Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ?j< ^ :4- >(: V >!< 'i' * >i« * 'i' ^ >K * >1^ ^ ^ ¥ >i< * * * >i<; * >!' 4: * :'i< * * ;^ >)< >|c >k >i< :>!< :+:>|<>i«:^>fc:^>|<>K>K^>|<>|<5^ 5*; >|<>!c^;|<5<<;4i5^>|c >!<>!<>}; 5^ >^?|<>^>!<^:s|<:>f; :4c :^s|e>i< :4c :^c:jcjicii<^>|(5ic>|<>^;l<>jf;>l^ * OCCASIOIvAL Pi\PER NO. 103 Jim ARY 16, 1943 EAST TECAS FORESTS AND THE NJTURE By E. L. Demion, director, Southern Forest Experiment Station TJ. S. DEPARTJTSNT OF A.GRICUI.TURE FOREST SERVICE SOUTHERN FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION E. L. Demiiion, Director New Orleans, La. >{< 4" 5{< >}c >!< ^4^. >i< >l< ^ >1^ :4c >fc >ic >|< ;[< >^ >4: :4; >}< >)c )>;< ^ ^ ^ >i< >i< >1< ^ >K 5|< >;< >ic ^ * >1< ;fc sjc ^ 4< >|< 4c >lc 4< 4< 4< >i< >|c ^ >|< >i< >^ 4< 4< >)< >|c 4< 4< >!« >lc >j< 4< >j< 4< 4< >4: >|c 5j< :4< >|< >j< 4< >1< 5tc >|c >4c >j< >[c 4c 4< >)< >j< 4< 4c 4< >^ >|< 4c 4< >^ >)< >i< >^ >|< ^ >^ 4< >4c 4c 4< 4< >)< 4< The Occasional Papers of the Southern Forest Experiment Station present inforraation on current southern forestry prob- lems under investigation at the Station. In some cases, these contributions vjere first presented as addresses to a limited group of people, and as "occasional papers" they can reach a much voider audience. In other cases, they are s’lmmaries of investigations prepared especially to give a report of the progress madvj in a particular field of research. In any case, the statements herein contained should bo considered subject to correction or modification as further data are obtained. EAST TEXAS FOIiESTS iU^lD US FJTDHeI'^ By E. L. Dernmon, Director, Southern Borest Experiment Station Introduction Although forest growth occurs on less than a fifth of the total land area of Texas, it represents one of the State’s major natural resources. The commercial forests of Texas are confined to the eastern section of the State and the discussion here will deal primarily with that aroa.^/ Bor many years, east Texas forests have provided material for building homos, communities, railroads, churches, and schools; they have given employment to thousands of workers; in addition, they have exerted a beneficial influence in conserving rainfall and in protecting soil from oxcessiv.) erosion. Today these forests are providing materials essential to the war effort of America and her Allies. Under proper manager.ient , the forc3sts of east Texas can pro- vide the raw materials noodod for all its present forest industries and also for many additional establishments, to the greater security and prosperity of all the people. Compared with Fxany other sections of the country, east T^-xas offers advantages for the maintenance of forest industries, as its soil and climate favor rapid tree growth, there are many widely used hardwood and soft- wood tree spocios native to this section, markets are at hand, and labor is abundant. Location and Availability After many years of forest exploitation and clearing of forest land for farms, the commvercial forv:!sts of east Texas still occupy almost 11 million acres, or about 57 percent of the land was as follows: Tree species group Saw timberi./ Cerdwood^ Million foot b.m. (lumber tally) Thousand cords Pine Hardwood (includ- 19,290 73,189 ing cypress) 10,336 55,084 Total 29,626 128,273 V Pino 9 inchos and larger, and hardwoods 13 inches and larger, in diameter, at breast heights All trv)es 5 inches in diameter and largc;r, at breast height, whether saw-timber size or under; excludes culls and hardwood tops and limbs. These forests today are charaetorizod by second-growth timber, much of it below the minimuia size for most industrial uses. While those young forests do not have the high q.uality of the original old-growth stands ^ they are of sufficiently good quality to supply most market needs. Current Porost Situation What is the present situation as regards this valuable Texas rosourco? Although ecmmondable progress has been made in tho adoption of good forestry practices by a growing number of progressive timberland owners in "'ast Texas, tho forests as a whole are far from being in a sound cendition, A recent survey by tho U. S. Forest Service indicated that -'ast Toxas forests are in general understocked, producing at less than half of their potential capacity. Part of this is due to destructive timber cutting practices of the past, although even today altvogothor too much timber is being