The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-17
The Rockefeller Ranch Being
Daily Improved.
This Kiowa County Property
SpIendidly Equipped.
FOR BREEDING CATTLE
Has $4,000 Acres in ssSOldier
Creek Park Ranch.
CommOdiOus Residence With
All City Comforts.

Belvidere. Kan, July 17.-Frank
Rockefeller of Cleveland, O., has ar
rived for a summer vacation at his
ranch near here. accompanied by his
family. Mr., Rockefeller and his fam
lily pass some portion of every summer
in this CKiowa) county, and generally
manage to do the same in the winter
season, too The ranch, which is named
Soldier Creek park, embraces 1900
acres, and no detail is lacking 10 make
the place an earthly paradise.
Frank Rockefeller came to Kansas
first in 1876. and ever since then he has
been in the cattle breeding business in
a small way. Each year finds a better
class of stock surrounding the ranch,
until it has come to be recognized as
q center of fine stock Mr. Rockefeller
the Hereford Breeders association, and
not q little of his time is spent in ele-
waiting the place of premier cattle.
Its a long time since I first visited
this state" said Mr.. Rockefeller, but
have seen no reason to change the
opinion I first formed of it. In fact,
the happlest moments of my life are
passed on this ranch. When 1 first look
ed over this state a quarter of a cen
fury ago / came to the conclusion that
Kansas would be the best state in the
now that day is almost at hand. In
no manner whatever is it far behind
the other states, and in many respects
IL IS ahead. nave always loved stock.
AS long as can remember have been
lover of all animal nature I have
bred chickens, rabbits and pigeons,
taking a great delight in it. l bred
bantams to make them as small as pos
sible. Thus / grew from breeding
chickens to shorthorns and Herefords
and trOtting horses"
The ranch is srlendidIy situated as to
natural advantages. In the southeast
corner of Kiowa4 county on the Engle-
wood branch of the Santa Fe railway. it
includes the land along both sides OF
Soldier creek,a small and pretty stream
that empties into Medicine creek, at the
south end of the ranch. Soldier creek
Journeys across the Rockefeller ranch
in beautiful and picturesque zig-zag
manner The water is not deep. but it
is clear and swift. The surface of the
land is not painfully level. but bluffs
and knobs break the evenness, here
and there being a high bluff at the foot
of which plays the sparkling water of
Soldier creek The beauty of the ranch
cannot be surpassed anywhere in the
or the canyons of Arizona
The house is a large frame structure
built on plans outlined by Mr.. Rookie
Teller. modern in every particular. sur
rounded with houses for his assistants
and barns for his stock. His house is
heated by steam, lighted by gas and
piped for hot and cold water. Back Of
the house arises a high bluff, upon the
top of which is built a. water tank.
This furnishes water power to all build
ings on the premises. Mr. Rockefeller's
lawn, on which are a tennis court and
other Fairgrounds, which are in con-
slant use by the family and their guests
in the summer months. The owner has
erected at considerable expense two
galvanized iron barns for his cattle and
a red sandstone barn for the horses. He
has also numerous machine sheds and
other comfortable buildings for his
stock
On the Rockefeller ranch is raised all
There are $500 acres under cultivation,
500 acres being alfalfa, a desirable feed
for fattening purposes. He can raise
three crops Of alfalfa in a single sea-
son and then have a good fall pastur-
age on thefieId. There are also three hun
dred acres in wheat. 300 acres in rye
and the remainder in kaffir corn. The
fine qualities of these lie in their suit
ability for feeding and forage. A large
orchard has lately been put out. many
of the trees already bearing fruit.
OF late he has introduced into cattle
breeding here the double-standard poll
ed Durham. It is said there are only
300 of these cattle in the world. Mr..
Rockefeller has seventy-flve of them,
and money could not buy one of the lot
Another fad of his is the breeding of
hornleSs cattle. He believes horns can
be bred off more easily than they can
be sawed Off which latter operation he
condemns as cruel and unnecessary. /
There are at present at Soldier Creek |
park 260 head of shorthorn and Here /
ford cattle. thirty-three horses and a /
number of fine blooded pigs.
---