Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1938-09-22
AN EMPIRE WITHIN AN EMPIRE

Editor Democrat:-From Ell Paso
to Orange City is 954 miles, and
oddly enough exactly the same dis
tance the other way through Texas,
from Brownsville to Texline. 1t is
an empire with many smaller en-
pires within it, called ranches of one
of which, l write especially, king
Ranch" Half way from Corpus
Christi to Falfurrias is the center Of
this immense cattle empire at
Kingsville, the headquarters of the
ranch. 1t is regarded the largest
ranch in the world, having 100000
acres. Comparatively level, all un-
der fence, this farm is larger than
the state of Delaware. Probably
the next largest is the stock farm of
w. R. Hearst, of a million acres, at
San Simeon, Cal.
Kingsville, town of 1000, is
like many towns in this rich part of
Texas, modern, of recent growth,
with fine hotel and bank. The bank
was robbed the night before I arriv-
ed, and all were excited over the
robbery. Kinsvgille is county seat
of Kleberg county, a county named
after the present owners of the
ranch. The ranch house, the finest
of it's kind in the world, has an ap-
proach Is miles long, the distance
from the door to the gate. The
original mansion home was built by
the King family but burned during
the Civil war. The present Spanish
building is very large, turreted, it's
white walls cleaning in the glare Of
the Texas sun. With the advice of
his friend, R. e. Lee, Captain Rich
ard King settled here in 1853, six
years after the Mexican war, buying
$4,000 acres for $4,000. Later his
son-in~law added one-half million
acres. So it grew, and grew, larger
still.
It is an historic neighborhood. At
Goliad, nearby, 445 patriots beseiged
by the Mexicans, promised protection
on surrender, were massacred ruth
lessly, March 27, 1886. Near here
were quartered soldiers under
Franklin Pierce, Zachary Taylor and
U. s. Grant, to be presidents of the
Davis, to be president of the con-
federacy. One of the largest coun-
ties of the state, and one of it's fin
est highways are named for Davis,
and a great monument is erected to
him at Brownsville. R. E. Lee,
friend of the founder of the King
estate, was in service here, also
No doubt martial law obtained in
early days. All sorts of silly stor
les are told about rough, ironclad
management, of cannon and arsenals
and the danger of getting through |
alive or at all. l passed through, |
without seeing sign of this imper |
ious rule. So / know it is not diff
ficult, although l emerged conscious |
of the immense size of the domain.
They told me the best beef in the |
world is a cross between the South |
African and the Braman, cattle /
Indifferent to drouth and heat, to
tick and cattle fever The Braman
will be recalled as big-boned, tall, an
animal with horns sticking straight
up, and hump on shoulders, making
an odd picture, when silhouetted
against the sky. In 1906, the fa-
nous A. p Borden brought 81 cat
tie from India, to Wharton, sister
and this strain scattered
and is in California, and the west.
A new race of cattle is grown on
the King estate. called Santa Ger
trudis, cerise in color, of blocky
shape and great weight. The labor
is Mexican. They are slow. efficient,
affable, intelligent.
To my surprise I found cousin.
engaged in horticulture and flowers.
From him learned score of fiow-
ers, birds and trees, and their habits.
He employs Mexican labor, and
speaks the Spanish tongue. Femi-
nine sentiment seems strong here,
for instance, we passed through the
towns of Victoria, Edna, Ella, Lou
Use, Inez, Melissa, Mary Couch and
Alice. And the town of Alice is five
miles from the town of Ben Bolt
(for those who can recall the old
song). Like all great
souls, they are sentimental in this
great state, and the names of their
loved ones they honor by giving
their names to their towns.-Dr.
Howard III. Scott.