Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-29
A BIG RANCHO.
sixty Thousand Acres Near the
County Line.

County Ltucs
During his stay at the Liebre ranch a
HERALD reporter cleaned some interest
ing pointers about the place and its oper-
ations. The ranch proper, or the terri
tory owned by General Beale this side OF
the TETON, is one Of the largest ranches
lin Southern California, consisting Of
10000 acres, which afford pasturage for
between 15, 600 and 20, 900 head Of cattle.
The summer rodeo or roundup, for the
purpose Of branding the calves and sell
Getting beeves for market, commenced on
Monday, and is very interesting affair
for visitor. The range is driven over in
sections, about thirty miles being done
each day. Mr.. Pogson, manager OF the
ranch, says that the cattle-raising indus
try Of Southern California is a very pro-
fitable one, as good prices can always be
obtained for beef and the market is
always firm. Los Angeles, however,
cannot dispose OF all of the Liebre ranch
cattle, for at the two annual round-ups
on that place SO many stock are selected
for market that the butchers here would
be flooded, so to avoid this, most OF the
stock is driven into Bakersfield, and from
that point shipped to San Francisco. The
losses among the cattle are small, as they
have no severe winters to contend with
as in the other principal districts of the
United States. One Of the principal items
in the profit and loss account is the oper-
ations of cattle thieves, and Mr.. Pogson
estimates that about one head day is
lost in this manner. The animals are
not driven off in punches as in Arizona
and Texas, but individuals who 60 into
the hills ostensibly for the purpose Of
hunting very often contrive to bring down
a nice fat steer, whose carcase is con-
veyed away in sacks or by other secretive
means. A careful watch is, however,
being kept for these light fingered gentry,
and a standing reward of $500 is offered
for the arrest and conviction OF any OF
them. The Liebre ranch rejoices in the
possession OF one of the finest springs in
the country. 1t bubbles up like artesian
water from just near the ranch house,
and in the summer the fluid is as cool
and refreshing as can be desired. Ad-
joining the Liebre Ranch is the Liebre
Valley Ranchlof $4,000 acres, the prop
erty Of Mr.. Wells, Of the Safe Deposit
Company OF this city. 1t is valuable
piece Of property and bids fair to spring
into prominence, as a large English col
ony is to be located on it next November.
THE HARVEST.
The crops throughout Antelope Valley
are fairly good this year, although grass
hoppers have recently appeared in its
western extremity, and are doing consid-
cradle damage there. Hay is the prin-
cipal commodity, raised and the fact that
it brings $15 a ton in that part OF the
country is sufficient indication OF the
large profits accrued therefrom. jack
rabbits are standing plague, and in
spite OF the many drives got up for their
determination these long g-eared destroy
ers seem to multiply yearly. One Of the
settlers claims to have discovered q
which will effectualy pre-
vent their inroads on orchards or vine
yards. A solution Of sulphur and assa-
fedita is prepared and occasionally
sprinkled aubot the plants TO be guarded,
and when this is done it is said that Mr..
Conejo never fails but to give them a
wide berth. There is a large amount
Of Government land still open to settle
ment in the part OF the country described,
and though some of it is absolutely
worthless, there are yet many places
which the homeseeker woulddo well to
visit.