The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-10
ALLIGATOR FARM
/ IN old ARKANSAW
BIG JOE Is MONARCH WITH 500
POUNDS OF WEIGHT.
II. T. Campbell Has 600 Gators In His
Lakes They Range from six Inches
to Sixteen Feet-Dog Is Favorite
Food,
New York Tribune.

|. One locality Of Arkansas, that of
Garland county, of which Hot Springs.
is the metropolis, is entitled to. placeaifs
claim before the world as having re-,
markable diversifcation in farm pro-
ducts. West of Hot Springs are three
alligator farm, an ostrich farm and q
dog farm, all within short distance of
one anothers
The alligator farm Of III. T. Campbell
lies on small mountain stream that
flows the year round. "A series OF small
lakes, or ponds, fed by the stream, con-
stitutes the breeding grounds of the
reptiles. Mr.. Campbell has not taken
stock Of his farm For, several months,
gators in the lakes at the present
time, which range in length from six
inches to nearly sixteen feet.
Big Joe is the monarch of the farm.
He measures nearly fifteen feet in
length and weighs over 500 pounds. He
| is secluded in a pond by himself, as his
viciousness is displayed toward his fell
| low reptiles in most expressive way.
| If he had the liberty Of the farm he
would soon be the only alligator there as
reach re- l1'' TO I'll look at this reptile as he
| moves sluggishly about or basks in the
sun with his eyes half closed one would
imagine that he was a mass OF inert
matter capable Of no display Of speed
or activity. But place dog or hog
in the Enclosure and a sudden awaken,
ing is Witnessed The animals soon
disappear down Big Joe's throat, only
one or two gulps being necessary to con
sign it to the gators inner region
seven large dogs in one afternoon.
! In the summer months the gators
are / fed every Sunday. They: hiber:
nate during the winter and viii not eat
the MOST tempting morsel placed at
their, mouths. The winter quarters OF
/ the farm is long, low-roofedl building
heated by steam The building is di
vided into sections and each section
possesses a pool of water, with steam
pipes at the bottom. In the winter
the gator cares nothing for space an6
one small pond.
The age Of an alligator is something
no one can determine. Mr.. Campbell 4
experience with them will tempt hin
to do nothing more than guess. Whe1
the age Of Big Joe is asked he will
say that Big Joe is over $50 years old
and perhaps 300, but he will not be
more definite.
Mr.. Campbell spends part of eacl
year hunting for gators to replenisl
the stock on his farm. The bayous 0:
southern Louisiana along the gull
coast and the swamps Of Florida are hi
favorite hurting grounds. The small
alligator is caught with a net, but tn,
capture Of large one, that is, one owe
eight feet long, is never attempted il
) the summer time. He is located the1
and the hunter waits for him to hiber
nate. When the gator thinks he i
} slowed away for the cold season h
J is likely to find the hunter upon hin
with strong nooses that tighten will
every vicious lunge he makes. Whe1
: the hunter succeeds in getting the rep
tile on its back then the rest is easy, a
the position soon causes it to pass int
an almost comatose condition.
In the hottest Of the summer month
! the female begins to lay her eggs. Blu
she will first make a nest resembling
! rubbish heap on the bank Of the lake
and after laying will cover the egg
with the same material. In ,tropica
climates the heat Of the sun hatche
!, the eggs, but at Mr.. Oampbe1l;s farr
an incubator is used. One female vii
y y lay from thirty to fortyfve eggs be
, fore abandoning a nest. Afterward sh
= will guard it night and day until tn
: young ones take to the water, but afte
they reach the water they have TO loo
! out for themselves, IL
| Mr. Campbell sold more thar 300 all
I gators last year to geological garden:
| circuses and private individuals. H
r supplied one patent medicine compan
t with 100, which are being used for &C
vertising purposes.