New-York tribune., 1901-06-23
4 FINE KANSAS RANCH.
THAT OF FRANK ROCKEFELLER ONE OF
THE BEST EQUIPPED IN THE
COUNTRY

Wichita Kan June % (SpecaD.-There are
ranches OF every kind In the West. some covering
counties. others townships The one owned by
Frank Rockefeller. OF Cleveland. Ohio. may be ex
ceeded in acreage but for equipment II Is about the
finest thing one cares 10 feast his eyes upon. Not
detail to make IT an earthly paradise In the coun-
try home lire is lacking. II is place one would
least expect find In the famous short grass
country. notable for it's reported drouths and grass
hoppers. but which. matter OF fact. has come
70 he the ranchman's paradise.
The Rockefeller ranch is the home Of fine boodei
cattle. and the purpose of the owner Is not TO
raise countless herds OF scrawny but rather
well bred cattle. The Wild life OF the COW punche-
IN the roundup is nowhere visible this ideal
stretch Of grassy plain which composes the four
teen thousand acre ranch Of Soldier Creek Park.
Frank Rockefeller came to Kansas first in 1875. 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 tie ranch. until II has
come be recognized centre of fine stock.
Mr.. Rockefeller last December elected presi-
dent Of the Hereford Breeders Association and not
a little of his time is spent in elevating the place
Of premier cattle.
THE happest moments Of my life spent
this ranch here I'm Kansas" he said to The
Tribunes correspondent who visited him. When
first visited the State believed that II 10 be
the best State in the Union at n not far distant
time and that day is almost at hand. In no
manner whatever is IT far behind the other States.
and In many respects II is ahead I have always
loved stock. As long | can remember have been
q lover OF all animal nature l have bred chickens,
rabbits and pigeons. taking great delight In it.
bred bantams to make them small as possible.
Thus grew from breeding chickens to Shorthorns
and Herefords and trotting horses"
So IL desire to fulfil youthful ambition
that brought Mr. Rockefeller to the plains OF Kan
sas twenty-five years ago and when he purchased
the fourteen thousand acre ranch In K!Owa County
he at began to fix II to represent the ideal
type Of a country home. The ranch Is ideally sit
uated to natural advantages In the southeast
corner of Kiowa County, on the Englewood branch
OF the Santa Fe Railway, it includes the land along
both sides of Soldier Creek, small and pretty
stream that emptes into Medicine Creek. at the
south end of the ranch Soldier Creek journeys
across the Rockefeller ranch In beautiful and
picturesque zigzag manner. The water is not deep.
but is clear and swift. The surface of the land
is painfully level. but bluffs and knobs break
the evenness, here and there being high bluff
the foot OF which plays the sparkling of
Soldier Creek. The beauty of the ranch cannot be
surpassed anywhere in the West except in the
Rocky Mountains the canyons OF Arizona
Mr. Rockefeller and his family spend some time
on the ranch every summer far away from the heat
of grmy city lfe; therefore he has taken pains
to make the improvements the best He has a
large frame house, modern IN every particular. sur
rounded with houses for his assistants and barns
| for his stock. His house Is heated by steam.
lighted with gas and piped for hot and cold water.
| Back Of the house arises high bluff upon the
top OF which Is built water tank. This furnishes
water power to the house and all other buildings
| on the premises. Mr. Rockefeller's house is sur
rounded by blue grass lawn. which are tennis
court and other Fairgrounds. which In constant
use by the family and their guests in the summer
| months. Mr. Rockefeller has erected at consdera BILE
| expense two galvanized iron barns for his cattle
and red sandstone barn for the horses He has
also numerous machine sheds. and other comfort
able buildings for his stock.
On the Rockefeller ranch is raised all the neces-
sary grain to feed his stock There are 200 acres
under cultivation, 800 being In cultivation for
HHaaca Al & eesThnle h feed FOR fattening purposes.
season and then have good fan pasturage on
the field There also 300 acres in wheat aoo
acres IN rye and the remainder in kaffir corn The
nne qualities OF these lie I'm their suitability for
feeding and forage. large orchard has lately hsen
put out, many OF the trees already bearing fruit
| MI Rockefeler employs manager to attend m
the ranch curing his absence. but he keeps careful
account or the place himself and his business
r<><'s '7fa~tah into tho