The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-12-15
THIRTY THOUSAND
ACRE CATTLE RANCH
Is the Latest Proposed In
dustry for Putnam
County.

Among the most important docu-
ments filed for record with County
Clerk Hutchinson in some time is a
contract entered into between r. l..
Bowling who is interested in the
Southern Cattle Feeding Company of
Columbus, Ohio, wherein the Clay and
Putnam Land Company agrees to sell
to the former some $4,000 acres of
land in Clay and Putnam county for
forming and ranch purposes. Of this
amount nearly 10000 acres are in
Putnam county, stretching west from
Bostwick to Harlem and the Clay
county line and extending south to
Rice Creek.
The Southern Cattle Feeding Com
pany of Columbus already has Co.,
600 acre ranch in Clay county, and
this latest purchase is to be added.
The company already has more than
25,OOO acres in Clay county under
fence, and over 5000 acres fully
cleared Corn and other crops rails
ed by the company on this cleared
land during the past summer took
first premium among the county ex-
hibits in the last Ohio State Fair.
The president and active manager
of the ranch is S. E. Strobe, formerly
dairy and food commissioner of Ohio,
and one of the directors is Homer C.
Price who only a few months ago
retired as dean of the Ohio State
University of Agriculture. R. L.
Bowling and w. T. Stands of the
Bowling Stands Lumber Company of
Green Cove Springs, Fla, are respec-
lively treasurer and secretary.
Mr.. Strobe was raised on farm
and is a practical farmer. For four
years he was secretary of the Ohio
State Grange, for four years lecturer
of the State Grange, eight years AS
sociate Editor of the National Stock
man and Farmer, eight years lectur-
er and demonstration for the Ohio
State Board of Agriculture, for two
years member of the Agricultural
Commission of Ohio and for two
terms dairy and food commissioner.
Certainly there was no reasonable
element of doubt in Mr. Strodes cal
culations when he decided to leave the
great state in which he had become
so important factor to cast his lot
in Florida.
The company's plan is to have a
permanent herd of about 5000 select
breeding cattle. To do this it will be
necessary to purchase about 5000
head of range cattle. having 1000 |
head now. This will give the COM
pany 1000 head from which to make
its selection. For grading up the
stock and improving the quality the
will use 80 pure bred bulls.
1t will also stock it's pastures with
high grade hogs.
For work horses heavy brood mares
are employed. Under the plan of op-
erations these will be busy only about
six months in the year and they will
be bred to jacks, giving the company
a fine lot of mules for which there
is a good market in Florida and ad-
joining states.
1t estimates it's gross earnings at
olZl ,0UU year ana lIS net prOltS
at $47,5OO to which will be added a
very handsome increased in land val
les.
The company has the advantage of
good water and rail transportation,
being near the st. Johns river and the
Atlantic Coast Line, one of the most
progressive railroads. in the country
which gives every possible encourage
nent to new industries established in
t, territory.
Should this purchase be consum-
mated, as it undoubtedly will be, the
business of the company will be great
y enlarged over the figures given
above, which were those planned for
is already established ranch in Clay
county, of which the Putnam county
purchase will adjoin and become
,art. With the activities of the Flor
da Farms & Homes, Inc, whose
ands are but short distance from
he tract contracted for by the South
,rn Cattle Feeding Company, farm
ands in Putnam county are bound to
make a wonderful advance in price.