Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-02-19
'--I- N FOf tfie JOtirudis
From North West Kansas.


Knowing that many of your readers
would like to hear from the extreme
frontier In Kansas, We attempt few re-
marks for the columns of your very VAL
liable paper.
We are situated in Cove county, on
the Union Pacific R. R., $50 miles west
of kansas CITY. and about 80 miles from
the Colorado line and 60 from Nebraska.
Our altitude Is near 2700 #. The cli-
mate Is naturally dry and extremely
healthy. Many have come here who
were suffering from pulmonary diseases,
and a few weeks always tell in their fa-
yor. Ague Is entirely unknown here.
The first grave here is that of man
who was killed by the Indians, west OF
here In Sept. 1873. The second was
about one year after the first, and that
of man who accidentally shot himself
while attempting to draw loaded gun
from a wagon, thus our graveyard Is
started by some being killed.
The climate, though naturally dry,
furnishes sufficient moisture for farm
ing purposes, there being. in the econo-
my OF nature beautiful adaptation OF
the soil to the amount of rainfall. Last
season, according TO stock men, was the
dryest Of the four or five last years, and
there was sufficient rainfall to raise
good crops on land In good cultivation,
az was proven by experience here.
Owing both to the altitude and latitude
1t Is colder here than In the southeast
part of this State, yet the cold comes on
by slow degrees, instead of suddenly by
storms, as Is the case further south In
our State. Our coldest weather this
winter was IA degrees below zero, on
the morning of the 9th of Dec, 10
The cOldest last winter was IL to IL lie
grees below zero. and that for but part
of one day. Farmers plOwed here the
greater part of last month. There has
been no mud here this winter.
The Saline, Hackberry aud Smoky
Hill rivers, are the principal streams In
this county. They run from West to
East. Besides these there are several
tributary streams to each, supplied by
springs that furnish an abundance of
water the year round. Well water is
had In abundance In any part OF the
county, and always of the best. No
salt or brackish water has appeared in
any wells yet, that Is so common In the
south part Of onr State.
The general feature Of the country is
level, near the principal streams rolling,
and in some places broken. The soil Is
of dark loan, with little or no sand,
vet porous. The subsoil Ia Of an ashy
gray and very porous, although desti-
tute of sand and not inclined to bake.
iThere Ia not foot Of hard pan Ia the
county.
We have no timber worthy Of mem
ton. Coal Is the principal reliance for
fuel, very good quality of which can
be had for four dollars per ton.
The principal settlement was made
here last spring. Many good claims
NAV be had here yet within to s miles
of the R. R., and by going back twelve
to twenty miles, one may get first choice
The county Is not yet organized, but
will be this spring; steps are now being
/ taken for that purpose.
There are two towns In the county,
Buffalo Park and Grainfield, the princi-
pal one of which is the first, and is sit
uated on the railroad in the center OF
the county, ON an east and west line
and will doubtless be the future county.
seat. Its present population Is from 2Ul
to 300 Inhabitants.
This is certainly the EldoradO ol
America for cattle. There are now hun.
dreds of cattle that have had nothing tC
eat but the dry Buffalo grass grazed Oh
the prairie, and without shelter, excep
what nature has furnished, all Of which
are doing well, and many of them are
fat enough ior beef.
Our old home is In Gallia county
and we are well known there. We are
here as farmers, and will be glad to cor
respond with any desiring further In
formation with view of emmigrating
Address us at Buffalo Park, Cove co.
Kun A, GUY.