The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-08-07
GREAT CATTLE RANCH
ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE {
Contains Quarter of a Million
of Acres
AN IMMENSE CATTLE HERD
Highest Grades Obtainable for
Breeding Purposes. - Project
ors Say Florida Will Lead the
Country.

O1SSblA5 L tAl pOoSo. IOJCCb-
ors Say Florida Will Lead the
Country.
Florida, the greatest cattle
breeding state in the entire
country" is the prophecy of
Lytle Hull, vice president and
general manager OF the South
Cattle Ranch, Inc. This organiz-
alton is the owner of ranch, now
being stocked, about twenty-five
miles north of Lake Okeechobee
and containing quarter million
acres of land. 1t is one of, if not
the largest, breeding ranches in
the country and according to the
plans of the officials will have 10,-
600 head of cattle on it at the end
of year and $4,000 head within
two years.
Mr.. Hull, who has been in the
city for the past ten days making
arrangements for the transporta-
tion of cattle and horses from
Texas to the ranch, is enthusiastic
over the prospects of Florida be-
coming a great cattle breeding
country and believes that before
long there will be other sections
opened up for the raising of cat
tie that will be acceptable to the
packers, instead Of purely for the
local consumption.
In discussing the ranch yester-
day he said :"Of our 250,000 acres
of land, about a tenth has been
fenced and this work will be com
pleted as soon as materials arrive.
We have at present a thousand
head of cattle all of which were
purchased in Florida and are of
a very low grade. Yesterday
fifteen cars of cattle and horses
arrived here from Montagorda
county, Texas. This our first
shipment, consisted of 400 cows,
fifty of the highest grade Brahma
bulls and sixty horses. These
leave tonight for the southern
ranch and Will be used for breed
ing purposes. They are the
highest grade cattle obtainable.
The train is in charge of four
typical cowboys with their ac-
coutrements and they presented
spectacular sight in the lobby of
the Mason throughout the day
with their high boots, sombrero
hats, large belts and Western lin
go. Immediately after the cattle
are dipped they viii be herded
on the cars by the punchers and
then started on their journey to
Fort Drum, the ranch s unloading
point.
IF everybody in the state"
continued Mr.. Hull, would adj
here strictly to the cattle dipping
laws, and cooperate with the gov
ernment in breeding their cattle,
this state would become the great
est cattle breeding country in the
United States Florida is just as
good a breeding state as any
other. Your grass down here is
IF the same variety as in other
cattle states, not good for fatten-
ng but excellent for breeding and
80 our organization was formed to
BRING the highest grade bulls OBJ
ainable down here instead of TAX
ng cattle up there"
With the proper care, he stated,
he packers of the country would
)e in the market for Florida cat
lie, although they do not want
my of them in their present state
because Of their low grade. AS
oOn as the steers are bred up
here will be an exceptionally
trong market for them.
The South Cattle Ranch, Ineor-
is directed and controll-
ID by j. S. Cosden, one of the
yealthiest oil men; Howard Cole,
IN extensive land owner, who is
reasurer; Jacob Frame, of Balti-
no"e, Md, secretary, and Mr..