Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-13

He came at length to the fertile laHcS and clear streams of Alabama Charmed by the scenery, the blooming valleys. the limpid streams, the bound- less plains, on reaching the banks of the beautiful Alabama river he struck hls spear into the earth, saying, "Alapama, Here we rest"
 Gut of the midst of this tradition there looms thetIuth of Alabama's greatness, her inexhaustible resources of soil and mine. of fields and forces. balmy climate, her wonderful healthfulness and her beauty.
 It may be safely said that no portion or the globe of the same compass, affords a greater diversity of resources, mineral, agricultural horticultural and otherwise and to q greater extent than that enl- braced within the limits of Alabama.
 Her soils have never refused to yield any production known to the temperate zone. while along the shores that front zone while along the shores which front the warm waters of the gulf many tfopl- cal fruits are grown with the greatest readiness. And such is the capabllity o4 the soil that they yield usually in vast abundance and sometimes even to the most indolent culture.
 The developments which have been go, ing on for period of years in the rnlneral district of Alabama have established the
 
 she leads the other states of the union.
 This ie most notably true respecting her vast iron deposits.
 Through the agency of capital ana skill the state has come rapidly to the front as a great manufacturing center - Side by side lie her fields of coal and her domains of iron. Thus, 1t will be seen that the state has been most Hper- ally endowed by nature with all the con- ditions favorable to manufacture ana aB- riculture The profusion of her elements for manufacturing is simply marvellous and her cotton fields have won distinc- ton tha. is worldwide.
 The staple grown upon Alabama cotton fields commands dominant price III the markets of the world.
 Throughout the entire length of the state from the utmost northern llmlts to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, there are found the resources ol d 5Iee'e commonwealth.
 The magnificent wheat and corn Vaileys that lie along the base Of the cumpef- lands or that follow the windings or the Tennessee river; the high hills with thelr treasures of ore; the orchards of delicious fruits. the plains of snowy cotton; the H. limtable forests of giant timber, Wnich have fer so many years contributed 10 the lumber markets of the globe, ana the groves of orange that dot the southern shores-all these attest the greatness or Alabama'S resources.
 The soils of this sta te are of every pos sible variety, ranging in polnt oI lertil- itv from the thinnest sandy land to the richest alluviaL Along the sand noun tains in the north, as well as along the southern shores, the soils are thin, but py no means sterile, while the famous Ten nessee valley and canebrake and piairle regions of central and southern Alabama have depths of marvellous fertility.
 Alabama is most highly favored in her sllnerb climate. Such is the temperature of the state that the extremes or Heae and cold never prevail.
 The influences of the mountains in the northern end of the state tones into blandness the heat of summer while TOT many miles inland the cool breeZes or the waters of the gulf fan away the sultry breath of summertide. Snow but seldom falls, and only thin coatings of ice are seen, The exceptions to this statement are exceedingly rare.
 The streams of Alabama are not frozen over. Flowers blossom, fruits ripen and vegetables prevail almost the year round.
 HEALTH
 As every county is more or less popu- lated, and as the counties are in afi1lla- ton with the medical association or the state. we are enabled to have pretty correct idea of the sanitary cchuitloh ol every part of the state.
 If may be said, without fear of contra diction. that Alabama is one of the healthiest states in the union.
 The various papers which have been read before the medical association for the last twenty years accompanied as they have been in many instances py Val uable statistics, go to prove lhat very few portions of the state are unhealthy, ana these few locations suffer only at certain seasons of the year.
 The great agricultural and mineral re- gionS of the state are uneNceptlonahy healthy. while the pine district, feachifg 100 miles from the coast and intersected hy numerous clear and cool streams or unrest water, is free from any kind Of disease. ,
 The longevity in this region is proverb- ial and so delightful that this portion or the state is fast becoming popular re- sort during the fall and winter months, for inyalids from the north and north west who are forced to seek at that sea son a more genial climate than tneir own: From this brief sketch of the climate or Alabama. it will be seen that no state in the union possesses more desirable ad- yartaces for the new settler, and none can surpass it in comfort for those who may settle and live within it's borders
 WATER LINES.
 Alabama ranks among the first of the state of the union in the number, extent and value of her magnificent water lines. Every section, and nearly every county of the state, is watered and afforos com ,,ercial fa cilities by some one or more or its nayirable rivers, while the large creeks and other small streams Whlch flow through and irrigate the soil are ai- most innumerable.
 A single glance at the map or Alabama will verify these assertions.
 The importance and value to the state of these natural lines of transportation when properly improved ana developed cannot well be everestimated
 The state of Alabama is divided into four great belts, viz: Cereal, mineral, az ricultural and timber belts.
 THE CEREAL BELT.
 This section extends across the north ern boundary of the state from east to west and embraces the famous valley Of the Tennessee and its tributaries It comprises eight counties, viz: Lauder dale. Limestone, Madison, Lawrence Jackson. Marshall, Morgan. Colbert.
 The soil is very fertile. While this sec tion is distinguished as the Cereal Belt because of it's marvellous yield of grain and grasses, still these are not the ex- elusive productions of the counties. For many years cotton has been extensively raised upon these famous red lands, and is today iivaling the cereals in it's pro- duction But cereals thrive in this tier of counties in the richest Drofusion, and