DISTKIBUTION OF LONGLEAF PINE IN LOUISIANA. 



45 



these abaiuloued timber lands a yoiiii',' i)iiie is rarely seen, tiie s(!e(ls shed in the fall ])eiiiff apt 

 to rot in the water-soaked soil, or, it they happen to germinate, the seedlings are drowned during 

 the winter rains. On the lands rising gently above the flat woods, with the ridgi's still low and 

 wide and often more or less imperiectly drained, Longleaf Pine is found of an exceedinjily fine 

 growth. The trees in the dense forest are tall and slender, and their timber is equaled only by 

 the timber of the same class growing in the valley of tlie Neches Kiver, in Texas. 



The following measurements of five trees felled for test logs in the forests in the upper part 

 of Calcasieu Parish, between Hickory and Beekwith creeks, will serve as a fair reprcseutatiou of 

 the timber growth on these low, broad ridges: 



Measurements nf fire trees. 



Upon 1 acre, selected on the back of a low swell which might be said to represent the average 

 of the timber standing, 44 trees in all were counted. (H these, 3 trees measured l.'."i inches 

 diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 50 feet; 6 trees measured 23 

 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 50 feet: 19 trees 

 measured 18 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 40 feet; 

 14 trees measured 14 inches diameter at breast high, with a length of clear timber estimated at 

 3() feet, corresponding in the aggregate to somewhat over 15,000 feet, board measure. 



(3x1 another acre considered lirst <lass, rather level laud, the soil fresh to wet throughout the 

 year, 72 trees were counted. Of this number, 14 were found 27 inches diameter at breast-high, 

 with an estimated length of timber of 50 feet: 5 were found 24 inches diameter at breast high, with 

 ail estimated length of timber of 50 feet; 13 were found 23 inches diameter at breast high, with an 

 estimated length of timber of 50 feet; 8 were found 21 inches diameter at breast high, with 

 an estimated lengthof timber of 40 feet; 10 were found 20 inches diameter at breast high, with an 

 estimated length of timber of 40 feet; 11 were found 18 inches diameter at breast high, with 

 an estimated length of timber of 40 feet; 11 were found 18 inches diameter at breast high, with au 

 estimated length of timber of 30 feet. 



According to these iigures the timber standing on this acre would amount to not less than 



35,000 feet, board measure. 



The chief site of the lumber industry of western Louisiana is at Lake Charles. According 

 to the information furnished by Mr. George Lock, of Lockport, La., the annual output of the 

 sawmills in the vicinitv of Lake Charles for the years 1892 and 1893 averaged about 1,54,000,000 

 feet, board measure, all shipped West and Northwest. It can be assumed that over one-hall of 

 the lumber sawn at Orange, in Texas, is cut on the eastern banks of the Sabine River, which 

 amount has to be credited to the cut of Louisiana. 



Siimmarii of Ihr prnduction of Lonnleaf I'ine lumber in the Slate of Lomsiamt in 1S92. 



Feet, 1!. St. 



Pari.shes eaat of the Mississippi, about 2a,0(Ml, 0(M) 



Parislies iic.rtU of tho Red River C'*"' °*'' "^n 



To the .Sabine River, sawn at Lake Charles '^^- '*^'- ""'' 



Sawn at Orange, Tex., estimated 40. OOP. OOP 



Total cut in Louisiana 275, OOP, 000 



T,..rrt.,._The forests of Longleaf Pine extend from the Sabine west to the Trinity River and 

 from the grassy savannas of the coast region north to the center of Sabine, San Augustine, and 



