The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-11-02
She Has a Voice in Congress
From the phlladelrhia Record.

One representative III the next Congress
will be nominated and elected by woman
She is the widow of Captain Richard King
and she owns principality in southern
Texas Her landed estate consists Of
about $50. 900 acres--that is to say
nearly 1000 square miles. For taking
care of this vast domain small army of
men is required. Their votes are con
trolled BY the mistress. who is. 10 all in
tents and purposes, queen.
The records Of the Land Office al w ash
ington reveal some extraordinary facts with
relation TO the part of southern Texas,
which seems ON the map to intrude into
Mexico. terminating in Il point ut the
mouth of the Rio Grande. This region.
nearly us bic as New England. comprises
four great counties and is owned by four
famihes-the Kings, the Kennedys. the
Collinsea and the Armstrong;. Much the
largest Of the four shares helongs in fee
simple to Mrs. King.
The ancient road from San Antonio To
Brownsville has been closed by Mrs.
King fences. and there are no rates
There is no road law in that country. The
only way to get from Brownsville to Alice
is by Il stage route of forty honrS The
stage carries mail for IA large part Of Mexi-
60. In the entire distance there is not Il
single settlement. because the territory
traversed belongs to Mrs King. The re-
gion is wholly wild, being used tor cattle
grazing. Mrs King occupies an area
larger than one Of the Eastern States
in area that would in the East support 4
State Capital.
The owner of this principality is a gen
erous and iiberal-minded woman about
sixty wears of age She does much good
and takes care of her people. 10 each
laborer on her estates She gives a COW.
Her ranch at Santa Gertrrlis is the largest
in the world 1t Is bonded by Corpus
Christi Bay for distance OF forty miles,
and by balbed wire fence. far :iaE mile
more From her from! door - her !rmr'
gate is thirteen mile. and H.. ram dtiv"
in her carriage .iNty-tyc miic- ~ Il s;Iai@h
line without going off her own PREMISES
Her house is like castle an !hc Rhinc--
Il typical baronill mansion Il is situated
on Il slight emincnce surrounded by th,,
modest dwellings of her dependents and by
fields Of corn. Beyond. on every SIDE. l.
Il green wilderness If mesquite and cactus.
The chateau is n, completely furnished
and as handsomely equipped AZ any man
sion on Fifth avenue. New lork. M
luxury that money can bay anywhere l.
lacking to the widow who. by the way.
i, the daughter of the first Presbyterian
missionary IT, the Rio t;ran,lc.
Corpus Christi i the terminus Of = rail
d. way. and from that point Il "'m'inu"ds
stream Of wagons carries Ice and otiir!
necesSalieS to the rlucb. Mrs. kin:s liEC~
for several months of each wear IN i palace
at Corpus Christi Her "n-n-Iaw. L. j.
kicberk is general maDagcr of the ranch.
on which are 20H 600 ratti" OF inpr"yr d
breeds Long trains Of freight carS are
made up at Corpus Christi to carry Mr."
King cattle to the Fast.
To rum thcya%t estate c.,ts about : 100.
GOn il wear Fer every twenty miles OF
harfc.l fence there is Il man I" make repairs
and see that 10 break occurs. In the old
DAYS to cut fence was All oitcMy" likcl y I"
result in tie death Of the perpetrators I'll
the act. Three hundred r"w-boy' are
regularly empl"yed. l,20o ponies being
set aside for their use.