The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-09-06

/ DOES, Dy the way, never see any
thing but hard work. Their
hours are from 4 a. N. to ,. m,
or as much longer as circumstances
may require, every day in the
year.
Santa Gertrudes ranch was
founded in 1853 by Capt. Richard
King, former Mississippi River
pilot, who with his friend Capt.
Miffin Kennedy, had charge of the
transport service on the Rio Grande
which supplied Gen. Taylor's
army during the Mexican War.
Capt. Kings ambition was to pos
sess the largest and best conducted
ranch in Texas, but he died TWEEN
ty years ago after accumlateing
8oo.ooo acres.
The property was left to his
widow, Mrs. H. NJ. King, who
turned the entire management
over to her son-in-law, R. 7. Kle-
berg, lawyer, who was born and
brought up within $50 miles of the
ranch. Under Mr.. Kleberg's
management the acreage has been
increased more than 90 per cent.
When Mr.. Kleberg took charge
OF the ranch it was stocked with
the usual inferior long horned ma
tive cattle. He attempted to im
prove the breed, but the costly
blooded bulls he brought to the
ranch invariably died few days
after their arrival.
Investigation led to the convic-
ton that the fatal malady was
caused by the bite of a tick with
which all cattle were infested, but
to which the native cattle were
immune. He invited the cooper
alton of the Agricultural Depart
ment in seeking a preventive. In
due time a process of inoCulalion
which was found to be almost in
tafliable was perfected at Santa
Gertrudes.
This discovery put an end to
the loss of untold millions, FLOR
Texas cattle had heretofore left a
trail of infection and death among
their kind wherever they went in
the North. Incidentally, Mr..
Kleberg was enabled to breed up
his cattle until all those on the
ranch are now from one-half to
fifteen siXteenths Hereford or Dur
ham.
The practical value of the dis
covery was illustrated last spring,
when one lot OF 10, 900 steers was
sold at SIS head, and another
lot Of 100 bull calves was sold at
$40 head. Long horn yearlings
were worth SIS.
Formerly the water supply was
so insufficient that it took ten acres
of the poor pasturage to support
one steer, -Four years ago Nh.
Kleberg determined to have a bet
ter water supply. He found an
abundance of artesian water at a
depth of 500 feet. Now there are
I25 wells scattered over Santa
Gertrudes, with flow of IS to 800
gallons minute. That of course,
meant the revolution of the last
great region exclusively devoted
to cattle raising into 4 diversified
farming country.
The next step in the sequence
was the building Of railroad to
afford all outlet for the crops and
the cattle, and the slicing ND of
the great ranches into small truck
farms Although the road has
been in operation barely two
years, 5000 acres Of crops, rang.
ing from cotton, rice, and sugar
cane to cabbage and onions, are
under cultivation, where two years
ago no sign of human habitation
could be seen in course of a ride
Of $50 miles.
Kingsville, village of 900 in
habitants named in honor of Cap
tain King, and some scores Of
farms now occupy what was once
part Of Santa Gertrudes, but the
loss has been more than made up
by purchase.
10 Tim OpO e. Oh,O