Columbia, Augusta, Montgomery, and Macon have the advantage of good water power, and have become cotton manufacturing centers.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

Name the chief city of the South. Locate New Orleans.
How has the location of New Orleans influenced its growth?

What may be seen on the river above the city?

Where are these products being carried? Where will they be shipped?

Why do we say that New Orleans is the natural center of commerce in the Mississippi Valley?

What city is the chief seaport of Texas?

What is its chief export?

To what has Galveston's growth been due?

Locate Birmingham.

Tell why it is the chief iron manufacturing city of the South.
What is Atlanta often called? Where is Atlanta?

What has caused the rapidly increasing population?
Describe Savannah.

Name and locate four other southern cities.

LESSON XI

THE CENTRAL SECTION

For many years the colonists who had settled along the Atlantic coast were prevented by the Appalachian Mountains from pressing further west into the country.

Finally they found their way through the gaps and passes in the mountains.

Much to their surprise, they came to a region which. was rich and fertile. Before them stretched broad acres of nearly level grassland.

This was the eastern edge of the Great Central Plain,

which slopes gently for hundreds of miles toward the Mississippi River.

Beyond the Mississippi it rises slowly again to the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

A large section in the central part of the Great Central Plain is called the "prairies."

WHEAT REGIONS

A broad strip of more elevated land east of the Rocky Mountains is known as the Great Plains.

If you look at a map you will see that a great river flows through the middle of the Great Central Plain.

This is the Mississippi River. It is 2,600 miles long. The Missouri River which flows into the Mississippi is 3,100 miles long.

Many other rivers flow into the Mississippi River on either side, making one of the largest river systems in the world.

The entire region drained by all these streams is called the Mississippi Basin.

The Great Central Plain is the richest farming land in the world. It is free from rocks and trees.

Extensive corn, wheat, and other food crops stretch as far as the eye can see.

The Great Central Plain is very much like the great plains of Russia in size, surface, and soil.

The plains of Russia, however, are hemmed in largely by frozen oceans and ports, while the Mississippi Valley is connected by rail and water with the north, south, east, and west.

Much of our wealth comes from the abundant crops of the Great Central Plain.

Many cities of Europe depend upon this great American farm for much of their food.

The moving of crops furnishes business for the many railroads, steamboats, and canal boats which carry them to the flour mills, cities, and seaports.

Some of our largest herds of cattle and sheep are pas

tured on the ranches of the Great Plains. Sometimes the animals roam for many miles feeding on the bunch grass.

Later they may be shipped to the corn-producing states, where they will be fattened for market.

Other products of the Great Central Plain are oats, barley, flax, hay, potatoes, tobacco, and fruits.

Dairying is also done.

Around the Great Lakes there are large forests which supply much of our lumber.

Coal and iron ore are found in abundance. The iron mines around Lake Superior are very valuable.

There are also rich copper mines in this region.

Lead and zinc are found in the Central States.

In some places sandstone and limestone are easily obtained.

The Great Lakes, which lie between the United States and Canada, are wonderful in many ways.

They are the largest bodies of fresh water upon the globe, and have been called the "five unsalted seas." They are of great value to the country.

Vast quantities of lumber, iron ore, grain, and other products are shipped across the Lakes to the East.

Manufactured articles are shipped to the West in

return.

About one hundred million tons of freight are shipped on the Great Lakes in a year.

The cost is so much less than by railroad that there is a saving of more than five hundred million dollars yearly.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

What prevented the early colonists from pushing further into the country?

When they made their way through the mountains, what did they find?

Describe the Great Central Plain. Where are the prairies?

Locate the Great Plains.

What river flows through the Great Central Plain?

How long is the Mississippi River?

How long is the Missouri River?

What does the Great Basin include?

From what does much of our wealth come?

Name the crops raised on the Great Central Plain.

Where are some of our largest herds of cattle and sheep raised?

Where are the large forests of this region?

What minerals are found here?

Explain why the Great Lakes are of such great value to the country. What are they sometimes called?