Scottsbluff was established by the Lincoln Land Company, upon the southeast quarter of section 23, township 22 north and range 55 west 6th principal meridian. The principal part of the town as originally platted was on land patented to Elizabeth McClenahan by the United States.

Anselmo B. Smith surveyed and the plat was filed covering fifteen original blocks, which with streets and alleys approximated forty acres. It was surveyed upon liberal lines, wide streets and alleys, the main thoroughfare being one hundred feet in width.

The promoters anticipated that Gering would be ready to move over to the town site, and negotiations were initiated. A number of Gering business men were inclined to the proposal, and progress was being made, but as is often the case, a mistake was made in presuming that some were so unimportant that they need not be reckoned with. This started something with the result that a large majority of the

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Homestead of Mrs. Elizabeth McClenahan, 1899

business men stayed with the "old town," and but a few moved across the river. The Homestead, then published by Geo. E. Mark, now of the Mitchell Index, was one of the important factors in the fight.

First Enterprises

The first business in Scottsbluff, was that of lumber yards. Geo. W. King and Carr & Neff Lumber Company, began about the same time, and John A. Orr closely followed. Orr's yard was the antecedent of L. W. Cox & Company. Then King sold to the same firm.