LONGLEAF PINE FORESTS OF MISSISSIPPI. 



43 



year 1892 had increased to 127,000,000. Comparatively much larger increase is noticeable in 

 the shipments by rail to inland markets. By the reports courteously furnished by the auditor of 

 the Illinois Central Kailroad in Chicago, in 1880, 12,000,000 feet, board measure, reached Northern 

 markets by this line, which in 1888 had risen to 02,000,000, with a falling oft' in the succeeding 

 year to 52,000,000. In 1892 the shipments increased again to 78,240,000, and reached in 1893 

 181,424,000 feet, board measure. 



With the opening of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, in 1883, the lumbering 

 industry took an active start in the virgin pineries. In 1892 fourteen mills are on record, with a 

 daily capacity of not less than 400,000 feet; this amount corresponding fully to the actual output 

 for 1891 as well as 1892. According to Mr. Kich, of Richburg, in consequence of the depression 

 during the year 1893, the output was reduced about one-half. 



The following table of partial data regarding annual shipments, made during the thirteen years 

 ending with 189.'?, from the chief centers of production shows clearly the constant increase of the 

 lumbering industry since the close of the year 1880: 



Tabular statement of lumber shipped annually by water and by rail from the centers of production in Mississippi, 1S79-80, 



1892-93. 



a From 60,000,000 to 90,000,000. 



RECAPITULATION FOR 1891-92. 



Pascag.iula River 127,000,000 



Pearl Ki ver liasiu 36, 000, 000 



Illinois Central Itailroad 78, 000. 000 



New Orleann anil Northeastern Railroad 60,000,000 



Mobile ami Ohio Uailroad 12, 000. 000 



Other nuints 20,000, WC 



Total :3, 000, 000 



From this amount are to be deducted about 18,000,000 feet of lumber received from Mobile to 

 complete cargoes, and 12,000,000 feet of timber cut on the western frontier of Alabama and finding 

 an outlet at Pascagoula by the Escatawpa River, leaving a round 300,000,001) feet, board measure, 

 for the cut in Mississippi in 1892, against 108,000,000, the cut reported to the census in 1880. 



With the exhaustion of the forests along the Pascagonla and Escatawpa rivers and a few points 

 between these streams and the Pearl River, which had been accomplished before the beginning of 

 1880, the naval-store industry remained almost dormant in the State until it began to receive a 

 new start by the opening of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. The production of the 

 distilleries along this road can be said to average about 15,000 casks of spirits of turpentine and 

 75.000 barrels of rosin annually since 1890, which are mostly disposed of in the New Orleans 

 market. 



Kttxfern Luuixiana. Forests of Longleaf Pine cover the upper part of eastern Louisiana to the 

 extent of about 3,880 square miles. Their western limit might be said to follow the Amite River, 

 but can not be clearly defined, since these forests toward the west pass gradually into the mixed 

 growth of Sliortleaf Pine, oaks, and hickories on the uplands which border the bottom lands of 

 the Mississippi River. Slightly undulating flat woods cover fully one fifth of the area, and, with 

 a somewhat loamy, porous soil, support a better timber growth than is generally found in the flat 

 pine barrens of the plain. Owing to their proximity to the coast, these forests have been exten- 

 sively invaded. The pine hills embrace about 1,619,200 acres. Their forests have remained almost 

 intact, their resources having been drawn upon only along the Illinois Central Railroad line and 

 the tributaries of the Pearl River. 



