The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-06-24
BIGGEST FARM
IN THE WORLD
1t is 100000 Acres in
Extent.
CONTAINS 100000 ANIMALS
Wonderful Tract of Land In
Mexico, the Wonder of
the World.

The biggest farm--if farm" it can
be called is that owned by Don Luis
Terrazas, in the State of Chihuahua,
Mexico, which measures from north
to south $50 miles and from east to
wes' 200 miles, or 100000 acres in
all. On its prairies and mountains
roam 100000 head of cattle, 100000
sheep and 100000 horses. The farm
house" is probably the most magnifi-
cent in the world, for it cost e4O0, 900
to build and is more richly furnished
than many a royal palace. On the
homestead alone are employed 100
male servants. The gardens are SUI
perbly laid out, the stables more mag
nificent than those of the German
Emperor, and there is accommodation
for 800 guests If necessary.
Scattered over this vast ranch are
100 outlying stations, each one OF
which has charge of a certain portion
OF the estate. The horsemen, COW
punchers, line riders, shepherds and
hunters number 1900, and the Terra
zaS ranch is the only one in the world
which maintains its own slaughtering
and packing plant. Each year $4,000
head OF cattle ere slaughtered, dressed
and packed, and 100000 sheep. Don
Luis personally superintends the diff
ferent indultries on his ranch, COW
cring many thousands OF miles on
horseback during a twelvemonth. Don
Luis was at one time Governor Of
chihuahua, but public life did not suit
him; it was too quiet, and he preferr-
ed to spend his life riding over the
plains and looking after his own
enterprises. He is three times as
rich as any other man III Mexico, and
has the name of being liberal and gen
erous toward his workpeople.
Don Luis is a very handsome man,
married to a beautiful wife. He is
the father of II 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 beautiful wo-
men in Mediterranean quietly at the
homestead All the children were ed
ucated in the United States, are highly
accomplished, have Travelled through
Europe, and speak several languages.
Don Luis founded his cattle ranch
about IA years ago, and four years la
ter he sought 20 import the finest
cattle from Scotland and England.
Blu, there was a considerable difficult
ty in the way. The import duty on
| foreign cattle was so heavy that it
was impossible to bring over the ami
mails in quantities sufficient for his
purpose, so Don Luis appealed to the
Mexican Government, pointed out the
absnrdity of restricting the importa-
ton of good sock into the country
and succeeded in getting the import
tax repealed. Since that time Terrazas
has increased his stock by the impor-
;ation OF something like 5000 bulls of
the best breeds from the famous studs
Of Europe.
Five years ago Terrazas installed on
his ranch four big reservoirs, cost
ing 100000, besides which there are
300 wells scattered over the huge
farm. some of -hem going down to
depth of 500 feet. These wells, the
water from which Is raised by means
OF windmilLs, cost another 100000.
Every kind OF grain is grown, and
in the raising OF different foods" for