The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-14
Great Pastures of Texas.

Very few people at distance, in think
ing of western Texas, understf ID that
nearly the whole Of it is atpresen. fenced
up in mammoth pastures, yet such is
the case. Many ofthem are larger than
ordinary counties, and some OF them
embrace large parts of three or four
Just west of Belcherville, Tex, come
the Silyerstein, the Ikeard and the Wor-
sham pastures. This latter contains 50,-
900 acres and has one line of fence twenty
three miles long. Pastures of about this
size continue in almost unbroken sue
cession until we reach Armstrong county.
There we find what is known as the
Goodnight ranch, the southern boundary
of which is little string Of fence eighty
three miles long. Charley Goodnight, as
the cwner is familiarly known, is con-
sidered one Of the richest men in the
Panhandle. but really feel sorry for his
boys If he ever sends them out on not
afternoon to stop hog holes in that line
of fence. 1t is hardly likely. that this is
the case, however, as all the fences IN
that country are built to turn cattle, and
without reference to hogs: There is q
little railway station called Goodnight,
which consists of the Goodnight residence
and the depot. Mr.. Goodnight lives IN
almost baronial style. His park contains
deer, drove of elks and one Of the few
herds of buffalo to be found in the United
States.
Another fair sized holding of land is
that of the Espinelia Cattle Company.
This contains over 100000 acres, and
takes in parts Of Dickens, Crosby and
Emma counties. If the land were in the
form of square it would be about fifty
miles each way. The Matterdere is
smaller, but still includes rather more than
] 600. 900 acres. These are both owned by
syndicates, with headquarters in London,
and they are only two selected at random
out of q large number. They have had
tt air bearing on State politics. If it
we're not for the railroad commissioners,
the uniform textbook bill and the alien
landholder question Texas politics would
not be worth shucks.
The largest of these alien land holdings
belongs to what is called the Capitol
syndicate. A few years ago the old
capitol at Austin burned down, and 1t
was decided to build another Oh more
magnificent scale. An English syndicate
agreed to put it up. and in payment
therefor they received 100000 acres OF
public lands. Does the reader realize
no" Dig OIUOOJOOo oSAS W A"AN 49, .
Imagine q slice of land twenty-fOur
miles wide and extending across the
State of Missouri at its northern border.
Such strip would include the whole
northern tier of the counties, and
would be larger than several States in
| the Union.
This would be about the extent of the
\ Capitol syndicate's pasture. Few people
have any idea that there is such thing
as 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. It takes in over half OF
Deaf Smith county and parts of several
| others.
Another large pasture is that of the
x. I. T. Cattle Company. 1t begins 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 train enters on the south side of
the pasture at 11:05 o'clock, and after
continuous running, leaves it at 1920
o'clock next morning. A pasture which
| it takes an express train four hours and
| a quarter to cross would be considered
large in some countries.-Memphis Com
| merctdt.