44 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE or TEXAS. 



Heavily culled and cut-over lands are reproducing to a mixed growth 

 of red and black jack oak and gum. Although a large part of these 

 lands is suitable for agriculture, the clearing of new land is not taking 

 place rapidly. 



Agricultural operations are secondary to the lumber industry because 

 of the higher wage scale in the mills. A number of farms have been 

 abandoned within recent years although a small acreage of new land is 

 cleared annually. Farms average 80 acres in size. Improved lands^ 

 unless terraced, are subject to severe washing. About twenty square miles 

 are under hog law. 



Lumbering as an important industry dates back not more than ten 

 years, although some operations have been carried on for a considerably 

 , longer period. The comparative newness of the industry accounts for 

 the large acreage of virgin timber. Nine mills, three with daily capacities 

 of 75 thousand, 125 thousand and 175 thousand feet each, the remainder 

 small local mills, produce approximately 60,000,000 feet of lumber annu- 

 ally. The large mills are conducted under the most efficient methods, thus 

 minimizing the usual waste. At the present rate of production the in- 

 dustry may continue for about 20 years. 



Two turpentine operators are at present cropping the timber over 8.300 

 acres in Sabine County. An additional 30,000 acres has been leased and 

 will be cropped by sections in the near future. The cup and gutter system 

 is used. About 120,000 ties, 75,000 of which are pine, 6,000 gum, 19,000 

 red oak and 25,000 white oak are cut annually. Practically all ties are 

 hewn and pine ties are shipped for treatment before using. Many ties are 

 rafted down the Sabine River. At the present output the tie' industry 

 may last for many years. Two stave operators are cutting in the neigh- 

 borhood of 120,000 staves per annum, of which approximately 80 per 

 cent are white oak. Stave timber is bought by the tree at an average price 

 of $1. This industry may continue indefinitely. 



Grass and woodland fires are a serious problem in Sabine County and 

 second growth pine stands are negligible. Although there is a comparative 

 abundance of virgin timber the cut-over lands should be protected from 

 fires and allowed to reforest. 



SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY. 



San Augustine County is the common meeting ground for shortleaf and 

 longleaf pine. The northern portion is in the shortleaf pine region while 

 the central and southern portions are in the longleaf region. The land 

 surface is broken and hilly and drains to the south and west into the An- 

 gelina Eiver and Attoyac Bayou. Soils vary from those of the red land 

 type in the north to the more .sandy soils of the longleaf region in the 

 south: Public road conditions are improving. About 34 miles of main- 

 Ime and 28 miles of logging railroad are operated in the county. 



The land area may be divided as follows : 



Approximate total area 364,800 acres. 



Virgin timber lands 160,000 acres. 



Second growth lands 15,000 acres. 



Culled and cut-over lands 35,000 acres. 



All other lands 154,800 acres. 