cut without any conscious attempt to perpetuate the forest. This is especially true of the operations of hundreds of small portable mills, tho owners of which usually possess no timberland, and who generally cut any tree that will make a 2x4. In southeast Texas there are many thousands of acres of land formerly covered by some of the finest longlcaf pine in tho South that new are desolate and bare stump fields; they will not boar another timber crop unless planted. Part of tho present unsatisfactory forest condition also can be laid to oft- recurring fires, which in the past have destroyed untold millions of forest seedlings and reduced the growth and tho quality of tho remaining troes. -2- Adequate protection of forests from fire is one of the essentials of good forest management, yet today a considerable portion of the east Texas forest area is not under organized fire protection. V^ith fire protection and good forest management east Texas can be assured of a maxirn’ora of forest products, expanded industries, more jobs for labor, additional revenues, and improved social conditions for its people. Ovmership or Control According to recent estimates, about txvo-thirds of the forest land in east T 3xas is in small holdings (under 3)000 acres) mostly owned by farmers. Approximately 6 percent of the forest area is in national forests and 6,400 acres, or 6 hundredths of 1 percent, is in State forests. An undetorminod area is in public ownership as a result of tax delinquency. The balance is in the hands of lumber companies, pulp and paper mills, oil companies, and in other large holdings. Value of Forest Products The cost or value of individual forest products varies greatly with many factors. The Census for 1939 showed that the materials produc:3d by the primary forest-products industries in east Texas during that year wore valued at more than 50 million dollars, as follows: Forest-products industry Value of products Thousands of dollars Sawmills, voneor plants, etc. .. 27,925 Logging camps 970 Planing mills 9)314 Pulp mills 1)432 Paper mills 3)6l6 Paper bags 1)276 Paperboard containers 2,753 Cooperage 249 Wood preserving 8,088 Total 557523 G-oneral Uses of Forest Products Th 3 most important industries depending upon east Texas forests for their raw materials are those manufacturing lumber and paper, and wood preserv- ing plants. Other important forest products include fuel wood, voneor, cooper- Q-g'^) poles and piling, fence posts, and railroad cross ties. The forests also support an important range livestock industry, provide a home’ for gamo animals, and afford opportunities for hunting and other recreational activities. Con- siderable cut-over timberland is leased for oil development. These multiple uses of forest land prc.vide additional income while the timber crop is growing. Texas has 2 pulp mills, 1 of which is the only one of its kind, a news- print mill which manufactures newosprint from southern pine. The forests of east Texas support industries employing more than 21,000 laborers. According to the 1939 Census, about 15 percent of all workers omplc'yod in the Statens manufacturing industries received their income directly from the preparation of forest products for the market. The wagons and salaries paid by these -3- forest- preducts industries in 1939 totaled over l6 million dollars. Most of the forest industrial plants arc locatod in small towns and in rural areas. Lumber manufacture alcme accounted for most of tho forest industry employment. The number of primary forest Industrial plants in oast Texas, according to the most recent information available, is as follows: Sawmills cutting 25 million bd.ft. C:r mc>re annually » * • Tt tt 15-25 tt „ tt tt ♦ • • »i 10-15 ” tt tt ft tt • • • tt 5-10 " tt tt tt tt t » ♦ Tt 1- 5 ” tt tt tt tt • • • tf tt under 1 ” tf tt tt tt • • • Treating plants (for poles, piles, cross ti os, etc.) • ♦ • Veneer plants •• Stave and heading plants (cooperage stock Pulp mills (using o>nly wood) Small dimension plants Miscellaneous wood-using plants 7 13 19 28 179 300 10 26 5 2 6 63 Production Trends According tc the U. S. Forest Service,' tho commodity usage of Texas forest products during recent years was as follows: Commodity Yc lar 1935 1936 1937 1 1938 ^-Thousands of cordai/ Lumber 1,971 2,5B4 2,674 2,481 Cross ties 263 ' ■ 343 3B3‘ 223 Polos and piles 37 "■63 68' 47 Veneer 62 ■ 66 77’ ' 84 Cooperage 21 ■ 17' • ‘ 18' 15 Pulpwc-cd - 12 111 ■ 109 Mi sc ollano eus 18 16 12 11 Fuel wood * . . 