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Show Page 6 - UBS COLLECTORS Mvton Free Edition November 9. 1988 Press covers decade Four papers contribute to history of Basin In order to have complete historical coverage of newspaper activitiea ofthe Uintah Basin, it is necessaray to examine contributions made by four other newspapers that were published in the Basin. Although covering lesser periods of time, each made a contribution to their community. The four included the Myton Free Press, and three papers that started independently, but eventually became part of the Uintah Basin Standard. The Myton Free Press is unique, as compared with most papers that were published in the area. It was created independently, not part of a preceding paper (although the printing plant of another paper was purchased to form the basis of the Myton Free Press Publishing Company). It operated in Myton for well over a decade, then faded into oblivion, not consolidated with some other paper. The actual history of the Free Press is somewhat clouded, since a complete file is not available. The earliest copy on file is dated May 25, 1916, although reports in other Basin papers indicate that the Free Press began publication April 1, 1915, shortly after the formation of Duchesne County. The Free Press organization was formed in January, 1915, as indicated in an announcement in the Duchesne Record, dated January 30. At that time it was stated that the Free Press had purchased the printing plant of the Record, and publication of the new paper would start within a month. It was not, however, until April when the first issue csme off the press. In the meantime, the Record moved back to Duchesne, and established a plant there. An interesting sidelight to the Free PressRecord relation- fact that twice during the next several years the Free Press had to sue the Duchesne Record for funds which they stated were due for typesetting and printing for the Record. Evidently the Press printed the Rec-- . ord far several years until a plant was established again in Duchesne. In the September issue of 1916, C. B. Cook is listed as manager of the Free Press, and he. continued to manage and edit the paper until 1925. Am article in the issue of April 23 that year told of the death of Mr. Cook in Havana, where he had gone for health reasons. At that time the paper listed ship, is the fast, and all indications were that Myton would reap a fair share of the growth. An article in June, 1916 indicted that "Old Town will soon have electric lights on their streets. In 1916 county evaluation was reported at $4,000,000.. School population of the county was 2781 students. Mytons ; evaluation was listed at $200,800 (compared with a current evalu-- : ation of approximately $3,400,000). Myton, too, had dreams of a railroad. One of the first stories reported in the Free Press, was one about a pending railroad. Then an article Aug. 17, 1916 In 1915. ..things looked bright for Myton, and the Free Press. Geo. Philipps as president of Myton Free Press, W. S. Peatross, editor and manager, and Arnold Reef, business manager; The last issue of the Free Press that is available, Jan. 12, 1928, continues to list Arnold Reef as business manager. It is not known how many issues were published after that time, but most who still remember back to those days feel that it was near the ' end. Financial support had dropped to the point that the pa- per was no feasible. longer economically In 1915, when the paper started, filings looked bright for Myton, and for the Free Press. Although Myton was not successful in getting the county seat designation, as they had hoped, they were still the largest city in the new county, the area was growing announced, Work will begin in . spring on railroad, adding that survey work was started on the Vernal to Soldier Summit section of the line. An interesting item in.. 1917 asked for donation of furniture items for Mytons "Restroom". No explanation was given there, because we assume none was needed since everyone knew what the "restroom was. But on inquiry our curiosity was satisfied when we found that at that time a "stop-ove- r place, or a place to "rest was established by the Myton Womans Auxiliary. It operated for a number of years. ... A headline in the April 26, 1917 issue, announced that a would be built, "Boulevard The county later to Price. Myton opposed the Price road, and it was abandoned. LINOTYPE IN DUCHESNE In 1966 this Linotype machine was installed in the office of the Duchesne Record. Jerry Mieure, Linotype operator at that time, explains the machine to Mayor Cliff Mickelson. v . In 1917 a list of the first inductees from the Uintah Basin to report for service in World War I was included in the Free Press. These included John Harper Nick, Clarence Preece, Clarence Jones, Lewis A Timothy,. Perry Stone Whitmore, Robert E. Farnsworth, Clarence Brown, Chas. Johansen, William Case, Milton G. Brooks, Thomas Rowland, Lewis H. Cutler, Clyde Lambert, Geo. Bancroft, Leslie Love Sagers, Morgan Calvert, Orsin P. Wilson, Adolph Durtschi, Earl J. Freeman, Edward I. Lorange, Harry Colmery, Geo. A Goodrich, Orsin O. Mott, Vem Siddall, David R. Morgan, Geo. W. Livingston, Ferry G. Broderick, Calvert Clarke, Edwin E. Pike, John H. Carrel, Patrick E. Staley, Wesley Galloway, Thomas Riley, Joe F. Harris, Noel Scog-gaRoland Krebs and Willis F, Johnson. Sane prices of goods advertised during this period of time included cotton blankets at $1.98; mens shoes, all leather, at $2.98, and overalls, 98 cents. n, By comparison, mm it waa reported that paving the road DwehejJoi.yw?? , aged about $12,000 per mils. Soma work was completed on the Myton to Price road in 1919, when $100,000 was allocated. Bids were asked for men to work mi the road, to be paid $6,00 per day for man and team, or $3 for ingle man. This was well above prevailing wages of that time. The Myton Free Press, in arty