The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-05
Big Preparations for Entertain
ment of the President
At His Brothers Ranch Near
Corpus Christi.
is DUE OCTOBER 20.
The Property Is a Little King
dom in Itself.
1t Has the Largest Golf Links
in the World.
DUE OCTOBER 20.

San Antonio, Tex, Oct 5.-Charles
: P. Taft's 116, 900 acre ranch, with it's
own judge and twenty deputy sheriffs,
its packing plant with a capacity of
$50 beeves a day, with its enlarged
villa and the largest golf links to be
found anywhere, is in readiness for
the coming of big Brother Will, pres
ident of the United States. The presi-
dent will go to the ranch after a stay
of two days in San Antonio, and is due
there October 20.
According to the present program
at least one day of the presidents stay
will be taken UP by close inspection
OF the property. He will keep in
touch with the affairs of the nation
8 by means of telephone connecting
+ the Taft villa with Gregory. At the
Ranch hotel in the latter place will
& be located the presidential office.
How Charles P. Taft acquired this
immense property is a very simple
though interesting story. Dave Sim
ton, a pioneer ranchman of Texas, ac-
quired these broad acres in the days
when land in the southwest sold for
as many cents as and more often less
than it now costs dollars. Dave" as
he was known all over. had an only
daughter and she later on became
Mrs. Charles P. Taft.
For many years the ranch was of
no more value than any other range.
Then it struck Big Bills brother that
he might be able to turn the property
to some account by bringing it in
touch with progress. This was done.
Today the ranch is practically a self
contained little domain. The packing
plant which has. been in operation
for three years will be increased to a
capacity of $50 head of cattle day
and at least as many hogs and sheep.
The expenditure necessary exceeds
100000 There is now being INSTALL
ed seventy-five-ton refrigerating
and ice-making plant with access to
as pure q supply of water as ever
came to the lips of man, and an cleo
trio light and power plant was COM
pleted some time ago. Cotton gins,
oil mills, storage-houses and the like
are going up constantly. A vast pro-
duclng and manufacturing center, en-
joying every convenience and comfort
of the city, is thus being created.
Naturally, many people live on the
estate. In the town of Sinton live
at Portland 400. All of these work
on the Taft ranch.
Government of Its Own.
The administration of such an estate
is no small affair. AS a-matter offact
the Taft ranch enjoys a government
of its own. John F. Green, superin-
.tendent Of the estate, exercises in some
respects the authority of a county
judge. He settles all disputes and acts
as peacemaker generally. He desig-
of constables and about twenty deputy
sheriffs. Though liquor can be secured
in the towns, intoxication means de-
portation from the property, and for
this reason is almost unknown. Crime
is rarely met with on the estate. I'm
desirables are dealt with in practical
fashion. superintendent Green orders
them to move on, and, after that, the
Taft ranch sees them no more. J.
Tumlinsons is in charge of the cattle
department, and c. NJ Williams man
ages the agricultural department.
while a number of other people look
after the packing, dairy, cotton and
other industries.
On the Taft ranch there will be To-
Gated next year the largest cotton field
in the world. 1t will be twenty-five
miles long and will extend one mile on
each side of the tracks of the San An
tonic & Arkansas Pass railroad, which
traverseS the estate.
Taft Votes for Taft
Taft, Texas, was the only town in
the state that went solidIy Republican
during the last presidential campaign.
Manager Green on the evening of cleo
ton wired to big Bill" Taft is for
Taft" Taft now proposes to show
"Big Bill'' the time of his life. In one