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Article Title: Scotts Bluff National Monument and the Coming of Television to the Nebraska Panhandle
Full Citation: Phil Roberts, “Scotts Bluff National Monument and the Coming of Television to the Nebraska Panhandle,” Nebraska History 77 (1996): 21-29
URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1996TVPanhandle.pdf Date: 4/10/2013
Article Summary: When a broadcasting company sought to build a television tower on top of the Scotts Bluff National Monument in 1954, the National Park Service refused the request. Television did come to the area the following year, when the company accepted a site without historical significance or striking scenery.
Cataloging Information:
Names: Tracy McCraken, John B Kendrick, Joseph C O’Mahoney, Frank Barrett, William C Grove, Conrad L Wirth, Lewis E Bates
Place Names: Cheyenne, Wyoming; Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Keywords: Tracy McCraken; Scotts Bluff National Monument; Joseph C O’Mahoney; Frank Barrett; William C Grove; Conrad L Wirth; Federal Communications Commission; KSTF-TV, Scottsbluff; translator stations; National Park Service; Lewis E Bates, Frontier Broadcasting
Photographs / Images: Scotts Bluff National Monument; Tracy McCraken, President Truman, and US Senator Joseph O’Mahoney; inset advertisement by KSTF-Channel 10: “Coming Soon . . . TV,” Gering Courier, December 3, 1954; US Senator Frank Barrett with President Eisenhower; Tracy McCraken with some of his newspaper and television station employees; National Park Service Director Conrad L Wirth; inset advertisement by Frontier Broadcasting Co announcing that television transmissions were about to be tested in the Platte Valley, Gering Courier, March 4, 1955
ByPhil Roberts
Until 1955 few Nebraska Panhandle commissioned by the company, con the election of Democrats. P. J. Kinney, homes had television sets. The nearest cluded, a Newcastle car dealer, furnished the station, KFBC-TV, was located nearly it is our belief that the proposed [transmit plant and Theodore Wanerus, a former one hundred miles to the southwest in ter] installation on Scotts Bluff National Kendrick aide, was named editor. Cheyenne, Wyoming, and provided only Monument is the only feasible and practi Wanerus, who edited the paper for al poor reception to the handful of North cal location for the dissemination of tele most a year, made the Eagle editorially vision to the Scotts Bluff area, which does Platte Valley television owners.! With not now enjoy television programming. respectable, but it remained a weak more than 50,000 people in the valley, competitor to the statewide, Republi however, it seemed inevitable that tele The report added that the site "would can-oriented daily, the Wyoming State vision broadcasting would come even not be obtrusive or in any way detract Tribune. s McCraken left Washington in tually. But potential viewers could from the Scotts Bluff National Monu October 1926 to take over the editorship hardly have predicted how its arrival ment as a recreation area or viewing of the Eagle, where he continued strong would pit local officials, the congres point." Following extensive engineering editorial support for Kendrick's fellow sional delegations of two states, and a studies, the company decided that Democrat, Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross. politically powerful Wyoming media placement of the tower on top of Scotts Even with the Eagle's support, however, company against the National Park Bluff would provide extensive coverage the first woman elected governor in any Service. of the North Platte Valley and even al state lost her bid for reelection that A decade earlier, Wyoming's con low the signal to reach to communities November. 3 gressional delegation had been bogged beyond. The elections over, McCraken con down in a fight with the National Park Frontier Broadcasting was controlled centrated on building up the business Service over creation of Jackson Hole by Cheyenne publisher Tracy McCraken. side of the operation, gradually gaining National Monument. In that case, local From the 1920s until his death in 1960, control of the Eagle from Kendrick and residents in Teton County convinced McCraken was a power in Wyoming from Kinney's heirs. Within a decade, the delegation that the monument inter publishing and politics. A native of Illi McCraken had built the Eagle into a fered with local economic activity. In nois, McCraken graduated from the Uni competitive daily, mostly through adver this new controversy, whose locale was versity of Wyoming in 1917 and became tising promotions and innovative sub just outside Wyoming's borders at the editor of the Laramie Boomerang. Later scription campaigns.6 It didn't hurt the opposite end of the state, historic pres he was private secretary to Governor paper's standing when Democrats were ervation was pitted against good televi William Ross, leaving that position to swept into office with the New Deal, in sion reception.2 serve in a similar capacity for Demo cluding McCraken's former colleague 4 In 1955 the Federal Communications cratic U.S. Senator John B. Kendrick. on Kendrick's staff, Joseph C. Commission approved an application Wyoming's capital city hap no news O'Mahoney, who became U.S. senator from Frontier Broadcasting Company of paper loyal to the Democrats when on Kendrick's death. The two men were Cheyenne, Wyoming, to build a televi Kendrick faced reelection in 1922. After to remain lifelong political allies. sion tower in Scotts Bluff County, Ne a successful campaign despite having While the Eagle remained rooted in braska. The company owned KFBC-TV, no press support in the capital city, the Cheyenne, the larger Tribune lost money the weak signals from which furnished wealthy Sheridan County cattleman, in the Depression years of the 1930s by the only television reception in the who owned other newspapers in the continuing as "Wyoming's statewide North Platte Valley. A technical report, state, decided to establish such an or newspaper." In 1939, following an own gan in Cheyenne. The result was the ership change which plunged the Wyo Phil Roberts is assistant professor ofhistory at Wyoming Eagle, first published May 28, ming State Tribune into deeper financial the University of Wyoming. 1925. It was a weekly designed to boost difficulties, McCraken rescued the older
