FOREST BESOURCES OF EASTERN TEXAS. 33 



more valuable -for pasture than for farming. Not more than 10 per cent 

 of the total area is under hog law. 



The lumber industry is still an important one. Eight mills, two with 

 100 thousand feet each and one of 50 thousand feet daily capacity, the 

 remainder small, produce approximately 96,000,000 feet of lumber an- 

 nually. In view of the large area of virgin timber and culled and cut- 

 over lands mill operations may continue for 15 years at this rate of 

 production. 



Approximately 635,000 hewn ties are cut annually, practically all of 

 which are pine. Although the annual tie output has increased during the 

 past few years it is estimated that future production will not exceed 

 iO(),i)()() tics. At that rate cutting may be continued for several years. 

 Fuelwood and stave bolt operators annually produce 5,000 and 4,000 

 cord of fuel and stave bolts, respectively. At this rate these industries 

 may hold out indefinitely. 



The general attitude toward the future value of the timber in Mont- 

 gomery County is one of indifference. Fires are set under the belief that 

 grazing conditions are improved. Many areas burned over, however, are 

 covered with a growth of scrubby hardwoods and are practically barren 

 of grass cover. Hunters and other persons traveling through the woods 

 start many fires. Present logging methods are stripping the timbered 

 lands and leaving no provision for natural reproduction. Under such 

 conditions reforestation is impossible. While those lands which are needed 

 for agriculture should be cl-eared of their timber growth it is estimated 

 that at least 50 per cent of the total area of the county will not be so 

 used for a long period of years and should be kept in timber. Cut-over 

 lands can be reforested if the fire situation is controlled. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



Morris County is located in the northern part of the shortleaf pine 

 region. The land surface is broken and hilly in the south, but rolling 

 to level in the north. Drainage is into the Sulphur and Big Cypress 

 Rivers. Several small areas of sandstone are found in the county. Large 

 iron ore deposits are located in the southeast portion. Soils range from 

 light loams to those of the heavy, dark, river bottom type. Public road 

 conditions are slowly improving. There are more than 21 miles of main- 

 line railroad. 



The land area may be divided as follows: 



"Approximate total area 177,920 aero. 



Virgin timber lands 8,000 acres. 



Second growth lands 10,000 acres. 



Culled and cut-over lands 25,000 acres. 



All other lands 134,920 acres. 



Virgin timber lands for the most part support a growth of mixed hard- 

 woods, mostly white oak, the best bodies being along the streams. The 

 small acreage in virgin pine timber will be cut within a year. 



Second growth lands are timbered with shortleaf pine and mixed hard- 

 woods and are most abundant in the north. While the greater proportion 



