El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-09-04

western wilderness. to organize IN
dustries and TO make other men work
] for his profit In word he was one
OF the first American capitalists In
the west. The establishment Of his
little kingdom marked the beginning
OF the transition from the pioneer
days. when everything was free 70
everybody, to the system Of private
ownership upon which Industrial
America was built That whole tran
sitisn was fought out bloodily on this
bit OF soil
The Man From Missouri.
Maxwell was a penniless and ad-
venturous young man from Missouri
who Joined the Fremont expedition 70
the west. He was discharged and
paid off at Taos. New Mexico. to-
gether with a number OF Others, one
Of whom was Kit Carson the famous
scout and Indian fighter. Maxwell
and Carson were friends as long as
they both lived.
IN Taos lived some old Spanish
families, who owned wide lands
granted them by the Spanish king.
lands and had only the vaguest idea
how much they owned In addition 10
their lands, these Mexican Dons had
large families including beautiful
daughters Nearly all Of the dis
charged members OF the Fremont ex-
y
them. promptly fell in love with
senoritas, and both Of these young
adventures were soon married
Here the difference between them
asserted itself Carson, a born fighter
and wanderer. deposited his wife and
family in an adobe house and left
them there. while he went out TO
make a place for himself in history
as an Indian fighter and explorer He
never gathered enough property TO
hamper his movements
Maxwell Settles Down.
Maxwell took his bride. who was
Luz Baubien before he married her.
went across the mountains. and set
tied here on the Cimarron. which was
within the Baubien and Miranda
grant
The Spanish owners had done little
with this great piece OF land. It was
a rugged wilderness filled with wild
Indians, they preferred 10 STAY in
Taos But their Yankee soniulaW from
Missouri proceeded TO do much with IT,
He built house, he brought in sheep
and cattle. he planted corn and wheat.
He did not heroically fight the saw
ages. either; he made friends with
them Thus he displayed one Of the
first principles OF capitalism. which
Is never TO compete when you can
A Stroke OF Genius.
bis greatest stroke of commercial
genius came later when New Mexico
was being surveyed by a. government
surveyor general. The deputy sur
veyors were paid by the mile Of line
they ran It was therefore to their
to survey as many mile
as possible. The BOUNDARIES Of ne
Baubien and Miranda grant. Of which
had now by purchase and
Inheritance become sole owner. were
-aguely defined by natural landmarks.
me surveyors were easily persuaded
TO choose landmarks which allowed
for very liberal grant. in fact. as
-ouishingly liberal Most OF the
Spanish grants were about 100. 600
acres each, and there seems TO have
been some Spanish law limiting them
10 that extent.
Maxwell managed 10 have Included
within the boundaries Of his grant
ABOUT 100000 acres. and his rightJ
% this enormous territory was con-
-irmed by congress.
Thus. ne came into possession Of an
estate about so miles long and 3O-
niles wide. including some OF the hest
attic range in the state, several fine
lrable valleys. and a section OF high
range where were gold. coal
mo other minerals, and fine forests I
II pine and spruce.
Had a Private Army
Game abounded and the streams I
~
vas domain worth owning
Maxwell was at the height OF his /
glory as land baron about the year ]
1871 he had great house which T
must have contained about 40 rooms. +
or less than half Of IL stands now
M tnat part contains 19 rooms. And .
mis- was no crude pioneer dwelling. /
ne walls were tastefully papered. I
nd IL is said, deliberately furnished. /
MAXWELL had 500 men working for
Inn he had thousands Of sheep, cat ]
le ana horses, flour mill and a .
He was Indian agent for sew
ernl tribes, and this gave aim
me right to have n troop Of cav I
airy on HIS place, so that he may
ne said to have had a standing
army.
Money to Burn.
ne kept free dining room where J.
.nyohe might come and eat. but none
we're allowed to pay. In fact. he dis
'enseu a practically unlimited hos
10y once a young Englishman
'assing through the country fu0rf-..7 /
I a man sitting on the front porcb
z the ranch house where he couId I
lnu max Well, so that he might nav
OF ms breakfast. This man was
ousn looking fellow. dressed IN dirtv
'Iseehes and riding taots and a
rlsnt red shirt open at the neck ~
display flourishing growth OF cosI
.laek hair. of which its owner rss
FluenLly very proud. The man had
9ns black mustaches and smoked
nor cuudy pipe This uncounth in
lvidual responded. 10 the amazement
Y tne visitor, that he was Maxwell.
ut that no one paid him for meals
ne young Englishman insisted on
aging, and Maxwell steadily refused
Hits Big Breakfast Price.
Finally. however. he yielded 10 the
Of the stranger and
aid that the price OF the breakfast
vas SIS. Now the Englishman backed /
water. He would pay no such price
or meal. Maxwell let a whoop and 1
! large red haired cowboy. about .
'ix feet. four inches tall. appeared on .
he scene
Rope this son OF a gun and choke /