LESSON XXXVIII

STUDIES ON THE MAP OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

SYSTEMATICALLY ARRANGED.

Bound the following States, viz.:-Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.

Describe the situation of the following Cities and Towns, viz. :— *Cumberland, Williamsport, Hagerstown, Emmetsburg, Westminster, Havre de Grace, Elkton, Chester Town, Easton, Cambridge, Snow Hill, Princess Anne, Leonard Town, Port Tobacco, Rockville, Frederick, Ellicott's Mills, Baltimore, and ANNAPOLIS.

*See Map of "Middle States," for the Cities and Towns in Maryland.

MARYLAND.

Area in sq. miles, 11,000. Population, 583,000. Inhabitants to a sq. mile, 53. Counties, 21.

Geographical Position, etc.-This state, the most north-easterly of the Southern States, is situated south of Pennsylvania, and north-east of Virginia, from which it is separated by the Potomac. Its greatest length along its northern boundary is about 190 miles, and its greatest breadth, from north to south, is about 120 miles.

Surface.-Maryland includes three distinct geographical regions; first, that portion lying east of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay (usually called the Eastern shore); second, that part between Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac; and, third, the mountainous district of the north-west. The surface on both shores of the bay is level.

Soil, etc.—The soil, in the valleys of the northern and middle parts of the state, is highly fertile; that of the eastern and a part of the western shore requires considerable care to make it productive.

The climate in the north, is similar to that of Pennsylvania; but in the south, the winters are milder, and the summers are hot, moist, and unhealthy. In the amount of tobacco produced, Maryland ranks third in the Union; the other great staples are wheat and Indian The mineral products are iron and coal.

corn.

Inhabitants, etc.-The first settlers were English, and the first settlement was made in 1634, at St. Mary's, on the Potomac River. This state was named in honor of Henrietta Maria, the queen of Charles I.

The leading industrial pursuits of the present population, are agriculture, manufactures and commerce.

Manufactures and Exports.-Among the leading manufactures are cotton, woolen, iron, leather, glass, shot and powder. The prime articles of foreign export are flour, grain, pork and tobacco.

Cities.-ANNAPOLIS, the capital, is situated on the right bank of the Severn, about 3 miles above its entrance into Chesapeake Bay. It contains a fine State House, and a United States Naval Academy. St. John's College is also located here. In the State House, the old. Continental Congress held some of its sessions, and the Senate Chamber, where General Washington resigned his commission, at the close of the Revolutionary war, has been preserved unaltered.

CUMBERLAND, situated on the left, or north bank of the Potomac, about 180 miles distant from Baltimore, is noted for its trade in coal. In respect to population, it is not surpassed by any other city in the state except Baltimore.

FREDERICK CITY is situated about 2 miles west of Monocacy River, a stream which flows south-west, and empties into the Potomac River. This city ranks second in the state in wealth and commercial importance, and third in population. The valley of Monocacy River is remarkable, not only for its beauty, but for its agricultural resources and its mineral wealth.

Frederick is the depot of this district, and carries on an extensive commerce and a large wholesale and retail trade.

BALTIMORE, the metropolis of the state, lies upon a bay which sets up from the Patapsco River. It is pleasantly situated on slightly undulating ground around the bay, and is regularly laid out.

The city is ornamented with numerous monuments and fountains. It is often called "The Monumental City." It is also distinguished as being the greatest market for tobacco in the United States, and the principal flour market in the world.

The principal public buildings of the city, are the City Hall, the State Penitentiary, the House of Refuge, the Mechanics' Institute and the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

LESSON XXXIX.

MAP STUDIES.-VIRGINIA.

State the situation of the following Cities and Towns, viz. :— Wheeling, Elizabethtown, Morgantown, Fairmount, West Union, Clarksburg, Woodstock, Strasburg, Winchester, Harpers Ferry, Leesburg, Alexandria, Warrenton, Fredericksburg, Tappahannock, RICHMOND, Manchester, Yorktown, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Jerusalem, Petersburg, Clarksville, Halifax, Danville, Lynchburg, Abingdon, Estillville, Jonesville, Logan, Fayetteville. Charleston, Winfield, Guyandotte, Point Pleasant, Parkersburg, Monterey, Staunton, Charlottesville, Lexington, Covington, and Lewisburg.

