The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-06
Great Pastures in Texas.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.

From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Very few people at distance in think
ing of Western Texas understand that
nearly the whole of it is at present fenced
up in mammoth pastures, yet such is the
case. Many of them are larger than ordi-
nary counties, and some of them embrace
large parts of three or four counties.
just West of Belcherville, Texas, come
the Silverstein, the Ikark and the Warsham
pastures. This latter contains 10000 acres
and has one line of fence twenty-three miles
long. Pastures of about this size continue in
one almost unbroken succession until We
reach Armstrong county
There We find what is know as the
Goodnight ranch, the southern boundary
Of which is little string of fence eighty
three miles long. Charlie Goodnight, as
the owner is familiarly known, is considered
one of the richest men in the Pan Handle.
but | really feel sorry for his boys if he
ever sends them out on a hot afternoon to
stop hog holes in that line of fence 1t is
hardly likely that this is the case, however,
as all fences in this country are built to
turn cattle and without reference to hogs.
There is a little railway station called
Goodnight, which consists of the residence
and the depot. Mr.. Goodnight lives in
almost baronial style. His park contains
deer, drove of elk and one of the few
herds of buffalo to be found in the United
States.
Another fair-sized holding ofland is that
of the Espinella Cattle Company This
contains over 100000 acres, and takes
in part of Dickens, Crosby and Emma
counties If the land were in the form of
a square it would be about fifty miles each
way. The Matterdore is smaller but still
includes rather more than 100000 acres.
These are both owned by syndicates with
headquarters in London, and they are only
two selected at random out of large num-
Der. They have their bearing on state
politics. If it were not for the Railroad
Commission, the Uniform Textbook bill
and the alien landlord question Texas poll
ties would not be worth shucks.
The largest of these alien land holdings
belong to what is called the Capitol syndi-
cate. \ few years ago the old capitol at
Austin burned down, and it was decided
to build another on a magnificent scale.
An English syndicate agreed to put it up,
and in payment therefor they received ,
900, 900 acres of pubsic lands. Does the
reader realize how big 5000, 900 acres of
land is? Imagine slice of land twenty
four miles wide and extending clear across
the state of Missouri at its northern border.
Such strip would include the whole
northern tier of counties, and would be
larger than several states of the Union.
This would be about the extent of the
Capitol syndieate's pasture. Few people
have any idea that there is such a thing as
a single pasture, in one body and within
one fence, larger than some states in the
Union, yet such is the fact. More than
that, it is owned by foreign syndicate
1t takes in half of Deaf Smith county and
parts of several others.
Another large pasture is that of the Y.
l. I. Cattle Company. Itbegins with the
Colorado line and extends several counties
back this way. The Fort Worth and
Denver Railroad runs through it. Some
idea of its size may be gathered from the
fact that the regular night express enters
on the south side of the pasture at 1l.O5
and after continuous running leaves it at
3.20 next morning. A pasture which it
takes an express train three hours and
quarter to cross would be considered large
in some countries.