Georgia

Georgia, one of the 13 original states of North America, is on the Atlantic coast, having Tennessee and North Carolina on the N., Florida on the S., South Carolina .end the ocean on the E., and Alabama on the W. It is 320 miles long by 256 broad, and contains 58,000 square miles. On the coast are fertile islands separated from the shore by lagoons and sounds. To the low-lying coast succeeds a sandy plain sloping up to a hilly and mountainous district, which is fertile and healthy. Then comes a plateau of 60 or 70 miles broad, leading up to the Appalachian Chain, which passes through North Georgia. The Blue Ridge, as it is called in Georgia, contains the sources of the chief rivers, and is a gold-producing region. In the S.E. is a large swamp computed to be about 180 miles round. The chief rivers are the Savannah, Ogeechee, Altamacha, Santilla, and St. Mary, the Chattahoochee (forming part of the Alabama frontier), the Flint, and tributaries of the Suwanee. The mainland has 128 miles of coast, but there are few harbours except at the mouth of the rivers, the chief being St. Mary's, Brunswick, Dacien, and Savannah, The sea-island cotton was much noted formerly, but is now little cultivated, though the cotton grown on the mainland is still considerable in amount. The islands and the alluvial coast are favourable to the growth of rice, which is produced in large quantities: and what are called the pine barrens supply abundance of good timber. The soil of the middle regions is in a great measure worn out by over-cultivation, and now requires considerable treatment to enable it to produce cotton and tobacco. What is called the Cherokee country is very fertile, especially in fruits. The coast is subject to fever, and great heat prevails in the southern and central parts during summer, but the highlands are a famous healthresort. There are gold, copper, tin, silver, lead, and many varieties of precious stone. The state is divided into 136 counties, and among the towns Atlanta is the capital, and has large ironworks. Savannah is the chief port, and Augusta and Columbus are great manufacturing towns, being favourably situated both as to water-power and proximity of raw material for this purpose. There are 38 cotton factories, and 14 woollen factories, and countless grain and saw mills and other works. Much of the development of Georgia is recent, having followed upon the season of depression which succeeded the War of Secession, in which Georgia suffered much, especially in Sherman's great march. The railway system is being well developed. Until 1729 the distract was occupied by the Cherokees in the N., and the Creeks in the S. In that year the land was surrendered by treaty, and in 1732 General Oglethorpe, with Government and public aid, founded a colony among the Indians. Georgia seems to have a great future before it.