The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-04
AT STANFORD'S FARM.
Frank G. Carpenter Visits the
Worlds Biggest Vineyard.
WONDERS OF The VIVA RANCH.
Aiiss - Dltehss aoA AsnSoo % IN.
pisyss-TAs ssaaess's sheer,
Usgs aaA Horses.

stanford 3 famous North California ranch.
have VISITED Pslo Alto and the horse
farm near San Francisco, but they are
nothing ~ compared With this great
estate. The vina ranch lies in the heart
of.the Sacramento valley. II IL about go
miles north Of San Francisco. 1t COM
prises miles Of the finest soil in California.
II contains moro than 5000 acres and it
has upon Il the biggest vineyard
OF the world. Its vine and brandy pro-
duction II 30 great that Uncle Sam has
Fad to put up bonded warehouse upon il
TO collect his taxes, and this warehouse
covers more than two acres Of space. In
1t today there 10 stored more than . mill
lon dollars worth Of brandy, and before
this can be sold the United States govern
ment must receive from 1t the enormous
sum Of 100000 in revenue taxes. The
winery Of this vast estate 10 more like
great factory than collection Of farm
buildings. Its brick structures cover acres.
and from where I write the great vines
cover the earth almost as far a. I can see
tou can ride for days over this ranch and
not zee the half Of its wonders. On
ono part of IL 5000 sheep are nib
bling at the sweet grass and the lambs
among these which were horn this spring
number more than 1000. In another
place there is herd OF nearly 1000 hogs,
and It has diaries which are supplied by
tho finest Of Hoistein registered cattle and
the horse department contains hundreds
OF valuable horses. some Of which are
worth fortunes. In riding this morning
with Capt. Mcintyre. the manager Of tie
ranch. happened TO cay something
about fruit trees. and he told me that
there were thirty miles Of such trees
along the irrigating bitches. and he said
I'VE have just put out . little patch of
5000 trees this spring."
six thousand trees? 2" said I. "Do You
call that little patch? Most men would
consider it an immense orchard"
"Oh," said he, I'VE have Just planted
1000 morein the other end of the ranch
and our fruit crop is very profitable one.
We had last year over 4, 900 tons OF grapes,
and it takes an army to pick the fruit,
There are in round numbers about $780,
600 grape vines on the estate, and when
they are in full bearing we ought to have
. product of about A0.0O0. 900 pounds per
year."
which Senator Stanford has presented to
worth millions and he 10 spending great
deal Of money from his private fortune
upon it and thus increasing its value every
year. just below here il ranch OF 10000
acres more. which is also given to the uni
versity. and his Palo Alto ranch. whore
the college is located, contains 5000 acres
Of valuable land.
1t takes an army OF men to manage an
80 IxkA l. =
alonSthe employees range from 80 to l.500
u, 600 TO board the hands upon it, and the
board bill Of the workmsn often runs up
TO $4,000 month.
Ii is interesting to know how such a
farm Is handled. Everything IL system
attic and business-iike. The ranch is
divided up into departments. each of
which has its head. and thess heads
take care OF the men under them
and report daily to Capt. Mcintyre. The
hands are pArceled out just like the SOL
diers OF an army. and the forces arc nut
where they will do the most good. There
are about 80 farm horses and like mum.
Der Of mules almost constantly ut work,
and the irrigation departments alone
require the riding of its foreman dis
lance OF nearly twenty-five miles every
day. There are more than 500 miles of
irrigating canals on the place and there
are fifty miles Of such canals through
the whey ards alone. In addition 10 this
number OF work horses and mules
are the saddle horses Of the foremen and
the men, the carriage horses and the high.
bred horses which are brought here in
hundreds from Palo Alto. There is
horse department here which has sn
establishment almost As large as that q.
the Palo Alto ranch. 1t has its training
school and its kindergarten for the colts.
and IL taxes number OF grooms and OF
skilled horseIuen to manage them Dur
ing nav visit to il today saw some of the
most famous of the senator's horses. and
took pictures OF two which are TO he
shipped to the car OF Russia in exchange
for some Oriosf stations which the
CAR Is going 10 send TO Senator stanford.
In the horse department. as in every other.
the work goes on by the clock and accord.
Ing to rule. The horses are ted at
o'clock in the morning. and the young
colts are worked every dav. Six quarts OF
oats day are considered enough for A
horse. though the feed is graduated ar
cording TO their work and strength. The
colts are put into the kindergarten for
last training At six months. They are
never sworn a. nor whipped, and they are
as friendly a. dogs and IS gentle as kittens.
Nearly all the employees on this estate
are bachelors. They are divided up into
camps. and the buildings of one of the
chief camps cover about two acres and can
accommodate 500 men. The VINEYARD
camp contains colony of about seventy
Frenchmcn. who manage their oyn
board and who receive SO much wages and
an allowance for eating. They do their
own cooking and like wine with their
meals. They use about 90 gallons a
month, and prefer red wine. which they
mix with water. Here and there scattered
over the estate are other camps, the mos,
- - - al.
10y the manager. and here they 1--we and
board at the expense Of the farm. They
have comfortable rooms and good food
and their wages run from 81 day and
board upward. The ioremen receive fron
$50 To SO = month. The superintendent
gets SIS a month. and some OF the skiile,,
inen much larger salaries. The pay roll
amonth. and the rules are industry, obcs.i-
enee and temperance. A few Cinnamon
are employed upon the place. bat the ma
lori.y OF the hands are Americans
| spent some time In going through the
winery and brandy vaults Everything IS
IA anaged IN the most economical and mos,
scientific way. and the senator is trying tn
prove tha; California wilt nroduee the best
brandy in the world. He has opened a
warehouse in the East. and he salps his
wines and braudies away by the car load
ngring the month prior 10 my visit he
sent away iso.eso gallons OF brandy. and lie
believes that this part Of California Is bet
Ter adapted tn the making of brandy than
Of wine Capt Meinsyrr seiss me ,napshe
secret OF making good brandy 10 10 take
ont the fusei otis bat 20 leave the
essential oils and PARTS necessary to lie oxi-
diget 10 make il aye properly. and the ma
chinerw here IL adapted 10 that purpose.
wish could describe IL walked in and on.
among great horsheasss. each OF which
would hold as much as -. 90 gallons. and