O'Day gave up his paper there and the Journal ceased to exist, there was not much for a number of years to encourage a new man to take up such an enterprise. However, the Progress has come into existence and being during the last part of 1920. It was first printed in Denver, and the new plant at Big Springs is not yet fully installed in January, 1921. but there is the promise that Big Springs will have a live, energetic news sheet in the near future.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Banks and Finance

The history of Deuel county's financial institutions is similar to that of the greater part of the western country. There have been fat years and lean years along with prosperity or depression, shared by all the people, and reflected in financial life and banking business.

The first bank at Chapped was organized in 1886, and then known as the Commercial Bank. J. L. Robson was the prime spirit in the movement for its organization. "Jim" Robson, as he was familiarly known, came from Illinois, where his brothers Jack and Dick were well known about the Rio country as breeders of fine cattle and heavy feeders of hogs and cattle, as well as men of the happiest and most cheerful dispositions. In 1890 the Commercial Bank had a capital of $20,000. J. L. Robson was president ; Frank McAuliff, vice-president ; arid Eugene Fish, cashier. It was the pioneer bank of Chapped and did much toward the early development of the town and Deuel county, which was much in need of banking facilities for the farmers and homesteaders who were coming to this locality to settle.