Semi-weekly herald., 1908-07-23
FARM LIKE AN EMPIRE.

FARM LINE AN GmftH6s
The biggest farm-if farm" 1t 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
west 200 miles, or 100000 acres In
all. On It's prairies and mountains
road 100000 head of cattle, 100000
sheep and 100000 horses. The farm
house" is probably the most magni-
flcent in the world. for 1t cost 100000
pounds sterling to build and is more
richly furnished than many royal
palace. On the homestead alone are
employed a hundred 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
If necessary.
Scattered over this vast ranch. ac-
cording to London Tit-Bits, are hun
dred outlying stations. each one of
which has charge of certain portion
Of the estate. The horsemen, COW
punchers. line riders. shepherds and
hunters number 1000. and the Ter
razas ranch Is the only ono in the
world which maintains its own slaugh-
tering and packing plant. Each year
100000 head of cattle are slaughtered.
dressed and packed. and 100000 sheep.
Don Luis personally superintends the
difficult industries on his ranch, COW
ering many thousands of miles on
horseback during twelvemonth. Don
Luis was at once 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 plains
and looking 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 To-
word his workpeople.
Don Luis is the father of twelve
children-seven sons and five daugh-
ters. The sons are all associated with
Don Luis n looking after the ranch.
while the daughters-said to be the
most beautiful women in Mexico-re-
main quietly at the homestead. All
the children were educated in the
United States, are highly accomplish
ed. 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 q considerable
difficulty In the way. The import duty
on foreign cattle was SO heavy that
1t was impossible to bring over the
animals In Quantities sufficient for his
purpose. 30 Don Luis appealed to
the Mexican government. pointed out
the absurdity of restricting the i'm
portation of good stock cattle into
the country. and succeeded In getting
the import tax repealed. Since that
time Terrazas has increased his stock
by the importation OF something like
1000 bulls OF the best breeds from
the famous studs OF Europe.
Five years ago Terrazas installed OH
his ranch four big reservoirs. costing
nearly 100000. besides which there
are 800 wells scattered over the huge
farm. some OF them going down a |
depth of 900 feet. These wells, ths
water from which is raised by means
Of windmills, cost another half mil
lion. Every kind Of grain Is grown,
and Don Luis Is constantly expert
In the raising of different
foods" for supplying the wants of his
immense herds during the rainless sea-
sons.
An enemy which has to be sternly
ought in this great ranch is fre, and
a summer passes without
;reat tracts of prairie being laid waste
" its destroying advance. Through.
nut the torrid months there Is man
stationed on the lookout ut every
tation each hour OF the .wenty-four,
md directly he sees Indication which
ell him that flre has started be
ings the massive alarm bell. aud In
N incredibly short time mon come
idink In. ready to tight tae danger
nth their lives II necessary.
The frightened cattle are driven
ideways from the line OF tho oncoln-
ng FIRE. and then the enamy ia at
acked from the rear. It liz no good
tempting to stop prairie fre from
he front. for Its progress IL too rapid
nd too annihilating. Heavy chains are
ragged along the ground. which help !
D weaken and dissipats the f,e.
cross the prairie long burrows nifty
BOT apart and quickly made and there ,
lso help to stem the progress Of the
re. All night the night Is kept up.
nd not until the last spark II qaench. !
are the men able to take food and :
NJ Ii