The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-10-10
THE sloorsr FARM.
Mexican Estate Of 100000 Acres snd
How II is Managed.

The biggest farm-if farm" IL can
be called-is that owned by Luis TER
razas in the state of chihuahua, Mex
leo, which measures from north to
south $50 miles. and from east to west
200 miles, or 100000 acres in
all. On It's prairies and mountains
roam 100000 head OF cattle. 100000
sheep and 100000 horses. The farm
house" is probably the most magni-
fioent in the world. for II cost almost
$l,600,000 to build and is more richly
furnished than many 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 II necessary
Scattered over the vast ranch are
hundred 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 2000 and the Teirazas
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
J and packed and 100000 sheep Don
Luis personally superintends the diff
ferent industries on his ranch. cover
ing many thousands OF miles on horse
back during a twelfthmonth. Don
Luis was at one time governor OF Chi
huahua, but public life did not suit
him; IL was too quiet, and he pre-
fcrred TO spend his life riding over the
plains and looking after his own en-
terprises He is three times as rich
as any other man in Mexico, and has
the name of being liberal and gem
erous toward his workpeople.
Don Luis is very handsome man.
married to beautiful wife. He Ia the
father of 12 children-seven sons and
five daughters. The sons are all as
snciatod with Don Luis in looking
after the ranch, while the daughters
said TO be the most beautiful women
in Mexico - remain quietly at the
homestead. An the children were
educated in the United States, are
highly accomplished, have Travelled
through Europe and speak severai
languages. Don Luis founded his cat
tie ranch about IA years ago, and four
years later he sought TO import the
finest cattle from Scotland and Eng
land. But there was considerable diff
hcu.ty in the way. The import duty
en- foreign cattle was so heavy that II
was impossible to bring over the ami
mas 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 Terrazas has
| increased his stock by the importation
| Of something like 5000 bulls OF the
hest breeds from the famous studs OF
1 Europe. -
Five years ago Terrazas installed
on his ranch four big reservoirs. cost
ing 100000. besides there are 300
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
| windmil!s, cost another $500,000.
Every kind of grain is grown, and
| Don Luis is constantly experimenting
in the raising of different foods" for
supplying the wants of his immense
herds during the rainless seasons. An
enemy which has TO be sternly fought
4 IL A..
scarcely a summer passes without
| great tracks Of paririe being laid
waste by its destroying advance
| Throughout the torrid months there
is man stationed on the lookout" at
every station each hour OF the "a, and
directly he sees indications which tell
him that a Are has started he rings
the massive alarm bell. and in an in
credibly short time men come riding
in, ready to fight the danger with
their lives II necessary.
The frightened cattle are driven
sideways from the line OF the oncom-
ing fire. and then the enemy ia at
tackled from the rear. II Is no good
attempting TO stop a prairie fire from
the front, for its progress is too rapid
and too annihilating. Heavy chains
are dragged along the ground. which
help 10 weaken and dissipate the fre.
Across the prairie long burrows so
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
1uenched are the men able to take
food and rest. In these efforts to sub
due the flames Don Luis and his sons
are usually to be seen working like
demons and urging their men 20
greater efforts, Fighting a prairie
fire has all the elements OF danger,
and for excitement has few equals.
For this reason Don Luis takes
fierce delight in combating the flames.
and declares that It is one OF the
destinations of prairie life.