The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-10

/ floor, with a fine sediment of dirt on
the surface. P. S. Houston, one Of the
large wheat raisers in the Gem,
Thomas county. section. had charge
of the "biownS district. He was con-
WINGED that the drifting of the soil
could be prevented by listing burrows
one or two rods apart thru the blown
| fields, and this mode was generally
adopted by the farmers in the blown"
streak. His theory was a success.
Since then that district has grown the
Largest crops of wheat equal to any
| in the state. In 1919 there was stored
in the elevators in Gem and along the
Rock Island track not less than $780,
1000 bushels of wheat. besides shipping
half a million bushels from his town.
The years 1917-1S not quite SO many
bushels were moved from Gem, and
in 1919 there will again be shipped
more than half million bushels. The
people have forgotten the blown
streak The farmers are Zoo busy
raising grains and stock to think of
anything else.
! The writer has known Ike, Purcell,
of WakNnney, for many years. He
ran for Judge of the Twenty-third dis
trict when his friends believed he
couldn't be elected. Judge j. C. Rup-
eral terms, nor did his friends be-,
lieve he could be beaten. When Pur-
cell lived in Cove country several
Years prior to moving to Trego county
he was codnty attorney. He also
served Cove county in the legislature.
He also filled the office OF register of
the United States land office at Wa
keeney. He has an established repu-
| tation for being opposed to lawsuits.
| While county attorney of Cove county
many complaints came to him, and
before the actions were filed he made
a strong effort to ge the complain
ant and defendant together. He made
| it his duty to be present at the con-
| ferences. and many of them resulted
in the ironing the differences out OF
/ court. Because of this policy in both
criminal and civic cases much litiga-
| ton was arrived. 1t made Ike Pur-
| cell popular, and when the votes were
counted he was elected district Judge
by handsome majority. He came to
Cove county in the early eightiest took,
a homestead near Grainfield, prac-
ticed law, did real estate business,
and located homsteadefs. Locating
! in Wakeeney, he also served in his
| district as county attorney. He is
popular in his district comprising the
| counties of Cove. Logan. Russell,
Trego and Wallace.
| This correspondent visited Gem. on
| the Rock Island road, before the name
got on the map. The town has about
| 300 population, situated in Thomas
county. 1t was made quite historical
some years ago on account of a black
| smith named F. S. See inventing a
| railroad device AND put it in opera
tion which would couple and un-
| couple cars from trains while running
at considerable speed. The inventor
made the apparatus I'M his shop and
| built his car and road way to expert
| ment with. A company was formed
\ and about $4,000 was raised which
was used to purchase patents, models.
| and pay travelling expenses. Many
prominent railroad people visited Gem
| to look at the device, and several east
ern manufacturing companies also
sent out representatives. After care
full examination the railroad people
found the device or invention imprac-
| ticable. The promoters of the enter
prise keep up the corporation. Many
of the projectors left the country. 1t
! gave Gem a big advertisement at the
time. There were millions" in it if
it had been successful. The origin
ator is now 80 years old.
1 Not all the editors of the Sixth dis
| trict are so fortunate as J. r. Young
| Of the Oakley Graphic. He was the
| first person mentioned in the papers.
of the Thirty-ninth district for state
| senator His own paper wouldn't say
he was a candidate, so several others
| finally entered the contest. Now he
| has been rendered a job as assistant
sergeant at arms in the Chicago con-
! vention. He says of the offer in his
g. n -