The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-29
TEXAS IN SUMMER.

was the trip itself to our party o.
strangers in strange land.
Cool and pleasant as we found
the climate on the shores of Aransas
Bay, where we revelled in the trade
winds, ride of 2S miles on the
prairie, beyond the reach Of these
refreshing breezes, gave us taste OF
summer weather that was almost
tropical. Fleas are among the lux
uries of Texas in early summer, but
it is said that on the 25th of June
the sand gets so hot that it either
cooks them or compels them to seek
some retreat out of the way of man
and beast. They troubled some OF
our party, but most of us escaped
their rapacity; and as we drove
through the brush or chapperel on
our way to the Big Pasture, although
the period for their departure had
not arrived, the sand seemed hot
enough to roast any living thing
that came in contact with it.
I OUT on THE PRAIRIE.
We left Fulton after an early
breakfast, on the morning of the
31st of May, and were soon out on
the open prairie, approaching the
lands of the Peninsula Pasture Com
pany, which are but short dis
tance from Rockport, There were
six in our party, four of whom were
ladies, with Col. George w. Fulton
as our pilot. Eight miles from
Rockport we passed through the
gates of the Big Pasture of the Cole
man-Fulton Pasture Company, aud
entered -on its broad domain of
168,000 acres, or 206 square miles,
of what is regarded as the very
best pasture land in Texas. We
were to stop at the ranch, the herds
mems headquarters, ten mile from
the gate, for dinner, and to rest our
horses, and afterwards continue our
journey to Mr.. Coleman's mansion,
eleven miles further on-making
twenty-one miles from the gate to
the house.
When fairly ON our journey in
side of the Big Pasture, on casting
the eye around. the horizon was
seen to be as sparply defined in
every direction as It is at sea. There
were a few small motts of live-oak
trees, and some scattered cattle
browsing on the plain, but nothing
else, not even fences, obstructed the
view. By the impractical eyethere
was really no road to be seen, but
during this and subsequent drives
both Colonel Fulton and Mr.. Cole
man seemed to know every eowpath.
These cowpaths were made by the
cattle going to the lakes for water,
as on such occasions they always
walk in single file, and pursue the
same course day after day. This
was the case before the new pasture
system was adopted, when an in
stinct seemed to guide the cattle in
pursuit of water. Then there were
no artificial lakes, with the winter
rains stored in them for the use Of
the cattle, as is now the case, and it
often happened that the distance
between water and the grazing
grounds was twenty miles or more.
In the dry season thousands of them
would die from burning thirst, and
leave their bones ialong thej cow
tracks, or, on reaching the water,
drink to such excess that death was
sure to follow. Now there are five
or six of these lakes on this great
pasture, one of them three miles in
length and from fifty to five hundred
yards in width, while the Chiltopin
river forms its northern boundary.
FENCES AND WATER LINES.
The reader viii naturally feel
curious TO know how it was possible
to enclose this immense tract of
land, but it is all done by about 60
miles of substantial fencing, which
includes % miles of interior or divi-
sion fences, between the several
grading pastures. The water bound
ary of the pasture, of course, needs
no fencing. and this is estimated to
exceed fifty miles. 1t is bounded
on the east and south by the Bays
of Arkansas, Copano, Corpus Christi
and Neuces, and on the north by
the Chiltopin river, leaving only the
western boundary to be protected
by a substantial fence, which is
forty miles long.
RINcoy RANCH.
Our first stopping place was at
Rincon Ranch, ten meles from the
gate, and here Mr.. Whitney, the
gentelmanly superintendent, gave US
a cordial welcome, and had a sub
stantial dinner in readiness for US,
after our long drive of eighteen
miles from Fulton. Here are locat-
ed the cabins of the cattle herders,
mostly Mexicans. and here are al
portion of the immense stock of
horses, l 800 in number, kept for the
special use of herders. Consider
able farming is done here, the fields
of corn showing the richness OF the
soil, and foreshadowing the future
agricultural importance of this vast
territory when the railroads that are
threatening to invade in, shall open
it for settlement. Whenever we
passed a deep wash in the land, the
rich black loan was visible to the
depth of from two to three feet from
the surface, and the heavy coating of
grasses, a large portion of which is
the mesquite, indicates its present
value as grazing land. The mes
quite grass is almost as valuable for
fattening cattle as oats and corn.
being as nutritious when dried in
winter as it is in midsummer. Thus
! it is that $1,000 head of cattle
now on the pasture are enabled to
take care of themselves and provide
their own provender in winter and
summer, and receive little or no
care from the herdsmen. There are
great many varieties of grasses, the
instinct of the cattle enabling them
to seek out and Craze on that which
is most nutritious during the vari-
Gus seasons.