Then there were times when a load of wood or a little provender looked very good to be taken on subscription. This has all changed and the newspapers are today the lords of the land. The fact is they have been re-organized upon a business basis and there has been business in the last number of years.

The Dean

The dean of Panhandle and Scotts Bluff county journalism is without doubt A. B. Wood of the Gering Courier -- which paper, as has been related he founded nearly thirtyfive years ago.

Within the next few years there were several other Scotts Bluff county men in the newspaper business but they are not therein engaged at the present time. There was Col. Peck of the Mitchell Quirt when Mitchell was south of the river. It was established in January, 1889. There was Col. E. M. Totten of the Chimney Rock Transcript. This paper was first established at "Mills Site" or on the old

A. W. Mills homestead about half way between Scottsbluff and Minatare. Then it was moved to Minatare where it remained for a time. It is the antecedent of the Bayard Transcript as we now know it. It was at Minatare in 188S.

G. E. Mark Will A. Hale once ran the Homestead in Gering. Geo. E. Mark of the Mitchell Index acquired the outfit and it was later moved to Mitchell where for twenty or more years Col. Mark has run the Index, the only paper of the city. Mr. Mark is one of the old timers who takes particular interest in old history.