Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1881 — The Largest Farm. [ARTICLE]

The Largest Farm.

The wheat ranch of Dr. H. J. Glenn, in Colusa county. Cal., is perhaps the largest and best-known in the State. The Chicago Tribune says that on being asked why he raised nothing but wheat, Dr. Glenn replied: “It is the only crop that will bear transportation; it is the only crop not perishable. I must not raise on my land what ruins me, but what is profitable.” Dr. Glenn’s ranch comprises about 60,000 acres of land, and the number of acres in wheat each year ranges between 40,000 and 50,000. Beckoning an average of from twenty to thirty-five bushels to the acre, the aggregate crop each year amounts to something more than 1,000,000 bushels. This enormous amount of grain requires vast applianoes for planting and bringing it to market; and the capital invested in machinery alone sums up a considerable fortune. During the harvest time there are employed on the entire ranch some 500 men. Dr. Glenn is general-in-chief of his force, and the ranch is divided, for convenience of operations, into nine smaller ranches—each with dwelling house, barns, blacksmith shop, and other necessary buildings. In charge of these are seven foremen, under whom are sixteen blacksmiths, fourteen carpenters, six engineers, six machinists, five commissaries, and numerous cooks and servants. The common workmen are divided into gangs, and detailed where they are needed. There are 130 gang-plows; 60 herders, to which belong 180 wagons; 6 cleaners, 100 harrows, 18 seeders, 6 threshers, 6 engines. Besides, there are many smaller instruments and vehicles, which cannot be classified. Co-operat-ing with their human brethren in the great labor are 1,000 work-horses and mules, with a kinship of 1,000 brood mares and younger stock which has not yet achieved the dignity of labor. There are 32 dwelling houses, 27 barns, 14 blacksmith shops, and other structures sufficient to swell the aggregate to 100. The machinery could not be replaced for $125,000; the work-horses and mules are worth $110,000; the brood mares and young stock, $75,000; and the buildings on the place, SIOO,OOO. A hoteii dinner—The fellow that sounds the gong.