OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 279 



miles west of Kansas City that afterward became Linwood. CoL. 

 Harris was placed in charge of the disposal of Government lands, 

 granted to the railroad as a subsidy for its building operations, 

 and later was given control of the campaign for settling the short 

 grass lands of Western Kansas. A season or two of crop failures 

 convinced him of the almost criminal nature of the procedure and 

 he abandoned the position. So successful was his work of this 

 nature, that he was authorized to close out the Delaware Indian 

 Reservation. His heart, however, was centered in cattle, and his 

 energy, in preparing Linwood for his permanent home. In the 

 early 80's he divorced completely his other operations and se.lled 

 comfortably into the production of Shorthorns. 



Of a constructive yet inquisitive mind Col. Harris felt that 

 Shorthorn futures lay elsewhere than in the old Bates founda- 

 tion, and, from a chance perusal of a Sittyton (89) catalog, he 

 gleaned the idea that ultimately placed him foremost in the ran-.s 

 of Shorthorn achievement. Through the intermediary operations 

 of J. H. Kissinger of Missouri and James I. Davidson (117), 

 Col. Harris obtained a young bull of the Cruickshank blood. 

 Baron Victor, at $1,100. In company with him came three thick 

 Scotch heifers, Violet's Bud, Victoria 63rd and Victoria 69th. 

 Baron Victor developed into a bull of magnificent conformation 

 burly and curly before the horn, massive in neck and chine, and 

 prodigious in spread of rib and depth of heart. His loin, quarter 

 and flanks were heavy and his short leg set him squarely to the 

 ground. Mated to the Marys, Josephines, Roses of Sharon an;^ 

 other Kentucky sorts, he realized instantaneously the ideal of 

 quick maturing beef. His early progeny at Kansas City sales 

 could scarcely be led fast enough into the ring to meet the 

 breeders' demands. So successful was the Aberdeenshire blood 

 that several importations were made by him direct from the 

 Sittyton herd, and only the peerless Duthie held precedence over 

 Col. Harris in Mr. Cruickshank's esteem. 



