The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955 Page: 194

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

without a turn. The east line was 275 miles long, and line-riders
watched 575 miles of outside fence." Four wires were hung on
100,000 posts, and the top wire, for most of its length, was
equipped with telephones. By 1890 there were 335 windmills, 1oo
dams, and earthen tanks sufficient to supply comfortably 150,000
cattle.
The syndicate was unlucky with the first local manager, who
employed and encouraged bad men. After the first all subsequent
managers were powerful influences in maintaining good order
and encouraging honesty and efficiency. The last cattle were sold
from the XIT in 1912. "For more than a quarter of a century
this institution, often represented by 150 bow-legged, dust-be-
grimed riders of the plains fought for law and order."
"The XIT Ranch was an institution of law." In 1912 a new
period began when the owners turned to settlement of the land
with smaller ranchmen and more prosaic farmers. Viewed com-
prehensively, the ranching period has a right to be proud of its
historical record. Relations of XIT with the state in fulfillment
of its contract were highminded and honorable and admirable.
Members of the corporation included John V. Farwell, principal
director for the ranch, and Charles B. Farwell, who was con-
veniently a United States Senator from Illinois in 1911, when his
brother John was able to induce President Taft to favor Texas,
and the Syndicate, in a boundary dispute with New Mexico in
which New Mexico claimed a portion of the Panhandle measur-
ing 310 miles by half a mile wide.
Management of the land after settlement began was equally
honorable, and humane, due perhaps in this case to the admin-
istration of Judge James D. Hamlin.
Besides details of routine life on the ranch, there are intensely
interesting background chapters on Spanish exploration of the
West, traces of Spanish life in the Panhandle, and on early ranches
in the Panhandle-Plains country in days of the open range, before
the coming of the XIT.
Readers will be grateful to Mr. Haley and to the Oklahoma
Press for reviving this fascinating book-long a collector's item.
It is admirable through Mr. Haley's unmatched and phenomenal

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