XIT Ranch
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cattle ranching |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Defunct | 1912 |
| Headquarters | Buffalo Springs, Texas (later Channing, Texas) , United States |
Area served | Texas Panhandle |
Key people | George Findlay (head), Colonel B.H. Campbell (general manager), A.L. Matlock (superintendent), A.G. Boyce (general range manager) |
| Products | Cattle |
The XIT Ranch was a prominent cattle operation located in the Texas Panhandle, active from 1885 until 1912. Encompassing more than 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2), it stretched roughly 200 miles (300 km) along the border with New Mexico and ranged between 20 and 30 miles (30 to 50 km) in width. Spanning ten counties within Texas, the ranch managed a herd that peaked at about 150,000 cattle. The unique "XIT" branding was specifically created to deter cattle theft.
History
Situated on the western frontier of the Texas Panhandle, the inception of the XIT Ranch traces back to a 1879 land grant by the 16th Texas Legislature, which designated 3,000,000 acres to fund the construction of a new state capitol. In 1882, the 17th Texas Legislature brokered an agreement with Chicago entrepreneurs Charles B. and John V. Farwell and their predominantly British consortium: in return for building the Texas State Capitol in Austin, they received ownership of the Panhandle territory.
The ranch's expanse included full or partial areas within Dallam, Hartley, Oldham, Deaf Smith, Parmer, Castro, Bailey, Lamb, Cochran, and Hockley counties. The total expense for erecting the capitol amounted to $3,744,630.60, with the syndicate contributing $3,224,593.45 toward this sum.
Originally assigned to Mathias Schnell in January 1882 for construction purposes, responsibilities were transferred by May to Taylor, Babcock and Company—a partnership consisting of Colonel Abner Taylor and Colonel A.C. Babcock from Chicago alongside the Farwells. Taylor assumed company representation duties in June. During a 1882 inspection of the capitol lands by Babcock, boundary surveys were verified including J.T. Munson’s 1880 survey and John H. Clark’s 1859 demarcation of the northwest state boundary along the 103rd meridian.
This boundary line received formal congressional endorsement through a joint resolution in 1911 championed by John V. Farwell and President William Howard Taft. This action granted Texas an additional strip of land roughly half a mile wide and extending about 310 miles—a significant expansion enhancing the state’s territorial assets and future prospects.
Development
To secure funding for fencing installation, infrastructure development, water sourcing, and livestock acquisition, John V. Farwell founded the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company, Limited based in London. Capital was amassed via debentures offering a 5% interest rate; directors included John V. and Charles B. Farwell alongside prominent investors such as Henry Seton-Karr and the Marquis of Tweeddale. This company remained operational until all bonds were redeemed by 1909.
The ranch headquarters were established at Buffalo Springs, Texas under the leadership of George Findlay with Colonel B.H. Campbell acting as general manager. Beginning operations in 1885, the cattle herd quickly expanded to between 125,000 and 150,000 animals by 1887. By 1886, fencing extended over 781 miles and increased to approximately 1,500 miles with additional cross fences by the late 1890s to create a total of 94 pastures. Supporting infrastructure included a telephone line connecting Tascosa to Alamocitos (installed in 1888), around 335 windmills averaging depths of about 125 feet for water extraction purposes, and nearly 100 man-made earthen dams.
The XIT brand was developed by trail boss Ab Blocker using a straightforward five-bar iron design. Despite ongoing issues with rustlers, this brand became essential for cattle identification and management; calves were branded according to division and year of birth.
At first organized into seven divisions—Buffalo Springs, Middle Water, Ojo Bravo, Rito Blanco, Escarbada, Spring Lake, and Yellow Houses—an eighth division at Bovina was subsequently added. Each division contained housing facilities for workers, barns for storage and livestock care, corrals for handling cattle, and freight wagons for transport needs. Warehouses were constructed in Tascosa (in 1887 following arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad) and later in Bovina (in 1898 after connection with J.J. Hagerman's Pecos Valley and Northeastern Railroad). The central headquarters relocated to Channing in 1890. Divisions regularly submitted monthly and annual reports covering cattle conditions, weather patterns, and staffing levels. Buffalo Springs functioned as the steer ranch; Middle Water managed cull animals; while Ojo Bravo, Escarbada, Spring Lake, and Yellow Houses focused primarily on breeding efforts. Seasonal labor varied from roughly 10–12 cowboys during winter months up to approximately 25–30 during summer.
Management under Campbell encountered difficulties; consequently A.L. Matlock was appointed superintendent in 1887 with A.G. Boyce serving as general range manager. To enhance herd quality beyond traditional Texas Longhorn stock, Hereford and polled Aberdeen Angus breeds were introduced beginning in 1889. Registered herds arrived by 1892 with breeding programs concentrated by division: Angus cattle at Rito Blanco and Herefords at Escarbada, Spring Lake, and Yellow Houses.
Cattle drives initially utilized the Texas Trail until its cessation in 1885; afterward the Northern Trail connected Buffalo Springs northward to Cedar Creek near Miles City, Montana from 1886 through 1897. Each year approximately 10,000 to 12,500 steers were driven over distances exceeding 1,000 miles northward for grazing before shipment onward to Chicago markets.
Decline
Initially, The Capitol Company's strategy emphasized settlement, with ranching intended as a provisional use of the land until agricultural development took hold. By 1890, Matlock had contracted an immigration agency and prepared approximately 80,000 acres for farming purposes. Nevertheless, cattle market prices sharply declined during 1886 and 1887, causing the ranch to struggle with profitable cattle sales by 1888. The operation largely ran at a loss and additionally suffered from losses due to cattle theft and predators such as the Mexican wolf.
In 1901, to meet bond obligations of the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company, Limited, the syndicate commenced selling extensive land parcels. A notable transaction was George W. Littlefield’s acquisition of 235,858.5 acres known as Yellow Houses in that year. By 1904, land development firms managed bulk land purchases; in 1905, around 800,000 acres were subdivided into tracts measuring 160 square miles each. To prevent speculative buying, the syndicate appointed a land commissioner in 1905 and established the Capitol Reservations Lands trust in 1915, which operated until 1950. Throughout this period, the Capitol Mineral Rights Company maintained control over substantial mineral rights.
Key purchasers included the family of Minnie Lou Bradley, who established the Bradley 3 Ranch in Childress County east of Amarillo, alongside Texas cattlemen William E. Halsell and John M. Shelton. Lee Bivins bought 70,000 acres near Channing, encompassing the XIT Ranch headquarters. The final sale of XIT cattle occurred on November 1, 1912.
In 1918, the state of Texas filed suit against the syndicate for exceeding legal land ownership limits by roughly 57,840 acres; as a result, over 57,800 acres were reclaimed across Dallam and Hartley counties.
Legacy
Dalhart honors the ranch’s heritage through the XIT Museum and hosts the annual XIT Rodeo and Reunion each August. This event includes junior and professional PRCA rodeos, features the world’s largest free barbecue, live musical performances, mud bog contests, antique tractor pulls, and various other attractions.
Several businesses in the Dalhart area incorporate "XIT" into their names to capitalize on the brand’s recognition.
The ranch also appears in cultural works; composer Charles Ives mentioned it in his song "Charlie Rutlage," part of his compilation of 114 songs.
See also
Further reading
- Cordia Sloan Duke and Joe B. Frantz; 6,000 Miles of Fence: Life on the XIT Ranch of Texas; Austin: University of Texas Press; 1961.