Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-19
FIELDS OF 10000. ACRES.
And Straight Strings of Fence Over
Eighty Miles Long.

F-m the Chicago Times
Very few people at a 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 ord-
nary counties, and some Of them embrace
large parts of three or four counties.
Just west of Belcherville, Tex, come the
Silverstein, the Ikeard, and the Worsham
pastures. This latter contains JO,0OO acres
ard has one line of fence twenty-three
miles long. Pastures of about this size
continue in almost unbroken succession I'M
til We reach Armstrong county. There We
find what is known as the Goodnight ranch.
the southern boundary of which is a little
string of fence eighty-three miles long.
Charley Goodnight. the owner is famil-
iarly known, Is considered one of the rich
est 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 that country are built to turn
cattle, and without reference to hogs.
There is little railway station called
Goodnight. which consists OF the Good
night residence and the depot. Mr.. Good
night lives in almost baronial style. His
park contains deer, a drove of ellis. and
one of the few herds of buffalo in the
United States.
Another far-sized holding of land is that
of the Espinella 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
u square it would be about fifty miles each
way. The Natterdere is smaller, but still
includes rather more than 1,DOOOO acres.
These are both owned by syndicateS, with
headquarters in London, ard they are only
TWO selected at random out of a large
number. They have had their bearing on
CT 70 70 H.
road commissioners. the uniform text book
hill, and the alien landholder question.
Texas politics would not be worth shucks.
The largest of these alien land holdings
belongs to what is caled the Capitol syn
dictate. A few years ago the old capitol
at Austin burned down, and 1t was decided
TO build another on a magnificent scale.
An English syndicate agreed to put It. up,
and in payment therefor they received
3.OOO.OOO acres Of public lands. Does the
reader realize how big 100000 acres of
land is? Imagine slice of land twenty
four miles wide and extending across the
state of Missouri at it's northern border.
Such a strip would include the whole
northern tier of counties, ard would be
larger than several states of the Union.
This would be about the extent OF the
Capitol syndicates 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 of the
Union, yet such is the fact. More than
that Ii is owned by a foreign syndicate.
II takes in half of Deaf Smith county and
parts of several others.
Another large pasture is that of the Y.
I. T. Cattle Company. 1t begins with the
Colorado line and extends several counties
back this way. The Fort Worth and Den
yer railroad runs through 1t. Some idea
of it's size may be gathered from the fact
that the regular night express train enters
on the south side of the pasture at IL :05.
end after continuous running leaves 1t at
800 next morning. A pasture which 1T
tab hours q
quarter to cross would be considered large
In some countries.