St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-06
THE MIDWAY DISTRICT.
Woodruff Continues His Argu
meUt for a River Site.

Woodruff Continues His Argu-
meut for a River Site.
In all the discussions on the subject
/ OF a new capital, sufficient attention
has not been paid to the most important
| items IN the selection of site. There
are questions outside and Independent
of all personal interests, paramount 10
all others. which the state at large
must pass upon. They must therefore
receive the consideration they deserve,
if wisdom is to pervade the counsels
| that are finally to determine Its l0ca-
ton.
Let us consider for moment what
would constitute the most suitable lOca-
ton and surroundings of the capitol of
a cultivated and highly civilized COM
mOnwealth.
There can be no question as to what
an ideal location and surroundings
would be if such could be made to order.
Under such circumstances it would be
high enough to facilitate good view of
the building from long distance from
any point of the compass. There would
be Suf1iciens grounds surrounding and
belonging to the capitol to form large
open space all around the building. 10
complete picturesque and harmonious
scene, the surrounding buildings would
be modern and well built, and would
consist of residences, hotels and insttu-
tons of learning. Anything in the
shape of dingy, smoky, noisy factories
would be kept quite remote from the
capitol; even business blocks or stores
of any description are not appropriate
i'll the INN ediate neighborhood of such
an institution.
This is my ideal location and vicinity
of the states headquarters.
Now, if any such conditions as these
are at all desirable, 1t should be remem-
bered that the three-quarter mile limit
Will not afford them now, much less ten
years from now.
1t is not an eXtravagant SuppOSitiOn
to say that in ten years the business of
ST. Paul may be double what it is now
But ten years from now will be but
the dedication year of the new building.
How would it do for the citizens who
come from all parts of the state to the
dedication 10 find it surrounded by
wholesale and retail stores, saloons,
warehouses, noisy factories, and en-
shrouded i'll almost perpetual smoke?
What else could be expected if this
small faction Of downtown spectators,
VINO have ruled to the sad experience of
the city, succeed in their reckless
effort to locate the capitol in the already
thickly built-up business portion of the
city?
For many years the city has been in
tested with a gang of political wire
pullerS who have shifted the scenes to
suit their purpose. regardless of the
rights of others or the best interests of
the whole city.
They have figured III most. if not in
all, public improvements and city con-
tracts, and by their lobbying and in
trigues have saddled upon the city a
debt of many millions. A relic, the
| offspring of plumber, the taxpayers
must henceforth tendery provide for.
1t is this same crew of pirates who
would now pilot the ship of state into
the breakers, as it has done the city.
1t will get the location OF the capitol
site under its control if the people of
the state are not active and assert their
choice.
1t has no argument to offer in favor of
the three-quarter- limit, hence it
must cOnfine itself to Misrepresentation
of that portion of the city that offers as
gift site of which the Granite Falls
+ Tribune says: Mature never combined
I-her forces to beautity lovelier spot than
she did here. The streets are smooth.
|and covered with just sand enough to
lmake mud an impossibiIity, while the
general style of the buildings denotes
Architectural taste ANA prosperity"
b 1t is that portion of the Midway dis
tritt known as Capitol hill, overlooking
the winding Mississippi. with its wood
ed banks and beautiful parks
There Is the picturesque Minnehaha