21 Nebraska History - Spring 1996
Scotts Bluff Nallonal Monument, looking across the North Platte River to the southwest. Scotts Bluff National Monument
McCraken's moves into the broadcast media which, unlike newspapers, were regulated by the Federal Communica tions Commission. Although the first radio broadcasting station opened in Wyoming in 1926 as a nonprofit operation in Laramie, com mercial radio began four years later in Casper. Oddly, it was another ten years before a radio station was started in the state capital. McCraken apparently failed to see the financial potential of ra dio broadcasting, and in October 1940 a young couple opened KYAN, a small ra dio station in Cheyenne. Almost imme diately, the McCraken newspapers felt the advertising heat generated by busi nesses captivated by the new media. Within three months, McCraken, through the help of his friends in the Wyoming congressional delegation, gained FCC approval for a competing station. KYAN didn't stand a chance. Six Tracy McCraken (lett). President Harry S. Truman, and U.S. Senator Joseph O'Mahoney. months after the McCraken-owned sta Wyoming State Museum tion went on the air, the older station daily and merged it into his growing me enne. At the same time, Republican went off the air. McCraken's station dia empire. Unlike the usual publisher, politicians knew who owned the Repub dominated the market for the next two however, McCraken opted not to lican paper in the state capital, provid decades.s change the editorial direction of the Tri ing McCraken with a unique political When television broadcasting began bune. It would remain Republican and situation. Partisans of both parties de gaining national attention in the early would consequently sew up a newspa pended on his editorial voice.7 The po 1950s, McCraken had learned his lesson per monopoly for McCraken in Chey litical connections set the stage for about new technologies. In 1954 he ob
22 Television in the Panhandle
tained a television broadcast license for Gering Courier, December 3, 1954 Cheyenne even though the town had a population of less than 30,000 people. It was, by far, the smallest market in the II II1II United States to be granted its own Soon TV station.9 The station made little economic sense in such a small community. Con of t.he gtleat interest in the valley regarding TELEVISION, sequently, McCraken's company, Fron might !likt' a report regarding the progress being made tier Broadcasting, the owner of KFBC TV, opted to develop new markets through the use of "translator stations" the equtment has already been purchased: Within sixty to rebroadcast the flagship station's pro aftfr t~e start of its erection, weather pennitting, we gramming into homes far from the L~":V l~Ul". B,ecause a much greater area and population could signal's origin. Denver television sta be served if the tower isierected on the Monument it is hoped the National tions had already tied up the markets P~rk Service will soon fipPfove construction on that site. Realizing this, just south of Cheyenne in northem Colo niany gover1mental bod cs and civic organil!;ations throughout this reg,ion rado, so Frontier decided to place its h~ve urged the Park Ser ice to grant the pennit. As soon as it is approved first translator in the Nebraska Pan c1nstruction Iwill ~tart. I handle, where no television existed ex I , ! r t ! cept for KFBC's own weak signal. The I! • additional viewers would enable the sta tion to "secure a good schedule of net i ROGRAMS- work programs."l0 I FCC approval came quickly in the 10 has ~een designated by the Federal Communications summer of 1954 when the commission the Val ey area. The' call letters gtlanted are KSTF. On approved the proposed station as KSTF ;;'''''0 TV to broadcast on Channel 10. The ini tiallicense request indicated that the transmitter would be located about ten miles south of the town of Scottsbluff. Sometime during the late summer of 1954, engineers working for Frontier Sjlfies, Pro Broadcasting reported that the pro KjSTF Iso carry the Rose Bowl and other bowl games posed location had not taken into ac ftom year I programs from. the Valley will also be carried count that the huge bluff from which fl\om time the town and county had gained their names would block television reception to a significant number of potential viewers. The engineers suggested locat 011- ing the tower on top of the bluff itself.11 There was a minor problem with that lo cation, however. The top of the bluff was part of Scotts Bluff National Monu ment, administered by the National Park Service. Park Service approval would be essential in order to proceed with the lo cation change. On July 29,1954, KFBC general man ,10 ager William C. Grove wrote to Senator Frank Barrett's administrative assistant, Lewis E. Bates, asking for the senator's help in gaining the necessary clearance.