years, took an optimistic view of the future for Myton. However, as project after project failed to materialise, creating a dwindling financial base in Myton, the Free Press gradually carried leas and less weight in tha community, until it faded from existence. It left its mark, however, and served tha community well during nearly one and decades of service. Three other smaller papers also contributed to the newspaper story of the Basin. All three eventually became part of what is now the Uintah Basin Standard, making a total of ten papers to have preceded this publication. The first of the three was the Uintah Basin Farmer, started January 11, 1924, to serve the farm population of the Basin. It was first published in Vernal, by George and Violet Harrison, as a monthly, tabloid size publication. The paper was ftill of farm news, featuring sections for poultry, honey, home economica, livestock, dairying, boys and girls . YOTi. VERNAL, UINTAH COUNTY, II. UTAH,-AUGUS- NO. 8 1925 THE UINTAH BASIN INDUSTRIAL CONVENTION SHOULD BE MADE A PERMANENT ORGANIZATION one-ha- lf ' dubs, and a classified page. Again one of the first big stories covered, other than farm news, was start ofconstruction on the Moffit tunnel in Colorado, which would bring the railroad through the Basin to Salt Lake. In 1924 a front page article stated, "Basins problems are being solved by the UBIC." It was pointed out that a binding pro- gram was needed for UBIC. Not too many people had attended tha first event in 1923, but great expectations were held for the 1924 event at Fort Duchesne. One monthly feature in early issues was a section on brands of local livestock producers, to help with identification of strays. Soma local brands noted were Floyd Lamb, Myton; D. R. Price, Bluebell, C. A Farnsworth, Boneta; B. A KimbalVNeola; L. E. Potter, ' Myton; Albert Stephenson, Duchesne; Ivan Ross, Tridell. An advertisement for Newton Brothers, in 1924, listed chaps at $20; heavy work harness for horses, $60, and a stock saddle for $65. It was noted in the January issue, 1926, that tha Uintah Basin seed grain had gained world recognition at an international hay and seed fair. Throe Basin men captured top honors there, including Wade Krebs, Myton, who won first prise; Fred Wall, Jensen, third prize, and L. E. Potter, Hyland, honorable mention. A change was made in the Fenner in January, 1926. At that time it waa moved to Roosevelt, when the Harrisons purchased tiw Roosevelt Standard, and ita frequency was changed to twice monthly. Other events mentioned in the Farmer included construction of the Paradise Park Reservoir, for $20,000, in 1927. Also a proposed $8 million oil shale plant was to be built in the Batin in May, 192A The final issue of the Farmer was dated May 15, 1929, at which time it waa announced that it waa being consolidated with tha Roosevelt Standard, after five years of publication. Tha second of the three small papers began publication . Continued on next page Bfe Offer Group assembling for a general session at the Uintah Basin Industrial Convention in 1924 The third Uintah Beils Industrial convention to be held Ansnat IS, IS and 14, promliea to ecllpae tha two previoua not only In tha numbers that will attend but In the Increased educational (cat-- . urea and the general plan for the entertainment of tha Immenie crowds ' that will Either each day. In ISIS, the convention waa purely an The leaders were fearful up to experiment!. the minute of the start that the citlseni of the Basin, aa a whole, did not fully compre hand the meaning of tha endeavor to solve the problem! confronting them and the means being taken to help them solve those probThe feara were quickly allayed when lems. the attendance tha flrat day waa nearly 1.000 of the population aouls, or about of the Baeln. The plan, unique as It was, had struck a It waa the earns laat year responsive cord. proven by the average dally attendance of one-quart- er of our over S.000 people, or nearly The plan had become nationpopulation. wide and speaker were here from tha Indian department from Waahlngtcn, D. C. At the close a unanlmoua vote for Its continuance allowed the great Interest manifest and that all felt the U. B. I. C. had become a permanent institution to help ua aolve our problems. We now are approaching the third convention. Experience of the paat haa given cur leaden knowledge of what educational features are the moat needed and ao a gl'mpse at the wonderful program outlined will show what la in atore for them during the three days with elao a recreational program fitting the needs of all. One thing yet we lack, and that la a permanent organisation plan for the Uintah An organisaBaeln Industrial convention. tion that can act upon any question confronting the Basin and do ao with authority. cne-thl- rd In other words a clearing honae Chamber of Commerce with authority to act for evThis should he done now, ery community. by a meeting of tha leaden of every when they can be easily be gotten c:m-munlt- y, together. , , The response this year from every section, with work In helping make the U. B. I. C. a success, but alao a cheerful response In helping finance the proposition, has proven that greater Interest than ever la being taken by all. Also that the methods of the leader In thh U. B. I. C. movement are better understood. Only aa growth Is made and new thought la given to the wonderful start, now paat the experimental stage, will the U. B. I. C. func- tlVn properly. With s permanent organisation many of tha plans can be worked out at once for another convention next year which will return for more than ever to the people. Lets really set together. Quilt Classes Sewing Classes Sewing Machine Repair Vacuum Repair Sissor Sharpening Largest Selection Of Fabric In The Uintah Basin Thanks To All The People Of The Basin For Their Continued Patronage. WE APPRECIATE YOUI Pi- - 260 E. 200 N., Roosevelt 722-497- 4 T! . |