Carley ; Sheriff, George W. Clark ; Coroner, R. K. Burns ; Surveyor, R. W. Calvin.

The location of the county seat was hotly contested between Chadron and Dawes City, the latter town now known as Whitney, which terminated in favor of Chadron by a majority of two hundred and fifteen votes. The number of votes cast was nine hundred and forty-nine. Chadron received five hundred and eighty-two, Dawes City three hundred and sixty-four, Bordeaux three.

The first district court was held at Chadron during February. 1886. There was only one case of importance tried at that time. Ed. Casey was charged with holding up a s:age near Whitney and securing the contents of a paymaster's box. The trial resulted in an acquittal.

The erection of the courthouse was completed in 1887, at a cost of $35,000. This enormous outlay of the people's money, considering what ought to have been the real cost, caused criticism of those directly in charge of the county's affairs, but little comment followed the transaction.

There are six railroad towns and ten postoffices in the county. The Nebraska division of the Chicago and Northwestern and the Burlington railroads tap the county from east to west and north to south, with a branch at Chadron running into the Black Hills.

The fuel question is of but little importance to the farmer, for he can go to the timber at any time and get wood -- yet free for chopping and hauling. The great Wyoming coal fields are less than a hundred miles from us. Coal can be laid down at railroad towns in the county equal to the best Iowa coal.