Georgia

one of the thirteen original states. It borders on the Atlantic. It neighbors with both Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee. The total area is given at 59,475 square miles. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. A line carried from the Atlantic Ocean directly northwestward rises gradually from sea level to the top of the Blue Ridge. The highest summit in the state is known as Sitting Bull. It is 5,046 feet above the sea.

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE. The drainage of the state is three-fold. The Savannah, the Altamaha, and other rivers drain the eastern half into the Atlantic Ocean. The Suwannee, the Flint, the Chattahoochee, the Coosa, and their tributaries carry the waters of the western part to the Gulf. The waters of the northwestern corner beyond the Blue Ridge escape through the Tennessee to the Mississippi River drainage system. The climate is essentially that of the Gulf States. Snow seldom falls on the Atlantic coast. The Blue Ridge region has winters resembling those of Tennessee. The annual rainfall varies in different parts of the state. It may be put at from forty to seventy inches a year. About two-thirds of the amount falls in winter. It is only 300 miles from the northern to the southern boundary, but a difference in altitude gives the state a great variety of climate and of productions.

SOILS, ETC. There are four distinct physical regions. The tidewater region extending along the coast and including a number of islands off shore has an alluvial soil of wonderful fertility. Both vegetation and productions are sub-tropical. As in Florida, occasional frosts do great damage. The fig, lemon, orange, banana, cabbage palm, and blue palmetto grow here. Where facilities for shipment are at hand, as near Savannah and other ports, market gardening is carried on. Early potatoes, strawberries, cabbage, barley, tomatoes, onions, and peas are shipped to northern cities.

Next within this strip and occupying a belt about 160 miles in width, comes the pine and melon belt. It is also known as the wire grass region. The soil is sandy. It is especially adapted to the melon and the pear. The state leads the Union in the production of watermelons. Japan plums, figs, blackberries, sweet potatoes, and the Georgia yam grow to perfection in this belt. Certain isolated, elevated regions, standing up like islands, are noted for the production of peaches. The famous Elberta peach, the choicest variety known, originated in one of these localities. Still farther northwestward comes the third region. It is known among horticulturists as the peach and grape belt. The soil is chiefly a red clay. Enormous quantities of peaches are raised here for the northern market. Strawberries and raspberries do well. The fourth region, that of the Blue Ridge, known locally as the Tennessee Dip, is noted for apples and cherries.

AGRICULTURE. Agriculturally Georgia is a rich state. The cotton crop alone is valued at from $40,000,000 to $60,000,000. The Sea Islands, as they are called, produce the finest cotton known in the world. Next in importance come the corn crop, sweet potatoes, sugar-cane, and Irish potatoes in the order named. Wheat, rye, oats, barley, clover, timothy, and red top furnish an abundance of pasturage and hay. The various domestic animals are reared. Dairying is an important industry. Large shipments of poultry and honey are made.

TIMBER. Georgia is noted for its timber. The sandy region was covered originally with long-leafed pine, forests of which still yield enormous quantities of turpentine and rosin. The red clay belt has fine forests of oak, poplar, ash, beech, elm, chestnut, hickory, maple, and walnut. The sycamore, gum, dogwood, and persimmon grow in the river bottoms. The swamps produce cypress. The coast is clothed with live oak and palmetto.

MINERALS. The state is traversed by four lines along which gold is found in small quantities. There are well defined regions of iron and coal. Corundum, graphite, asbestos, talc, and mica are obtained in the mountain region. A few amethysts, diamonds, moonstones, rubies, and sapphires have been found. Limestone of excellent quality for plaster and calcimine is abundant. Marl, phosphate, black clay, and clays suitable for pottery, terra cotta, and sewer pipes occur.

POPULATION. Georgia was the last of the thirteen states to be settled. It was named in honor of George II, during whose reign the colony was established. Among those connected with its early history are General Oglethorpe and the two Wesleys. Georgia was loyal to the cause of the colonies during the Revolutionary War and bore its full share of hardships. During the Civil War Georgia stood stoutly by the cause of the Confederacy to the last. At the beginning of the century the total population was reported at 2,216,331, of which 1,034,998 were colored. The Baptists claim 368,000 adherents; the Methodists, 272,000; the Catholics, 20,000; the Presbyterians, 18,000; then follow the Disciples, the Episcopalians, the Congregationalists, the Hebrews, etc.

EDUCATION. A double system of schools is maintained--one for white children, one for colored. The public school system includes the common schools, a state university, various special schools, as an agricultural college, a school of technology, and a normal school. The public schools are reinforced by a very large number of small colleges under denominational or private control.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: