The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-11-22
A HUGE RANCH.
Chicago Millionaires own 1t.

The largest rainch in the world is to
be found in Texas. This immense do
maine is known as the x. |. Il. ranch
and is owned by Chicago capitalists.
This ranch is so extensive that some
states could not contain it. Connecu-
cut. for example, could not hold II by
several thousand acres. The two states
of Rhode Island and Delaware COM
bined could not contain this great
ranch. which consists of over 100000
acres, or almost 5000 square miles,
About twelve years ago, when Texas
needed a new state capitol, the legls-
lature adopted a novel plan to get it,.
"A promise was held forth that vast
tract of unappropriated land would be
given in exchange for suitable gran
lite building at Austin. Among those
tempted by this offer were ex-senator
Charles B. Farrell and his brother John,
who ultimately formed syndicate in
Chicago and took upon themselves the
responsibility of erecting the proposed
capital. In due time they came into
the possession of this domain known
as the X l. n. ranch.
NAA'D
northwest corner of the panhandle of
Texas, and covers or touches nine diff
ferent counties Its northern boundary
is mo Mans Land" now part of the
Territory of Oklahoma, and it's western
limit is the line between Texas and
New Mexico. In width (from east to
west) it averages about twenty-five
miles. In length it is about 200 miles.
The land lies in what is known as the
Staked Plains, a high plateau. The
soil is mostly of a black chocolate color
very fertie-and covered with a
thick coat of buffalo, mesquite, grama,
and other grasses, which cure on the
ground and furnish winter as well as
summer pasture for stock of all kinds.
AT the southern end of the tract the
altitude is about $500 feet, and at the
northern end about 400. The climate
is pronounced to be very delightful, the
air being bracing, though dry.
When the Farwells obtained the land
they enclosed it with a substantial
barbed wire fence. There We're many
cross-fences upon it, separating the ter
ritory into from twenty to thirty large
divisions, besides many small ones To
IlldhG lucSt ItllCCS lCdhllCl l,buU lIllleS
of barbed wire The syndicate also
built ranch houses, bored and dug
wells, of which there are now about
$50, averaging 100 feet in depth, and
have earthen or wooden reservoirs and
drinking attachments; erected wind
mills over the wells; built dams across
arroyos to conserve the rainfall and in
various other ways made the place
suitable for a successful ranch on
large scale. They placed cattle upon 1t
as fast as it could be put in safe con-
dition to receive them, and have since
continued to add to the herd from time
to time by the purchase and breeding,
until they have at present about 1875, 900
cattle, besides 1000 horses. The calf
crop branded in 1899 exceeded 10000
head The whole property is valued at
$4,000.
One of the surprising things in con-
nection with this huge enterprise is the
fact that all the duties are performed
by force of about 1875 men, or, on an
average, only one man for every $4,000
acres. There are houses barns, ETC., at
the seven divisions, as well as line
camps, where there are small buildings.
the fences, Oil the hundreds of wind
mills and busy themselves in other
work of this sort Some of the SQUADS
have no houses in which to stay. but
are provided with a 'chuck" 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 it is not, being claimed in this
instance only from two to five per cent.
This loss is chiefly due, not to disease,
but to the occasional severe weather in
winter.-Chicago Record
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