Talladega Creek. This is a sudden plunge of a vast volume of water into a valley lying beneath. The hands of a Titan seem to have scooped out this great stony trough-way for the passage of these mighty waters, and to have reared these rocky ramparts on either side for some great indust

prise.

The point of greatest prominence in the county is Talladega, the county seat, with a population of 3,500. It is noted for the enterprise of its citizens, the size and character of its institutions of learning, and the beauty and healthfulness of its location. Talladega has a system of waterworks, superior perhaps, to those of any city of the same size in the South. It is beautifully lighted with gas. The citizens have recently erected an imposing school building, and have adopted the public school system. Besides this, there are two colleges of merit in the city-one white and one colored. It has excellent churches, and is the location of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute of the State.

Childersburg, Alpine and Mumford, are also points of interest. In the extreme southern portion of the county are the Talladega Springs, which have long been a favorite resort as a watering place. The popularity of such points with our people, together with the superiority of these waters, warrants the belief that they will one day be considerably patronized.

The county enjoys considerable facilities for railroad transportation, there being five lines, viz: The East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia, the Georgia Pacific, the Anniston & Atlantic, the Columbus & Western and the Talladega & Coosa Valley Railroads. These will doubtless be largely increased in a few years, as Eng

lish and Northern capital is finding expression in different sections of the county in the purchase of timber and mineral lands, and already plans are on foot to establish furnaces near the city of Talladega. The social advantages of the county are numerous and superior. The masses of the population are more than ordinarily intelligent, thrifty and well-to-do.

Lands may be purchased in the county from prices ranging from $5 to $35, according to location, fertility and improvements. There is a wide-spread desire to have earnest, wide-awake immigrants populate the unoccupied areas of the county. There are in the county 10,800 acres of land belonging to the General Government, and this affords an additional inducement to settlers.

SAINT CLAIR COUNTY.

In

HIS is one of the territorial counties of the State, having been organized in 1816. It was named for General Arthur Saint Clair. Like many other counties in the same part of the State, it is receiving particular notice as one of great mineral wealth. The Red Mountains pass through this county for a distance of some thirty miles, running northeast and southwest. these mountains are large and inexhaustible quantities of rich, red hematite ore. The ridges on the northwest side of Beaver Creek, which traverses the entire length of the county, are in many places, filled with an excellent quality of brown ore. The ridge dividing Shoal and Beaver creeks has deposited in it in places a superior quality of hemonite ore, suitable for steel making. In the eastern and southeastern portion of the county and on the western side of Coosa River are to be found large and valuable deposits of brown ore.

The area of St. Clair is 630 square miles.

Population in 1880, 14,062; population in 1890, 17,353; white, 14,305; colored, 3,050.

Area planted in cotton, 16,966 acres; in corn, 24,946 acres; in

oats, 4,235 acres; in wheat, 1,495 acres; in tobacco, 2 acres; in rye, 13 acres; cotton production, 7,136 bales.

The most valuable portions of the Coosa coal field are in this county. The field is in width about five miles, and in length some twenty-five miles. This field is traversed nearly its entire length by the East & West Railroad of Alabama. The road running parallel with the out-crop of the coal veins. worked at Coal City, Ragland and Inman. steam coal anywhere in the The coal makes good coke. ovens at both Coal City and Ragland. cheaply mined and finds a ready sale. Coosa River to navigation to the Gulf will add greatly to the value of this field.

Coal is extensively There is not a finer State than is raised at these mines. There are a large number of coke This coal is easily and The opening up of the

The upper Cahaba coal field is found in this county covering a large area, and lying on the Black creeks between Springville and Henry Ellen. In this part of the field the veins are very thick, some as much as seven feet in thickness. They lie well, are easily mined and the coal is of excellent variety. For want of transportation this part of the field has not been worked to any great extent. When the East & West Railroad is built on to Birmingham and the Chattanooga Southern is extended to the latter place, this field will be of great value.

The upper Warrior coal field lies on the eastern portion of Blount county, and in places crop out over the line in St. Clair county. This portion of the Warrior field for want of transportation has not been worked. The Tennessee River, Ashville & Coosa River Railway, now being constructed, will bring this field to the front. This road will pass over the Warrior field for many miles. The veins of coal are good in quality and quantity, and much of the mining can be done without the use of pumps, the coal being above the water-level.

Limestone is found almost everywhere. It lies on the mountain sides and in bluffs, and can be cheaply quarried and manufactured. The quality is not surpassed in any part of the State. The fossiliferous, blue and magnesia limes are all to be had in St. Clair. This county also has an abundance of marble. Also, a superior quality of millstone grit.

Ashville, the county site, is situated in one of the prettiest and most fertile valleys in that part of the State. It is built just at the base of the eastern Red Mountain. It is safe to say that there is within five miles of this town enough red, brown and hemonite ore to run a score of furnaces for hundreds of years. There are in the town, springs sufficiently large to run a mill, besides Big Canoe Creek, which might well be called a river passing on its way to the Coosa through the place. In olden times, flat boats were laden with the products of the county and carried from Ashville to Mobile. No town in Northeastern Alabama has more natural advantages than this place, and at no distant day will be a great manufacturing center. The health of the place is

excellent.

The northeastern boundary of St. Clair county is formed by Blount or Strait Mountain, which is the southern end of the branches of Sand Mountain, recognized as a part of the coal field of the State. In the northwestern corner of the county Chandler Mountain, about eleven miles long and five miles wide, is of the same formation. The top of this mountain is about nine hun

dred feet above its base.

The mountain is well watered and

timbered, and quite fertile. It offers peculiar advantages for fruit growing. The fruit crops never fail on this elevated spot. The A. G. S. R. R. passes at the foot on the eastern side. Market for fruits: Birmingham, Chattanooga and Cincinnati. The moun

tain is within 24 hours run of Cincinnati. The lands can be had on good terms. In fact some of these lands are owned by the Government, and can be purchased for the fees incurred in entering them.

Between the hills and mountain ranges which the coal measures always form, lie the chief valleys; Coosa Valley, between the river and coal field, and the Cahaba Valley, between the Coosa and Cahaba coal fields. These valleys are broken here and there with narrow ridges, which run the entire length, creating a great diversity of soil. It will be observed that the county presents a great variety in its topographical and other natural features.

Here as elsewhere, the fertile lands lie along the valleys, while the thinner soil crown the higher lands. The Coosa Valley, which as we have seen, lies along the eastern part of St. Clair, is