The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-28
WORLDS LARGEST
RANCH IS SOLD
Wood Hagenbarth 60. Dis
poses of 1000 Square Miles
of Mexican Land.
w. C. GREENE is BUYER
DESCRIPTION OF FAMOUS CAT
TIE PROPERTY.

The largest ranch in the world. con-
sisting of 1900 square miles Of terrific
~ situated in Sonora and Chihuahua
states. i'm the republic Of Mexico was
yesterday sold by ]. d. Wood and f. ].
Hagenbarth OF the Wood Hagenbarth
Cattle company. w. 5. Mccormick and
II. c. Wood. all of Salt Lake, to a syn
dictate of New York capitalists. con-
sisting Of w. c. Greene of Greene Con-
sclidated Copper fame, John D. Ryan
and Thomas F. Cole.
The immense tract of land came into
the possession Of the Salt Lake men
about four years ago at n cost of an
prOximately 100000 The selling price
is understood To have been 30 cents an
acre. or something more than 81 900 900
There was also sold with the land
about $4,000 head of cattle at prices
running from $3.50 TO $50 per head
The beginning of the deal dates from
about two weeks ago. when Colonel
{. +. Hunt Of FL Paso, Tex came To
Salt Lake. representing the New York
ffnanciers, and opened negotiation for
its purchase with Hagenbarth and
wood. they were not particularly
anxious TO dispose of the property. bur
uPshot of the matter was that the deal
went through on the basis stated. and
sufficient money TO serve rs a guaran-
tee of good faith was paid over The
work Of arranging for the transfer of
the property was then commenced. and
yesterday the finishing touches were
put TO the deal although there still re.
main some few details TO be disposed
OF.
Description of Property.
Some idea OF the size OF the great
ranch may be gained from the fact
that the territory comprised would
make a ranch one and quarter miles
wide reaching from New York to San
Francisco. II the form of a belt an
eighth Of a mile wide il would en-
circle the globe. Ii is three times az
large as the state Of Rhode Island, and
twice as large as Connecticut Ii con-
tain over 500 miles Of fencing. and
many square miles are under cult
Walton.
The great tract IS suhdivided into
seven Or eight ranches. each with its
own headquarters, its houses for the
cowboys and their families. it's base of
supplies and everything necessary for
its support. Over all this is the exc
outive headquarters. the main hacien-
da, from which the business of the en-
tire tract is carried on. 1T employ
fifty to sixty cowboys at all times. and
has over 500 head of saddle horses
on hand when needed. The Boca Grande
river runs for forty miles through the
ranch. and at points distant from the
river thirty high-pOwer windmills arr
utilized 10 draw water from the wells
which have been sunk at intervals Over
the entire ranch. A number Of drilling
machines are I'm use all the time sink
ing new wells. and a reservoir IS now
being built TO store the waters OF the
Boca Grande for irrigation and drink
ing purposes.
Land Highly Productive.
The land itself is highly productive.
and without irrigation corn. alfalfa
fruit and garden vegetables can be
raised without difficulty Two posts
OF Mexican regulars are stationed on
the ranch all the year around as a
measure OF protection, although during
the past two years there has been but
little need of their services.
The Mexican cowboys and their fam
lilies raise their own vegetab les in adj
dition to their work of looking after
The stock and such other needs as
they may have are taken care Of at the
TWO general stores on the ranch. which
are SItualeu dDCul IVu ItiiivS apart, ana
carry in stock everything which could
POSSIBLY be required by the men.
IN the matter of industries, the
"a nch boasts an up-to-late tannery, at
which shoes. harness and saddles arc
turned out comparing favOrably with
the output Of any similar concern in
the country. The duty on leather
shipped from this country into Mexico
is 81 a pound. and the duty on an
American saddle or harness imported
irto the county is equal 30 the first
cost of the article. AS Mr.. Hagenbarth
put il last night. we were compelled
tC make our own leather goods as a
matter Of self-Drotection.'
Continued on Page 2.