899 ' 861 934 934 Fonee posts 58 ■ 49 54 54 Miscollanoous farm use ... 21 22 23 23 Lajid clearing 224 167 187 187 Total 3,574 4,200 4; 541 4,168 'U From all trees 5 inches d.b.ho and larger, and including bark. Exports and Imports of Lumber Hecont trends of lumber exports and imports for Texas are as follows; It ;m 193F‘1 1938 1910 Billion feet, board m^as ure Lumber production 1/ 1.03 1..S7 Lumbor imports .41 •38 c43 Total luniDor distributed ... 1.35 1=41 1,70 Lumber used in Texas .99 l.io 1*40 Lumber shipped out of the State .31 *30 Lumber production in Texas for ether recent years, in billims of feet b.m. , is as follows: 1937, 1^13; 1939, l.U; 1941, 1.33* -4- These figures indicate that Texas is more of a lumber importing than an exporting State. Per capita consumption of lumber in Texas in recent- years was 168 bd.ft# in 193^, 180 bd.ft. in 193^, and 228 bd.ft. in 1940, very near the national average for each of these years. Specific Uses and .Byproduct s In thv3 past, Texas has produced large., quantities of lumber and other roughly manufactured wood products for its own uses, such as for building construction, and for shipment out of the State. The principal secondary wood-using industries in Texas as reported for 1940, listed on the basis of the amounts of wood used, were as follows,: Products Wood used Boxes, baskets, crating , Sash, doors, general millv/ork Furniture Flooring Car construction and repair Caskets and burial doxos . Handies All others Total Mllion foot, 80.7 62.6 15.5 12.9 11.3 6.3 5.2 12.0 206.5 b .m* The principal species of woods used by those secondary wood-using industries were as follows: Volume used, million foot b.m. Pine, southern yellow 52.5 Pino, ponderosa 40.5 Tupelo and black gum 32.5 Oum, red 26.4 Oak 15*9 Cottonwood 14.8 Cypress 6.0 All others (using less than 5 million f e. t m.eh) 17 Total ^ 2O0.5 To take full advantag-o of tho opportunities offered by its forests, to absorb more of its local labor, and to permit realization locall3^ of tho values of further processing, east Texas is groQtly in neod of additional remanufactur- ing plants, such as furniture factories, vjood fabricating industries, plyivood and plastic plants, etc., v;hich V7ill produce finished goods for local and national consumer markvOts. The r )cent expansion of the pulp and paper in- dustry is an oxcGllont ezamplo of progress in this direction. Usoful as wood is in the form in which nature provides it, science has shown the v;.ay to transformations that add greatly to its import anco as a re- source of our dovelcping civilization. Although Vi/ood cenversien products as yet rate far below lumber and other primary products in bulk of wood consumed, they satisfy mfony needs and promise to become increasingly important. A fev; of -5- the products of east Texas forests which can be utilized advantageously by manufacturing industries will be discussed in the next few paragraphs. Many of these products serve war needs and are of great Importance now. Pulp and Paper Cellulose is the most important part of wood from the chemical- industrial standpoint. This remarkable substance is nature’s framework and construction material with vjhich are formed the walls of cells that make up the bodies of all plant life. Wood is the most abundant and compact source of this material, more than half of its substance being cellulose fiber. Wood is the principal source of many kinds of paper and pulp products, so essential to our everyday life and to the war effort. Cellulose made from wood is rela- tively cheap, worth currently 'about 4 cents per pound, far below the price of cotton, which has formerly been the principal source of pure cellulose. With paper consumption rapidly increasing in this country and with imports of ©aropean pulp and paper shut off because of the war (before 1939, the United States imported more than half of its annual pulp and paper require- ments) , there may be further opportunities for growth of this industry in east Texas. This should be guided, however, by careful consideration of the quanti- ty, quality, and availability of pulpwood, the effect on the raw material sup- plies required by other forest-products industries, and “with due regard to factors of long-time investment. It is also contingent upon the maintenance of east Texas’ marked advantages over other sections of the United