160 THE IRON ORE DISTRICT OF EAST TEXAS. 



begins to shoot up, and within a period of less than ten years the whole tract 

 is covered with a dense growth of young pine trees, ranging from two to 

 eight inches in diameter. Between the tenth and fifteenth years the greater 

 number of these trees die, and the survivors, having more room to grow, in- 

 crease their diameter measurements from ten to twelve inches. After the 

 the twentieth year the growth is much slower. Under the present system of 

 cultivation the acreage of land under timber is gradually increasing, or, at 

 least, holding its own against the operations of the few saw mills and new 

 clearings. 



Of these timbers the oaks greatly preponderate and probably occupy one- 

 half of the whole region. The older pine region of the county is almost ex- 

 exclusively confined to the portion lying north of Little Cypress Creek. 

 Detached portions of pine lands are found throughout the county, but not 

 in extensive bodies. It is estimated that the total acreage of land occupied 

 by pine timber, exclusive of the young growth unfit for saw 'logs, does not 

 exceed sixty thousand acres. 



Along Cypress Creek bottom lands, and also in some portions of the Sabine 

 River bottom lands, cypress timber is found- in considerable quantities, but 

 the black and sweet gums are the more abundant. Small quantities of holly 

 are alsc found in the lower bottom lands, but the trees are as a general thing 

 of no practical value, and scarcely reach a growth much larger than the 

 sassafras. 



The timber lands may be divided thus: 



Oak. including white, red, post, pin. blackjack, and blue-jack oaks 215,760 acres. 



Pine, including young growth 143,840 acres. 



Cypress, gums, and other trees 7 1,920 acres. 



Total 431,520 acres. 



The average quantity of wood per acre suitable for fuel purposes is about 

 forty-five cords. This will give a total of nineteen million four hundred and 

 eighteen thousand four hundred cords. 



