2B. BASIN REGION. 67 



area seems to be still wooded. Cattle have open range in 

 all or nearly all the counties. The bottom-land trees 

 have suffered most from agricultural operations, as al- 

 ready indicated, in which this region differs from most 

 other parts of the state. 



None of the rivers are naturally navigable, but the 

 Warrior is being gradually made so by the construction 

 of locks. The region is fairly well supplied with rail- 

 roads. 



Forest products. — The Southern Lumberman lists 21 

 sawmills from this region, with an average capacity of 

 12,900 feet a day. Thirteen of these mills claim to cut 

 long-leaf pine, 14 short-leaf, 2 white pine (Pinus Virgin- 

 ianaf), 11 white oak, 9 red oak, and 9 poplar. The long- 

 leaf pine mills are mostly in Walker and Tuscaloosa 

 Counties. The largest one, which is at Manchester, 

 Walker County, operates 15 miles of railroad and can 

 saw 60,000 feet of lumber a day. The relatively small 

 development of the lumber industry in this well-wooded 

 region is doubtless due partly to the topography, but 

 perhaps also to the fact that coal mining is the greatest 

 industry, and much timber is used for mine props, etc., 

 without going through a sawmill. A good deal has also 

 been consumed in the form of charcoal for the iron fur- 

 naces in neighboring regions. 



Other forest products besides lumber are post oak 

 cross-ties, white oak cooperage stock, and naval stores 

 (i. e., rosin and turpentine, from long-leaf pine), the last 

 not being made farther north than Tuscaloosa County. 



