PART II.

SKETCHIES OF THE COUNTIES.

These sketches contain information concerning the history, soil, productions, live stock, manufactures, population, etc. of each county in the State.

In each instance the total population of the county is given, and also the population by sex and color. The United States census for 1900 gives the population by sex and color for every place having 2,500 inhabitants or more in its corporate limits. There are thirty-one such places in Georgia, and this information is given concerning each of these in the sketch of its county.

The live stock statistics are from the census of 1890, and in the Appendix will be found the live stock statistics for 1900, if they can be obtained in time. If this information cannot be had, before this book is issued from the press, a pamphlet containing this and other useful knowledge will be sent to each one having a copy of this work.

The statistics of domestic animals not on farms or ranges, include all domestic animals in cities, towns and villages; in stock-yards; all employed in manufacturing, lumbering and mining industries, and kindred enterprises; and all used for pleasure or profit by individuals other than farm proprietors. The number of live stock in cities containing over 25,000 inhabitants in their corporate limits is given separately.

There are three such cities in Georgia: Atlanta, Savannah and Augusta.

Similar statistics have never before been collected in the United States. The census authorities say: "It was deemed unwise to delay, for several months, the publication of these tables in order to include the further statistics" on live stock on farms or ranges in each county in 1900.

The statistics for domestic animals in barns and inclosures for the whole State June 1, 1900 show 29,713 inclosures. Of these there are 17,355 inclosures reporting neat cattle, in which are 36,720 neat cattle, including 8,393 calves under one year old, 1,614 steers one and under two years old, 773 steers two and under three years, 1,624 steers three

years and over, 465 bulls one year and over, 2,052 heifers one and under two years, 20,806 dairy cows two years and over, 1,893 other cows two years and over. There are 12,052 inclosures reporting horses, in which are 21,016 horses, 117 colts under one year, 222 colts one and under two years, 20,677 horses two years old and over. The 2,395 inclosures containing 7,540 mules, include 30 colts under one year, 106 colts under two years, and 7,404 mules two years old and over. Sixty-eight inclosures contain 126 donkeys. Ninety-seven inclosures report 5,745 sheep, of which 1,147 are lambs under one year, 2,499 ewes of one year and over, 2,099 rams and wethers of one year and over. In 13,209 inclosures

there are 39,538 swine and in 608 inclosures are 2,045 goats. The Appendix contains many valuable tables.

The native born population of Georgia numbers 1,095,598 males and 1,108,330 females; the foreign born, 7,603 males, and 4,800 females. The total population is 2,216,331.

The native white with native parents number 573,447 males and 570,728 females. Of native white with foreign parents there are 12,309 males and 12,604 females. Of foreign white there are 7,283 males and 4,738 females.

The total white population is 1,181,109. Of these there are 593,039 males and 588,070 females. The total negro population of the State is 1,034,998, of whom there are 509,958 males and 525,040 females.

There are also 204 Chinese-192 males and 12 females, 1 male Jap, 11 male and 8 female Indians.

APPLING COUNTY.

Appling County, in the southeastern part of the State, named after Colonel Daniel Appling, of Columbia county, was laid out in 1818. Part of it was added to Telfair in 1818, part to Ware in 1824 and part again to Telfair in 1825. It is bounded by the following counties: Montgomery and Tattnall on the north, Wayne on the east, Pierce and Ware on the south and Coffee on the west. On the north are the Ocmulgee and Altamaha rivers, which streams and their tributaries, with the headwaters of the Satilla river, viz.: Dougherty's and Carter's creeks, Little Satilla river, Big Hurricane and Little Hurricane creeks, water the county.

Appling county is in the great pine belt, and therefore the principal industries are turpentine and lumber. Large numbers of logs are yearly rafted down the Altamaha river to Darien.

The lands are level and are especially adapted to long-staple or seaisland cotton, and according to the United States census of 1900 the cotton ginned in the county for the season of 1899 and 1900 was 4,046

bales, of which 3,778 bales were sea-island and 268 bales upland. Some of the lands under proper cultivation can be made to yield to the acre: seaisland seed cotton, 500 to 1,000 pounds; corn, 15 to 25 bushels; oats, 20 to 30 bushels; rice, 10 bushels; Irish potatoes, 100 bushels; sweet potatoes, 200 bushels; field peas, 10 to 15 bushels; ground peas, 15 to 30 bushels; crab-grass and peavine hay, 2,000 to 3,000 pounds; corn fodder, 200 to 400 pounds; sugar-cane syrup, 250 to 500 gallons. Pears and grapes grow to perfection and many other fruits do well.

The wild native grasses afford splendid pasturage for cattle and sheep, which can be raised at very small expense.

According to the United States census of 1890 there were 11,583 sheep, with a wool clip of 23,081 pounds; 16,152 cattle, 4,254 milch cows, 311 working oxen, 17,224 hogs, 40,027 poultry of all kinds, 819 horses, and 307 mules. The county produced 54,456 dozens of eggs, 8,544 pounds of honey, 11,084 pounds of butter, and 192,070 gallons of milk.

