This was partly because the fire had not gained much headway when the fire was discovered. That was the beginning of the Scottsbluff municipal water system.

In 1908, the election board consisted of L.

was granted, to install at the comer of Broadway and Seventeenth street a cement watering trough. This was put in late in July and for nearly ten years was of service to the public. When the auto took precedence of the horse the trough was removed. The club was organized in February, 1907.

1907 had proven a busy year in the building of Scottsbluff, McCreary Brothers and the Marquis Opera House being among the business buildings. G. L. Shumway built the residence that was later converted into the Midwest Hospital.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

Chautauqua Organized

This year the North Platte Valley Chautauqua Association was reorganized, and a tabernacle built on the grounds which had been previously purchased.

The village board, in 1908, ordered the construction of cement sidewalks on the west side of Main street, now Broadway. This was ordered during November. Previous to this, such sidewalks had been built in front of the Ed Vandenburg barber shop, and the First National Bank. The Bowen's then were in control of the bank. Vandenburg was the first to build, and has the credit of being the starter of the- fourteen foot sidewalks now on Broadway. While the board was debating about the width of the sidewalks, which had previously been but ten feet, Vandenburg planted his curb at fourteen feet, and began work. The First National Bank, which was then at the location of the present east entrance of the Diers Brothers store, did likewise, and the ordinance was made to conform.