"Charles Moreau Harger writes of 'Cattle Trails of the Prairies' in a style worthy of Roosevelt at his best." - Railway World, 1892

"Harger describes with spirit the great cattle trails of the prairies." - The Literary World, 1891

"Kansas editor and old time resident of the state, is known to thousands of people outside Kansas through his writings in magazines." - A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, 1918

"Harger has written much about the various phases of western life, and his articles have been widely read...brought to people of other sections a better and clearer understanding of western life than anything else that has been written in a long time." - The Wisconsin Agriculturist, 1900

When the U.S. opened the Indian Territory lands to settlement it ended a unique feature of the prairies, the cattle-trails, notes Charles Moreau Harger, editor of "The Reflector," of Abiliene, Kansas, in his 20-page article "Cattle Trails of the Prairies."

Harger, who came to Kansas in 1879 and for three or four years herded cattle and sheep on the prairies, writes an account of the great cattle trails from Texas to Kansas, over which, for more than twenty years, most of the Texas cattle were driven to market. The opening of Oklahoma, the great increase in railroad facilities in Texas itself, and the new method of shipping dressed beef to market, put an end to the great trails; and the summer of 1891 saw the last drove of cattle pass over them. Mr. Harger describes the romantic and picturesque, as well as the practical, features of this strange life.

Harger notes that from the start under Texas skies until the freight-train carried the last of the herd from the Kansas or Nebraska station, the herders lived in almost continuous excitement and severe labor. But the task was one that hundreds of energetic young men enjoyed, for the cowboy was a power when on the trail. Moreover, his position was often the starting-point toward the wealth and dignity of a cattle-owner, with a ranch and herds of his own.

The first trail across the Indian Territory was opened in 1867 by Joseph G. McCoy of Illinois, then scarcely more than a boy, after he had heard some stockmen talking of the peculiar condition of the cattle industry. The herds of Texas were increasing rapidly, but there was no way to get them to market. Young McCoy went out on the railroad then partly built across Kansas, and after a long interview with the manager persuaded him to construct stock-yards at Abilene, the extreme western limit of the completed track. The manager had little faith in the project, but decided to give the enthusiastic visitor a chance. McCoy sent out messengers, who rode toward Texas, seeking the cattlemen. For some weeks they journeyed through the Indian Territory, and were usually laughed at when they proposed driving cattle to the new shipping-point.

About the author:

Charles Moreau Harger (1863-1955) came to Kansas in 1879. For several years he was farmer and rancher, and then teacher, being principal of the Hope City schools in 1887-'88. He then became a reporter on the Abilene Daily Reflector, and was its editor for twentyfive years. Outside of his newspaper work found time to contribute many articles on western financial and business topics to the Century, Harper's, Scribner's, Atlantic, North American Review, Outlook, and other magazines, and to eastern newspapers.

He received honorary literary degrees Baker University and Bethany College and was director and lecturer of the Department of Journalism, University of Kansas, from 1905 to 1910.