Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-22
A COLORADO RANCH.
Twenty five square Miles Devoted TO the
Raising Of Magnificent Draft Horses.

Tram tie ChicfJ9 Irihtne.
DENVER, Nov. l3.-"DiXouD yelled the
conductor Of a Burlington tram in the ear
Of drowsy passenger who had driven
his chin low down upon his breast. The
drowsy man looked up, rubbed his eyes,
and saw nothing more than the usual
monotony of rolling prairie, where is
it?' ne gasped. "Our next stop" says
the conductor. "LoOk sharp Soon the
whiscIe blew, and the motion Of the train
decreased, a switch target passed the
window, and the drOwsy passenger slowly
walked out upon The platform. sure
enough, there was Xon, but there wasn't
a thing in sight tolndicate the stupendous
business operations which are bound to
make DiXOl a station Of commanding i'm
portance as the months roll on.
The morning train from the East came
and it dropped the special Pullman car
''PIckwick" with a party OF gentlemen
from the East who were curious TO see Tor
themselves what was being done near
Dixon at one Of the extensive breeding
ranches of the PercherOn Horse Company.
ConYeyances we're in waiting aud the
party were driven ten miles 10 one Of the
ranches Of the company. These are Six
in number, five OF them located on the
plains few miles TO the south Of the
Burlington road, and the sixth 10 Ebert
county, near Elizabeth station, on the
Denver and New Orleans road. They
cover an area OF about twenty-five square
miles, and on this vast range hOrsefiesh is
supreme and the Percheron is the King
The drive across gave The visitors an OPP
pOrtuuity to get an idea Of the extent of
tue domain owned Dy the company and
the native grass upon which the stock IS
kept. Immense stacks Of hay showed
that there was no danger of starvation
should heavy snowfall cover the ground
Tor any length Of time. The fact was
made known that never yet had this large
reserve been drawn upon, and that as
spring approached the hay had been mar
keted yearly while the stock found plenty
OF fresh, nutritious grass for their con-
sumption.
NOBLE STATIONS.
But the ranch and its stables were
reached, and the visitors were eager TO
see that portion OF the stations which are
kept there. 1t must not be forgotten that
TINS is only one Of the six central stations
OF the company. Here in a number Of
roOmy boX-stalls the great, handsome fell
lows are SepG. Each stall has portion
OF ground outside for its occupant, where
IN he relgns supreme. Each holds stall
lion, some jet glossy black, some dark
notified gray, and some a lighter gray.
These are the only cOlOrs. A birdie was
thrown over their heads, and thef were
brought out one by one, where they could
be better seen. When one OF them raised
himself on his hind legs his head would
tower high above the tallest giraffe, and
the party admitted that they were the
JumbOs among the horses.
From one point OF interest to another
tn party passed, and sooner than ex-
pected lunch was announced. While the
visitors were at lunch he men were out
gathering in bunch of horses. On they
came, from over the rising ground, and
Sill they kept coming, until the corras
were nearly filled. Among them were
sucklings, warnings, aud 2-year-olds, and
the forms OF the youngsters all showed
strong marks OF their Percheron
sires. These We're prominent even
among the uuarter-blooded colts. As they
were thus gathered In there was a better
opportunity 10 examine them closely and
see what the bunch really contained. A
plenteous crop Of colts is tbe promise of
the coming season. There were some very
handsome 2-year-Olds, and all OF the
younger stock are in fine condition. There
are 3,400 head of horses on tue company's
ranges. Rosa BonheuTs painting of "The
Horse FAIR gives an idea Of these Per-
cnerOn horses, but TO see them I'm all their
glory they must be seen alive, that their
motion may add to the picture, Just as
a photograph may be portrait true in all
its details Of form and feature, but the
spirit and motion are wanting TO bring
reality before the spectator.
THE VALUE OF THE PERCHERON.
The inquiry may arise why Percheron
horses are so especially desirable and
why should they be raised In such guam
titles. Where is the demand for them.
aud TO what uses are they especially re-
quired? One visit to the breeding ranch
will quickly furnish an answer to a host
of suob questions. The Percheron occu-
pies the same relation TO the working
horses that the fine thoroughbred does to
the raeingsstock. Graded from the colossal
thoroughbred of his species, and crossed
with the native breed, the product
gives a class OF horses fitted for
all work. For heavy hauling the pure
blood, from their massive size, seem
fitted to draw anything that can be placed
on wheels. l met transfer wagon one
day in the streets of Denver. loaded
heavily with nails in kegs. The mud was
deep and sticky, and the small wheels OF
the truck We're buried IN it nearly halt
way 10 the hubs. At the first glance the
impression on the minds OF all the bv-
ISLANDERS was that the horses had found
the load too heavy for them. A hasty
count of the kegs and an estimate of their
weight placed 10 IN the neighbOrhOOd Of
three tons. The horses were beautiful
pair Of PercherOn stations, nearly if not
quite pure blood. They were dark
gray in color, with luxurious
names and tails, enormous shoulders,
heavy lanks, straignt-limbed, and coats
that shOne like silk. "What pity" said
one gentleman, ITO tax such a fine team
with this load az such a timelV But the
driver neither needed The gathering crowd
nor their remarks. When he was ready
he mounted his seat and gave the word TO
his beautiful team. NO whip was used,
and they stepped of without CULVER in
their limbs and without a Jerk, and the
heavy load moved as easily as lady
would push her child's carriage before
her over an asphalt pavement. "Magnit-
CENT? came spontaneously from MANY
lips. and q cheer from the crowd showed
how well they appreciated the easy grace
with which these beautiful Percherons
did their work.
The company sell no mares, but they
are always ready TO buy brood mares for
their range. They retain all mare colts.
and by constantly breeding they will
gradually advance their vast herd TO-
warts the pure breed OF Percher0ns.
Five years hence their ranges will show
great numbers OF threc-quarter stock, and
in the meantime the lower grades will be
marketed for carriage, transfer, and other
purposes.
A TREASURE IN LOOKOUT CAVE,