Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-03-27
Raising Texas Cattle.

Rockport, for trip over the Texas
prairies, having as companions of ou
journey, Judges Barton and Dunlap
and District Attorneys Crane and Nc
Campbell, who, having just closei
court at Rockport, were travelling Oh
their circuit to San Patricio. There
were also in our party Messrs. Cole
man, Matthias and George W. Fulton
our destination for the day being ths
rancho of the first named gentleman
some thirty miles distant. The first
miles of our route were across chap
paral plain, not very picturesque OF
inviting to the eye, though the abun.
dance of game would have charmed
the senses of sportsman. We finally
reached the open prairie, and here had
fine opportunity of viewing ''cattle
on the range and it was evident moi
only from the great number of the ami.
mails, but from their gaunt appearance,
that these out door pastures are iEl-
mensely overstocked The spring
grass could ge. no start, and was nip
ped off as fast as it put forth its green
sprouts. Although it was midday.
the cattle were diligently searching
for food, which is not the case in q
well-conditioned pasture.
When ten miles from Rockport we
reached the gate of the cattle farm in
charge of our friend Coleman, as the
head of the firm of Coleman, Matthias
& Fulton. Within this enclosure, the
gate of which we entered, is by far the
largest enclosed field in Texas, the
number of acres being 125,OOO On
the south side it is bounded by Neuces
and Corpus Christi bays, and on the
coast by Puerto and Copana bays, and
on the north by Chultepin river. The
amount of fencing required to COM
plete the enclosure was twenty-five
miles, fifty miles being bounded by
the water courses. In other words,
the boundary of this pasture is seven
ty-five miles-fifty miles of water and
twenty-five miles of board fence
Some idea of the extent of this field
may be judged from the fact that from
the entrance gate to Mr.. Coleman S
house or rancho, the distance is twenty
miles.
The improved appearance of the ca: :.
tie as compared with those 'on the
range was too marked to escape the
attention of the most inexperienced
observer. They looked sleek and COM
Portable, and those that were not ly-
ing down were standing in the water
of the pond to escape the hoof fly,
which is said to be very annoying at
this time of the year. The number of
cattle in this enclosure at the present
time is %, 900 head, which is regarded
as very near its full complement. Five
acres to the animal is the estimated
limit to keep them in good condition
throughout the year, and anything be-
yond that is regarded as overstocking.
During our drive across the pasture
animals were encountered N great
numbers, and could be seen browsing
in the distance. hut in such a vast en-
closure, the horizon being to the eve
its boundary in every direction, no es-
innate could be made of the number
They were all. however, large and we'll
conditioned. nothing of the ''scala-
wag" order being admitted. They
had but little of the wild characteristics
with which Texas cattle have been
credited, many of them scarcely deign-
ing to look at us as our carriages pass
ed within ten feet of them. Indeed,
these Texas cattle seemed to be very
amiabie and well behaved animals,
their immense expanded horns only
making the difference, ard giving them
a wild appearance.
The proprietors of this immense
pasture do not] make the breeding of
cattle any special part of of their bus
ness, though from seven to ten thous-
and calves are annually added to
their stock. They prefer to buy cattle
rather than raise them, as an anabundance
of herds can be purchased at the aver
age of five dollars per head. including
beeves, COWS and calves. These they
place i'll their pastures to fatten and
improve their condition, and to await
the steamers for shipping to New Or
leans. Instead of raising the calves
that thus come into their possession,
they ship their yearlings to New Or
leans, where they command from So to
SIT per head, according to condition /;
and as three calves cost no more to
ship than one beef, the profits to the
shipper are fully equal. Beside the
nun Der of cattle now held in the PAS.
ture, $4,000, they still have on the
rarge many more of brands which they
have purchased. Parties of Cow
boys are out gathering these at SO
much per head, which is very diff
cult work. A drove of some five hun
dred head of these rowing cattle were
brought i'll this morning. This firm
have also another pasture of 5000 acres
within two miles of Rockport. This is
a kind of storage pasture, where they
drive their picked cattle preparatory to
shipping.
In seasons of drought it is very COM
mon for thousands of these animals
on the range" 10 die for want of
water. Among tae owners Of the herds
thus turned loose, there has ever
been any combined movement for
their comfort but they have been al
owed to live or die, as the case might
be. What is everybody's business is
no bodv's business, and the vast bodies
of water that fall during the rainy se,,-
SOD is allowed to find its way to the
Gulf, while trifing expense would
effect its storage in reservoirs scatt red
over the prairits. The pasturage sys-
tenn is ready producing its fruits, in
harmonizing tie business and this
firm have paid great attention to The
water SIMPLY OF thaIr stock, and have
bcel so successful the formation of
lakes, that they have no fear of
drought whilst the cattle do not have
to go any great distance for water.
One lake that we passed, at the head
of which is a strong dam lined with
stone, is over two miles i'll length, the
depth of the water ranging from five to
! eight feet. They have constructed
two other dams in distant parts of the
pastnrage, though not SO large as this
one. The water question is regarded
a. one of great Importance. 1t is a
aingqlar fact that the accumula ion ct
water evea Ia psnds Oh the prairias of
Texas, always remains sweet and prr .
Hence the s-Urage of winter rains for
summer use is entirely feasible. and is
being done in all the pasturages, while
the animals con the range" have to
look ont for themselves and stick to
| the few water courses, which soon be-
come SO crowded in tine Of drorth,
that they are almost starved.
! At 4 o'clock we came in sight of Col.
Coleman's ranehe, the first signs OF
life visible being windmill which he
has erected on the banks Of the Chul
tepin river to pump mp water for the
purpose of irrigating his fields. He
has several hundred acres here under
cultivation, The land Oh which the