Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-14

Two States the Size Of Rhode Island
Could be Made from Texas Prairie
Owned by This Woman Who ls Worth
sso,ooo, 900.
Owning a ranch Of 100000 acres
twice as big as the state OF Rhode Island
and as large as the entire state Of Della
ware-Mrs. H. M. King is one of the
richest women in the world, says the New
York World.
She is estimated to be worth not less
than $50. 900, the larger part OF which
she made herself since the death Of her
husband, twenty-five years ago. The
fluctuations OF stocks and Wall street
panics have no terror for her, as her
wealth is in land and cattle.
By the purchase Of the Los Laurelos
ranch, which is adjacent to her own
ranch, Mrs. King becomes the largest
ranch-owner in the world. The Laurelos
consisted Of 10000 acres.
She has more than 100, 900 head Of beef
cattle and the st. Louis, Brownsville
and Mexico railroad runs through her
property for more than 100 miles. Dur
ing the last year she has given away 65,-
900 acres-35, 900 for the building of the
railroad and 10000 acres for the site Of
the town Of Kingsville, named after her
husband. At one time it was estimated
that 1t was so odd miles from her door
way to her front gate.
Mrs. Kings ranch, the Santa Gertrudes,
IL an enormous revenue producer. While
the most OF her land is used for stock
raising. practically every acre is suscep-
tible of the highest cultivation. In the
last twenty-five years the land has in
creased in value from Is to 20 cents an
acre to SIS or $50. 1t is all in the ar
teslan water belt and can be irrigated
Such land under cultivation Is selling in
Texas for $3.50 an acre. 1t is Mrs. Kings
plan to reclaim all the grazing land she
owns and by boring artesian wells irri-
gate II and rent and lease 1t to practical
and progressive farmers. 1t is estimated
that the estate will be worth 5000, 900, 900
within a few years.
Mrs. King is a product Of the South
west and practically all of her life has
been spent on the Texas frontier. In the
early days when she went there with her
husband, Capt Richard King. Indians
roamed at will on the land which she
now owns, but far worse than the Indians
as neighbors were the border despera-
does, Mexican outlaws smugglers, cattle
rustlers and the renegades Of society who
sought an asylum in the Southwest.
Capt King and his wife lived in
Brownsville the very centre of the Dor
der ruffianage. He soon established a
! reputation for fearlessness and for his
ability to take care of himself in a busi-
! ness transaction. Capt. King fought his
way through the period of terrorism and
stories of his conflicts with the bands Of
desperate men who preyed on his roam
ing herds are now told about their camp
fires by the cowboys OF his widow. He
| added to his land, section by section and
tract by tract, until he had half a million
acres and his herds had grown from a
| few hundred to thousands of head.
During this time Mrs. King was his
constant companion. In a little shack
! built on the first tract they bought Mrs
| King surrounded by her small children,
attended to the household duties. In the
early days she kept rifle and pistol close
by, and frequently rocked her children to
sleep with a six shooter lying by her side.
So thoroughly Injured was she to frontier
life that the outlaws and others who in
tested the district always preferred to
call at the house while Capt. King was
| there rather than meet his wife alone.
Although seventy three years old, Mrs
King is as actively engaged in the man
| agement Of her vast property today as
she was twenty years ago. The routine
| management is In the hands of her SON.
in-law, B. ]. Kleberg. but he has no au-
| thority to close any important business
| transaction without the approval of Mrs
King.
Despite the fact that most of her life
| has been spent on the plains miles from
the nearest neighbor. Mrs. King is a we'll
educated, mighty intellectual woman. Art
music and literature are as familiar ton
les Of conversation in her ranch home as
they are in the homes in cities. Her
children have all been given the best ed
ucation unlimited wealth could secure.
The ranch house and grounds are not
surpassed by the country home Of any
millionaire. The house is a big two
story rock structure, with shady YER
andas. There are beautiful lawns, flow
ers, fountains and winding drives and
walks. Near the house is a large lake OF
| fresh water and scattered over the mil
lion OF acres are preserves which have
been stocked with all kinds of game.
She employs more than 500 persons or
the ranch, a majority of whom are Mex
leans. She knows the Mexican character
thoroughly and takes a kindly Interest
in the families living on her property
The women and children come to her
with their troubles. certain of RELIEF
whenever possible.