Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-12
A Wonderful Farm.
"LUCY BALDwIN's" GREAT RANCH IN
CALIFORNIA.

A letter from California to the St. Louis
Globe-Democrat says: Lucky Baldwin s
possessions from the control of mines on
the Comstock have gradually grown until
now he has half a dozen great enter
prises under full Roadway. He owns the
largest and finest hotel in San Francisco,
with the single exception OF the Palace,
and which contains theatre within it. He
has a fine summer hotel on Lake Tahoe,
and he has shrewdly bought up large
strip of the shore of this beautiful lake,
which in a few years will be sought after
for villa sites. Finally, he owns the great
Santa Anita ranch. near Los Angeles. the
breeding place of the string of swift foot
ed flyers with which he goes East to con
test for the prizes on the chief racing cir
cults, and one of the best general fruit and
stock ranches in the State. This prince
ly domain extends fourteen miles east and
west and twelve miles north and south, and
embraces $4,000 acres. He shears thou
sands of sheep everv year. raises wheat
enough to charter entire ships for convey
ing it to Liverpool. and makes more
brandy than anyone else in the State. be-
sides turning out large quantity OF wine.
The men who are boarded on the ranch
get 81 day. and a few Chinese who re-
main-not over a dozen, all told-get 81
a day and board themselves. What adds
to the likeness to the Southern plantation
is the appearance of young darkies driv-
ing carts or herding stock. These are
members of colony of North Carolina
negroes whom Baldwin brought out here
from their old homes two years ago. He
paid their fares and made contract with
them to work for him tor term of years
He built them neat houses, and here are
installed the ten families comprising about
sixty members. They have made excel
lent hands in the field and the orchard,
because the women and children can be
counted on tor good work in cultivating
and picking fruit.
The man who has charge of all the
practical details of this huge place is J
F. Fully, shrewd, energetic Califor-
MAN. who knows wheat growing and fruit
culture so thoroughly that he is terror to
all incompetent hands, and who keeps his
army of workmen under regular military
discipline. Judged by. the results. his
management IS the best of any that saw
in the southern country.
The wine cellar is always an object of
curiosity to the average tourist, but even
though one enjoys the companionship of
the manager and the hospitality of the
ranch. it is very dangerous to sample
California wines. There is so much
strength in the juice of these lusty grapes.
even when mellow with age. that unless
one is seasoned vessel the chances are
that he will be overcome before he knows
it, The cellar is piled high with them ten
years old. All the lates, machinery for
dlstillipg is here. and the place is in
charge of French expert, of lifelong
experience in wine and brandy making in
his native country.
After one has seen the orange groves
the orchards, vineyards, and the other
features of the home place, he is prepared
to extend his observations to the great
wheat and sheep ranches on the Santa
Anita. You may drive for miles through
fields where the wheat is now knee high
and shows an even stand which would de-
light the eye of Dakota wheat grower.
Beyond the wheat farm the visitor comes
to the Puento sheep ranch, comprises
about $4,000 acres of gently rolling foot
hill land reaching back to the mountains.
The old Scotchman, named Cameron. whe
has cared for sheep all his lite,
going from Scotland to New Zealand