FOREST EESOURCES OF EASTERN TEX.\>. 53 



Culled and cut-over lands are timbered with more or less heavy stands 

 depending upon the time in which they were logged. Those cut in the 

 early operations will now furnish a second cut of from 2,000 to 5,000 feet 

 of longleaf pine per acre. Those cut within the past five years have 

 been practically stripped of their timber. Pine reproduction is almost 

 entirely lacking both by reason of the stripping and the effect of frequent 

 and severe fires. Mixed hardwood growth is slowly taking possession of 

 these areas. A large per cent of the lands in this class may be con- 

 sidered as having agricultural value. 



Agricultural conditions show improvement over former years both in 

 methods of management and diversification of crops. Farms are small 

 in size and while the tendency still is to clear new land and abandon old 

 lands the acreage of improved farmland is increasing each year. Log 

 rollings, in connection with clearing land, are common, at least ten being 

 reported during the past spring. Farm lands are subject to severe washing 

 in the more hilly sections. Agricultural development is somewhat re- 

 tarded by the lumber business and there is a tendency for large owners to 

 hold their lands. No part of the county is under general stock law. 



Lumbering operations have been carried on for 25 years. Five mills, 

 two with 75 thousand, one with 30 thousand daily capacities each, and two 

 small and irregular in their cut, produce not more than 25,000,000 feet 

 of lumber annually. There is only one combined sawmill and cotton gin 

 in Tyler County. Although the virgin timber will probably be cut within 

 the next 10 years, it is estimated that the present output of lumber may 

 continue for many years in view of the extent and value of culled and 

 second growth lands. 



About 8,000 tcres are now being cropped for turpentine, the cup and 

 gutter system being used. Tie cutting operations produce approximately 

 50,000 white and post oak, 8,000 red and pin oak, and 2,000 pine ties 

 annually. The present rate of cutting cannot be maintained longer than 

 eight or ten years. Not less than 100,000 white and post oak staves are 

 cut annually. This industry cannot continue long at this rate. Prac- 

 tically no fuelwood is shipped out of the county. Probably 115,000 fence 

 posts are cut annually. Among other forest products are 35,000 tele- 

 phone and telegraph poles, 500 mine timbers, and 50 squared timbers for 

 export. All but the last may continue indefinitely. 



Present methods of logging are stripping the timber lands and fires are 

 frequent. Pine reproduction is almost entirely absent and what repro- 

 duction is present consists of oak and <rum, upon which burning has little, 

 if any, effect. The general sentiment in the county appears to favor 

 bnrninf: nnrl not loss than 75 per cent of the' area burns over annually. 

 Under these conditions a second growth of pine timber on lands recently 

 logged is impossible. 



UPSHUR COUNTY. 



TTp?hur County lies entirely within the shortleaf pine region, but ad- 

 jacent to the post oak region. The land surface is generally hilly and 

 broken and drains mainly into the Sabine River. Soils vary from light, 

 sandy loams to those of the darker, heavier, bottomland types and in 

 the main are well drained. Valuable iron ore deposits are found in the 



