The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-22
THE ALABAMA MIDLAND.
A Graphic Description of the Country
Tributary TO 1t.

which the Alabama Midland railroad runs
and the progress which the country is max
ing. The road will be of vast Importance
to Savannah:
The Alabama Midland railroad enters the
state of Alabama at Gordon, in Henry
county, some thirty-five miles above Balm
bridge, Ga, and before reaching Montgom-
cry passes through the counties of Henry,
Dale, Barbour, Pike, Crenshaw and Mont
gomery.
HENRY COUNTY.
The first county traversed is Henry,
which is the extreme southeastern county
of the state.
This county is watered by the Chatta-
hoochee, which separates it from Georgia,
and the Choctawhatchie river in the west,
the Abbey creeks and their tributaries in
the northern portion, and the Big, Cowart's,
Rocky, Cedar and Bryan creeks in the
southern, and the beautiful Omersee, which
runs in an easterly direction through the
center of the county, arising from springs
in the county and emptying into the Chat
tahoochee one mile south of Columbia.
These streams are all of sufficient power to
turn countless wheels, and are all easily ac-
cessible.
Columbia has population of 1000, which
Is daily increasing. 1t has a fine high school,
with splendid faculty, and over 100 at
tendants, besides one or two small private
schools; u beautiful Baptist church, built
of brick, that would do credit to a city; a
neat commodious Methodist church; Epts-
copal and Presbyterian church.
The other towns of the county are: Able
vile, with population of about ZOO; Cor
don, situated on the river, eleven miles south
of Columbia, with a population of 500,
Headland, situated near the center of the
county on the western border, with 400:
Dothan, the prospective crossing point of
the two roads now in contemplation, is in a
beautiful level pine country, eight miles
south Of Headland with a population of
200; LawrenceviLe. situated in the extreme
northern portion of the county
is noted for its fine schools and healthy
locality, has population of $50: Shorter
vile, twenty miles north of Columbia, two
miles from the river and five miles from
Fort Gaines, the present terminus of one
branch of the Central railroad, is in a fine
farming section, with a population of $50
The soil is fertile, the climate delightful,
being especially suited to consumptives
The principal products are cotton, corn,
oats and sugar-cane.
THE COUNTY OF DALE.
Lying next to Henry county, of which it
was once portion, is the county of Dale,
which is the second Alabama county
touched by the Midland.
u
the wiregrass region, is twenty-nine miles
long north and south, and twenty-five
miles wide east and west. The climate is
open and healthy. The county abounds in
an abundance of pure, clear freestone
water.
This county is physically divided into
two parts, northern and southern, the for
mer containing ABOUT three-fifths and the
latter two-fifths of the whole area. The
northern part is undulating and billy along
the streams, with valleys and bottoms, and
divided by ridges between the streams.
The soil of the creek and billy lands is
mostly of a grayish loan, and when fresh
produces great crops. That of the ridges
is sandy and less productive. but is
tlmbers in this part are the various
species of oak, with hickory. black
jack, gum, chestnut, pine, ash
and poplar, and along the streams beech,
magnolia, bay, holly and the like. The
southern part is more level and less billy,
but, like the northern part, is broken along
the streams. OF late the more desirable
lands in this section are the elevated level
pine lands, which have red and gray stiff
sandy soil, and produce abundant crops,
and are susceptible TO high state of fer
tiliZation. 1t is mostly in this part where
the yellow pine, which is of so much COM
mercial value, grows in the greatest abund-
ance. and which is intersperssd with black
jack, oak and hickory. and in places on the
streams, cedar, and in damp places cypress.
The towns and places of note are Ozark,
Newton, Skipperville, Daleviile, Clopton,
Echo, Rocky Head. Barnes Cross Roads.
Beaver Creek, Gilleys Store and Strickland
Ozark is the county site, and is located in
the northern half Of the county, within a
few miles of its center and about $40 feet
above the level of the sea, and has popu-
lation of 1,500.
PIKE COUNTY.
Pike is one of the substantial counties of
the state. The lands are generally level
with sufficient undulation for proper drain
age. Except in a few localities in the
northern and central portions of the county
there is no land unSuited for cultivation on
account of the abruptneSs of those undula-
tions. The character OF the soil varies, en-
bodying red clay, black hammock and
sandy soils. In the northwestern and
southeastern portions of the county
are large bodies of fine red lands
which are very productive and lasting. In
the northeastern and southwestern portions
it is generally sandy, with a sufficient ad-
mixture of lime to render them very pro-
ductive when first brought into cultivation:
but within five years their productive
capacity exhausts itself unless aided by
fertilizers. In the central portion of the
county every character of soil above emu
merated can be found. The close proximity
of clay foundation renders all of these
lands susceptible of the highest improve
ment by fertilization.
Troy is the county site of the county and
is located near its center. 1t has popula-
ton of 900. Its annual business aggre-
gates about So, 100000. Its cotton receipts
average 10000 bales per annum, which is
over ten bales to every man. woman and
child in the city-S440 each year from this
source alone. Its sales of fertilizers aver
age 10000 tons per aunum. 1t is the mar
ket for nearly half of the people of the
counties of Crenshaw, Covington, Coffee
and Dale, besides controlling the whole of
the trade of Pike county. Its wagon trade
is larger than that of any town of equal
population in the south. 1t is located 200
feet above the level of the sea, has excel
lent freestone water and is remarkably
healthy. The average mortality of the city
within the past three years has been Is to
1000 population. There are six churches
in the city, five of which are in charge of
able and faithful pastors. The state nor
NAL school for males and females, for south
east Alabama, is located in it. In connec-
ton with the normal school a city graded
school is conducted, the two having an at
tendance of $50 pupils. The faculty of this
institution will compare favorably with
any in the state. The city graded school is