The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-13
KANSAS NEWS.
Leavenworth Capital Invested
in Old Mexico.
Two and One Half Million Acre
Cattle Ranch.
AT A COST OF 500, 900.
Largest Purchase in That
Country by Americans.
Will Raise Thoroughbred Stock
For the Market.

Leavenworth, Jan. Jan American
association of ranchmen and prominent
cattle growers, of which Jeptha Ryan of
this city, E J. Carter of Chicago, ILL.,,
and John Holt of Miles City, Mont, are
the prime movers, has purchased from
the Northwestern Colonization and Inn
provement company of Old Mexico a
cattle ranch of 21a million acres. The
consideration was 100000. The final
papers were signed and a formal trans
fer made at Leavenworth this week.
The DEAL which is the largest pur-
chase of land ever made in Old Mexico
by Americans. was negotiated through
w. J. Cox of Ell FaSo, Tex Mr.. Cox
also assisted the Trower Bros. COM
pany of Kansas City in the purchase of
the TarraZeS ranch in the state of Chi
fluahua for the Riverside Land and
Cattle company, of which William Hum
phrey is nreSident. The deal was made
last August and included 1 1-5 million
acres.
The land acquired in the. deal just
closed is located in the state of Chihua-
hua, about % miles west of FL Paso,
Tex. 1t consists of a strip of ground
nearly 30 miles wide and over Is miles
long, following the northern border of
the southern republic. According to
Mr.. Cox, the American purchasers pro-
pose to fence the entire property ana
make many other improvements, the
plans for which are still incomplete. 1t
is generally believed, although Mr.. Cox
asserts that he is not authorized to
his associates propose to establish one
OF the largest cattle breeding ranches
in the world upon the newly acquired
property
Mr.. Cox declared yesterday that about
all the desirable ranch property avail
able in Old Mexico has been taken from
the market, either by wealthy Mexicans
or Americans who hold options good
Will unquestionably be taken by the
progressive Americans before the time
limit expires on the option. The de-
mand is increasing for Mexican ranch
republic has shown a disposition to en-
courage the policy of protecting the cat
tie interests
For several years American cattle
growers have been investigating the
wonderful resources and the many adj
vantages for producing cattle in Old
Mexico and in the last two years sew
eral big sales have been conSumma ted,
among which the last one involves over
a million more acres than any of the
previous transfers In the northern
portion of Old Mexico, particularly ia
the state of Chihuahua, grass and water
are abundant and the climatic condi-
lions unusually favorable the year
around for cattle growers
Cattle breeding in Old Mexico is still
in it's infancy, but enough experiments
have been made in the last five years
to prove beyond a doubt that thorough
bred cattle can be raised in that climate
with success. Ola mexican 1ancnllen
have never made an effort to improve
their herds and the same blood has been
carried on their ranches for years and
years, with the result that their herds
have gone backwards instead of for
wards, in point of quality. A few years
ago some American breeders induced
General TarraZeS, one of the progress
Sive citizens in Chihuahua, to import a
few American thoroughbred bulls. He
demurred at first, claiming that the
northern animals would not
live in that climate. The Americans in
sisted, however, and the result of the
experiment proved a revelation to the 4
general
Since that time Mr.. Tarrazes has been
a heavy buyer of American thorough
bred bulls every year. The old decrepit
animals on his great ranch were mus
tered out of service by the hundreds.
until today his ranches have been COM
pletely restocked with thoroughbred
bulls and the pick of his COWS from the
old herd. He has fenced off several big
ranches according to suggestions from
American breeders and is keeping all
the COWS, the product of the thorough
bred bulls and native cows, which he
proposes to breed to another draft of
American bulls, thus crossing with
better class of COWS and infusing new
blood constantly.
The result OF the experiments on the
Tarrazes ranch has not only attracted
venturesome American cattlemen and
breeders, but is awakening the native
ranchmen of the republic, many of
whom have begun correspondence with
American breeders, after visiting the
Tarrazes ranch, with the view of inn
porting thoroughbred bulls for their