VIRGINIA.

Area in so. miles. 61.350. Population, 1,422,000. Inhabitants to a sq. mile, 23. Counties, 140. Geographical Position, etc.—Virginia lies south of Pennsylvania and the Potomac River, and north of the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. The average length of the state is about 350 miles, and its average breadth about 220 miles.

Surface. It is generally divided into four physical sections;-first, the tide-water district, bordering on Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean; second, the Piedmont district, which extends from the head of tide-water on the rivers, westward to the Blue Ridge; third, the valley between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany; and fourth, the Trans-Alleghany district, comprising all that part of the state westward of the Alleghany Mountains.

Soil, etc. In the tide-water district, the soil is poor except along the banks of the rivers; the Piedmont section is well adapted to the growth of Indian corn, tobacco and cotton; the valley district is

generally fertile; and between the mountains and the Ohio the soil is for the most part inferior.

The extent of the state and its varied topography, produce a great variety of climate. Along the coast it is hot and moist, while it is cool and salubrious in the mountainous districts. The staple products are wheat, corn, and tobacco. Coal and iron are abundant, and salt and sulphur springs are very numerous.

Natural Curiosities.-The Natural Bridge, over Cedar Creek, near its junction with James River, about 120 miles west of Richmond, is regarded as one of the greatest natural curiosities in the world. This bridge of limestone rock spans a chasm of 90 feet in width, at the distance of about 215 feet above the surface of the creek. The average width of the bridge is 80 feet, and its thickness 55 feet. Wier's Cave, about 18 miles north-east of Staunton, is also a noted natural curiosity. It extends 1,260 feet into the ground, and contains about 20 large rooms, besides numerous passages and galleries.

Inhabitants, etc.-Virginia was first settled by the English, and the present inhabitants are mainly of English descent. The first permanent English settlement in our country was established at Jamestown, about 30 miles above the mouth of James River, in 1607. The leading industrial pursuit is agriculture.

Manufactures and Exports.-This state is not noted for manufactures. Its commerce consists mainly in the exportation of agricultural products. Oysters form an important article for export.

Cities.-RICHMOND, the capital, is situated on the north-east bank of James River. The city is built on several hills, affording a delightful prospect of the surrounding country, which is said to combine in a high degree the elements of grandeur, beauty and variety. This city possesses abundance of water-power, which is used to a considerable extent for the manufacture of flour, tobacco, cotton, and iron

ware.

WHEELING, a port of entry, situated on the east bank of the Ohio, is the most important city on that river, between Pittsburg and Cincinnati. The river is here crossed by a suspension bridge. Wheeling is noted for manufactures and enterprise in trade.

ALEXANDRIA, a port of entry, is pleasantly located on the right bank of the Potomac, about 5 miles below the city of Washington. At this place is owned a considerable amount of shipping, in which are exported wheat, corn, tobacco, and coal. Steamboats ply regularly between Washington and this port.

NORFOLK, situated on the right or north bank of Elizabeth River, 8 miles above its entrance into Hampton Roads, is the chief commercial port of Virginia. This city communicates with New York and Philadelphia by regular lines of ocean steamers.

PORTSMOUTH, on the opposite side of the river, is noted for its fine harbor, and for its being an important naval depot of the United States. The navy yard is at Gosport, a suburb of Portsmouth. Between Portsmouth and Norfolk, ferry-boats ply constantly, and a daily line of steamboats communicates with the capital of the state.

LYNCHBURG is finely situated on elevated ground, on the south bank of James River. It is one of the largest, most wealthy, and busy towns in the state.

PETERSBURG, situated on the south bank of Appomattox River, is a handsome and flourishing town. Large quantities of flour and tobacco are exported from this place.