The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-09-03
WORLDS BIGGEST FARM
A Mexican Don Who Owns an
100000 Acre Ranch.
HOMESTEAD IS A PALACE
Don Luis Tcrrazas, of Chihauhau.
Employs 1000 Cow Punchers,
Line Riders, Shepherds and Hun
ters--IIc Owns 100000 Cattle,
100000 Sheep, 10000 Horses.

The biggest farm--if farm" It
can be cHled--ts that owned by Don
Luis Terrazas III the state of Chi
hauhau, Mexico. which measures
from north to south $50 miles and
from east to west 200 miles, or ST.
600, 900 acres in all. On its prairies
ard mountains roam 100000 head
OF cattle, 100000 sheep and 100. 900
| horses. The farm house" is prob
ably the most magn iicent in the
world for II cost 100000 to build
and is more richly furnished than
many a royal palace. On the home
stead alone are employed a hundred
| servants. The gardens are superbly
laid out, the stables more magniii
cent than those of the German En-
! pcror and there is accommodation
| for 500 guests If necessary.
Scattered over THIS vast ranch are
hundred outlying stations, each one
of which has charge Of a certain por-
tion OF the estate. rhe horsemen,
COW punchers line riders. shepherds
and hunters number 1000 and the
1 -. razas ranch is the only one in the
world which maintains its own
slaughtering and packing plant. Each
year 10000 head of cattle are
slaughtered, dressed and packed. and
100, 900 sheep. Don Luis personally
superintends the different industries
on his ranch. covering many thous-
ands of miles on horseback during a
twelvemonth. Don Luis was at one
time Governor of Chihauhau, but
public life did not suit him; 1t was
too quiet, and he preferred to spend
his life riding over the plains and
l-oking after his own enterprises. He
is three times as rich as any other
man In Mexico and has the name OF
being liberal and generous toward
bis workpeople.
Don Luis is a very handsome man.
married to a beautiful wife. He is
the father OF twelve children-seven
sons and five daughters. The sons
are all associated with Don Luis in
looking after the ranch, while the
daughters. said to be the most beNu-
tiful women in Mexico-remain
quietly at the homestead. All the
children were educated in the United
States, are highly accomplished. have
travelled through Europe, and speak
several languages.
about fourteen years ago and four
years later he sought to import the
finest cattle from Scotland and Eng
land. But there was a considerable
difficulty in the way. The import
duty on cattle was SO heavy that II
was impossible to bring over the ami
mails in quantities sufficient for his
Maxican Government. pointed out
the absurdity OF restricting the i'm
portation OF good stock into the
country and succeeded In getting the
import tax repealed. Since that
time 1errazas has increased his
stock by the importation OF some
thing like 5000 bulls OF the best
breeds from the famous studs Of Eu-
rope.
Five years ago Terrazas installed on
his ranch four big reservoirs costing
100000 besides which there are
800 wells scattered over the huge
farm. some Of them going Gown to
depth or 500 feet. These wells,
the water from which Is raised by the
use OF windmills. cost another flOO,-
900. Every kind OF grain Is grown
and Don Luis Is constantly expert
menung In the raising OF different
foods for supplying the wants OF
his immense herds during the rain
less season.
An enemy which has to be sternly
fought on this great ranch is fire. and
great tracts of prairie being laid
waste by its destroying advance.
Through the torrid months there is
man stationed on the lookout at
every station each hour of the twen-
ty-tour. and directly he sees Ildica-
tions which tells him that fire has
started he rings the n Ssive alarm
bell and and in an incr edibly short
time men come riding in ready to
hight the danger with their lives II
necessary.
The frightened cattle are driven
sideways from the oncoming fire and
then the enemy Is attacked frOm the
rear. 1t Is no good attempting to
stop prairie fire from the front.
for its progress is too rapid and too
annihilating. Heavy chains are
draggeu along the ground which help
to weaken and disipate the fire.
Across the prairie long burrows fifty
feet apart are quickly made. and
these also help to stem the progress
of the hre. All night the night Ia
kept up, and not until the last spark
is quenched are the men able to take
food and rest.
In these efforts to subdue tho
flames Jon Luis and his sons are
usually seen working like demons
and urging their men to greater ef-
forts. Fighting a prairie fire has
all the elements of danger and for
excitement II has few EQUALS For