New-York tribune., 1909-09-12
ON THE c. p. TAFT RANCH.
Golf and Other AmuScmcnts A7cait
President an TcTGs.

The many Jealous workmcn who are liking mat
tiers for his reception. Joseph F. Green man-
ager of the ranch. has had especially large and
strong new chairs installed in the residence OF
La Ouinta or the villa. which is three miles
from the town of Gregory and faces on Corpus |
Christi Bay II is hoped that these chairs VIII |
meet the situation when the President is rest
ing from a game of golf automobile hunt
after wildcats
new bathhouse erected for the hOnored
guest at the beach would have had door 9 feet
high and , feet wide if the carpenter on the job
had had his way The well meaning mechanic
thought that Mr. Taft would need the space.
having a slightly exaggerated idea of the Chief
Executives greatness.
A golf course, which begins and ends near La
Quinta, has been especially laid out for the
Presidents benefit by two experts, Robert II.
Connery, of Austin. and Frank Lewis, of San
Antonio. 1t is said TO be among the best links
III the country.
II is expected that the President will do some
hsrscback riding during his four-day stay at
the ranch. and he will be well provided with
mounts. Two automobiles will also be at his
service. Watching a wildcat hunt from the COM
Portable seat of an automobile will be a new SEN
saton for the distinguished visitor. There is a
''pasture' of 2SO00 acres where the cats abound
IN mesquite thicllets and whence a trio of cat
hounds" owned by the ranch manager, Mr..
Green. viii dislGdge the energetic packages OF
fur and claws for the delectaton of the hunters.
Night is the proper time for a wildcat chase,
and there will be some fun if the fur
nishes sufficient illumination. A hunt after wolf
ind deer may be added to the programme
NJ. Green hopes TO show as much of the inn
flcnsc Taft ranch to the President as possible
during the visit The thriving little town of
Tart is one Of the places to be seen. 1t is seven
hoe latiO nf ciN hun
drcd. and cast a solid vote for its namesake last
year The town is on ranch land. and here the
great industrial enterprises of the ranch are
being established There will be large meat
packing plant, a cottonseed oil mill, ice plant
and additional cotton gin. These concerns.
which Will be mostly in operation by the first of
ncNt year represent an investment of about
50OO0O
The meat packing plant will handle only
the product of the ranch but cattle from other
ranches of South Texas 1t is entirely mod
,rn plant sanitary and labor saving, costing
$100WN. and with a daily capacity of about
one hundred and fifty cattle and numerous hogs
and sheep. The waste of the cottOnseed oil mill |
viii feed three thousand or four thousand cattle
annually. AT present there are about fourteen
thousand head OF cattle upon this ranch. The
source OF supply for the packing house will |
come chiefly, however. from the other Texas
ranch Of Charles p Taft, which property en- |
braces 100000 and is about hundred |
and fifty miles west of Gregory.
At La Qunta ranch medicinal water found |
Al depth of 10 feet and classed as a "sOdic |
carbonated, murated alkaline water" will be |
served to the President during his visit for |
drinking purposes. The state chemist Of Texas /
says il is good for a lot Of diseases
4 force of 225 men is employed on La Quinta |
ranch. While some of them technically cow
hoys, they are sobered down hy the routine Of a |
big industrial enterprise, and they have almost |
forgotten their picturesque feats through tend
ing 10 tame thoroughbred cattle. Their chief
work is repairing wire fences. So there is not
much chance of a cowboy exhibition to amuse
the President. There are a good many MeXi-
cans among the ranch labo-eTs
1t was upon this ranch that the first extern
sive experiments and practical demonstration of
dry farming in this region We're made, and
result Of the success attained the value of the
land has increased within five years from 81 TO
SO an acre. Ploughing is done by two-sec-
ton twelve disk plough, weighing 400 pounds
and drawn by gasolene traction engine. This
machine ploughs twelve acres day. The owner
has had 4 good part of the land cultivated on
shares in one hundred acre lots, receiving from
The tenant one-fourth of tho cotton and one
third Of the feedstuf raised in lieu Of rent
The cotton production has yielded a net profit
to MI Taft as his share Of about $40 an acre
to f,!..-,.