Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-11-05
THE VICTORIA COLONY.


George Graot, who has been for the past two
years Improving aud colonizng large tract of
land 10 Kansas upon the Kansas Pacific Rail
road, is now sojouruing 10 this city, and his ac-
couut of the improvements and successes Of
Victoria Colony Is very Interesting. Mr.. GRAFT
says that he was attracted to that section OF
Kansas while making a tour through the
United States in 1872 The soil was found to
be rich and Deep AID the buffalo grass, instead
of growing in patches with waste OF sand in
tervcuiEg. was here continuous. The entire
surface resembled thick crop ofcury hair.
Everything that nature could furnish to make
this section attractive as grazing couOtry
seemed to abound Mr.. Graut purchased a
large tract and determined to settle the couotry
with class Of meu who, by reason of educa-
tou, would farm land scientifically, aud make
Victoria Colony the home Of cultivation and re-
tincment. Now, only two years after Mr.
Grants first visit, many farms have been
bought by persons who would hardly have gone
into business if they had remained at home.
The population of Victoria is estimated at over
$50 persous. Among the gentlemen who have
seltled there are the Hon. Walter Maxwell,
sou of Lord Hcrries Of Everiugham Park,
Yorkshire, England; the sou of Charles Gun
ther, "a brother of Mayor Guuther Of this
v, "A.
Shields estate All the other settlers
are of an equally good class forming
IA nucleus for others from Eastern cities
aud towns Mr.. Grant is also negotiating with
the Land Department of the Kansas Pacific
Railway Company to buy the remainder of
their lands in he adjoining townships 10 Ellis
county. This will exend his possessions over
900 square m les, and Mr. Grant will then own
iu fee simple 2SS, 600 acres OF land1n one body.
He intends to place upon this tract colouists
like those who have already settled upon the
territory Included in Victoria.
a station TWO stories high has been built at
Victoria aud this building is used as the head
quarters of the colony The building is built
OF limestone, that is quarred 10 abundance 10
the neighborhood. The station is surmouued
by a cupola, aud covered verandah extends
around it. This building answers many pur-
poses 1t is the railway station, aud IS also the
hotel, store, and postuthce OF the colony. The
largest uclosure OF corral is on the west side OF
the station. This contains seventeen acres 1t
is uciosed by barred fence, with strong posts
abou; eight feet apart The earth has been
banked up to level with the top of the fence,
aud the slope has been thckly sodded. liue
of sheds extends around this iuclosure as pro-
lection to the Aocks iu severe weather. The
ipclosure is divided iuto separate compartments
and the different f9cks can be taken care Of
each by its own shepherd, without in any way
interfering with the others. Other tracts lu
different sections of Victoria have been lncIosed
by stone walls six feet high, the tops OF which
are covered by bl Dad, fat, overhaDging stones
that protect the hocks not only from, the storms,
but also tiom dogs and wolves. This shelter
perhaps might not he necessary through severe
weather Tor $50 days III year. Several large
houses Of Stoue, with extensive out ut-bulldlugs
have been erected by other settlers Mr.. Max
we'll and Mr. Guuther have also incosed corrals
with high stone walls for their Aocks The
whole colony presents thriving and attractive
appearance
Mr Grant has flock of Colorado merino
sheep numbering t, 5S4 He has imported 81
Cotswold, Lincoln, Oxford Down, and Leces-
ter ewes, aud 50 rams Of the same breeds, from
the best English hocks, making a total Of g.,
1o4 sheep He has also 500 cattle 10 good con-
ditiop, and II imported bulls of bigh pedigree.
la one OF Mt. Grants stone corras 5000 sheep
can be sheltered and house for the shep-
herds is built iu connection with that Enclosure.
Labor is Obtained at fair prices. Laborers re-
ceive 81 80 day. or, when hired on long
bs, from $50 to $40 month aud find them
selves"
Mr.. Grant believes in improving the breeds
of his cattle and sheep, aud his business IN this
city is partly connected with shipping valuable
imported stock to Victoria He has now 10
stable in this city thoroughbred stallion,
FIoddeu, whc comes from long llne of cup
Winners. Eight pure Short-horn bulls, select
ed troul the noted herds iu England, and four
Angus poed bulls, coal black aud finely pro-
p,rtloncd, have been Imported aud sept to
Victoria Many of the herds arc cross be-
,wecu Short-horu and Cherokee, making al
most as ine looking stock as thoroughbred.
all hlt,p no
Angus poed and Shorthorn, and as his herd
increases the poorest are to be culled and sent
to market lu this way the stock will be un-
der Constant improvement, and the market will
be supplied with good class Of beef. Not only
are the Aocks expected 10 yield large revenue
in wool, but also the annual increase 10 lambs
will be constant source of profit.
Though the stock business promises to be
large yet agricultural operations on an extern
sive scale lave been begun. The results of the
agricultural operations Of the colony cannot be
fairly estimated this season on account of the
ravages of the graSshoppers Mr. Grant says
that the grasShoppers did not destroy the but
tao grass, aud the grazing was not impaired
by the visit of these pests. They lit on this
grass, but whether 1t was 80 thick that they
made no IMPRESSION; or whether The grasshop
pers do not feed upon buffalo grass Mr. Grant
could DOT say The soil is rich and the indica-
,ious are that heavy crops may be raised upon
the entire tract Improved methods of agri-
culture are employed with great saving of time
and labor The oxen are not yoked, but seem
ed to work much better under collar, like
that used Tor horses.
4 considerable stream that never becomes
dry ruus through the tract At the station
large we'll has been dug and tank has been
built there, into which water is forced by ma
This t,pl- h.c ut 6() tNUl
gallons. From this tank the water is supplied
TO the bath in which the sheep are washed.
Some of the sheep that come from Wisconsin
We're afflicted with scabs. Tue bath was devils
ed to cure the tocks of this disease, that other
wise might spread destruclively. There are
three boilers holding $50 gallons each, and in
these the water is heated for the bath. be O.