The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-01-12

y El1lINh eight SullOI1IlS iuuieS /
- drawing u strong old coach of |
the style of modified "forty- |
Miner" we sailed forth from
little Argentine settlement on a jour
ney that covered many days In the
great outdoors Of the far southland
Our mules were ridden by three
young natives of the cowboy type who
delighted in fast and reckless speed,
while a fourth man sat on the drivers
seat, one man to each pair Of stpeds.
so it worked out. In addition t. food
for man and beast, the old coach car
ried only four passengers, writes VIII
liam A. Reid in Los Angeles Times.
The time was November; and in Ar
gentina the harvest days were drawing
near, for be it remembered that sea-
sons in the far South are reversed.
AS the day advanced and we became
a mere speck moving across leagues
and leagues-not acres-of pampa land
the novelty Of the journey gave place
to serious thought. The farther we
advanced the more lonely the whole
country appeared, for we were not
within the zone of waving fields of
grain or the fenced-in estancia (farm).
Around us stretched the open country
and the far-away horizon closed the
view here and there gently rolling
| lands merged into level tracts that ap-
peared to have no limit; the plains bore
a brownish- green color, occasionally a
! windmill came ito view.
| Wherever the windmill stands one
may expect to see well-r-odden earth,
for thousands of hoofs baye obliterated
every vestige of grass. Even the dumb
driven beasts" seem to learn by intui-
ton the location of this thirst-quench-
ing spot, which to plainsman or animal
Is ever and always a welcome oasis.
Near by this popular retreat the
gaucho has his humble abode, and
days, weeks or possibly months may
pass with the sight of few new
faces; still he rides DER the pampa
and watches the grazing herds with
falthfulness not always appreciated
by the landed proprietor, who lives
in princely style miles away.
The custom Of the actual owner Of
the estate spending great part of the
time away from home opens numerous
opportunities for managers or superin-
tendents on the estancia, and some Of
these executives have a vast amount
of responsibility resting upon their
shoulders.
On an Estancia.
Qulllalauquen," an average es-
|
way within eight hours train time of
l5uenos Aires. The area embraces
over 100000 acres; the stock consists
OF 100000 sheep. 1900 cattle, 1900
horses 800 mich cows, and thousands
of swine. The personnel which keeps
the wheels of this large establishment
in good running order includes more
than 800 men, women and children The
families are scattered over the estate ;
and to the head of each household is
delegated certain duties. For instance,
the milking of 500 cows twice daily is
an enormous task. By systematic aD-
portionment of the herd over the place,
the actual number at any given point
Is not considered large. The enormous
quantities of milk obtained are brought
10 common point and certain portions
dispatched daily to Buenos Ares.
A very busy season on the stock
farm comes yearly at the end of cold
weather, or about the first of Novem-
Der. More than 100000 sheep must
be sheared. So Systematically is this
work done that from 5000 to 1000
.,f+ hi, -.
day.
Presiding over this estancia is q
young man, a native of Argentina
hardly out of his thirties. lie
ard his wife are cultured and charm
ing hosts, aud it may be of interest
e to know that this young manager and
e his wife have visited the United States
and Travelled over the country from the
T Pacific to the Atlantic. They Were
delighted with their experiences and
have many pleasant things to say
about the people they met in the Amer
lean States. At their home overlook
ing many square leagues of pamps
u land, which bears the name of "Quilla
lauquen," the hands of genuine hos
i pitality stand outstretched.
Their Land Not for Sale.
In a southern province of Argee
tina / met the owner of great ranch
I thought his vast estate too large fol
one person, and asked IL few hun
, dred or a few thousand acres coul6
be bought ton him. He smik'd, ant