The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-15
BY HARRY ROOT.


Cove City, county seat of Cove. and
Russell Springs, county seat of Logan,
are the only seats of government in
the Sixth district without railroad
connections, and the latter is the only
county seat in the district your cor
respondent hasn't visited. Until a few
years ago it was connected by rail,
when the track was torn UP by order
of the court. 1t is located so near
the center OF the county that it will
no doubt hold the county seat for years
to come. The same is true of Cove
City, which is 10 miles from Grain
field, the nearest railroad point. Your
itemizer visited the town for years
and every trip was made interesting
because of the pleasant acquaintances
made among her people. If Grain
field, Buffalo Park, Quinter and Grin
nell would unite on any one of these
towns no doubt that would be the
means of pulling ample business with
out talking county seat. The Hack
berry Valley in which, Cove City is To-
Gated is rich in agriculture and stock,
and thickly populated, and her peo-
pie believe some day a railroad will
be built thru the valley. Much of the
trade is now handled by the Union Pa
cific. In the early days, the town had
three newspapers, now only one, the
Republican, Gazette, published by A.
K Trimmer All of the freight
handled by the business houses. is
hauled by auto or horse conveyance
a distance of 2 miles They sell goods
as cheap as the railroad towns. they
claim. and when it comes to election
the Cove City vote is unanimous
Ouinter is the largest town in the
country and the home of E. d. Sam
son, member of the legislature from
Cove county. Buffalo Park was a
rustling town in the days of the Smoky
Hill cattle pool, the winter of 1895
putting it out of use. This was the
severest winter ever Known in Cove
county, and many cattle were frozen
to death, as well as several human
beings. In the ORGANIZATION OF the
county Cove City was designated the
temporary county seat. and in the gem
eral election that town was chosen the
permanent seat, the vote being Cove
City $50. Buffalo Park 218. Grain
field ia. The county was organized
in 1856 Your iteTnizer has seen thou
sands of tons of buffalo bones piled
up along the Union Pacific railroad
in the towns of Grainfield, Quinter
and Grinnell. Gathering these bones
in the pioneer days was big industry,
and many of the first settlers made a
living by doing this.
The first time your correspondent
visited Roscoe, Graham county, live
" county seat contest was raging be-
tween
Hill City, Gettysburg, Roscoe and
Nicodemus. Our team pulled up to
Gettysburg in the middle of the fore
noon. and found business generally
suspended. the men being out in the
country canAassing for votes for their
town. SoonN after noon the team
reached Roscoe. and we drove to
store where a number of men were
discussing the county seat. We asked
them for the hotel, and received
snarling answer in return, Amt got
any" We were taken to be million
aires, and were there for the purpose
of buying county seat votes for one
of the other aspiring towns. We
couldn't take a step without being
watched .SnoF would they talk with US.
Presently another man turned up, and
he wasn't afraid of US milliOnaireS and
spies, so he piloted US to residence
where meals were served. Hot winds
were blowing at a frightful rate. and
had been for three days. The land
lady was nice appearing, and told us
SHE would give US of what she had.
as there had been a number in for
dinner. and they had eaten all she
cooked. Our dinner for three con-
sisted OF cold coffee. the weather was
SO hot it had melted the butter, and
instead of using knives We used
spoons to butter the bread. and it was
so dried up we had to soak it before
we could eat it We were hungry,
and we made a splendid meal of what
was served as. In those pioneer days.
and hot winds thrown in for-gOod
measure our crowd felt perfectly sat
isfied. The man who took us to the
house for dinner was Frank p. kel-
logg. and he published the Roscoe
Tribune. Later years he left Graham
county and located in Cloud county.
and operated a bank in jamestown.