CANADA'S CATTLE KING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5290, 22 June 1928, Page 1

CANADA'S CATTLE KING.

SALE OF BIG BUSINESS. STORY OF ROMANTIC LIFE. “The biggest man, heart, soul, and bank account from Winnipeg .to the Pacific,” is the description given of Mr Pat Burns, of Calgary, whose me,a,t. packing plants and produce stores, located ip every centre of size in Western Canada, have been sold to the Dominion. Securities Corporation, Toronto, for £3,0’00,000. The vendor has accepted the presidency of the new corporation. Mr Burns is the last cattle king of the West. He hails from a district that breeds big men. At Kirkfield, Ontario, Mackenzie, Mann, and Ross were born. Pat made his first cattle deal when he was 11, and turned in. a profit to his father, who had a small farm. With the opening up. of the West Pat turned his eyes towards Manitoba and settled on a quarter section of 160 acres. Mr Mackenzie came along, Laying the Canadian Northern, and drove .a stake in Pat’s farm, to call it a station. Pat went farther West and 1 commenced his Life’s vocation of cattle dealer. In those days, the early eighties, cattle roamed at will over thousands of square miles-, and the fall round-up was the only means of separating the brands. Pat rode the ranges with his punchers, and was known, as a hard rider. They tell a story to-day in’Calgary, famous for its, cattle stampedes, where Pat makes his headquarters, of how his horse stepped in a gopher hole and threw him, breaking both wrists. Pat caught his horse and inode 18 miles to a doctor. Mr Burns missed getting an education, and he recently stated at an undergraduates dinner that they have something that came too late for him to acquire. But what he lost in book learning he made up with a keen intellect and a finely balanced business judgment. Two things he can judge better thsj.ii, anyone else in the West — a good steer and an honest man. Spot cash on the hoof has been his slogan throughout. In London, Liverpool, and Yokohama are representative .agencies of Mr Burns’ businesses of meat-packing, produce stores, wholesale groceries, and 1 creameries, which number 94 establishments. He followed the lines of steel westward, and brought with him his confidence in the new country. His vast operations to-day commemorate that confidence, and are a big factor in providing for the Western farmer the widtest available market for his cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, eggs, and cream. Unlike Kidman, the cattle king of Australia, Burns extended his operations until they enr braced all the rancher’s: side-lines, in each of which he was himself a. practical specialist.