The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-10-28
TRAVELLING WITH TAFT
Especial Correspondence

one of the small towns on Charles Z.
Taft's ranch. The stop afforded fine
opportunity for the president to recu-
perate from the fatigue of his long trip.
There was real seclusion for him, as
only few of the members of his party
him to the home of his,
brother. The newspaper men had head
quarters several miles from the ranch,
and the only communication was by
private telegraph and telephone.
Army of Men Employed.
During his stay on the ranch Presi.
dent Taft went over the big place pref
ty thoroughly in automobiles, several
of which were at his disposal. This
$4,000 acre tract of land and its vari-
Gus interests and industries are divid-
ed into several different departments,
which give employment at this time to
about 225 men.
Even the cowboys here have lost
their picturesqueness. They live In
little communities scattered over the
ranch, each of which has direct con-
nection by telephone with La Quinta
residence, where Mr.. Green, the man.
ager. resides. These cowboys are
steady. Industrious men whose chief
work is to see that the wire fences are
Kept in repair.
Land Values Enhanced.
1t was upon this ranch that the first
extensive experiments and practical
demonstration of farming in this part
of the state were made, and as re-
suit of the wonderful success in this
line the value of the land has increas-
ed from SO and 81 an acre to $40 and
$50, all within the last five years. It
was the common theory before these
experiments were begun that dry land
farming could not be successfully car
ried on in this part of Texas. Since it
has been proved that 1t Is one OF the
best farming regions In the state hum
dreds of thousands of acres Of ranch
lands have been divided into smaller
tracts and placed in cultivation. Mr.
Taft sold $4,000 acres of his ranch adj
jacent to Sinton to farmers. stir leav-
ing 125,O00 acres. none of which is for
SALE
Winding Up In Texas.
The president left bis brothers ranch
Friday night. Oct. %. at 7:20 O'Clock,
making an easy run to Houston, where
he started his zone night stands"
Houston was a brief stop. He ar
rived there at ITO a. m. leaving at
1890 a. m. The program at Houston
included breakfast by the prominent
business men. after which the presi-
dent made public address. Many Of
the residents of Galveston Joined In
the celebration at Houston.
From Houston the president made a
daylight run to Dallas, the north Tex
as metropolis. The Dallas chamber of
commerce sent delegation of hun
dred business men to Houston as an
escort to the president while travelling
In their city. The president reached
Dallas at $50 p. M. Oct. %. A half
hour later he made an address at the
Dallas fair grounds. which is the home
of the largest state fair in the south.
The president remained In Dallas
overnight, leaving there for st. Louis
on Oct. "a.
Down the Mississippi.
When the presidential party reached
ST. Louis it included Vice President
Sherman and Speaker Cannon. The
plans for the visit and the trip down
the river to New Orleans. where the
president will attend the fourth annual
convention Of the Lakes to the Gulf
Deep Waterway associat ton. had all
been arranged some time before. The
president was met at the train by
large reception party and taken TO
breakfast at the Hotel Jefferson.
At 10 o'clock the president spoke at
the new Coliseum at meeting for
which 1900 invitations had been is
sued. At noon luncheon was served at
the Planters hotel. and at 4 o'tIock the
party went to East st. Louis, H., TO
attend the laying of the cornerstone of
the new federal building in that city.
Returning at 5 o'clock. the presiden-
tial party boarded the steamer Missis-
sippi and started on the down river
trip. Six torpedo boat Ges;royerS act
ed as escort en- route TO New Orleans:
More than thirty river sfea alers. many
Of them carrying delegates 10 thc wa-
terways convention. were In the feet.
AZ Cairo and Memphis.
The first stop was ln;lue al Caps Gil
rardeau. where elaborate preparations
had been made for entertaining the
men of the feet At Cairo. ILL.,. Mr.
Taft stepped from the upper deck of
bis steamer on TO the upper deck of
the wharf boat. where he was met by
the reception committee and escorted
to stand built on the lower stage Of
the wharf boat. facing the ievee slope. |
which gave the president fine speak
ing position and location which asa-
ply accommodated an audience of co.
100. Mayor George Parsons, who had |
.harge of the Cairo end of Taft,s visit, |
had the Fourth regiment Of Illinois |
guards and the Danville battery there |
for the occasion
The party arrived at Memphis after |
breakfast on the morning OF Oct. u |
ind at $50 o'clock, after the exchange |
# cfyilities ON board the presidential |