Foi;i>i li->()C!.'ci-;s OF KASTI-KX TEXAS. 43 



is cleared. A large area of improved lands is subject to severe washing, 

 iiiall acreage of hilly, sandy land which supports neither grass nor 

 timber is located in the southern portion of the county. Three-fourths 

 of the county is under hog law and three districts are under general 

 stock law. 



Sawmill operations have been conducted in Eusk County for more than 

 .'!() years. Twelve mills, two with daily capacities of 10 thousand feet each, 

 the remainder small and irregular in their cut, produce approximately 

 :M. nnn. i MM) feet annually. This cannot be maintained more than live years 

 although small mills will probably operate indefinitely. 



Tie operators produce not more than 18,000 hewn ties annually, prac- 

 tically the entire output being pine. It is estimated that the easily ace* 

 ble timber will be cut out within the next three to five years. Fuelwood and 

 fence post production are limited as the demand is purely a local one. Xot 

 more than 5,000 mine props are cut and shipped annually. There is a 

 small local industry in telephone and telegraph poles, shingles and small 

 tool handles. 



Because of the well settled condition of the county and the trend of 

 public sentiment, grass and woodland fires are not a serious menace to 

 the timber lands. Areas which have not been stripped of seed-bearing 

 trees are reproducing naturally. Xo sheep or goats are kept on the open 

 range and this also operates to protect seedling trees. Conditions for a 

 second growth of both shortleaf pine and hardwoods are exceptionally 

 favorable. 



SABIXE COUXTY. 



Sabine County, with the exception of a very small acreage in the ex- 

 treme northern portion which lies within the shortleaf pine region, is 

 located in the longleaf region. The land surface is very broken with 

 numerous small hills. Drainage is mostly to the east into the Sabine 

 River. Approximately 15 per cent of the county's area is red land soil, 

 the remainder consisting of various types of sandy loams and bottomland 

 soils. Public roads show but little improvement. About 30 miles of main- 

 line and '?<) miles of logging railroad have been built in the county. 



The land area mav divided as follows: 



Approximate total area 369, 2SO acres. 



Virgin timber lands ^55.000 acres. 



Second growth lands 14,000 acres. 



Culled and cut-over lands 30,000 acres. 



All other lands 70,280 acres. 



About W) per cent of the virgin timber lands, which are located in the 

 ea.-tern portion of the county, supports a stand of longleaf pine which 

 may be considered the finest single body of this species in East Texas. 

 An area of mixed hardwoods is also included in this class. It is esti- 

 mated that at least 75 per cent of these lands is held in large tracts by the 

 lumber cornpatre-. 



Second growth lands are for the most part located in the western 8 

 of the county along the railroad. The stands are mainly mixed hardwoods 

 with a small proportion of pine. Xo importance is attached to the future 

 value of the now immature timber. 