The creeks and rivers abound in fish excellent for the table. The climate is warm, but not oppressive, and the people are healthy.

The county is well supplied with churches and schools. Methodists and Baptists predominate. Schools for whites number 60; for colored, 17. Average attendance in white schools 1,417, in colored 487.

There are no large towns in the county. Baxley, the county seat, on the Southern Railway, is the most important.

There are postoffices at Baxley, Graham, Hazlehurst, Surrency, Blarney, Peyton, Ritch, Medders, Spencer and Elma.

At Baxley a syrup refinery has been recently completed and incorporated. The proprietor of the refinery guarantees not less than 25 cents a gallon cash. With the same careful and scientific culture that is bestowed by some planters upon the crop, 500 gallons of first-class syrup can be produced to the acre on ordinarily fertile land, and with one-half the labor required for the cultivation of cotton. The people of Baxley are the proprietors of this refinery and expect great results from it. The ponds in the neighborhood of the town, hitherto regarded as of no practical benefit, will soon be in great demand.

Mr. C. W. Deen, who owns $1,600 worth of stock in the refinery, proposes to plant this year (1901) 50 acres in sugar cane, and expects to make a clear profit of $100 an acre.

The area of Appling county is 775 square miles, or 496,000 acres. Population by the census of 1900 is 12,336. School fund, $7,993.41. By the Comptroller-General's report for 1900 there are 382,828 acres of improved land; of wild lands, 200,263; average value per acre of improved land, $1.42; of wild land, $0.57; city and town property, $120,989; shares in bank, $10,000; money and solvent debts, $138,588; value of merchandise, $73,505; capital invested in shipping and tonnage, $4,020; stocks and bonds, $1,350; cotton manufactories, $11,475; capital invested in mining, $525; value of household and kitchen furniture, $88,260; farm and other animals, $244,092; plantation and mechanical tools, $30,880; watches, jewelry and silver plate, $4,989; value of all

other property, $97,493; real estate, $766,787; personal estate, $707,898; aggregate value of whole property, $1,474,687.

Property returned by colored taxpayers: Acres of land, 15,202; value of land, $24,267; city or town property, $6,064; money and solvent debts, $699; merchandise, $410; household and kitchen furniture, $6,376; watches, jewelry and silver plate, $162; farm and other animals, $11,896; plantation and mechanical tools, $1,689; aggregate value of all property, $52,844.

The population of Appling county in 1900 shows an increase of 3,660 over that of 1890. This is a gain of 42.1 per cent.

Population of Appling county by sex and color, according to census of 1900: white males, 4,539; white females, 4,284; total white, 8,823; colored males, 1,961; colored females, 1,552; total colored, 3,513.

Domestic animals kept in barns and inclosures, not on farms or ranges, June 1, 1900: 63 calves, 6 bulls, 8 steers, 118 dairy cows, 81 horses, 58 mules, 286 swine, 37 goats.

BAKER COUNTY.

Baker County was laid out from Early in 1825, and was named after Colonel John Baker of Revolutionary fame. It is bounded on the north by Calhoun and Dougherty counties, east and southeast by Mitchell, south by Mitchell, Decatur and Miller, and west by Early and Miller. Newton, on the west bank of the Flint river, is the county seat. Other postoffices are Cheeverton, Hoggard's Mill, Mimsville and Milford. The county is watered by the Flint river and its tributaries, the Coolewahee, Ichawaynochaway and Chickasawhatchee creeks, all of which abound in fish. The county has lands in which oak and hickory predominate, and others in which the long-leaf pine is the prevailing growth. The former lands are dark and much more productive than the latter, which are gray. With the exception of the pine lands the county used to be considered unhealthy. But the boring of artesian wells and the use of their water, instead of the rotten limestone, has brought about a great change for the better. The face of the county is level.

Under the ordinary methods of cultivation the yield per acre is: Seed cotton, 600 to 800 pounds; corn, 10 to 15 bushes; wheat, 15; oats, 20; rye, 8 to 10; upland rice, 25 bushels; sugar-cane, 300 gallons; sorghum cane, 50 to 75 gallons; Irish potatoes, 50 to 150 bushels; sweet potatoes, 100 to 250; sorghum forage, 10,000 pounds. All grasses and forage crops except clover do well.

According to the United States census of 1900 the cotton ginned in the county for the season of 1899-1900 was 4,039 bales, all upland.

According to the United States census of 1890 there were 1,510 sheep, with a wool-clip of 2,849 pounds; 7,859 cattle, 2,586 milch-cows, 675 working oxen, 9,809 hogs, 30,527 poultry of all kinds, 567 horses, 724 mules and 2 asses. Among the productions were 181,645 gallons of milk, 25,285 pounds of butter, 83,172 dozens of eggs, and 1,660 pounds of honey.