THE LONG TRAIL 683 



again at much expense vast areas of these infring- 

 ing thickets. 



The original tract comprised about twelve setios 

 of 4,428 acres each. This aggregated more than 

 50,000 acres, for the most part flat, treeless and with- 

 out streams or springs of fresh water. There were 

 grasses sufficient to support live stock, and the wa- 

 ter problem was met in a primitive fashion by 

 means of large tanks or reservoirs built along the 

 few drains, impounding the storm-waters ; but as few 

 points could be found where dams would be of any 

 avail these watering places were few and far be- 

 tween. Moreover, the matter of markets had yet 

 to be worked out. 



Upon this property in 1854 the headquarters of 

 the now world-famous Santa Gertrudis or King 

 Eanch were established, and here we may fairly say 

 our modern American ranching had its earliest im- 

 portant exemplification. Cattle and horses of the 

 common Mexican types were purchased and roamed 

 at will over the vast arid plain that had the brack- 

 ish waters of the Nueces for its northern boundary. 

 In the meantime the proprietor made an outlet for 

 his cattle by slaughtering them for their hides and 

 tallow, which products he hauled to Corpus Christi, 

 the nearest port on the coast. The offal was fed to 

 hogs, which in turn were slaughtered and the lard 

 shipped by sea. Of course, there was no market 

 available at that period for fresh meats, except for 

 local consumption, and that was chiefly by the own- 

 er's household and his Mexican herders and retain- 



