The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-03


The editor Of the Corpus Christi Gazette
lately visited the Rancho de los Laureles.
the property Of Captain Kennedy, twenty-five
miles from Corpus Christi, and describes il
as follows
His enclosed on the east side by Corpu.
Christi Bay and Laguna Madra, and on the
south by the Ague Dulce creeks. The
owner can sail for seventy miles within
sight Of his own land
The pasture fence Is thirty-six miles in
length, embracing within its limits 1S1, ,00C
acres Of good grazing land. Thirty miles
of this fence is built of the very best hearl
pine boards. sawed to a uniform length, six
inches wide by one and One-fourth inches
in thickness, four plank TO the panel. Tho
posts to which they aEo fastened are OF
cypress, sawed to order, six inches in width
by four inches in thickness, set in the
ground depth. of three feet. The remain
ing six miles are built of wire and boards.
The posts are set eight feet apart, on line
with the top of which is nailed board SIM
liar to those described above. Below this
are three galvanized iron wires passing
through the posts, about one foot apart. To
heavy posts, One-quarter of mile apart, are
attached winches, one to each wire, for the
purpose of Tightening them. The leverage
thus obtained is so great that the wires can
be drawn to their utmost tension. A
more complete fence we have never seen.
1t is calculated to stand for long series of
years.
Within this vast enclosure are upwards of
80, 600 head of cattle, 5000 head of horses
mares, colts and mules, and 2, 900 head of
hogs. From 10, 600 to IL, 600 head of calves
and 500 head of colts are branded annually.
Owing to succession of unfavorable sea
sons, the proprietor has endeavored to pre-
vent the increase of his stock, otherwise
the large pasture lands would ere this have
been insufficient for their support.
Tributary to the main rancho are four
smaller ones, built near gates leading in and
out of the pasture, attended by men en-
ployed for that express purpose. One is at
the Encinal, one at the Portales, one at the
Santa Cruz and one near the Aqua Dulee.
These branch ranches are neatly and sub
stantially constructed-cottages corrals,
small pastures, and all.
At the eastern side of the enclosure,
where the waters of Corpus Christi Bay and
Laguna Madre unite, is a packery, with all
the necessary apparatus for slaughtering
and rendering cattle. At this place the
surplus stock of the rancho is slaughtered
yearly. Ample warehouses for the storing
of salt, hides and tallow are built in con-
nection with the packery, as also substan-
tial wharves, from which are shipped by
lighters, direct to the New Orleans steam
ers, all the produce of this immense con-
Germ.
In the southeastern portion of the pas
ture are large natural salt lakes, from which
are obtained many thousand bushels of salt
yearly, scarcely inferior to any produced in
the world. The salt is taken from these
lakes by lighters drawing but he water.
The main rancho, where the proprietor
resides, is near the western line of his fence,
on elevated ground, surrounded by beauti-
full mots of native trees. A sight of this
small portion of the whole is we'll worth the
ride. A day spent in observing the syste-
matte arrangement of its many conveniences
would be well spent, and an appreciative
visitor could not help but admire the work.
ings of the masterpiece. Immediately in
front of the dwelling is awell of the finest
spring water, some twenty-eight feet in
depth. The well is seven feet square,
curbed with five by six cypress posts. A
patent windmill and pump draws the water.
A few feet from the we'll is a large iron
bound tank, with capacity of $500 gal
Ions. Leading from this are three pipes,
controlled by stop-cocks; one conveying the
water to a trough just outside the fence en-
closing the house, another, 400 feet in
length, conducts. the water toa corral, where
daily are watered from 200 to /, 500 head
of stock; another 800 feet in length, leads
the water to the garden for watering pur-
poses. For the use of this rancho the Cap
tain has enclosed some fifteen acres of land,
Immediately outside of and around which
are erected the residences of his vaqueros.
Here are also to be seen stables, pens end all
the conyeniences of a northern farm.
Around this mammoth hacienda prevails Pm
air of quiet rarely to be observed among the
stock ranches of Western Texas. Guided
by man whose love of perfect system and
order has ever characterized him, no de
rangement occurs. Each one knows his
duty and performs it. Superhuity in all
things is discountenanced and harmony
reigns.