The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-23
THE BIGGEST FARM.
Contains s,OOO,OOO Acres and Has L..
100000 Head of Cattle.

ne pisSest tarH--lI 'rarm' II can
be called-is that owned by Don Luis
Terranzaas, In the State Of Chihuahua,
Mexico, which measures from north
to south $50 miles and from east to
Vest 200 miles. or 100000 acres In
all On Its prairies and mountains
roam 100000 head Of cattle. 70o,-
900 sheep and 100000 horses. The
farm house" Is probably the most
magnificent In the world. for 1t cost
almost s1,600.0O0 to build and Is
more richly furnished than many a
royal palace. On the homestead
alone are employed 100 male servants
The gardens are superbly laid out. the
stables more magnificent than those
OF the German emperor. and there is
accommodation for 500 guests IL nec-
essary.
Scattered over the vast ranch are
100 outlying stations, each one Of
which has charge Of a certain por-
tion Of the estate, The horsemen,
cowpunchers. line-riders, shepherds.
and hunters number 1000, and the
Terranxaas ranch is the only one in
the world which maintains its own
slaughtering and packing plant. Each
year 10000 head Of cattle are slaugh-
tered. dressed and packed. and 10o,-
600 sheep. Don Luis personally su-
perintends the different Industries on
his ranch. covering many thousands
OF miles on horseback during a
twelve month. Don Luis was at one
time Governor OF Chihuahua, but
public life did not suit him: 1t was too
quiet. and he preferred to spend his
life riding over the plainst and looking
after his own enterprises. He Is three
times as rich as any other man In Mex
leo, and has the name Of being liberal
and generous toward his work-people.
Don Luis is a very handsome man,
married to beautiful wife. He is
the father. Of twelve children, seven
sons and Ave daughters, The sons
are all associated with Don, Luis in
looking after the ranch, while the
dau8hters-said TO be the most beau
tiful women In Mexico-remain quiet
ly at the homestead. All the children
were educated In the United States.
are highly accomplished, have trav-
elled through Europe. and speak sew
eral 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 foreign cattle was so heavy that II
was impossible TO bring over the ami
mails In Quantities sufficient for his
purpose. so Don Luis appealed to the
Mexican government. pointing out the
absurdity of restricting importation of
good stock into the country. and sue
ceeded in getting the import tax re-
pealed. Since that time Terranzaas
has increased his stock by importation
of something like 5000 bulls OF the
best breeds from the famous studs of
Europe.
Five years ago Tcrranzaas Install
ed on his ranch four big reservoirs,
100000 besides which there
are 500 wells scattered over the huge
farm. some OF them going down to
depth OF 500 feet. These wells. the
water from which is raised by means
Of wind mills. cost another $500. 900.
Every kind Of grain Is grown, and
Don Luis II constantly experimenting
In the raising OF different foods" for
supplying the wants Of his immense
herds during the rainless season.
An enemy which has to be sternly
fought on this great ranch Is fire. and
a summer passes without
great tracts Of prarie being laid waste
by it's destroying advance. Through
out the torrid months there is a man
stationed on the lookout" at every
station each hour Of the twenty four.
and directly he sees indications which
tell him that a fire has started, he
rings the massive alarm bell. and In
an incredibly short time, men como
riding In ready to hght the danger
with their lives II necessary.
The frightened cattle are driven
sideways from the line nj the incom-
Ing fire. and then the enemy Is at
tackled from the rear. 1t is no good
attempting to stop prairie fire from
the front, for Its progress is too rap
Id and too annihilating. Heavy chains
are dragged along the ground. which