New-York tribune., 1874-10-27
THE VICTORIA COLONY.

THE VICTORIA COLONY.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING AND STOCK-RAlSlNG.
EDUCATED CoLONIsTs-IMPROvING THE BREEDS OF
CATTLE AND sHEEP-AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS
PLANS.
George Grant, who has been for the past
two years improving and colonizng large tract OF land
iu Kansas upon the Kansas Pacific Railroad, Is now 80
journng this city, and his account OF tho improve
ments Of Victoria Colony Is very interest
ing Mr. Grant says that he attracted to tbs sec
ton OF Kansas while making tour through the United
States in 1872 The soil found to be rich and deep
aud the buffalo grass Of growing in patches with
q waste of sand intervening. was here continuous.
The entire surface resembed thick crop OF curly nair
Everything nature could furnish to make this sec
ton attractive 40 a grazing country seemed to abound
Mr.. Grant purchased large tract ana de-
termined to settle the country with
class of men who, by OF education, would farm
land scientifically, aud make Victoria Colony the nome
of cultivation and refinement Now, only two years
after Mr. Grants first visit, many farms nave oeeh
bought by persons who would hardly have gone into
business IL they had remained at home The population
of Victoria estimated at $50 persons Among the
gentlemen who have settled there the Hon. Walter
Maxwell son Of Lord Herries OF Birmingham Park. YORK
SHIRE England: the OF Charles Gunther. brother
of ex Mayor Gunther OF this city, and Walter A. Shields
the heir Shields estate All the other settlers are
of an equally good class forming nucleus Tor others
from Eastern cities and towns Mr. Grant is also nego
tatpg with the Land apartment OF the Kansas Pacific
Railway Company to buy the remainder OF their lands
in the adjoining townships in Ellis County. This Will
extend his possessions 900 square miles, and MT
Grant will then In fee simple 2SsOOO acres OF iand
in ono body He intends to place upon this tract
colonss like those who have already settled upon the
territory included in Victoria
station TWO stories high has been built at Victoria,
tha haa1 nj lp
ony The building built OF limestone that Is quarried
in abundance 10 the neghborhOod The station is sur
mounted by a cupOla and a covered verandah extends
bo and il also the hotel store and post
office of the colony The largest OF corra IS on
aires II is inclosed by barred fence, with strong
posts eight feet apart The earth mas been banked
hcky sodded line OF sheds extends ac ;n around
this ncos&re as 10 tae nSeR IN
partments and the different Hooks can pe taken
Of each BY Il, tSS 0sr saep4sTS ysc
different sections Of Victoria have been ncosed by stone
walls six feet high the tops Of which are covered 6y
only from the storms but also from dogs ana wolves
This shelter might mot DC Se
houses OF stone with extensive out oadlngs, haye
CIunther have also inclosed corrals with high stone
walls for their nOcks. The whole colony presents
thriving and attractive appearance.
Mr. Grant has flock OF Colorado merino sheep num-
bering 6584. He has Imported 81 Cotswold. Lincoln,
same breeds, from the best English nocks mixing a
total Of M sheep He has also 900 cattle In good con-
d9n ana - eorpas paI S seep can be- hersd
and a house for the shepherds Is built In connection
Lsborers 81 so day. when hired on longjobs,
from $50 to $40 a month and " hnd themselves"
Mr Grant believes In improving the breeds Of his cattle
and sheep and his business IN this city partly con-
nected with shipping valuable imported stock to VIC
tora He has now In o stable in this city thorough
bred stallion, FloddeD who comes from long line OF
cup winners. Eight pure shorhorn bulls selected from
the noted herds IN England, ana four Angus poed
bulls coal black and finely proportioned have been im-
ported and sent to Victoria Many OF the herds are
russ berween ShOrt-horn and Cherokee making almost
as fine looking stock thoroughbred. Mr. Grant pro-
poses TO alternate between the Angus poed and short
norm and herd increases the poorest TO be
cued aud sent TO market In this way the stock VIII
under constant improvement ana the market VIII be
supplied with a good class or beef Not only the
hocks expected yield large revenue in wool, but
also the annual increase in lambs will be constant
Though the stock business promises to be large yet
agricultural operations on an extensive scale nave been
begun result Of the agricultural operations OF the
colony cannot be fairly estimated this season on account
of ravages OF the grasshoppers Mr. that
the did not destroy the buffalo grass and
the grazing not impaired by the visit OF these pests
They lit ON this grass but whether IL was 20 thick that
they made no IMPRESSION whether the grasshoppers
do feed upon buffalo grass MT Grant could not saw
the soil "a rich indications that heavy crops
NAV be raised upon the entire tract Improved
OF gteSture employed with great saving of time
much better under a collar, IKE that for horses.
A considerable stream tnat never becomes dry runs
through the Al ne station large well has been
dug and tank been built there into which
forced by machinery Ths tank has capacity OF 5000
gallons From this tank the water Is supplied To the
bath In which the sheep washed Some OF the sheep
that from Wisconsin were atcted with scabs The
otherwise might spread destrucvey. There three
boilers holding $50 gallons each and in these the water
is heated for bath The solution in which the sheep
are washed is made by adding tobacco and
sulphur, in proportions OF 20 pounds Of the
100 gallons OF water. Mr.. Grant does
not add the three pounds OF arsenic used Dy s0me
he does not believe that 1t increases the efficiency the
solution The bath holds 1000 gallons OF this solution
In the part 10 raised platform, upon which the
ming of their bodies and flowing back Into the BATH
The method OF washing Is 70 drive the sheep up path
which gradually narrows until only one sheep follows
another In line. Suddenly they drop into the BATH
part. They rapidly follow one another aud IN day
and half $3.50 sheep were dipped, and the arrange
ments TO be made more perfect st.ll.
Mr. Grant proposes visit of the farms In this
section Ue stock IL bred and wherever he can,
In his opinion, purchase auima whose high pedigree
will the value OF his other stock He will ship
such stock to Victoria The land that he holds he will
sell to those who will advance the best interests
of the community In Victoria Churches schools, and
other advantages OF enlightened and educated COM
declares that In the colony Victoria young
Of culture and education Will hnd field of usefulness
which they would not attain In the cities aud tow ns
which their homes. Their money would there yield
q good interest and they would be surrounded Dy u
community whose culture and refinement would make
the society congenia Mr. Grant expects 10 be IN this
city for the next week. the guest OF Fiagg, Clark
Fisk OF No. GEO Broadway.
A CHANGE NEEDED IN OUR JURY SYSTEM.
TO the Ediior Of TAe Tribune.