FOREST RESOURCES OF EASTERN TEXAS. 21 



for many of the principal lumber companies of eastern Texas and the ad- 

 jacent States. 



The fuelwood industry is a comparatively large one when compared to 

 the meager timber resources of Harris County. Not less than 12,000 cords 

 of wood are consumed annually, most of which is shipped in from the 

 adjoining counties. Practically no other wood using industries handle raw 

 material in the county. 



Woodland fires are not a serious problem because of the comparatively 

 small timbered area. Grass fires, however, are extensive on the open 

 prairies. 



HARRISON COUNTY. 



Harrison County lies entirely within the shortleaf pine region. The 

 land surface, rolling in the western but more level in the eastern portion, 

 drains into the Sabine River and Caddo Lake. Several small, scattered 

 areas of sandstone as well as iron ore deposits are found in the county. 

 Soils vary from light to dark loams and in the main are very productive. 

 Public roads are all graded. Four mainline railroads, with a total mile- 

 age of 131 miles, furnish excellent transportation facilities. 



The land area may be divided as follows : 



Approximate total area 558,720 acres. 



Virgin timber lands 55,000 acres. 



Second growth lands 55,000 acres. 



Culled and cut-over lands 190,000 acres. 



All other lands 258,720 acres. 



In the main virgin timber lands support a growth of mixed hardwoods 

 along the streams and in the bottoms. Several small, scattered tracts of 

 pine timber are owned by the local farmers. 



Second growth areas date from the earlier logging operations and com- 

 prise small, scattered tracts of shortleaf pine in all sections of the county. 

 No importance is attached to the future value of these stands, although 

 timber 20 to 35 years old will soon be of decided value. 



Culled and cut-over lands date from 20 years ago to the present time. 

 In accordance with the usual practice late cuttings were heavy and left 

 but little standing timber. Agricultural lands in this class are offered 

 for sale at extremely low prices. 



Diversified farming is practiced on Harrison County farms. A small 

 acreage is cleared annually as the general tendency "is to abandon older 

 lands and till the newer. Farms average 75 acres in size. In the more 

 hilly sections soils are subject to severe washing. Eroded lands which 

 may be classed as waste constitute a small acreage. All of Harrison County 

 is under hog law and considerable portions have a general stock law. 



Lumbering operations have been conducted for about 35 years. Eleven 

 mills, with daily capacities ranging from 10 to 60 thousand feet, produce 

 approximately 20,000,000 feet of lumber annually. At this rate of pro- 

 duction and considering the growth on culled and second growth lands 

 these mills may operate indefinitely. 



Approximately 75,000 hewn ties, mostly pine, are cut annually. The 

 industry may continue for five or six vears before the easily accessible 



