Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-11-21

RIO IfdnQe, and THIS rlCl region was
the bone of contention until the mat
ter was settled. BY the defeat of Mex
leo by the -conquering armies of Scott
and Tyler, since which time this terri
tory has been the property of part
of the United States and the stars and
stripes has ever since waved over It,
Mexican Officials Have Large GRANITE
While this country was part IT
the state of Tamaweipas one Of the
Mexican provinces this land had been
given in large grants to high officials
of the Mexican army. but with the
ascendency of the american suprem-
acy in that region the Mexicans be-.
came willing to dispose Of it at a very
low figure, and all this valuable coun-
try fell Into the hands of q few cat.
tie men who have held full sway ever
since until a new law having come in
to effect in Texas and some of the
older cattle men wishing to retire,
having become rich, others have died,
railroads have been built through this
country and the large ranches are be-
Ing broken up and sold to actual SET
tiers. This was truly the cattle mems
paradise No thought of winters care
or shelter, good water, green grass the
whole year round and nothing to wor-
ry about No wonder that this coun-
try contained the largest ranches in
the world, some of which still exist,
some of them containing more than
100000 acres. ranches that would
embrace territory three or four
times as large as some Of our north
ern counties. No railroads connected
this section with other portions of the
United States and for more than half
century the cattle men held undis-
puted sway. But in recent years rail
roads from the north have been run
through here connecting this region
with the markets of the world. New
laws have been passed by the legisla-
ture of the state of Texas, and SO the
days of big ranches in this rich gulf
coast country are fast becoming a
thing Of the past and I find people
from all over the north now here and
others still coming, as according to a
statistical report from Austin, the
state capital, shows an increase In
population last year OF nearly mil.
lion people, a great many coming from
the middle west and northern states
Goes on Hunting Trip.
| Will leave here IN few days for
few days hunting trip in the north
part of Duval and McMullen counties
and will also visit two or three OF
the largest ranches still existing in
Texas, some of them comprising q
section OF $4,000 acres and 60 to II
miles from railroad. This trip will be
made by team, our staring point be
Ing either from Alice in Newces coun
tyaor San Diego in Duval county, anc
tue country traversed lies between the
Rio Grande and Newces rivers. PEG
Pile here say that game abounds ir
plenty there, consisting of deer, wilt
turkey, ducks and geese, and quaj
and along the streams plenty of SPUR
rel. From this trip will probably e,
On down into Old Mexico of whict
may write you before my return
home.
Our parry on tits trip towards tn:
Rio Grande, consists Of myself ant
two ether gentlemen from Iowa anc
one from Lincoln, Neb., and we ex
pect some sport. With kindest re
gards to the Courier and all its read
ers. ! am yours respectfully,
e. F. Lowry.