The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-29
rHoRoUeHBREDs IN TEXAS.
What Richard Croker and HFhe Chicago
Horssmah" Think About It.

| llouS III Texas, are puOllsn6d in the
Chicago Horseman, about the best
authority in America on the subject:
"Richard Croker has been soiourn.
! ing for time at the Texas ranch of
the Morris racing confederacy. He
has signitied his intention of buying a
large tract of of land and starting an
annex to Belle Meade, of which he is
joint owner with General Jackson.
The latter property is a very large
one, containing some thousands
OF acres, and very large number of
thoroughbreds are annually toaIed
there, this years crop numbering
about 100. If the Tammany sachem
is not speaking in courtesy to his
hosts, Texas must possess some extra.
| ordinary advantages as nursery for
thoroughbreds, for one would think
q stud of Belle Meade's size would
satisfy anyone's cravings. Moreover;
it is not in Tennessee as it is in New
| York, New Jersey, Virginia or the
bluegrass region. Land and produce
are cheap and the climate is very well
adapted to the growing of horses.
The claims Texas advances are warm,
equable climate, with practically no
winter, good grass, cheap land and
abundant crops. The shortness of
the period in the winter months makes
the expense of keep light-in fact, it
is said that horses may be kept, and
kept we'll until years old for $40.
| We are inclined to doubt If thorough
breds can be kept in fit shape for that
sum, even for the time they are read y
to go into training for their 2.year old
engagements, not counting the eX-
pense of breaking, interest or capital
invested, etc. If it were possible to
put on the market 2.year olds whose
keep only cost $40. what banana
awaits the man who will go and tap
the golden barrel. 1t would be a sorry
lot of 2~year old thorOughbre that
would not bring 5000 apiece, and
think of it-$l60 profit on each beast
sold. 1t is, however, On the face of it,
impossible to put 2-year old thorough
breds that will sell on the market at
such figures, but nevertheless, for the
owners of congested, high priced pas
lures the Lone Star state offers field
of operation far better suited to their
needs than any one of the Northern
| states"
Let's see how far out of the way Mr..
Cookers figures really are. Suppose
man of good business judgment and
knowledge of the science of horse
breeding, with plenty OF capital,
should go into the mountains west of
Austin, buy few thousand acres of
land at about So per acre, put on it so
thoroughbred mares and three stall
lions; put SO to 100 acres of valley land
into cultivation, on which could be
raised, with modern implements,
corn, oats, Colorado hay, alfalfa, in
fact everything necessary to keep colts
growing to perfection. For several
months in the year the colts would re-
fuse anything except the tender grass
growing on the hillsides, and during
the colder months only one-third
or one-half as much forage would
| be consumed as in the North,
| Instead of close barn, only a shed
boarded on three sides, into which the
colts may go and come at will, is re-
CURED, and given their option they
would not sleep under roof more
than 20 nights in year. Then with
the hogs, garden stuff, poultry, milk,
etc, that could be produced on the
ranch to feed the hands, the cost of
maintaining such an establishment
ought not to exceed 5000 per month,
which would be equivalent to the cost
Of 60 colts annually at $40 each,
not including interest, which
Mr.. Croker probably did
not figure, though close management
or larger percentage of colts might
easily balance that account.
The result would be colt murtUred
by dam whose every muscle had
been moderately eXerted travelling
over the hills and valleys-feeding on
Gods best food, natural grasses
drinking in the lime water from the
crystal springs, forming bones like
the wild deer; the baby goes forth on
land more or less rocky; he eats the
| same healthgiving food, drinks the
clear water that makes strong bones,
the flinty pastures over which he gal
! Tops harden his hoofs as those of his
| playmates, the black tail deer; the
rolling stones of the mountain side
give strength to his ankles; cavorting
up and down the precipitous noun
tain sides brings into play every
muscle of his body, at the
same time producing the great lung
development for which mountain
reared horses are noted.
Besides, have not the possibilities of
Texas been amply demonstrated?
The few living representative of the
old regime-when only gentlemen
raced-remember our grand racers.
We bad Rebel, the brown whirlwind,
who ran trial mile in 1888 in the
presence of gentlemen whose integrity
no one would dare to impeach; we had
his Incompatible son, sam Harper,
who would have foreclosed his mort
gage on Ten Broeck's kingly crown
but for the unfortunate accident he
met with while preparing for the bat
tie; his game son, Little Reb, whose
winnings pu; Billy Lakeland on the
road to fortune. Then we had the get
OF Silent Friend, many of whom have
repeatedly shown their heels to the
cracks of the Northern turf in both
the past and present generations.
These with the other fine thorough
breds we have turned out, without