23 Nebraska History - Spring 1996
Is it possible to build on a national monument? The company needed to know soon because it did not "wish to build in winter." An unsigned note, ap parently to support a telephone conver sation, indicated.it was "not against the law but up to the NPS."12 After contacting officials in the Park Service, Bates discovered that what had seemed at first a simple matter might be more complicated. "I learned this morn ing that there is some resistance to the use of the Monument areas for such pur poses," Bates wrote Grove, "so you may be confronting a wrestling match on this." He added that it was "worth ttying because the area is teleblind."13 The same day Bates was writing Grove about the possible "resistance," Grove again wrote to Barrett's office, stressing that the best location for the tower would be "on top of the monu U.S. Senator Frank Barrett (right) with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Wyoming State Museum ment." He also asked if it would be pos sible to add a small building at the site, Barrett forwarded the response to In October 1954 a flurty of letters and its "architecture to conform to the en Grove and added a brief note indicating resolutions from civic organizations in trance gate station" of the national that it appeared another site would Nebraska and in Goshen County, Wyo monument and to be mostly hidden have to be found. Grove responded: "It ming, began arriving in the offices of from view. Grove reiterated that the would serve no purpose to have a sta Senators Barrett and O'Mahoney, urging monument was the "one and only suit tion constructed there on an uneco that they force the Park Service to re able location" for the tower. 14 nomical basis and then be forced to dis consider. The issue was framed by ques Bates forwarded the request to continue after a few months' operation." tioning whether "preservation" of Scotts Conrad L. Wirth, director of the National Frontier Broadcasting had hoped to in Bluff would be adversely affected by Park Service, on September 22,1954. vest less than $100,000 to put the construction of the tower and, even if it Wirth responded nine days later that the Scottsbluff station on the air. Grove were, did "preservation" somehow merit service had turned down similar re added that if the company could not greater consideration than "quality tele quests and was doing so in this case as broadcast from atop Scotts Bluff, a "900 vision reception for 100,000 people."19 well. 15 foot tower would be necessaty, costing Letters also went to Park Service Di Neither Frontier Broadcasting nor $200,000."17 rector Wirth. A typical one was from Senator Barrett's office was willing to Meanwhile, Frontier Broadcasting Percy F. Renner, mayor of Bridgeport, accept Wirth's decision. Even though was busy marshaling local support in who told Wirth that as a boy, "I climbed Bates remained the main contact in the Nebraska Panhandle for the station the butte on foot. More recently we Barrett's office, another Barrett aide, and the proposed tower site. O. B. climb the butte by automobile. I do not Maty Bruner, called director Wirth in Koerfer, KFBC co-manager, who also think that the paved roadway has mid-October, asking for Park Service ap served on the staff of McCraken's news spoiled the butte one bit," the mayor as proval. This time, Wirth wrote directly to papers as general manager, sent a tele serted, "nor, do I think, will a TV an Barrett: gram to the mayor of Scottsbluff, speci tenna spoil the scenery." He offered an I believe you will agree with me, Frank, fying the language for a resolution to be unusual perspective on public response that if we should allow the company to sent to the Park Service and to Con to a television tower on Scotts Bluff: "It install a television antenna within the gress. The Frontier-written resolution en might cause some people to take an in boundaries of an area of the National Park dorsed the monument as the transmitter terest in the Monument who are not oth System, we would be immediately flooded with similar requests; the granting site "to the end that our people [will] erwise interested in histoty or scenety."20 of anyone of which would be contrary to have the advantages of this great elec Other letters from proponents of the the basic principles and concept of the tronic miracle."18 tower location seemed inadvertently to laws creating the National Park Service. 16
24 Television in the Panhandle
emphasized to Barrett, whose home was in Lusk, Wyoming, some eighty miles northwest of Scottsbluff, that "we can not guarantee coverage of Lusk from the Monument, but there is infinitely better chance than from the [other] site."24 Park Service Director Conrad Wirth presided at the hearing. Wyoming Sena tors Barrett and O'Mahoney, Representa tive Keith Thomson, and Nebraska Fourth District Representative A. L. Miller all attended, in support of the company's application. Nebraska Sena tors Roman Hruska and Carl Curtis were invited but did not come to the hearing. The entire Wyoming delegation, along with Curtis, Hruska, and Miller from Ne braska, later signed a letter to Wirth urg ing a favorable ruling. Otherwise, "35,000 people will be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy television."25 " Attending a Christmas party: Lew Bates (left), editor Wyoming Stale Tribune and later No one appeared in opposition, but U.S. Senator Frank Barrett's assistant; William Grove, manager KFBC-TV; Oz Koerfer, vice president of McCraken'$ newspapers; Loretta Cobry, ad department; and Tracy the Park Service submitted a SIX"-D 25 Nebraska History - Spring 1996 ment site. "If the use of public property ducted no transmission tests at any of landmark," and argued that the Park and public facilities, maintained at fed the sites and that Grove apparently had Service was attempting to deprive Pan eral expense, in order to reduce the relied on a report suggesting that the handle residents of quality television capital outlay of the promoters of a "vertical surface" of Scotts Bluff would viewing. "The Tribune, as readers will commercial venture and consequently create "undesirable ghosts" in television well recall, excoriated bureaucracy's a greater realization of profit are to be a transmissions. The Park Service's test, great and mounting power, and warned consideration, then there is no compa however, contradicted that position.31 of the danger of that growth, through all rable alternate site [to the monument On February 8, 1955, Wirth again of the 20 years it was permitted under location]." He reminded Wirth of an wrote Grove that he was denying the the Democrat administrations," the edi other problem with locating the tower torial thundered. "Over and over again, on the monument: the Tribune urged support of the Repub Man-made structures such as a television lican party for that and various other antenna are required by the Civil Aero reasons. Must we confess that the Re nautics Administration [sic] to be painted publican party can do no more about with alternate bands of orange and white this than the Democrat party?" The edi in addition to a blinking red light. It is in conceivable that such a structure could torial concluded, "Is there not a power be made to blend with the surrounding in the Republican administration, which terrain under these conditions.28 can bring bureaus and bureaucrats to In Hackett's view, the scenery would book?" Listed on the masthead, printed be irreparably damaged. "The general above the editorial, was the name of the view of the bluff as seen from the north Tribune's new editor, Lewis E. Bates, side of the North Platte River has often who had been the administrative assis been used by national publications on tant for Barrett during the beginning of stories on the monument or the State of the controversy.33 Nebraska," Hackett wrote. '''In the future, There was the expected outpouring should Frontier erect their antenna and of support for Frontier from Panhandle transmitter ... , their installation would residents, coupled with corresponding be featured in similar photos." He denunciations of the Park Service's de added dryly, "While this would generate cision. Well-known University of Wyo a quantity of national publicity for Fron ming historian T. A. Larson wrote Barrett tier Broadcasting and KSTF-TV, it is National Park Service Director Conrad L. as a proponent of Frontier's proposal. "I questionable if either the national publi Wirth. Scotts Bluff National Monument want to compliment you on your stand cations or the general traveling public with respect to Echo Park and the TV will feel that a television antenna has company's request. In a prepared state tower on Scotts Bluff National Monu national significance."29 ment, Barrett said he was "distressed to ment," Larson wrote, adding, "I try to Despite Hackett's compelling report, learn of the decision." In one