The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-07-14
A FARM.
Luck Baldwin's" Great Ranch
in California.

Luck BaidWin'S Great
in California.
A letter from California TO the II.
Louis Globe Democrat SAYS: Lucky Bald
wins possession from the control OF
mines on the Comstock have gradually
grown until now he has a half a dozen
great enterprises under full Roadway. He
owns the largest and finest hotel IN San
Francisco, with the single exception OF
the Palace. and which contains a theatre
within it. He has a fine summer hotel
on Lake Tahoe. and he has shrewdly
bought up a large strip Of the shore of
this beautiful lake, which in a few years
viii be sought after for villa sites Final
n. he owns the great santa Anita rmch,
near Los Angeles the breeding place of
the string of swift-footed flyers with
which he goes East TO contest for the
prizes on the chief racing circuits, and
one of the best general fruit and stock
ranches in the State. This princely do
main extends fourteen miles east and
west and twelve miles north and south,
and embraces $1,000 acres. He shears
thousands Of sheep every year, raises
wheat enough 10 charter entire ships for
conveying it to Liverpool, and makes
more brandy than any n else in the
state. besides turning out a large quantity
of wine.
The men who are boarded on the ranch
yet s. a day, and the few Chinese who
remain-not over Il dozen all told-get
81 a day and board themselves. What
adds 10 the likeness to the Southern
plantation is the appearance of young
( darkies driving carts or herding stock.
These are members Of a colony of North
/ Carolina negroes whom Baldwin brought
out here from their old homes two years
ago. He paid their fares and made a con
tract with them to work for him for Il
term of years. He built them nea houses
and here are installed the ten families
comprising about sixty members. They
have made excellent hands in the field
and the orchard, because the IN and
children can be counted on for good
work in cultiyating and picking fruit.
The man who has charge Of all the
practical details Of this huge place is j..
! +. Fully. a shrewd, energetic Californian,
who knows wheat growing and fruit cul-
ture 80 thorough that he Is a terror to all
incompetent hands and who keeps his
small army of workmen under regular
military discipline. Judged by the IT.
suits. 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 l. 80 much
strength in the juice of these lusty grapes
even when mellow with age, that unless
one is a seasoned vessel the chances are
I that he will be overcome before he knows
ii. The cellar is piled high with them
ten wears old. All the latest machinery
for distilling Is here, and the place is in
/ charge of a 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 prepar-
ed to extend his observations 10 the great
wheat and sheep ranch 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
| delight the eyes of a Dakota wheat grow
cr. Beyond the wheat farm the visitor
comes to the Puento sheep ranch. COM
prisingabout 10000 acres of gently,rolling
foot hill land reaching back TO the
mountains. The old Scotchman, named
Cameron, who has cared for sheep all
his life, going from Scotland 10 New
Zealand and from New Zealand coming
here. He is Il man of wide information,
! anu it ECfliiNh liht III ailaA'iAAtbA0hA ~
this free and easy California life, for he
adheres to the Calvinism in which he
was bred. An example OF the rigid in
sistence upon his creed was furnished last
summer when Baldwin had 4 party Of
friends at the ranch. The supply of meat
ran out and the millionaire sent over to
old Cameron To slaughter four sheep.
The answer was returned in broad Scotch
" There viii he ma killing ofthe sheep al
the Sawbath.' and Baldwin had To send
to town for his meat.
Baldwin is engaged in splitting up Il
portion of the ranch into small tracts of
from twenty acres upward and selling
them to Los Angeles people for summer
1 villas and 10 Eastern people who wish 4
winter home in one of the most beautiful
valleys of southern California. \ rail-
road will be completed through the ranch
this fall, and when one may reach the
city of Los Angeles in fifteen minutes.
The only drawback to rapid settlement
Of the ranch i the price charged for the
land. With perpetual water right, $3.50
per acre i asked for unimprovcd land.
The majority Of those who buy this land
will be wealthy people who cannot afford
To- spend from $4,000 to 10000 in lying
ont and improving Il place.
Tom Corwin'S Ready Repartee.