The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-05-02
The Great Cattle Ranches of Texas.


The Northwest Teas Cattle Raisers'
Association has been in session for
three days at Fort Worth. The or
ganization has memberhip of 233,
who own from 1000 to $1,000 cattle
and represent a grand total of / 400
700 cattle. There are several who
can boast of the ownership of from
40, GOO to 60,0O0 head, and fourteen
who lay claim to over 10000.
Among the firstthe North to embark
m the ranching business in Texas
were the Harold Brothers, who went
from Bloomington, Ill. in the fall of
1875. The aggregate oftheir posses
sion amounted to $4,000. This
sum they invested in Greer and Tom
Green counties, starting out with
1890 cattle. To-day they are the
the owners of $4,000 head, and are
reputed to be worth at least 81 500
COO. During the season of1SS2 they
sold 10000 head, and this year they
expect TO brand $1,000 calves. For
the last six years they have been
grading up with shorthorns and
Herefords, and have now one of the
best herds in the State.
The largest ranch in the State is
that of Charles Goodnight, located
at the head of Red River. He be-
gan buying land four years ago, Sc
curing 10000 acres at % cents per
acre. In the meantime the price has
advanced from 81 to 50 per acre, but
he is still buying, and now controls
100000 acres. Tomclose his landed
possession $50 miles of, fencing is
required. Mr.. Goodnight has herd
of 10000 cattle. 1t is not the mrgest
in the State, but is generally conced-
ed to be the finest, having been grad
ed up with unusual care. The su-
peiority of his herd is evidenced by
a recent sale of 200 yearlings at $40
per head, while the average price for
Texas yearlings is SIS. He branded
over 1U,OO0 cattle last year, and will
brand as many more this season.
Mr. Goodnight lives or his ranch and
gives his personal attention to affairs.
He is Kentuckian by birth, and
is a broad-minded and liberal man.
The Matador Cattle Company;s
ranch is situated in Motley and COT
fle counties, on the Peace River.
This property, including 100000
acres OF land, was recently sold to
company of Scotch capitalists for
81 ,250,0U0. A. ID. Pickering. of Chi
cago. was formerly interested in this.
ranch. The Worshan Cattle Co.,
in Willbrrger and Hardiman eopn-
ties, have 5000 head. Their ranch
covers a territory forty by sixty
miles. The cattle were bought last
summer of Stevens & Worsham for
$4,000. They marketed about
1000 three and four-year-old beeves,
and branded $500 calves. William
Young, OF Milwaukee, a gentleman
well known on the Chicago board of
Trade, is Secretary and Treasurer
and large stockholder in this COM
pany. The Western Land and Cat
tie Company, of London, organized
in 1882 with a capital stock of 300,-
600 cattle (mostly half-breeds) in
the Pan Handle and on the borders
OF New Mexico. James A. Forbes,
OF London, is managing director in
America.
The amount of Texas ranch prop
erty controlled.Dy Chicago capital is
much larger than is generally sup
posed. / could name score of
well Chicagoans who are
more or less extensive engaged in the
business OF cattle raising. The Chi
cago and Texas Cattle Company, a
recent organization, has from 1900
to 1900 head on the Colorado and
North Concho Rivers. The herd,
which is well graded up, cost s215,-
600. The officers are Isaac Waixel,
President; c. b. Moore, Secretary;
W. T. Darlington, Treasurer, and j.
E. Darlington, resident manager.
Nelson Morris recently bought 124,-
$50 acres in Tom Green and An
drews counties. which he intends to
fence and stock at once. This tract
lies within eight miles of the Texas
and Pacific road. Adjoining this
property John r. Hoxile has 81 200
acres. Mr.. Hoxile has also a little
patch of $4,000 acres in the Pan
Handle and a large and finely stock
ed ranch in the vicinity of Tovlor.
The Chicago syndicate, composed of
J. V. Farwell, C. B. Farwell, Abner
Taylor and Colonel Babcock (the
latter gentleman of Canton, Ill.,
which has the contract for building
the State House at Austin, receive
for their outlay 100000 acres of
choice land. The cost of the
structure was to be 81 100000 but
subsequently changes in the plans
will. it is said, increase the cost to
! 100000. It is the intention of
the parties to fence their property as
soon as practicable and stock it with
Texas cattle. grading up with Here
ford and Polled Angus bulls.