The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-09-25
WORLDS DIGEST FARM
A Mexican Don Who Owns an
100000 Acre Ranch.
HOMESTEAD is A PALACE
Don Luis Terrazas, of Chihauhau,
Employs 1900 Cow punchess,
Line Riders, Shepherds aud Hun
ters-He Owns 100000 Cattle,
100000 Sheep, 100000 Horses.

Ine biggest IaTh-ll ldI III ~
can be ca!ied-is 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 81
900, coo acres in all. On its prairies
ard mountains roam 100000 head
of cattle, 100000 sheep and 100000
horses. The farm house is prob
ably the most magnificent in the
world for it cost 100000 to build
and is more richly furnished than
many royal palace. On the home
stead alone are employed hundred
servants. The gardens are super6iy
laid out. the stables more magnifi-
cent than those OF the German En-
reror and there is accommodation
for 500 guests if necessary.
Scattered over this vast ranch are
( hundred outlying stations. eech 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
I>rrazas ranch Is the only one in the
world which maintains its own
siaughtering and packing plant. Each
year 10000 head OF cattle are
slaughtered, dressed and packed, and
10000 sheep. Don Luis personally
superintends the different industries
on his ranch. covering many thous-
ands OF miles on horseback during
twelvcmonth. Don Luis was at one
time Governor Of Chihauhau. but
public life did not suit him; it was
too quiet, and he preferred to spend
his life riding over the plains and
locking 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
his workpeople.
Don Luis is very handsome man.
married/to 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 beau
tiful women in MeXico-remain
quietly at the homestead. Al the
children were educated in the United
States. are highly accomplished, have
travelled through Europe, and speak
several languages.
Don Luis founded his cattle ranch
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 tnat, 1t
was impossible TO bring over the ami
mails in quantities sufficient for his
purpose, so Don Luis appealed ID the
sMaxican 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 lerraZas 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
s10U, 900, besides which there are
900 wells scattered over the huge
farm. some of them going Gown to
a depth Oh 500 ieet. These wells.
the water from which is raised by the
use OF windmills, cost another Gl0O.-
Geo. Every kind OF grain is grown
and Don Luis is constantly expert
menting in the raising OF different
foods for supplying the wants Of
his immense nerds during the rain
less season.
An enemy which has to be stern'y
fought on this great ranch is fire. and
scarcely summer passes without.
great tracts Of prairie being laid
waste by, its destroying advance.
Through the torrid mouths, there is
a man stationed on the, lookout at
every station each hour OF the twen-
ty-rour, and directly ne sees lndica-
tions which tells him thGs fire has
started he rings the massive alarm
bell and and in an incredibly short
time men come riding in ready to
hight the danger with their lives If
necessary ~,
The frightened cattle. are driven
sideways from the oncoming fire and
then the enemy is attacked f..om the,
rear. It is no good attempting. to-
stop a prairie fire from" the 'front.'.
for its progress is too rapid and too
arnihilatiug Heavy chains are
dragge4 along the ground which help
to weaken and disipate the, fire.
Across the prairie long. fdrrows fifty
feet apart are quickly made. and
these also help;to stem the progress
OF the fire All night the fight Is
kept up, and not until the last spark
is quenched are the men able to take.
TODD and rest.
In these efforts to subdue the
flames Jon Luis and his sons are
usually seen working like demons
and urging thel" men to greater ef-
forts. Fighting a prairie fire has
ali the elements of danger and for
excitement it has few equals. For
this reason Don Luis takes fierce
delight in combating the flames and
declares that il is one Of The fasc!na-
lions OF prairie life.
Men. with blue or gray eyes are al