States and foreign sources in regard to costs of pulpwood and other raw materials, and of the manufacturing operatiens. The 2 Texas pulp mills (at Houston and Lufkin) use southern pine, the one at Houston operating by the sulphate process, w^here the bulk of the pulp is bleached and made into fine white papers. The pulp mill at Lufkin produces nevjsprint, the only plant of its kind in the entire South. One of the most hopeful aspects for the expansion of the pulp and paper industry in east Texas and other Southern States lies in the opportunity it offers for the utilization of low-quality forest material not needed by other forest industries. East Texas has outstanding opportunities to produce pulp- wood, along vjith continuous supplies of savjlogs cand other forest products. The vast resources of hardwoods in the bottom lands of east Texas and in the Post Oak and Cross Timbers belts offer excellent possibilities for a pulp and paper industry which can utilize those species. Tests at the U. S. Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis, , have indicated the feasibility of using a semichemical process to convert svj.amp blackgum, s'weetgum, oak, and other h.ardwoods into quality pulps, to be used alone or in mixtiures, for newsprint, corrugating board, and a variety of specialty products. One southern mill now makes high-grade sulphite pulp from southern pine. Most southern pulp mills, however, use the sulphate or Kraft process. An outstanding advantage to thp east Texas pulp and paper industry is its nearness to supplies of chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Salt cake or sodium sulphate is the chief chemical raw material used in the sulphate process of digesting wood. From I50 to 450 pounds of salt cake or its equiva- lent per ton of finished pulp is utilized to maintain the concentration of the cooking liquor, the omount depending on the efficiencies of the washing and recovery processes. Th^'* orincipal supply of salt cake was formerly imported from G-ermany and other foreign sources but is now produced locally, from salt -6- and sulphur, another byproduct of this process being muriatic (hydrochloric) acid. Chlorine is the chief bleaching agent for all kinds of pulp, being utilized as such or in combination v»uth lime as a hypochlorite. Oyster shells are occasionally used as a source of limo in the sulphate recovery process; limestone is emplo^/ed ordinarily. Cherfiicals used in the manufacture of paper include rosin and alum (aluminum sulphate) for size, sodium silicate, glue, starch, and casein. Many of these raw materials are available in Texas or nearby States, or can be produced locally. Rayon and Related Products Synthetic fibers, designated in general as rayon, consist of cellulose chemically modified and spun into silklike filaments, strands, and yarns. Their production has increased markedly during the last few years, and they are particularly important novj that imports of row silk have ceased. Rayon can be produced by several different chemical processes. Thv. raw materials commonly used have been wood pulp and cotton linters (the short lint recovered from the coatings on the cotton seed ‘after the staple has been removed) . Wood pulp makes up about 75 percent of the- present production of rayon, which re- q_uires a highly purified cellulose. This is' principally high-grade bleached sulphite pulp made from spruce and hemlock, but other conifers and also hard- woods have been reported as satisfactory. Seventy percent of the country’s rayon production comes from, the Swuth, By modifying the processes, it is possible to produce cellophane or similar tr^msparent sheeting used for wrapping and packaging. Cellulose acetate, with a lovj inflammability, is finding wide use for moving -picture film, and by reason of its plastic properties, can be used to manufacture a great aj?ray of m.olded sir tides. A mixture of nitric and sulphuric acils w>hen made to react with cellu- lose produces nitrocellulose. ’Wien this .reaction is csirried to a high degree of nitration, it forms the high-explosive smokeless powder. Wiaon it is nitrat- ed to a lesser degree this type of product- mmy. be cast Into films such as photographic and motion picture and trensparont sheeting in general. VJhen combined with plasticizin.g agents anch as camphor it may be molded into a wide variety of forms. ?Jhon dissolved in solvents and produced in the form of