version of study each conservation question on its Barrett felt the hearing had gone well for the statement, the Wyoming senator merits and I am sure that you do the Frontier Broadcasting. He wrote added: same."34 Torrington businessman Pearson, who The historical significance of the monu The Scottsbluff Star-Herald applauded had been gathering signatures on peti ment is in the fact that it was a landmark the Park Service's decision. The paper It tions, that the Park Service director in the early days of the West. would take was skeptical of claims that the monu several atomic bombs to destroy that land ment was the only feasible location for might change his mind. "Wirth ... told mark, and it is hard to see how a tower Reuel Armstrong that we made out a less than 75 feet high could get that job the tower. "A little distasteful, too, has very good case and that he is trying his done.32 been the open organization and appli cation of political pressure to force a re level best to work out something which Without identifying that Frontier versal of the historic principle of main will be satisfactory to US."30 Broadcasting was McCraken's company, taining national monuments in their But Barrett's optimism was il\ his Wyoming State Tribune blasted the natural state. "35 founded. Unknown to the senator, Di Park Service's decision editorially. McCraken thanked Barrett for sup rector Wirth had received a memo from Titled "Bureaucracy at Its Worst," the porting the company's position. "While Verne E. Rowley, Park Service supervi editorial repeated Barrett's contention you, Joe [O'Mahoney], Keith [Thomson, sory electronics engineer. The report that the tower would not "destroy the Wyoming congressman], were unable was devastating to the Frontier position. value, beauty or significance of that Rowley revealed that Frontier had con to prevail upon the Park Service people 26 Television in the Panhandle to deviate from their usual bureaucratic Gering Courier, March 4, 1955 thinking, I want all of you to know I am greatly appreciative of your efforts." However, he was not ready to concede KFBC·TV defeat. "I knew that we could make of CHEYENNE, WYOMING our case an air-tight and clinching one. But I was not convinced that this bureau would judge the case on its merits. And it certainly hasn't," McCraken grumbled. "As [a] result of this narrow and selfish decision which is so contrary to the best TO THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH PLATTE VALLEY: interests of the greatest number of people, [the Panhandle] will perhaps indefinitely or even forever, be denied the advantages of television service." He Telev\sion station KSTF, Channell 0, Scottsbluff, will then asked Barrett if he could arrange be on thE! air soon with test transmission. Prob,ably in "an appointment with the President, at 75 to 90 days. which time an appeal to him would be made."36 Barrett replied that he had contacted 1. Reuel Armstrong, the Wyomingite OUfJPplication for permissi.on to construct a tower serving as solicitor of the Department of on theonument, the most feasible site, having been the Interior, about the matter. denied, we shall proceed, as previbusly announc:ed, to Armstrong suggested not appealing the determil1~ the next most advantageous available site for decision to the Secretary of the Interior until the Echo Park Dam issue was our towe'~ and transmitter. settled.37 O'Mahoney wrote a similar letter. "it i . McCraken responded that would All e~uipment for the complete :station and its con· just be plain unsafe" to delay the matter. "I am afraid some people in the str,uction ihas been ordered and th~ orders have be~n Scottsbluff region would have a difficult . confirmed! In approximately two wljleks the first of the time convincing themselves that any fur ,hipmehts! will, be arriving in ther postponement of action is some thing other than a stall on our part." He wrote to O'Mahoney, bluntly stating that "the community antenna people are KSTF,i through its sister station,' KFBC-TV, Cheyenne, . again getting busy in Scottsbluff."38 will be ~ffiliated with all four jor networks, CBS, McCraken was not giving up. He sent NBC, AB~, and DuMont, thus a ng viewers lin this Koerfer and Grove to Scottsbluff on Feb vicinity o. the finest in entertainme news, info~mCltiv'e ruary 18 to attend a junior chamber of commerce meeting. Barrett sent an air and educ~tio,nal programs. We are roud of thei opp~r. mail letter the next