The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-26

there is no such thing as darkness on
the Los Floritas ranch, for one could
pick up a pin at midnight on the great
lawn or in the corrals miles away from
the big ranch house. 1t is certain
that tho old Don wishes from the bot
tom Of his heart that the Rio Grandc
ran on the south side Of Los Floritas,
or that he possessed the power TO move
his fine house and his ranch over into
the nitcd States, and if he lives q
little longer he is sure to add good
many millions to the wealth Of Texas
and a strong Republican vote. for he
is not an admrcr Of the theories Of
the Nebraska orator
For the last ten years Don Juan has
spent large sums Of money in improv-
lug his stock. Il few weeks ago he
sent 200 head Of white faced 2-ycar-
old steer across the Rio Grande to
his Xapat;. ranch. That was regarded
by all stockmcn as the finest herd that
ever was seen in this country. On
another part of his great ranch he has
been breeding black Pollod Angus
cattle. and he now has herd Of about
1000 Of these famous cattle, all Of
, which he expects to move north Of the
Rio Grande this summer and fall.
About 10000 calves and II 900 head
of colts and young mules have been
branded on the Los Floritas this
spring.
Besides his vast landed possessions
and his countless herds Of cattle,
mules and horses, the old gentleman
owns gold mine in chihuahua which
has yielded him many millions. lie
considers this chihuahua bonanza the
most valuable piece Of property in the
world. lie never tires Of talking to
his son and daughter about this famous
gold mine, and never day passes that
he does not warn his son never to part
with the "Inca's Bride the name Of
the mine
"lf | were younger, he often says,
III would take enough gold out Of that
mine TO buy the world With all
their great wealth, they are rather
strange people, or at least, they would
be considered that way by the modern
title-hunting millionaire set Of our
country.
In one Of the periodical convulsions
in Mexico which forced Don Smidio
into exile he married Texas girl, aud
it appears that even all the comforts
and luxuries that attend illimitable
wealth have never been able entirely
to crush her love for the land of her
birth and the people whom she loved
so we'll long ago. Texans have always
received warm welcome at the home
of the Smidios in Mexico. They have
son and daughter, both Of mar
riageable age, but they have never
made IN effort to bring them in con-
tact with rich people. The young man
has recently become engaged to the
daughter of poor cattle owner in
Texas, and the whole family warmly
approves of the match, though they
are we'll aware Of the fact that the
young girl never in all her life wore
anything costlier than calico dress.
1t is rumored that Sonora Inez, good
looking girl, is we'll pleased with the
attentions Of young American
yaqueroSswho has recently been pro-
noted from the hurricane deck of a
mustang to aoscat in the Office Of "le
grande hacienda" "We have money
enough says the old gentleman, "and
it is my desire for my children to make
matches based upon love and affcc-
tion."
When asked by tax collector for
an estimate Of his wealth, the. old Don
replied: God alone can answer that
question.
Aftcrward, while talking with q
friend upon this subject, he said /:
without boasting, 1 believe myself
to be the richest man in the world,
and think it is not difficult to de-
monstrate that fact. I have made q
close survey Of my gold mine called
the lnca's Bride, and find little
more than 5000 feet of the face Of
the ledge in sight. I have run shaft
into the mountain, following the ledge
for 1000 feet. The ore averaging
about 81 900 to the foot. Closing my
eyes to the hidden bonauzas and the
increase in the thickness Of the lode,
which measures ten feet all along the
line have got no less than 1000, 600
blocks of quartz worth no less than
$1,000 apiece, SO you see that am
worth about 81, ,OO0, 200, 600 and triae
| over in millions. which ia investad In