The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-07-18
OWNS MILLION ACRES LAND
TEXAS CATTLE QUEEN PLANS TO
BUILD FINEST RANCH HOME.
Mrs. King, at so, Seeks to Round Gut
Life in Striking Contrast to
the Pioneer Days.

Life in Striking Contrast TO
the Pioneer Days.
Mrs. Henrietta NJ. King, said to b'
the richest woman in Texas, WHERE
she is known as the "Caattle Queen,
pioneer ranch wife and owner of l.,
100000 acres of ranch land, is build
ing on the Santa Gertrudis rancl
the finest ranch house in the world
After eighty years of dangers
hardships and comparative privation!
due to ranch life Mrs. King plans tC
spend the remainder of her days in
comfort in her home. The building
will occupy the site of the old family
mansion, three miles from Kings
Vile, which was burned about a year
ago. and behind the strong walls OF
which she and her husband in plo-
neer days deded Indians, cattle
thieves and bands of outlaws.
Since the death of her husband in
1885 Mrs. King has made gradual
changes about the place and has al
most revolutionized the methods of
cattle raising by the adoption Of
modern methods of raising stock.
Recently she announced her re-
tirement from active work and let
the contract for the ranch palace to
replace the old house, which had re-
come one of the landmarks in Texas
history.
Her greatest pleasure now is in
watching the workmen convert the
open ground and surrounding plain
into a magnificent dwelling surround
ed by paved courtyards and concrete
walks adjoining artistic flower beds
and shady colonades
Spanish, Venitian and Henry VIII
styles of Architecture are combined
in the new ranch house. 1t will have
the rambling grandeur of the Italian
villa, the stately bearing of an Eng
lish castle and touch of old Mexico
to make it native to the land of cac-
tus and chapparal
Reminiscent of Mexico.
A patio in the center will be one
of its Mexican characteristics. Built
around a paved courtyard it will be
after the fashion of the cloisters in
the old Texas and Mexican missions,
where the priests strolled in the
fresh air, yet remained within the
building.
Although modelled in its character
istic architecture after palatial
homes of three nations it will surpass
many of them in the one thing which
counts for more than all the grand
eur of brick and stone-comfort.
Ease and convenience will find
home there, and there is to be rest
even in the interior decorations done
by Tiffany.
Elaborate panels showing ranch
scenes will recall to the aged owner
the memories of olden days in vivid
contrast to the comfort with which
she is surrounded on the identical
spot which furnished many of the
widest and most thrilling scenes to
be reproduced on these walls.
Hot water pipes, electric fans and
lights and elevator and the modern
conveniences used in the most com
plete city homes are included in the
plans for the new building.
The ranch with the historic old
home, built like a fort, has long been
one of the show places of Texas,
representing as it does an era in
Texas history that is passing. The
new ranch house will continue to be
one of the places sought by sight
seers, because it will be the most
elaborate mansion of the plains, To-
Gated on a ranch which is a South
western landmark.
The old King home was built in
1852 by Capt. Richard King, two
years after he settled in Texas. 1t
was constructed like fortress, with
cannon protecting the approach, on
account of the number of Mexican
outlaws which then roamed that To-
cality. Many times during the early
years of the ranch Capt. King and
his wife had cause to be thankful