week, urging Fron tunity to ~ecome what we hope will be an integ~al part tier Broadcasting to seek a reversal of of the.. $Ofal~ and economic life of t is region. the decision at a higher level in Interior. He noted that Armstrong and two other officials of the department "are in our I i corner." He added that "the Secretary himself is inclined to go along also, but ,THE fRONITER 'BROAD CO. !. for some reason or other they [Interior] I ' VYIL,""'" C. GROVE, MANAGER seem to be terribly afraid of the opposi tion from some of the so-called conser vation organizations. "39 27 Nebraska History - Spring 1996 In February, former U.S. Senator statement. "Connie [Wirth] says he the scenery of Scotts Bluff National 47 Clarence C. Dill of Washington wrote to rested his decision on the statute and Monument. Barrett, pointing out, "I wrote the not on the reports, however. ',43 present law ... and after quitting the The lawyer's report was not particu Notes larly favorable to Frontier's position. Senate, I practiced radio law in Wash 1 KFBC-TV went on the air July 18, 1952. Phil ington for several years." The former Written by Julian H ..Golden, acting as Roberts et al., Wyoming Almanac (Laramie: Sky senator then told Barrett of a recent ·sistant solicitor for National Parks, the line West, 1994),330. case in which he represented a televi report described the testimony at the 2 For a detailed study of the Grand Teton contro sion owner in Spokane, Washington, hearings and later exhibits, indicating versy, see Robert Righter. Crucible for Conserva who had a site on top of Mount Spo that "many letters in the file [are] from tion: The Creation ofGrand Telon Nalional Park (Boulder: Colorado Associated University, 1982). kane in a state park. "Another station persons who favor the granting of the sued to remove it," Dill wrote, but the application and many from persons Scotts Bluff National Monument was created by who oppose i1."44 presidential proclamation 1547 on Dec. 12, 1919, court upheld the placement of the reserving 2,053.83 acres for the site. U.s. Statutes tower. He suggested that the case might' Lewis finally made his decision and At Large 41 (1919): 1779-80. The area was reduced serve as precedent in the Frontier case.40 replied to Barrett on April 18, noting to 1,893.83 acres by survey on May 9, 1924, but But Barrett already had checked for that the retord had been "quite volumi again enlarged by Proclamation 1999, June I, 1932, precedents. There were several places nous and I found it necessary to devote and by Proclamation 2391 on March 29, 1940. US. Statutes at Large 47 (1932): 2512-13; 54 (1940): where state park commissions had al the past weekend to it so that I might 2690-9\. lowed such towers, he wrote Dill. "The it undivided attention; hence the 3 Robert C. Pfannenschmid, "A Study of Site Forest Service and BLM have done so, delay in responding." He then reiterated Availability for Construction of Television Trans but nowhere has the National Park Ser Wirth's decision. "My conclusion is that mitting Facilities in the Vicinity of Scottsbluff, Ne vice" permitted such towers.41 The only the very nature of the installation con braska," 7. Unpublished technical report in Frank hope was an appeal to higher authori templated and its particular location A. Barrett Papers, CoIl. 631, Box 24, File Folder within the boundaries of the national 898, American Heritage Center, University of Wyo ties in the Interior Department or the ming, hereafter cited as Barrett Papers. Federal Communications Commission. monument is so much at variance with the fundamental purposes of establish Application, William Grove to National Park Ser In early March Barrett wrote to the vice, Sept. 18, 1954, in which' Grove indicated the FCC, asking "whether or not the FCC ing and preserving national monuments station would serve "54,000 people presently with had any authority to intervene or help in that it precludes a decision contrary to out television service" throughout the North Platte getting the National Park Service to that of Mr. Wirth." He concluded Valley. Barrett Papers. agree to the location of the television "Therefore, the denial of the application 4 "Wyoming Eagle Now Directed by T. S. tower: Mary Jane Morris, FCC secretary, must stand."45 McCraken," Wyoming Eagle, Oct. 15, 1926. "Final responded, Barrett sent a copy of Lewis'~ deci Tribute Paid to Tracy McCraken," Wyoming State sion to Tracy McCraken. "I know that it