El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-17

Old Don Juan smith, whose pain
name the courteous and musical Mex
leans have melted into Don Juan Sml-
oio, ia about to become a citizen OF
Texas. The event Is Important anu
W, rthy of notice.
He says he possesses more real estate
and cattle IL an any other living man
in either of the sister republics. ASIDE
from his grea. fortune, Don Juan
Smidio is a man who is worthy OF be-
ing welcomed to citizenship In any
country. Few living men possess a
history so replete with daring adVen,
lures, heroic actions, and rapid
CHANCES of fortune. He has taken al
active part in nearly all of the revoln-
lions and wars that have distracted
Mexico In the last three-quarters OF q
century. AS boy he witnessed the
fall OF the vice regal power and
the final triumph of Hidal-
COS revolution, and ne ss"
Iturbide ascend the throne at the time
of the first republic that had cost SO
much blood. Truly" says the ven
cradle man, 81 cannot remember hoT
many wars 1 have been engaged In. L
fought with Iturbioe and against him,
and Santa Ana had occasion, and PROP
ably good reason, for at one time HAT
tering me as being q patriot and at an
other charging me with treason, or
rather rebellion, for 1 helped him to
reach the highest position within the
gift of our people, and later on, Wnen
he became tyrant, l tried to Kill aim.
1 fought against the french a. Vera era
cruz, and some years afterward rooe
into the City of Mexico with Marshal
Bazaine. have camped with Juarez
and suffered exile with Diaz."
In his long career this remarKsple
old man has found time to accumulate
one of the greatest fortunes ever con-
trolled by one man in Mexico, and now
1t is said that he is going to bring al
of this vast wealth across the lilo
a tract of fine land in Zapata county,
upon which he expects to build pal
ace. Those who are best informed say
that no man knows the Mexican people
better than Don Juan, aud he has ire
ouently been heard to exclaim: AFTER
Diaz, the deluge!" This is key to his
political sentiments, and 1t dou otless
accounts for the move he Is making In
time of peace.
MAGNIFICENT RANCH.
He is certainly the largest land owner
in Mexico, and It is no more than
probable that he will soon be regarded
as the greatest holder OF real estate In
either of the sister repu ollcs. lie
tract in the state of Nueva Leon, and
there is little less than 100Osquare miles
included under one continuous line OF
wire fences in his famous Los Flor1tas
ranch on the Rio Grande. One straight
string of this fence follows the south
shore of the Rio Grande for more than
100 miles. That il said to be the long
est continuous string OF pasture fence
IN the world, though iG has close rival
IL
not only the largest, but 1t Is the best
improved ranch in Mexico.
The ranch dwelling, which is occupl-
ed just at this time by the old don and
his family, is said to have cost more
tn an 500, 200, and it is one OF the most
striking and beautiful pieces OF arch1-
lecture in the world. The plans of the
building were furnished by Bolican, a
French exile, whose gen.
Of the loveliest cities.in the world. The
friezes of the inuumerable marble col
umns and the characterization OF the
great front doors and the arches above
them have won the admiration OF all
tourists and visitors. 1t is evident that
the old don gave his wife and daughter
free access to his treasure vaults when
this wonderful palace was furnished.
1t is said that Seno-a Smidio made q
self as to TT e latest and most artistic
styles OF furniture and household dec
orations. Though she was born and
raised on the frontier of Texas, where |
all educational and social attachments
are limited, she has shown that she
possesses excellent taste and critical
Judgment in matters pertaining TO the
of costly nome.
COMFORTS AND LUXURIES.
A stranger is amazed at the comforts
and luXuries that are placed within
easy reach of all guests who are for
,unate enough to be welcomed to the |
Los Floritas ranch. There are over 500 |
miles of telephone wire On the ranch, |
line that places the ranch house in |
with all parts of the !
world. An ice factory that Is seldom |
shut down supplies cold drinks to the !
500 cowboys that are employed in look |
ng after the cattle and horses.
Ice Is furnished gratuitously to all |
,he Inhabitants of the little village of !
Guerrero, not far away. There are if |
,een sub-overseers dwelling on differ |
By telephone with the main
office. This and the celebrated Ken
,edy ranch in Texas are the only two
'anches in either OF the sister republics
hat have established electric light
plants. 1t might be said that there is
10 such thing as darkness on the Los
Floritas ranch, for one could pick up
lin at midnight on the great lawn Or
q the corrals miles away from the big
anch house It is certain that the old
on wishes from the bottom of his
cart that the Rio Grande ran on the
outh side of Los Floritas. or that he
assessed the power to move his fine
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