Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21
Written for The Star.

Written for The Star.
. When Moses smote the rock with his
STAFF and caused a stream Of living water
to gush forth he wrought q wondrous
miracle. Here is the story of the Moses
Of uttermost Texas. Using drill instead
of q staff this man has caused not one. but
many streams OF PUG water to pour forth,
end has thus delivered his people from a
despotism-not that OF a Pharaoh. but the
despotism of drouth.
This modern Moses is r. ]. Kleberg, man
ager OF Santa Gertrudes ranch, the largest
estate in the United States owned by
private individual, and. perhaps. the larg-
est in the world. His discovery of great
Jake of artesian water underlying plains
three times the area of the state of Con-
necticut, lying between the Nueces and
the Rio Grande, is but one of record of
big achievements
+ To appreciate fully the significance of
Mr.. Klebergs discovery 1t is necessary to
bear IN mind something OF the history of
the country beyond the Nueces. One OF the
FIRST spots within the boundaries of the
limited States TO be troddeu by the foot
Of rhe white man. this territory has fasci-
mated all who beheld II, for nearly four
centuries; yet until short time ago It
raise few cattle upon It
Ages ago the whole country was a part
of the Gulf of Mexico. When the shallow
wa-ers had carried sediment thither until
soil of extreme richness had been de-
posted to depth of thirty to sixty feet
the shore line advanced, creating plain
I150 miles long and 100 miles wide. With
out water course or e marsh or a stone
or q hill or a tree In his way, ekil!ful
plowman could have turned an pnbroken
3urrow In a perfectly straight line from
the Nueces southwark 15o miles to the Rio
Grande.
In March and April the whole plain was
carpeted with waving mass of wild flow
ers OF every hue Of the rainbow. No Won
der Franco and Spain quarreled over the
possession Of this seeming paradise, nor
that the quarrel was handed down to
Mexico and the republic of Texas and con-
tinued by the farmer and the ranchman.
Land Of Cattle Ranches.
But the farmers though they tried again
and again, were always glad TO escape with
their lives at the sacrifice of all their
soanty possessions, for the climate was
hopelessly arid 1t was concerning this
part of Texas that Phil Sheridan. then n
sublieutenant IN Gen. Tayior's army. ut
tered his famous profance epigTam. that
IL lie owned HI and Texas he would rent
Texas and live in HI. When the cattle
men were left at last IN undisputed posses
ion Of the country beyond the Nueces they
vast estates one and a half times the area
homesteads of a hundred thousand acres.
of Rhode Island down 10 modest little
Foremost among the larger ranches was
Santa Gertrudes WHICH was founded by
Capt Richard King, q Mississippi river
pilot. who had been engaged with his
friend. Capt. Mifin Kennedy to handle the
steamboats, which transported supplies
along the gulf coast and up the Rio Grande
for the American forces during the Mex
lean war. Capt. King was fascinated with
rtsIE a
been and set out TO establish the biggest
ranch in the country. He was successful
IN this undertaking. At the time of his
death twenty-five years ago, he owned
10000 acres well stocked with the usual
native cattle.
When Capt. King died, his widow in
trusted to her son-in-law, r. ]. Kleberg
the management OF Santa Gertrudes. Mr..
kleberg. who yaS born within $50 miles of
the ranch, is descended from q Prussian
who once performed distinguished service
for the King OF Prussia. In gratitude for
this the king obligated himself to provide
ms To pay for the education of the Kie-
berg children for all time But the family
prospered IN America and Mr.. Kleberg
ContTived to secure a college educate and
study law without awaiting himself of the
royal bounty TO which he was entitled.
Ranch life on the dry plains OF Texas was
more attractive to him. however. than the
still dryer profession of the law
Antidotes for Texas Fever
Mr. Kleberg undertook 10 carry to com.
.pletion the ambition of Capt. King. The
first step was to perfect titles to the land
q work that had hitherto been impossible
on account OF the incomplete judicial ma.
chinery OF new country. After this con-
structive work begun. he bought land
in small parcels until Santa Gertrudes had
expanded into domain of 100000 acres
Ths area of Rhode Island. measuring Mar
ragansett Bay and all, is 10000 acres. But
with yearlings IS head the income from
so large estate was not satisfactory
even when stocked up AT its full capacity
OF one steer TO ten acres. He undertook &C
improve the cattle. and bought bloodeC
bulls by the carload. The bulls invaria bl,
died within a few days after reaching the
ranch.
Old cowmen said acclimation fever was
the cause. and that it was useless to try t.
bring in cattle from other localities; thai
they always died. Tht explanation was
not satisfactory. Mr.. Kleherg observed
that the strange bulls only sickened after
they had been bitten by q species OF itch
common to the country.
He wrote 20 Secretary Rush. then the
head OF the Agricultural Department that
he believed the bite of the ticks caused the
fever and asked that a man be sent TO helr
him investigate the problem. An expert
came. and after two years study. with the
assistance Of Mr.. Kleberg. mastered the
cause OF Texas fever IN cattle and provid-
ed means of prevention by incubation
The preventive has proved almost infal.
lible. Mr.. Kleberg's idea has resulted III
the saving OF countless millions TO the live
stock Industry of the nation. for the Texas
Fever ravaged the local herds whereye,
Texas cattle were sent.
Having found the weapon for combating