Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-01-24
A D,.OW AT BISMtECK.

Bismarck, Jan. l6.-South Dakota
played her trump card to-day by giving
notice in both houses Of Tie legislature
OF the introduction at an early day of q
bill 10 remove the capital from Dis-
marck. The notice did not take people
entirely by surprise, as during the past
twcnty-four hours rumors Of capital re-
moval had been atioat yet Bismarck
people generally gave discredit to them
II transpired, however, that they were
reckoning without their host when they
! supposed that they were hcnccforth to
retain peaceable and unquestioncd pos
session of the seat of government. The
South Ddkotians came to Bismarck with
blood in their eyes, determined to have
revenge for what they regard as the
most stupendOus fraud of modern times
the removal of the capital from Yank-
ton. They also have a majority in the
legislature. By this means t.. ey cap.
tured the organization completely, and
have also taken good care to assure all
legislation in their favor by giving the
north only minority representation on
the committees. The council commit
tees were reported today. On commit
tees consisting of seven members the
north has but two. and on all commit.
tees of five, the north has but one
member. Whether the south will be
equally successful in it's scheme to re-
move the capital is "a question which
time alone will decide. There are sew
eral contingencies to be considered. In
the first place location must be agreed
upon. The next thing to be done is TO
secure Gov. Pierce's signature to the
bill providing for the removal. In case
of a veto on his part, it is somewhat
doubtful whether the requisite two
thirds can be secured to pass the bill
over his veto. The secret of the whole
matter is that South Dakota wants
division. She cries loudly for it, and
considers capital removal the only thing
to bring it about. On the other hand,
North Dakota has, until lately, advocat-
ed admission AS whole. During the
last ten days, however, there seems to
have come over the spirit OF their
dreams remarkable change. On the
arrival of the southern members, with
their strong feelings in favor of division,
Bismarckians began to see that it would
5e conducive to her interests to coincide
with those opinions, and consequently
her leading men have talked it on the
streets, and her newspapers have ad-
vocated it. They are thoroughly dis
concerted, however, at the turn that
affairs are now taking, and will move
heaven and earth to retain possession
of the capitol. Should the seat of gov
ernment be removed, there will be a
great many weary men in Bismarck
In fact, removal means bankruptcy to
many Of her citizens. Thirty thousand
dollars Of that 100000 was raised on
personal pledges that it would be re-
funded, but it will doubtless be very
cold day before they see any of their
cash again. AS to location the southern
members differ. In caucus, at which
some twenty-five were in attendance,
Pierre received majority Of all the
votes cast. But little business was
transacted in the council to-day asided
from the adoption Of a memorial to con-
gress to reduce the price of government
land inside railroad limits.