8 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



The timber is held in large tracts by the lumber companies. Timber deeds 

 reserve the land but often allow 20 years in which to remove the timber. 

 Very little cutting is being done at present. 



Second growth lands, as considered in this county, are those of the 

 postoak type. The tree growth consists mainly of post and black jack 

 oaks and sweet gum of decidedly poor quality and size. At the present 

 time the major portion of this timber is not merchantable except for 

 fuel where it is easily accessible. 



Culled and cut-over lands have been cut within the past 10 years. These 

 lands were culled lightly but practically all the resultant timber will be 

 black jack and post oaks and gum. 



Considerable progress is being made in intensive farming and although 

 not much new land is being cleared annually, no old lands are being 

 abandoned. Farms range in size from 10 to 1,000 acres, by far the 

 greater proportion being small ones. Farm lands if not properly handled 

 are subject to severe erosion. More than 150,000 acres of prairie land 

 are found in the county. This area is used for grazing and tree growth 

 is practically absent. A comparatively small portion of the total area of 

 the county may be classed as eroded, overflow and swamp lands. Nearly 

 all the county is under hog law. 



No very large mills have ever been operated in Anderson County, 

 although a number of smaller mills have cut irregularly for about 25 years. 

 Twelve mills, one with a capacity of 40 thousand feet daily, the remainder 

 small and irregular in their cut, are operating at this time with a total 

 output of approximately 8,000,000 board feet annually. At this rate 

 they may continue indefinitely. 



Two portable tie mills cut 60 per cent of the total yearly output of 

 65,000 ties; 75 per cent oak, 25 per cent gum. Nearly 8,000 cords of 

 fuelwood are said to be shipped annually, the producer receiving on an 

 average about $2 per cord at the railroad. The fence post production 

 is governed entirely by the local demand; it is estimated that probably 

 3,000 split posts are disposed of annually in Palestine. Although there 

 are two box and crate factories in the county only one is being operated 

 this year. 



Grass and woodland fires are started in Anderson County under the 

 belief that burning prevents the spread of underbrush. The fallacy of 

 this belief, however, is amply demonstrated by the presence of large areas 

 of heavy underbrush and the absence of reproduction of more desirable 

 species on burned-over areas. 



ANGELINA COUNTY. 



Approximately 20 per cent of the total area of Angelina County, the 

 northern portion, lies within the shortleaf pine region while the remain- 

 ing 80 per cent is located in the longleaf region. The generally level 

 land surface drains to the southeast and southwest into the Angelina 

 and Neches Rivers, respectively. Soils vary from light loams to heavier 

 loams and clays and in the main are very fertile when properly cultivated. 

 Public roads are being slowly improved. One hundred and fifty-nine 

 miles of mainline and not more than 15 miles of logging railroad traverse 

 the countv. 



