Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1884-03-24
DAKOTA'S CAPITAL.
Brief History of the Removal of the
Seat of Government from
YanktOn.
How and Why Bismarck Was Select
ed Above All Others as the
Capital City.
A Description Of the Central Portion
OF the Capitol Building Now
Fully Completed.
With Perfect Picture of the Entire
Structure as 1t Will Appear
When Finished.
The Whole q Magnificent Free Gift
to the People of Dakota
Territory.
Record Of q Year.

Record Of Year.
Exactly one year ago Gov. Ordway approved the
bill passed by the territorial legislature, remov
ing the seat of government from the city of
Yankton. For twenty one years the capital had
been located in that city, at the extreme south
east part of the great territory Of Dakota, and
the sessions of the legislature and the territorial
offices had to be provided for in rented and in
appropriate buildings. Early in the session the
legislature resolved to delay no longer in taking
some appropriate and judicious action toward
carrying out the wishes of the people. and per
manently locating the capital at some central
and accessible point. As the result of wise
counseis and careful consideration of the vari-
ous plans for the accomplishment of so import.
ant work, the legislature On March 8, 1883,
passed the bill known as house f!e number 2i7
removing the seat of government from YanktOD.
The .-.-..-
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW
were plain and uumistakable in their intent,
and the bill went no further than to provide for
the summary removal of the seat of govern
ernment and it's subsequent re establishment at
some point to be selected by the nine members
of the capital commission named in the BILL on
or before July l, 1883. During the intervening
:, time the right Of the governor to Temporarily
name the capital was recognized. The act was
so drawn and amended thst the capital COM
missioners could not profit by the exercise Of the
ministerial power granted them, and they were
simply commanded on or before July l, to To-
cate the capital at some point most convenient
and centrally located to the people of the entire
territory. Both the present boundaries of the
territory and the possible futare boundaries Of
the state were to be taken into consideration,
and the only restrictions as to location was the
provision that the city or county in which the
capitalehould be located must first contribute
$l0O, 900 cash and 160 acres of land, the pro-
ceeds from the sale of which should also be de-
voted toward securing the erection of a perma-
nert capitol building. The commission named
in the bill consisted of four members from
south, three from north, one from cen
tral Dakota. and one from the Black Hills
viz: Alexander Hughes, Alexander Mckenzie
B. F. Spalding, DR.. NJ W. Scott, Geo.
H. Mathews, John P. Belding, D. M. Thompson
Oh Myers, HH De Long. The commission duly
organized by the election of officers and at once
advertised for bids for the
LOCATION OF THE CAPITAL,
which were duly opened at public meeting o1
the commission held at Canton, D. T. Immedi-
ately after 1ard the commission visited in body
the dozen or more cities that presented bids
chief among which were Bismarck, Huron, Pierre
Mitchell, Ordway, Aberdeen, Steele, Canton and
Redfeld. The largest bid was $4,000 cash and
100 acres of land, offered by the city of Mitchell
The commission, however, took chiefly into con-
sideration the desirability of fine natural site
good surroundings, and a location central, both
to population and area. After giving the sub
iect the most careful attention, and examining
the cities and their claims in the most thorough
and unpreiudiced manner possible, the commits
sion, at a meeting held at Fargo.on the Sd day
of June, 1888, unanimously decided upon Bis
marck, and named this city as the capital Of
Dakota. Immediately thereafter the governor
and other territorial officers removed their offices
to this city and into a temporary capitol build
ing, which was at once provided. Bismarck citi
zens without delay placed in the hands of the
treasurer of the capital commission the 800 00l
donated toward the erection of the capitol build
ing. which is to be given as free gift to the
( people of Dakota. The commission, as pro-
! vided in the capital removal act, Immediately
took the necessary steps for securing the erection
of the capitol building, and from number OF
plans selected that of Architect Burlington Of
Minneapolis, Mimi. The cut presented on this
page is made from the plans and sketch of
Architect Burlington. and is an absolutely cor
rect representation of
THE CAPITOL BUILDING,
as it will appear when fully completed. The
exteri of the central part of the building, ex-
elusive of that portion of the tower above
the roof is already completed.
a The seat of government was located at Bis
1narck on the 3rd day of June last. One hum
dred and sixty acres of the half section donated
by the city for site for the seat of government,
was plated and laid out into lots, streets,
parks, etc. Eighteen acres in the centre Of
this tract was reserved for the capitol building
and grounds. The contracts for the erection of
the main or center building was let August II,
and the excavation for the foundation was
commenced on the same day. So rapidly did
the work progress that by the 20th Of January,
1884, 1000, 600 of brick were laid in the walls;
lie roof was on, the iron work placed in posi-
Zion. and the building ready for the plasterers.
The most skilled workmen were employed and