margin of many of the rivers there is a considerable quantity of cane bottomland, of great fertility, generally from a half to three quarters of a mile wide.On the outside of this is a space, which is low, wet, and intersected by stagnantwater. Next to the river swamp, and elevated above it ten or fifteen feet, suc-ceeds an extensive body of level land of a black, rich soil, with a growth ofhickory, black-oak, post-oak, dog-wood, poplar, &c. After this come theprairies, which are wide-spreading plains of level, or gently waving land,without limber, clothed with grass, herbage, and flowers, and exhibiting in themonth of May the most enchanting scenery.
Cotton is the staple of the state. Other productions are corn, rice, wheat,rye, oats, &c. The sugar-cane, the vine, and the olive, it is supposed, may becultivated with success. Coal abounds on the Cahawba , the Black Warrior,&c.; and valuable iron ore is found in some parts of the state.
The climate of the southern part of the bottom land bordering on the rivers,and of the country bordering on the Muscle Shoals , is unhealthy. In the ele-vated part of the country the climate is very fine ; the winters are mild, and thesummers pleasant, being tempered by breezes from the Cutf of Mexico.
The Cherokee and the Creek Indians possess a large tract in the eastern partof Alabama ; and the Choctaws and Chickasaws have possessions in the west.
In 1831 there were three bunks in this state, including a branch of theUnited States Bank at Mobile.
The University of Alabama , at Tuscaloosa , is a new but well-endowedEducation. ; ns tp u tion. It was incorporated in 1830, by an act of the state legisla-ture. By an act of Congress , March 1819, one section of land, containing 640acres, was granted to the inhabitants of each township for the use of schools,and 73 sections, or two townships, for the support of a seminary of learning.The funds of the university consist of the proceeds of these lands.
There have been 24 academies incorporated in the state, up to 1832.internal im- By an act of congress , March 2, 1S19, it was provided that 5 perprovement. cen t. of the neat proceeds of all the sales of public lands in this state,made subsequently to September 1, 1819, should lie reserved for making publicroads and canals, and improving the navigation of rivers. Three-fifths of theamount were directed to be applied to these objects within the state, and two-fifthsto the making of a road or roads leading to the state, under the direction of con-gress. This act gave rise to what is commonly called the “ Three per cent.Fund,” which has been vested in the bank of the state of Alabama ; and itamounted, according to the report of the state treasurer, on the 26th of Novem-ber, 1829, to $96,355 77. A board of internal improvement, to consist of sixcommissioners, was established by the general assembly in January, 1830,under whose superintendence the income of this fund is to be appropriated toobjects of public utility, as roads, canals, &c.
On the 23d of May, 1828, congress made a grant to this state of 400,000acres of relinquished and unappropriated lands for improving the navigation ofthe Muscle Shoals and Colbert Shoals in the Tennessee ; and likewise for im-proving the navigation of the Coosa, Cahawba , and Black Warrior rivers.
There are 12 periodical presses in this state.
Rciiaious de- The Baptists in this state have 12 associations, 219 churches, 130nomina- ministers, and 8,953 communicants ; the Methodists, 44 preacherstions. 1 3,504 members; the Presbyterians, 38 churches, 27 ministers, 6licentiates, and 1,669 communicants; the Roman Catholics , 2 ministers; theEpiscopalians, 2 ministers.
Mobile, in the southern part of Alabama , was settled long since byiiiatorj. gp an j s ], . y C f the territory which now forms this state containedbut very few civilized inhabitants before 1810. Since that time its increase inpopulation has been exceedingly rapid.
Alabama was erected into a territorial government in 1817 ; the inhabitantsformed a constitution in 1819; and in 1820, it was admitted into the Union.