low-viscosity cellulose nitrate it forms the most importai-t constituent of the m.odern type of quick-drying lacquers for the coating of autom.obiles, furniture, and other surfaces requiring a hard, resistant, and durable pro- tective coating. Purified wood cellulose is being used increasingly for smokeless powder, plastics, lacquers, cellophane, end the like, and promises to play an even more import. ant rolo in the future. Mention should be made of lignin, one of the major components of wood and a b^rproduct of the pulp industry. Lignin compounds form a large proportion of pulpmill waste and contribute to stream pollution. Lignin is a potential source of plastics, not only by itself but also in combination with other materials. As such it offers possibilities for important new industrial developments, , -7- Hardwood Distillation Products The distillation of wood is an ancient industry, ono of the chief products being charcoal. This is the carbonaceous residue left when Vvood • is burned without enough air to insure its reduction to ashes. Chooiists have isolated more th.an 60 individual chemical compounds from the vapors evolved in the distillation of hardwoods, but not all of these are worth purifying or are present in sufficient amount to be valuable. The principal products besides chsxcoal are methanol (v^iood alcohol), acetate of lime or acetic acid, and related chemacals. In recent years, synthetic methsjiol and synthetic acotic acid have seriously narrowed the market for both of these products from wood. This is one of the few forest industries not concerned with large size or superior q_uality of the wood it consumes.- Only 2 destructive hardwood planh are operating in the South at present, 1 in Arkansas and 1 in Tennessee. Comparison of Growth and Drain From a previous table (page 4) it will be noted that Puraber makes up more than half the miaterial removed annually from east Texas forests. Th«^ relation of growjth to drain in east T-..xas forests during several recent year’s was as follows; Co.amodity drain, in M cords Not increment in growing stock. Relation of drain to growth, in in M cords . , , percent 1935 ! 3,574 5,985 6o 1936 4,200 6,215 68 1937 4,, 541 6,357 71 1938 4,168 6,527 64 Commodity drain, in millions of board feet . , . 1,362 1,582 1,646 1,474 Net increment in growing stock, of board feet in millions 1,822 1,848 1,881 1,917 Relation of drain to growth, in percent ...... 75 86 88 77 Total growth expressed in cords or board feet exceeded total drain during the 1935-3S period. Most of the sawlog cutting, however, vjas concentrated on , large, high-quality trees, with a resulting decrease in quality and value of the remaining growing stock. The war has increased the demands for all forest commodities, and oast Texas* forests now are supplying increased quantities of lumber, boxboards, paper, and other essential v^iar materials, with the result that the current drain on its timber supplies is undoubtedly greater thaji the amount being replaced through growth. This is .an entirely justifiable measure in the present crisis arid it is fortunate that these timber supplies are avail- able for the emergency. Nevertheless, it is important that this great natural asset, so essential to our permanent national defense and economic security, be protected adequately and utilized vvisely, with the least possible waste. Presi dent Roosevelt, in his messe^e to Congress on January 1942, recognized such need when he said; *’It is necessary in wartime to conserve natural resources and keep in repair our national plant. We cannot afford waste or destruction, for we must continue to think of the good of future generations of Americ.ans.” The contribution of east Texas forests in the period of readjustment that will follow the war will be highly important, not only in providing the raw material needed for a huge reconstruction program at home and abroad, but also in supply- ing outlets for labor -and industry within the State, -8- Future Markets East Texas forest resources are sufficiently ample, if managed properly, to furnish adequate quantities of forest products for the Statens needs and leave a substantial balance for shipment outside the State. The proximity of the lumber markets of the Middle West and the excellent facilities for shipment to the Atlantic seaboai-d, to Latin America and other v;orld markets, provide oast Texas with many favorable outlets for its forest