MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA AND CAUCASIA - INTRODUCTION - THE Georgians are an ancient civilized race with three thousand years of existence, but in spite of that very little known, as Georgia since 1801 ceased to be an independent kingdom, was forcibly annexed by the Russian Empire in violation of the Treaty of 1783, and was never allowed to make herself known to the outside world. G oasm.-Georgia is situated in Transcaucasia, between the Black and the Caspian Seas 40-49 northern latitnde, and 39O-47 east of Greenwich. She is separated from the North Caucasus by the celebrated Caucasian mountain chain, which stretches for a distance of a thousand miles from the Black Sea to the Caspian, and has an average height of 10,000 feet and in some places, as in the peaks of the Elbruz and the Kasbek, even 18,000 feet. Georgia comprises the following provinces and districts Tiflis, Zakathal, Hutais, Sukhum, the northern part of the Black Sea Province towards hapse, Ardahan and Olti dist-ricts, provinces of Batum and Lazistan up to Trebizond. The total area of this territory is 43,000 square miles. The frontiers of Georgia are in t. he north, the Caucasian mountain chain in the east, Aderbeijan in the south, Armenia and in the south-west, Turkey. Among the rivers the most prominent are Kura, 310 miles long Ingur, 95 miIes Rion, 140 miles Chorokb, 160 miles Terek, 210 miles. The climate of Georgia is very similar to that of Italy and Spain. Under the protection of the Caucasian mountains and with plenty of moisture, there is a rich vegetation, and at a height of 4,000 feet there grow vast forests of oak, beech, chestnut., pines boxwood, etc. All along the Black Sea shore orange and lemon treesare plentiful wonderful rhododendrons luxuriate up to a height of 9,400 feet and alpine grasses are met with even at 11,500 feet. On the high mountains there are still to be found bisons, wild goats, hoga, reindeer, antelopes, etc. There are also four hundred varieties of birds. The climate and beautiful scenery make Georgia very attractive, the Riviera on the Black Sea. Po m a o.-Thtoet al population of Georgia is about 4,000,000, of whom 3,650,000 are of the Christian Greek Orthodox faith and 350,000 Mohammedans. The capital of Georgia is Tifiis, which was founded by the Georgian king, Vakhtang in the fifth century. The town has 450,000 inhabitants. RAILWAY A S N D PORTS.-The total length of railway lines in Georgia is 970 miles. The trunk line, leading from Batum through Tiflis to Baku on the Caspian Sea, is 556 miles long. The coast line of Georgia along the Black Sea measures 345 milea. The principal ports are Batum, Poti, Anaklia, Sukhum, Goudaut, and Rizeh. The port of Batum is the terminus of the Transcaucasian railway line and also of the petroleum pipe-line from Baku to Batum. Batum is the transit port for the whole of Georgia, Tranacaucasia, Turkestan and Persia. A RI ULTURE.-Tag r ic ultural resources of Georgia are considerable. The following products are grown wheat, barley, maize, cotton, rice, tobacco, tea, etc. Wine is grown very extensively, and its quality is equal to the superior French and Italian varieties. There is also fruit-growing on a large scale g specially of oranges, lemons, olives, peaches, plums, pears, apples, and all kinds of vegetables. Among other branches of agriculture silk production and bee-keeping are ancient occupations. The country containsTabout 12,000,000 heads of domestic animals, and has vast possibilities for cattle-breeding. TRADE AND INDUSTRY…
