The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-14
Sutslc Lords Of Tcxas--EhciE Rter"s
mn; Herds.

The II. Louis Journal Of Commerce says
"leX;s has been APPLY designated ihc GrcM
cat,lc-hirr of North America
More than half Il century ago, under IN
ducclncnts offered by the Spanish colonial
authorities in Mexico, the coast region RON!
the Saiiuc to the Rio Glind" Il Level ana Ir'-
tile belt from thirty TO sixty iHlIcS b!oi'!
was settled ~ Slr;n%l! and American emf
grants, who brought with them their natlEr
breeds of cattle, which, under remarkably
favorable circumstances VI climate and lE'~-
turlr", anal sama,cd into 4 common Stoth,
containing in large degree the better points
of the constituent breeds. Up to the strug-
gle for Texas independence the increase vi
these herds WAS remarkably rapid.
In the disturbances and social Gi>l0cation,
which then cnsucd, the western portion OF
this cattle region became almost dcpopuiatcd.
and the cattle, for lack OF owners, rllipseo,
into Il state of w!dncs>. Social order Wa
not rec Established till after the annexation OF
Texas TO the United States, and the treaty ot
peace with Mexico, in 1913. The cattle
raising industry then revived. The Wl'd
herds were either reclaimed by their former
owners or appropriated by others. Large
numbers were driven to eastern markets; but
enough remained to stock immense ranches,
OH which class OF men OF enterprise ana
resolute character have since organized avery
thrifty pastoral industry.
During the late rebellion the Texas cattle
regions were but slightly devastated by the
ravagcs of war, which, on the contrary.
greatly enhanced their prosperity by i'll
creasing the price Of Texas beef.
In the coast regions of Texas are found
cattle lands whose animated treasures sur
pass, in number and value, even the ilockS
and herds of the great men Of New York.
The Santa CabrutuS rancho, on the Santa Ca
brutus river, owned by Colonel Richard
King, embraces S4,l32 acres of land stocked
with $4,000 cattle, 10000 horses, 1000 sheep,
and 5000 goats. For the management OF
these immense herds 300 Mexican herdsmcn
and 900 saddlc-horscs are held in constant
requisition. Colonel King each year brands
$4,000 calves and sells 10000 fat cattle, con.
stantly investing the surplus proceeds III
stock cattle. O'Conners ranch, twenty miles
below Golaid, on the San Antonio river, in
1862 contained over 10000 cattle. During thai
wear on this estate Il 900 calves were branded
und $4,000 realized by the safe of cattle
This enterprise was inauguratcd ten years
previously with 1900 cattle. RolidcauN
ranch, between the Nueccs and Rio Grandt
rivers. owned by Mr.. Kennedy, is fertile
peninsula OF ll2,Si0 acres, ,uttny ont into
the Gulf of Mexico. the isthmls being So
cured by thirty miles Of plank fence, guarded
at intervals Of three miles by hcrdSmen',
ranches. 1t already contains 10000 beet cat.
tie, besides large numbers Of other stock
Other magnificent cattle herds might he emu.
merated. The net increase of cattle in TIL,
region has been estimated as high rs - pc,
cent. per annum.
Turning his animals loose to craze at vii
over range of country often
FIFTY MILES SQUARE.
covered with nutritious grass, i'll Il gcnia
climate, in which shelter is unnecessary, tn,
Texas stock-laiSer confines his care 10 til,
identification and marketing of his animals
For the former purpose the stockmen of tn,
neighboring ranches assemble scni-annuals
in considerable force to scour the country fol
the purpose Of branding the calves. the own
ership Of which is determined by the brand
of the cows they follow or suck. This stock
business, which has thus grown from small
beginnings, now amounts to magnificent III.
dustry, the product Of which reaches oul
most distant markets.
It's conditions, both economical and pro.
itdfC buCli WIN
the growth of our resources.
The extension of crop-Iaisins agricultural
settlements in the coast regions seriously de-
ranged the conditions Of cheap productions
of cattle by raisin" the value of land and by
restricting the range Of free pasture. The
stock business was then extended northward
to the central region of high, rolling pr,i-
ries, and even to the plateaus OF northern
r,.r,iu al fr
this attractive industry than even the rich
plains of the coast. They present large
urcas. tolerubly well watered, and sufficiently
well timbered for the wants of the stock
raiser.
The climate is mild and salubrious, and
the pr1liIies in their wild state are covered
with excellent grasses, and already feed large
herds Of cattle bearing the brands Of differ
cnt owners.
Immense quantities of beef are annually
lost. like the waste wood of the forest. for