products. Planning for the Future Everyone will agree as to the necessity of producing all the forest raw materials needed for the war effort, even though this results in a tem.porary overcutting. However, this should be done with a minimum of waste and under methods which will properly use and consorvo forest-productive capacity rather than tear it down. If east turns to the landovmers and aculons shouJ/d be taken now This is the tiTiO to lay sen. and adjustments of the post' Texas forests are to yield maximum, sustained re- serve the best interests of the public, a nnmbor of the owners aixl public each contributing a share. -d plaxos for a forestry program to meet the problems •wcjr period. Later on will be too le.te. Of major importance is to see that all east Texas forest lamds receive adeopaate protection from fire, insects, and disease. This is particularly urgent as a war measure, to av^id critical losses during this em-ergenev. It V'jill moon tho-t additional public ar-d private funds must be made available for such protection purposes. To obtain a crop of timbe^r by good forost protectioxi and monagemont is of no permanent value if thi productivity of the forest is subseq_uen-Gly curtailed or impaired by improper or destructive cutting. Therefore it seems essential, in the public interest, tho.t timber harvexSting practices on privoxte lands be placed under some form of public control. This coull bo done by adopting cutting standards that will prevent unnecessary destruction and de- terioration of the forest resource, thus assuring that forest lands vjill bo kept reasonably productive and that watershed protection values will not be impaired. Such reciuirem..nts are relatively simple; in fact, many private owners who aie new practieixOg good forestry are doubtless already conforming to such propcse^l cutting staniards. What happ.TiS to Texas forests is a matter of concern to all of the country, which uses considerable lumber and other forest materials proluced in Texas. Therefore it is a primary responsibility of the Federal Government to see that necessary actions are toicen to protect this vital natural resource. Other moasures needed to improve the present forustig^ situation in east Texas include; 1. Acquisition =and management by communities, counties, the State, or the Federal Government of forest lands of vital public interest, such as im- portant watei sheds or devastated areas and those subraarginal for private forest management. Cii Federally acquired lands a proportion of the current income is returned to the lecal governments in lieu of taxes. The great bulk of the forestry job, xOewever, still will remain with the private owners. 2. Much more needs to be done in the way of forest extension, educatior , demonstrati an, and technical guilance to obtain proper forest management and marketing of timber products. 3. Much additional information is neoded to provide the scientific basis for good forestry practice and this can best be obtained through forest reseoTch; due to insufficiont funds, present forest research efforts are short of actual needs, 4. Obstacles to sto.bi}.ized ovmership necessary for long-time forest management should be removed cr ameliorated — among these are discriminatory taxes, unfair freight rates, and unfavorable credit and insurance facilities. Conclusion East Texas forests, which occupy almost 6 out of every 10 acres of its land area, are of inestimable value in the no.tion^s war effort. They also can and should play a major ro.le in the post-war future of this great commonwealth. Eirests aiffer from most other natural resources in that they coji be fully used, and, at the same time, be made to increase in volume and value. Forestry progress in east Texas is being implemented by the work of the Texas Forest Service, the State extension forester, and by the research and administrative groups of the TJ. S. Forest Service. All of these agencies are working towards obtaining good forestry practices in east Texas forests. A fully developed forestry program for this region inll bring increased forest-products industries, more jobs for labor, additional revenues, and im- proved social conditions. The public agencies and the landowners share the responsibility of taking vjhatover actions may be necessary to assure that this great natural resource is utilized wisely and contributes fully to the greatest good of all the people. -10-