L. West, Mark Spanogle, A. F. Marsh.

Chamber of Commerce

The work of the old Commercial Club involved into the progressive Community Club, which carried on the community work for Bridgeport for some few years. Then in common with the practice cf giving the commercial organizations throughout the United States uniform title, the community agency of Bridgeport is now known as the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce. The 1920 officers and faithful committee workers were :

President, F. E. Williams: vice president. A. W. Atkins; secretary, A. E. Fisher: treasurer, Lloyd Wiggins.

Committees: Promotion -- Mark Spanogle, chairman; A. E. Fisher, T. F. Neighbors. Public Improvement -- Dr. C. Palmer, chairman; Fred Lindberg, R. H. Willis. Entertainment -- E. M. Bigelow, chairman; W. P. Ackerman, Ed. Morris. Finance-- A. T. Seybolt, chairman: George Irwin, Lloyd Wiggins. Membership -- Frank- Hunt,* chairman ; E. W. Hackney. C. G. Perry. Publicity -- Bruce Wilcox, chairman ; E. L. Novotny, E. M. Bigelow.

* Deceased.

Telephones The Wehn Telephone Company saw to it that Morrill county secured telephone service earlv in the career of that utility in

HISTORY. OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

western Nebraska and made connection with the Bell telephone system at North Platte, securing a full metallic service from Ogallala and giving direct long distance communication to all parts of the country and especially service to Morrill and Garden county points.

Newspapers

The Bridgeport Blade began publication July 27, 1900, with Cary and Lawley as publishers. In October L. B. Cary became proprietor. In 1905 R. H. Willis was publisher. The Platte Valley News began in 1903. These two papers were consolidated into the News-Blade, July 24, 1908. J. M. Lynch became editor and remained in active charge of this paper for some years until Bruce Wilcox, its present editor, took charge. Wilcox served as register in the United States land office at Alliance, and is one of Morrill county's best men.