The XIT Ranch of Texas and the Early Days of the Llano Estacado (Volume 34)

by J. Evetts Haley

Among the famous ranch brands of Texas are the T Anchor, JA, Diamond Tail, 777, Bar C, and XIT . And the greatest of these was XIT —The XIT Ranch of Texas.

It was not the first ranch in West Texas, but after its formation in the eighteen-eighties it became the largest single operation in the cow country of the Old West and covered more than three million acres, all fenced.

The state of Texas patented this huge rectangle of land, at the time considered by many to be part of "the great American desert," to the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company of Chicago, in exchange for funds to erect the state capitol building in Austin. This "desert" became a legend in the cattle business, and it remains today a memory to thousands who recall the era when mustangs and longhorns grazed beneath the brand of the XIT.

The development and operation of this pastoral enterprise and its relation to the history of Texas is the subject of this great and widely discussed book by J. Evetts Haley, now made available to readers every· where. It is the story of a wild prairie, roamed by Indians, buffalo, mustangs, and antelope, that became a country of railroads, oil fields, prosperous farms, and carefully bred herds of cattle. The XIT Ranch of Texas is the epic account of a ranching operation about which many know a little but only a few very much. It is the one volume that, more than any other, portrays the early-day cattle business of the West.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Westerns

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1929

Reviews

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The XIT Ranch of Texas is more than the history of the world's largest ranch. It is also a history of the Texas Panhandle, the Santa Fe Trail, Native Americans, and the Texas longhorn. Also covered is the transition from ranching to farming in that region. Originally published in 1936 but soon pulled from distribution.

[Jan Notzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this reasonably interesting. I read it as research on the cattle and farming industry in Texas around the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries. There were a lot of interesting characters who owned and worked for the XIT ranch. It was certainly, at 3 million acres the largest--I would imagine--in United States history. And it was actually bartered with the state in exchange for the construction of its Capitol in Austin.

For those interested in Texas or agricultural history, you might give it a go.

[Megan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved the history of the XIT ranch and even more so, love their annual rodeo! To be able to find this book was like finding gold! The fact that a past family member was mentioned in it as well makes it even more special!

[Aubrey Caudill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off extremely interesting but got a bit slow by the middle of the book.