, 1935-04-21

Whatever FUNDS we're neeoed, n
told him to 20 TO work buying.
There were hundreds Of owners
OF the tract. and the task Of pur-
chasing was started. After the part
nearest TO Kings ranch had been
bought he built a fence there, across
the 20 mile stretch Of land.
Then from time to time as more
land a bought he would send his
attorney a message.
How far can I move my fense7'
The attorney would check up and
send back the message, three miles.
or two. or four. or whatever II might
be. SO Kings cowboys would pick
UP his fence and move 1t south.
Steadily. slowly 1t moved on down
until 1t reached the Arroyo Colora-
do. including much of what is now
Willacy county.
The interests Of King and Kennedy
In Brownsville dwindled IN compari-
son to their ranch interests after the
railroad to Port Isabel was built In
1872, and in 1873 the boat line which
they had operated was discontinued,
and the partnership dissolved.
Captain King had long been liv-
ing at Santa Gertrudis. operating
the Aqua Dulce and the Santa Ger
trudis ranches. Kennedy had been
operating the Kennedy ranch on the
coast.
They grew Texas longhorns and
shipped them to Rockport, where the
cattle were slaughtered. The hides
sold for 50, the tallow for SO. and
the carcas was thrown into the bay.
Hundreds Of thousands Of cattle
were slaughtered there. the traffic
being so great that boats were
charged demurrage at the docks.
A packery was built on each Of the
ranches.
Last Days Peaceful
Captain Kings latter days we're
spent peacefully on the King Ranch
with his wife and only child. Alice
Gertrudis. who was married to Rob-
ert j. Kleberg only a short time be-
fore Captain Kings death in 1886.
Captain King fought the battle OF
fencing along with other cattlemen
Of them. since the cattle Of the sec
tions farther west grazed yer wide
areas and moved their cattle on
north, while King kept his on the
King ranch and shipped them
through Rockport.
The King ranch fences have long
been respected. both for the durable,
rigid construction, and the equally
rigid guard.
This feudal empire was virtually
turned over upon Captain Kings
death to the management Of Kle-
berg. who had practiced Law at
Corpus Christi for two years be-
fore moving TO the Gertrudis ranch
to help with the vast affairs of the
ranch.
Klebers was the experimenter, the
scientist.
He followed religiously that max
i'm OF Captain King TO keep buying
land. But his life work became the
improvement OF the stock on the
ranch. He imported cattle from all
parts OF the world. He paid great
prices for fine Brahma bulls which
were shipped from India. Gradually
he weeded out the Texas longhorn.
The Brahma came onto the scene
later than the Hereford and the
Durham. The mixture that result
ed has been standardized and Is a
fine beef strain, which will do well
on the ranchlands. being hardy,
tick resistant. and possessing other
qualities necessary for beef cattle.
The story OF all the troubles that
the King ranch had in getting the
first shipment Of Brahma bulls over
would make a book. They had to
get permission from Indian author
tiles and practically everybody else
who had anything to do with IL, and
pay high prices for the stock.
Successful Experiments
Kleberg made the same thorough
and successful experimental work
on all other phases OF the property.
He developed a kind OF lock that did
away With the trouble Of gates left
open accidentally. He made i'm
provements In the windmills, wells,
and other mechanical features OF
the ranch.
And during al this time he con-
tinued adding to the ranch.
The latest great additions we're
the ll0-000-acre LaSater ranch with
its famous Jersey herd. and the 35.-
600 acre Stillman ranch.
II was a greatly changed world in
South Texas In which Kleberg lived
UP TO his death recently. from that
In which Captain King moved and
made his energy felt, and Kleberg
kept ahead Of his time IN develop
ing the ranch just as Captain King
kept ahead Of the time In conceivinR
the idea Of the great property.
In its peak, early in the present
century, the King ranch reached a
maximum Of about 100000 acres
Of land. II contained an estimated
l,250.000 at the time Of the division
this month.
Another thing which has made