El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-28
4 HUGE RANCH.
Chicago Millionaires Own 1t.

n largest ranch in the world is to
be found in Texas This immense do
main is known as the y. I. T. ranch
and is owned by Chicago capitalists.
This ranch Is so extensive that some
states could not contain IL. C~onnecti-
ut. for example. could not hold II by
several thousand acres. The two
states OF Rhode Island and law
combined could not contain this great
ranch. which consists of over 100000
acres. or almost 5000 square miles.
About twelve years ago. wnen Tex
as needed a new state capitol. the leg
isIature adopted a novel plan to get IL
4 promise was held forth that a $
tract OF unappropriated land would be
given in exchange for a suitable gram
ite building at Austin. Among those
tempted by this offer were ex-senator
Charles y. FarweIl and his brother
John. who ultimately formed a syndi-
cate in Chicago and took upon them
selves the responsibility OF erecting
the proposed capitol. In due time they
came into the possession of this do
main known as the Y. l. r. ranch.
The ranch is situated in the extreme
northwest corner of the panhandle of
Texas. and covers OF touches nine diff
ferent counties. Its northern boun-
Diary is No Mans Land" now a part
of the territory of Oklahoma. and its
western limit is the line between Tex
as and New Mexico. In width (from
east to westD il averages about TWEEN
ty-five miles. In length ii is about 200
miles. The LAND lies in what is known
rs the Staked Plains. ahigh plateau.
The soil is mostly of a black choco-
late color-very fertile-and covered
with a thick coat OF buffalo. mesquite.
grama. N other grasses. which sure
on the ground and furnish winter as
we'll as summer pasture for stock OF
ali kinds. At the southern end of the
tract the altitude is about 2300 feet,
and at the northern end about 400.
The climate Is pronounced to be very
delightful. the air being bracing.
Inough dry.
When the Farwells obtained the land
they enclosed IL with a substantial
b~arbed-wire fence. There were many
sross-fences upon it. separating the
territory into from twenty to thirty
large divisions. besides many small
ones. To make these fences required
1900 miles of barbed wire. The syndi-
cate also built ranch houses. bored
and dug wells. of which there are now
about $50. averaging 100 feet in depth,
and having earthen or wooden reser-
ftAlS NV AhthIo
ell windmilis ove the wells: built
dams across arroyos to conserve the
rainfall and in various other ways
made the place suitable for a success
full ranch on a large scale. They placed
cattle upon IL as fast as it could be
put in safe condition 10 receive them.
and have since continued to add to the
herd from time to time by purchase
and breeding until they have at pres
eut about lbs 900 cattle. besides 1000
horses. The calf crop branded in 1895
exceeded $4,000 head. The whole prop
erty is valued at SO. 0O0. 900.
One of the surprising things in con-
nection with this huge enterprise is
the fact that all the duties are per-
formed by a force of about 125 men.
every 2t.O o acres There are houses.
we'll as Inc camps. where there are
small buildings. The men assigned
to h camps repair the fences. oil the
hundreds of windmiiIs and busy them
selves in other work of this sort. |
Some of the squads have no houses in
which to stay. but are provided with |
a u wagon to carry their food
and beds as they move from place to
place. All are fed by the company. each |
division having freight wagons to haul
supplies from points on the railroad
where they are bought.
One might naturally imagine that
the yearly loss of cattle would be enor-
nous on such a ranch. AS a matter of
fact il is not. being claimed in this
only from 2 to 5 per cent.
This loss is chiefly due. not to disease,
bat to the occasional severe weather
in winter-Chicago Record