St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-20
BY T. NJ. NEWSON.
Article XXI.

BY T. NJ NEWSON.
Article XXI.
xOe1-sECoND MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE
= The first legislature met in the old Central
House, back of AIannheimer block, on
Bench street. Sept. 3, 1649. The second
session of the legislature was held in 1901,
in brick building on Third street, now
part of the present Merchants hotel, erected
and owned by Judge Aaron Goodrich. The
lower floor was occupied by the House OF
Representatives, the upper floor by the
Council, and two rooms by Governor Ramsey
and Judge Goodrich respectively, the latter
then Chief Justice of the Territory. The
third session of the Legislature was held in
the winter of 1872, in a new brick building
which stood on the corner of Third and
Washington streets, where the Metro
politan Hotel now stands. 1t
burned down in 1857. This
building was known for many
years as the old ''Rice House, from the fact
that Rice q Banfill built it. 1t was once the
residence of Mrs. Corbett, who kept boarders
there, and also the residence of J. w. Bond.
HoLE-IN-THE-DAY.
This eminent Indian chief of the Chippewa
nation, made an appeal to the Legislature
this year in behalf of his tribe, as they we're
in starving condition. His eloquence eli
cited q response, and aid was given.
JAMES NJ. GooDHUE WOUNDED.
We have already given the particulars Of
the fight between Joseph Cooper, brother Of
Judge Cooper, and James NJ. Goodhue, edi-
tor Pioneer, whereby both parties were
wounded, and from the effects of which
wounds the latter died. We will only say in
passing that the event occurred January 16,
1850.
THE CAPITOL LOCATED.
The Legislature having power from the
general government to expend $50, 900 for
the location of the capitol of the Territory,
the question was warmly discussed in the
Legislature, and the matter was finally com
promised as follows: Capitol to go to st.
Paul, the university to st. Anthony and the
peniten tiary to Saltwater. Three commits
sioners were appointed to supervise the cree
ton of building, and block of land (the
present Site given by Charles Bazille and
Vetal Guerin was accepted. Bazille gave the
property in his own name, and Guerin re-
imbursed Bazille half of block elsewhere,
and hence they were joint donors. The
property belongs to the state even if the cap
itol is removed. The old capitol building
cost $40, 900.
FIRST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE.
The first dramatic performance seen
In st. Paul was at Mazurka hall,
during the month of August, 1850,
when a troupe from New Orleans enacted
'Slasher and Crasher," "Betsy Baker, and
other plays. One can see in Imagination
the tinselry and daub Of the stage OF that
day, as well as the crude surroundings of the
hall; the old benches, the three-footed stools,
the rickcty chairs, the tobacco juice and pea
nut shells, the smoked room, all of which
were concomitants of a first class theatre of
thirty-four years ago! and to this he can hear
the wild shrieks of the "boys," or the ing
ling of tumblers in the room below, and
form a very correct idea Of the class of amuse-
ments given to the st. Paul public in 1891
Now take my arm, if you please; walk with
me to Wabashaw street; let us enter the
Grand; open your eyes; critically inspect
this beautiful house; see that capacious stage;
look out upon that audience; listen to those
sweet strains of music; observe the glitter of
the electric lights ali there they comet what
scenery what dresses what actors
The dark visaged face of the grim old Past
crouches in one corner of the room and
horribly grins as he witnesses the innovation
of years, while a sweet, cherub angel floats
over the stage and smiles serenely while she
watts her golden hair onward and upward =
1S50!-1Ss4! "Progress Prosperity Pre-
sminencew
OTHER EVENTS.
Rev. E. D. Neill was appointed superin-
tendent of schools; Red river train of 1902
wooden carts arrived; treaty with the Sioux
made; fifteen additions added to the city; ap-
pearance OF Weekly 1Hi,oteotap,; Winslow
House commenced; Catholic cathedral com
pleted.
GEN. W. R. MARSHALL,
Born in 1925, in Boone county. Mo-, Mr.
Marshall came to Minnesota in 1S47, or 81
years ago. He is Of Irish-Scotch descent;
received common school education, aud
when at the age of - years, in common with
his brother supported their mother and
youngest sister. At the age of Is years he
worked in the lead mines of Galena, H.,
and in 1917 he moved to Saltwater, Mimi,
and then to the Falls of the st. Croix. He
pre-empted a claim in st. Anthony in 1s49
which, had he held to the present time, would
have made him very rich man. In the
spring of 1S49, he, with his brother Joseph
II 4
the first store of general merchandise
at the Falls of st. Anthony. He surveyed
that town and was engaged by the United
States in surveying pine lands on the Rum
river. He was elected TO the first territorial
Legislature, aud in 1851 removed to ST. Paul
aud established the first iron and heavy hard
ware store in Minnesota. The building was
a small wooden one, standing on the ground
now occupied by the Warner block, corner
Of Third and Wabashaw streets, and we re-
member it as the ''Shgo Iron Store.'' The
brothers afterwards occupied the stone build
ing adjoining the Opera house (receutly tax
en- DOWN, and after selling out, they estab-
lished a banking house, which finally went
down in the financial revulsion of 1857. Mr.
Marshall presided at the meeting which or
ganized the Republican party of the state of
Minnesota, aud was brought out as candi-
date for delegate to congress, by the St. Paul
Daily Times, theu edited by T. NJ. Newson,
and was subsequently nominated by the
convention, but through the pig-headitive-
ness of the anu-Nebraska wing of the Demo
cratic party, was defeated, and II. NJ. Rice
elected in his place. In 1861 he leased the
printing material of the old Daily Tinses, then
owned by T. NJ. Newson, for one year, and
thus established the st. Paul Daily Press. of