What I read I think comes from the census report; I think this is reliable: In this connection let us glance at Montgomery County, Alabama, which, although not in the belt we are studying, is on the same prairie formation crossed by the Georgia Pacific Railway, on the edge of Mississippi.

Compare it with Butler County, Ohio, which "shows the best record of any county in the West." In live stock Montgomery has $1,748,273; Butler, $1,333,592.
That is the largest producing county in Ohio as compared with Montgomery County, Alabama, before the war.
Montgomery had 63,134 hogs; Butler, 51,640.
Animals slaughtered: Montgomery, $336,915; Butler, $318,274.

In grain Butler was considerably ahead, but in roots Montgomery led.
Montgomery doubled Butler in the production of wool, and had its cotton crop to show besides.
The total value of the crops of Montgomery County was $3,264,170; those of Butler only $1,671,132.
There is Montgomery County, Alabama, compared with the leading producing county in Ohio.
Q.Do you know as to the relative size of the two counties?
-- A.

I think it was given here: A handsome triumph for the Alabama county! And yet Montgomery is not up to the average of the prairie counties of Alabama.
I do not know the relative size.

Here is a fact to which I wish to call particular attention: We have examined the mortality tables of the United States census for 1880, and find that as regards health, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi make a better showing than some of the oldest and most densely populated Northern States.
There is generally an idea prevailing that the Southern States are very unhealthy.