The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-14
TEXAS TIMBER LANDS.


Now that much OF the land OF Southeast
Texas is being cleared for purposes OF cul-
tiyation, a word concerning our timber
supply viii not be out OF place
It is good to clear tilable lands for rice
growing. tobacco culture and truck farm
ing, but a wanton destruction OF good
timber should be by all means avoided.
This matter IS beginning TO attract at
tention in all the Southern States And it
is well that it should The timbered re-
gions OF the Northwest are being devas-
tated of their once nue forests. and the
day is not far distant when our Southern
States will be drawn upon for lumber
from every section OF the country. Writ
ing upon this subject the New Orleans
Piesyune in its issue OF the sth, has the
following
In Bradstreets of june appears an in
terestng article bv Mr.. Samuel j Trufant
the local managers Of the Bradstroets Com
meroial AgeneS, upon the cypress and pine
ir dnstries Of this and neighbcrinE States.
tbs article Is the NOSE timely because the
growing scarcity OF white pine and other
woods heretofore extensively uset in interior
Decorations ana finishing have become COM
paratVely scarce, making cheaper but equally
acceptable substitutes much sought after. A.
Is very truthfully pointed out In the article
referred to, cypress and Southern pine can
be Used 10 replace the woods that are growing
scarce, and, consequently, lncreusinG IN cost
Cypress is especially noted for its ability to
resist damp cypress timber having been
known to remain sound although subjected
to immersion In water for very many wears
Because Of this well known quality, this wood
Is now very extensively used IN all work
where exposure 90 weather and especlaly
water is counted on. Ii Is also coming into
extensive use for Interior finishing its soft
ness and tho readiness with which It can he
worked, as well as the fine polish It Is sus-
ceptible OF. making It popular Unfortunately
ihe supply OF cypress is not unlimited II
OF very slow growth. and is found only IN
low swampy lands in certain OF the Southern
states.
The gentleman from whom the Plcayune
quotes is evidently an expert upon ques-
Hons of this character. and his opinions
and figures are entitled to every consider.
alton. In speaking OF our own Southern
supply OF wooded land, he says;
The area in cypress Is quite limited. This
tree grows In swamp lands. aud. therefore.
Ia not subject 10 forest fires, There is a
small area standing on the coast OF South
Carolina. Georgia and Alabama and an South
ern Arkansas a small belt altogether osu-
mated at about 5000 100000 feet. Florida has
some 5000. COO. 900 feet; Louisiana Texas and
Mississippi. II. 500. 900 600 feet Much OF this
area IS almost inaccessible. or, at any rate.
would prove much too expensive 10 log Cy-
press Is a SLOW grower, and the best trees
arc said TO be 800 and 400 years old These
trees average In height sixty feet. With a
diameter OF twenty inches The old system
OF logging, by floating out on high water
was yery costly and uncertain. Modem log
eng by railroads, pull boats and steel cables
hrs revolutionized the system and insured a
continuous cut.
The Picayune. in commenting upon these
agures, says that at the present rate Of
consumption only about twenty-five years
Is necessary 70 exhaust our supply OF cy-
press, and adds that our pine forests are
much more extensive, but even they are
not inexhaustible. Great quantities of our
lumber are being exported to Europe, and
as soon as matters settle down In Cuba