Tribune, Dec. 30, 1960. The commission is fully appreciative of 5 "Owner of Eagle is Cheyenne Visitor," Wyoming the problems confronting the above per is a blow to KFBC-TV, but I don't know Eagle, June 7, 1925. No masthead appears in early mittee in its efforts .... However, the issu what we can do about it." He also sent a issues, and Wanerus is not identified as the editor ance of authority to locate a transmitter copy to his former aide, Lew Bates, now until Aug. 9, 1925, in the eleventh issue of the pa on Scotts Bluff National Monument ap the Tribune editor. "I was dubious of the per. Wanerus's name did not appear on the mast pears to lie exclusively within the jurisdic 46 head after Dec. 5, 1925. Kinney, his wile, and tion of the National Park Service and the matter from the first," Barrett confessed. The matter was closed. The Park Ser Wanerus are listed as the directors of the "Wyo Commission can only approve the loca ming Eagle Publishing Company." Certificate of tion from an engineering standpoint. vice, historic preservation, and scenery Incorporation, Folder 31553, Wyoming State She reminded Barrett that the had prevailed over television in yet an Archives. company's application "did not specify other minor skirmish between conserva Confusion surrounds McCraken,s involvement in the Scotts Bluff National Monument as tion and profit. Nonetheless, television the Eagle. Years later, the Denver Post and Rocky the location of the proposed transmitter did come to Scottsbluff and the Ne Mountain News the myth that McCraken had the Eagle as a small, site, but rather a site some ten miles braska Panhandle. Ironically, Frontier Broadcasting located the tower for struggling, free-distribution weekly. Actually, the south of the city of Scottsbluff."42 issues edited by Wanerus indicate the paper had Barrett turned to Interior Under KSTF-TV ten miles north-northeast of substantial local advertising and editorial content secretary Orme Lewis to review the Park Scottsbluff, near the site suggested by from throughout Wyoming. Service's decision. While Frontier and the Park Service, where the tower still , As an example of McCraken's skills at promo Barrett waited for Lewis's reply, Reuel stands. KSTF-TV went on the air June 1 lion of the Eagle, see "The Largest Circulation of Armstrong wrote to Barrett, including a 1955, serving television viewers through Any Newspaper in the State of Wyoming," Wyo ming Eagle, Dec. 5, 1925. copy of his lawyer's report, the Park Ser out the North Platte Valley without com vice engineer's report, and Frontier's promising the historical significance or 7 In August 1937 McCraken entered a partnership with Tribune owner Alfred G. Hill, but within two 28 Television in the Panhandle McCraken had taken control of both dai 22 Torrington petition dated Dec. 30, 1954; mentalists, the proposed Echo Park Dam was "Under One Roof," Wyoming Stale Tribune, Pearson-circulated petition, undated, Barrett stopped in 1956. The dispute is described in Mark Aug. 2, 1937. Papers. W. T. Harvey, A Symbol of Wilderness: Echo Park and the American Conservation Movement (Albu O'Mahoney to Grove, Dec. 22, 1954. McCraken remained active in the Democratic querque; University of New Mexico Press, 1994). Party, becoming state chairman and, later, Demo O'Mahoney indicated that he had received materi cratic National Committeeman from 1942 to 1960. als about the issue, probably from McCraken, at a 38 McCraken to Barrett, Feb. 19, 1955; McCraken [n 1960, shortly before his death, he chaired meeting in Cheyenne's Plains Hotel earlier that to O'Mahoney, Feb. 18, 1955. fall. In the 1930s, observers often referred to Wyoming's delegation to the Democratic National 39 Barrett to McCraken, Feb. 23, 1955. Convention in Los Angeles where Wyoming's McCraken, O'Mahoney, and Gov. Leslie Miller as 40 Clarence C. Dill to Barrett, Feb. 16, 1955. votes barely gave John F. Kennedy a first-ballot "MOM" and told of seeing them meeting at the victory over rival Lyndon Johnson. Plains. Thompson interview. 41 Barrett to Dill, Feb. 21, 1955. 24 8 Burton Thompson, former Tribune reporter and Grove to Barrett, Jan. 5, 1955. 