Southern Lumberman reported, in July, 1965, that Owens-Illinois optioned ten acres in Orange County for building a paper and pulp mill. The journal noted in February, 1966, that the company had broken ground for a pulp and paper mill. Costs were estimated, two months later, at $100,000,000. “The Texas Forest News reported in 1968 that almost 375 jobs had been created. Along with a 12,000 acre site and 280,000 acres of Texas and Louisiana timberlands, the company also invested in thirty-mile tram road to move its materials. The Gulf Coast Lumberman reported that the new Owens-Illinois, Inc., paper plant near Mauriceville was producing 325 tons daily of container board in 1967.
A subsidiary of what is now Temple-Inland bought in 1982 the plant and Mulford and the tram line. Company plans envisioned the linking of the Mulford plant with other company facilities, a sawmill at Buna and a paperboard mill at Evadale. In June 1988 construction began on an eight-mile branch to Evadale, spurring from the main line eight miles north of Mauriceville. Work was completed in July 1990.
The Sabine River & Northern carries Temple-Inland freight, such as wood chips from Buna, to Mulford as well as chemicals and other materials required for the making of paper. Product is shipped outbound to connections with the Southern Pacific at Echo, the Kansas City Southern at Lemonville, the Missouri Pacific at Mauriceville, and the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe at Evadale and Bessmay.