The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-10-22
THE WORLDS LARGEST
RANCH is In TEXAS.
1T CONTAINS MORE THAN THREE
MILLION ACRES of LAND.
Would Cover the States OF Rkode U.s.
land and Delaware, and Then Lap
Over Into Adjoining States.

Over Into Adjoining States
Tn the Panhandle of Texas is locat-
ed the largest ranch in the west anu
also in the world. 1t is known AS the
OK 7 r.. j." the capitol Syndicate,
or Farewell" ranch, and contains
over 100000 acres of land. IL Is own
ed principally by ex-senator Chas' b.
Farwen and his brother John OF chi
cago. and was acquired by them about
sixteen years ago At that time the
Daonle of Texas needed and desired
capitol building, but no funds were
obtainable with which to erect one.
There were, however, immense tracts
of unOccupied land in the state ana
the legislature offered this one to any
body who would construct the neces-
sary building. Mr.. Farwell organized
a syndicate in Chicago and accepted
the offer. Now their fine granite cap
itol is the pride of Texas citizens, and
thousands of thoroughbred HEREFORD
Aberdeen, Angus and short horn cat
tie roam oyer what was formerly waste |
land
The ranch lies in the staked plains. |
1t has an altitude at its northern eX-
tremity of 4, 700 feet and at the south
ern end OF 1900. 1t greatest length is
200 miles. Its average width is about
twenty-five miles. 1t is situated in
the extreme northwest corner OF Texas
and covers all or portion of nine diff
ferent counties. The state of Connec-
ticut could not contain it, and it would
cover the states of Rhode Island and
Delaware combined and then lap over
in adjoining states. Fifteen hundred
miles of wire fence inclOse the 5000
square miles within its boundaries and
separate the different divisions OF the
tract. The services of a head fore
man. seven assistant foremen, and
about one hundred and twenty-five
COWBOYS are requisite for the work
upon it.
There are three hundred wells upon
the land, and these in addition to pral-
RE lakes, dry in rainless seasons, run
ming streams and reservoirs built TO
conserve the surface water AFFORD wa"
ter for the stock. The wells are from
100 to 400 feet deep. They are unaf-
fected by drought and have constant
flow of good pure water. Each well
when supplied with a windmill and re-
serve tank will furnish water for 500
TO | 900 head of stock. In the summer /
time when there is not sufficient wind |
sometimes TO run the windmills gas |
olene engine is used to run them.
There are only two towns upon the |
ranch-Channing and TeXline. The
main headquarters are at Charming.
There a daily record of the rainfall
temperature and snowfall is kept. a
telephone system connects the head
quarters with every division, and a
stampede or anything that occurs out
of the ordinary routine Is known at
Headquarters as soon as IL happens.
The TOD wire of the fences is a tele-
phone wire, insulated at the posts.
When a gate is made in "A fence two
upright poles are placed on either
side of it above the height OF load OF
hay or any tall object that might pass
through it and the wire Is stretched
over these poles and down on the other
side OF the fence again This system
of telephoning is used on many lsoiat-
ed ranches in the west, connecting
them with other ranches ard the near
est towns. TO keep his telephone IN
workin! order man must keep MS
fences in repair.
The soil is black, fertile loan ana
ia covered with buffalo, me quito, ana
other grasses, which cure upon their
stems in the dry season and furnish
pasturage both summer and winter.
Cattle from the ranch have taken
MANY prizes in stock eXpositiOns all
over the country. shipments are
made to Chicago, New York and Eu'
rope. The herds have gradually been
enlarged and improved. Upon the
small ranches 90 to 90 per cent OF the
calves from the stock are branded
each year, but upon the large tracks
not so great percentage is obtained