Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-28
GRAND ESTATE IN CALIFORNIA
The Summer Residence Of Leland Stan
ford---Two Thousand Acres of Land
-.-Three Hundred Thoroughbred
Horses, Occupying One Mile
Of Sheds and Stables.

1hc pah pTdnclScO III a
recent issue says
THE summer residence of Leland
Stanford is in some respects the most
noticeable country estate in the United
States. The rancho includes two
thousand acres of the most fertile land
in the Santa Clara valley, made up of
the lGordon and Hoag ranches, pur-
chased by Mr.. Stanford about three
years ago. 1t begins half a mile from
Menlo, at the San Francisquite Greek,
and extends towards the southwest
along the creek, the southern end
tapping over a low spur of the coast
range west of Mayfeld. Three or
four hundred acres lie along the hill
side, affording an eligible building site,
with a view of the bay and the hills of
San Francisco. The rest of the farm
is level or slightly elevated, and
abounds in trees separately and in
groups that suggest the cooperation
of nature with the skillful landscape
gardener. The summer residence of
Governor Stanford is about a mile
from Menlo, and reached by a drive
along the country road and a shady
avenue that winds along the creek.
1t was upon the Gordon rancho when
purchased, but has since been enlarged
and improved. 1t was built in villa
style, with broad yerandas, and has an
ample outlook. There has been little
time for improvement since it came
into present hands, but forty acres
about it have been laid out in a lawn.
garden and vineyard. The house has
every appointment proper to a gentle
mans country home, including pic
lures and a well stocked library.
The stables are scarcely inferior
to the house in convenience and neat
ness of finish. The carriage house
will accommodate q score Of vehicles,
and there are stalls for a dozen or
more horses, about the number kept
in immediate use when the family are
spending the summer in the country.
The farm buildings proper are near
the family residence, The whole
ranch is under the superintendent of.
Alfred Poett. Senator Keys has
charge Of the agricultural depart
ment. The stock stables, the chief
point of interest, are near the south
end, not far from the foothills, and in
charge of H. r. Convey, who is assist
ed by his son, 4. w. Convey. They
are most remarkable for number and
variety of blood stock. There is no
collection of horses in New York, a
State given to horefiesh, which ap-
proachcs it. The Alexander stock
farm in Kentucky is the only one that
nearly equals it in extent and value.
Governor Stanford's love of horses
dates from his early childhood-in
fact, it is hereditary. He comes from
a part Of New York where the adj
miration of fine horses is imbibed in
infancy. He had a good stud of
horses when he brought the present
property, and since then, till Mr..
Coyey made the last purchase of
nineteen blood brood mares in Ken
lucky, he has purchased whatever he
laid eyes on that pleased his fancy.
His ranch, and especially his horses,
have for the last year been his chief
pleasure.
1t has been the custom when liv-
ing at the ranch during the summer
to spend several hours among them,
after leaving the railroad Offices at the
corner of Fourth and Townsend
streets, Of an afternoon, and during
the winter to make them weekly visits.
taking with him a friend or two to
whom he could point out their beau
ties and rehearse their parentage. 1t
is said that he knows every colt by
name and can tell his pedigree to the
tenth generation. A stable with three
hundred blooded horses, of all ages.
must be a curiosity to the most indif-
ferent observer Of rare animals. 1t
takes a mile Of sheds and stables to
accommodate them and a host of serv-
ing men to supply their daily wants.
The trotting stable is a building l50x80
feet, a warm, comfortable and as we'll
arranged as a gentleman's dwelling.
Besides this there are stables for stall
lions, for brood mares and for colts in
training, with quarter sections for
paddocks and a fine, hard race track,
splendid in the summer and dry and
hard during the fair weather of the
winter. Here the younger animals
are taught their PAGES, and 0ccident,
that handsome piece of horsehesh, and
Elaine, the fastest of four-year-o lds,
can be seen speeding in harness on
any fine day at any time of year. Oc-
cident is curiOusly looked at by every
one who visits the trotting stable. He
welcomes all corners kindly, and re-
ceives the caresses Of ladies with
gracious and amiablo courtesy.
1t warns one TO hear a zeal
Gus hOrseman talk about his favor
ties, he is so much in earnest. No
one can be more in love with his oc-
cupation than the elder Convey.
Stripped of some of its technicalities
hat which he has to say is much as
follows; OF brood mares there are
one hundred and twenty in the stables,
many of them with very bright records
records, say, Of from 9.27 or less to
2;30 or a little over. The list of eele-
brated mares includes Aurora, who
has trotted a mile in 2:27 Maid of
Clay, with a record Of 2:38; Barnes's
Idol, who trotted in 2:34l when four
years old Daisy G., who made 2:38
when three years old; Lucy, with a
record Of 2:3O, and these, with the re-
cords annexed Maggie Mitchell, 2:40;
May Fly, 2:3Ol Mayaower, 2.30
Prussian Maid, 2:19; Rio Vista Maid,
2:35. A shrewd mathematician might
estimate the entire worth Of horses
and colts on the place to considerably
exceed $2l0,Q0O. Prom the list Of so
many swift steeds, each Of which has
some claim to distinction, some must
a -. ta1 49, MI