42 Barrett to Mary Jane Morris, Mar. 7, 1955; AP correspondent, interview with author, 25 Memorandum, Julian H. Golden, acting assis Morris to Barrett, Mar. 10, 1955. Laramie, Wyo., Sept. 1993. tant solicitor for National Parks, Mar. 17, 1955, NPS 43 Handwritten note, Armstrong to Barrett, Mar. 9 Peggy Bieber-Roberts, "Media Hegemony in file L3030-SCBL, I, Barrett Papers. Letter, Barrett, 18,1955. Cheyenne: A Discriminant Analysis Approach to O'Mahoney, Thomson, Hruska, Curtis, and Miller 44 Memorandum Report, Julian H. Golden to Media Advertising Opinions of Merchants," to Wirth, Jan. 25,1955. Miller had expressed reser Armstrong, Mar. 17, 1955. NPS File L3030-SCBL, (master's thesis, University of Wyoming, 1985). vations about the site in an Oct. 18, 1954 letter to Koerler and Grove: "It's my understanding, as a Barrett Papers. 10 A Torrington, Wyo., newspaper incorrectly as general practice, the Department of the Interior 45 Barrett to Lewis, Mar. 10, 1955; Lewis to serted that the station would provide Scottsbluff and the National Park Service frown on this kind Barrett, April 18, 1955. with "its lirst television reception." Torrington of addition to these nature's beauty spots." Telegram, Jan. 13, 1955. Weak reception was re 46 Barrett to McCraken, Apr. 20, 1955; Barrett to ceived from Cheyenne. The article also noted that 2' Coyt H. Hackett, "Comparison Study of Televi Bates, Apr. 20, 1955. the Scotts Bluff site would allow lor the signal to sion Transmitter Sites," unpublished report, Jan. I, 1955, Barrett Papers. 47 Conversation with Dean Knudsen, historian! reach throughout Goshen County and as far north librarian, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Jan. 4, as Lusk, Senator Barrett's hometown. William C. ,7 Ibid., 2-4. 1995. According to Knudsen, the "Administrative Grove to Lewis E. Bates, July 29, 1954. (Unless oth 28 Ibid., I. History of Scotts Bluff National Monument" indi erwise noted, ailiurther references to letters are cates that the field tests conducted in Jan. 1955 from the Barrett Papers.) Grove noted that there 20 Ibid., 6. "dampened the flames of the controversy." Unpub had been "at least two unsuccessful efforts to fi 30 Barrett to Pearson, Jan. 26, 1955. 1. Reuel lished manuscript, collections of Scotts Bluff Na nance the installation of a television station to Armstrong, a Wyoming native, was then serving as tional Monument. Spot TV Rates and Data, 75 serve the valley." Grove to Barrett, Oct. 26, 1954. solicitor for the Department of the Interior. Later, (Aug. 1993),209. II Actually, six sites were surveyed, all south of he became a Wyoming district judge. the North Platte River and ranging from one mile 31 Memorandum to the director from Verne E. to eleven miles from Scottsbluff, mostly to the Rowley, Jan. 21, 1955, citing letterto Grove from south and west of the town. See map in K. O. Homberg, who suggested the "vertical sur Pfannenschmid, " A Study," Barrett Papers. face" theory. Armstrong sent Barrett a copy of the 12 Grove to Bates, July 29, 1954; note, Aug. 6, report with a handwritten note dated Mar. 18, 1954. 1954. 13 Bates to Grove, Sept. 7, 1954. 32 Wirth to Grove, Feb. 8, 1955; Wirth to Barrett, same date. Construction of the tower would "im 14 Grove to Bates, Sept. 7, 1954. pair the historic significance of Scotts Bluff Na {5 Bates to Conrad L. Wirth, Sept. 22, 1954. Sent tional Monument and would also impair the enjoy with the letter was Grove's application ment of the area by those who visit it." Barrett pre Sept. 18. Wirth to Bates, Oct. I, 1954. pared statement (multiple copies), Feb. 9, 1955, 16 Wirth to Barrett, Oct. 19, 1954. Barrett Papers. 17 Grove to Barrett, Oct. 26, 1954. 33 "Bureaucracy at Its Worst," Wyoming Slate Tri bune, Feb. 10, 1955. In other area newspapers, the 18 Telegram, O. B. Koerfer to Clark Williams, decision was summarized in unbiased news ar Nov. 26, 1954. ticles. See, for example, "TV Permit Denied for 19 See, for example, the resolution from the Park Tower: Denver Post, Feb. 10, 1955. Torrington Chamber of Commerce, Dec. 31,1954. 34 T. A. Larson to Barrett, Feb. 10, 1955. ro Percy F. Renner to Wirth, Oct. 15, 1954. 35 Scottsbluff Star-Herald, Feb. 11, 1954. 21 E. M. Parker to Wirth, Oct. 9, 1954; Willis A. McCraken to Barrett, Feb. II, 1955. Faith to Wirth, Oct. 13, 1954.1. C. Kuxhausen, Mitchell Community Club president, wrote that 37 Barrett to McCraken, Feb. 16, 1955. In 1950 the "there are about 60 sets in our small town," indi Bureau of Reclamation announced plans to build cating that television signals were being received two dams along the Colorado River. Reservoirs be from somewhere. Kuxhausen to Wirth, Oct. 18, hind both would have been within Dinosaur Na 1954. tional Monument. After a long fight by environ 29