The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1893-12-09
ACTING CITY ATTORNEY
Gives His Views aud Some Light ON the
Capitol IIill Matter.

Gives His Views aud Some Light ON the
Capitol Hnl Matter.
The article regarding the Capitol
Hill property published in THE LEA
DER Thursday morning, has been the
subject of considerable talk Mr. j.
A. Baker acting for city attorney PAN
coast, after making n few preliminary
remarks regarding the arti lie, says in
a communication handed in Thursday
evening"
1t is pretty generally known that
during the absence OF Mr., Pancoast
for the past week or SO ! have mad the
honor to represent him in the city af-
fairs. Aud as am almost a stranger
in the city and am representing an
other am v-ry sensitive that nothing
should be done to which the most
punctilious could raise the slightest
objection For myself therefore IS
well as for the council repel the idea
that the council desired to secure the
title to the Capitol IIill property for
any other than the most legitimate
purpose. Let MS see. Originally Cap
tol Hin square after having been set
tied was voluntarily abandoned by the
occupants They and others having
con eived the idea that it was emf
nently fitted as a location for capt
tol building in case Guthrie should be
selected as the capital of the territory.
Since that time the city has taken
possession Of it and has fenced it,,
planted and cared for trees, erected a
band-stand thereon and an are light
and has had tho exclusive possession
of the same ever since Hs public
grounds These same people who va
Gated this property not only contem-
plated that it should be held as above
indicated, but should Guthrie not be
selected as the capital of the future
state, then this square should be held
by the city ae public park or for
other public uses. II is evidently con'
templated by law that the townsite
boards of this territory should not eN-
list always b~t that they would finish
/ their labors and when their labors are
finished and they exist no longer, who
win then hold the title for this city
and her people? The corporation Of
the city Of Guthrie is intended and
doubtless will be pcrpetuity. The
townsite board act of May l4th. 1890
adopted as a scheme TO convey title to
the occupants three trustees. To these
, trustees the title to the land is con
veyed by patent and these trustee
have a specific and express duty to per
: form. and that duty as expressed los
the act above referred to is TO ascer
tain to whom the lots are to be con
yeyed and to convey them 10y deed Z,
: the parties entitled Unclaimed lot.
are TO be sold for the benefit of tn
municipal government OF such town o
. city.
). The PARKS or reservations for publi
buildings are TO be conveyed 10 th
q municipal government within who's
; limits Nhey are located, no provision
whatever, being made to convey It'll
10 such resrgatipns TO the territory
y The instructions from the secretary O
= the interior, hereafter inserted, direc
that the parks and reservations shal
r be conveyed 10 the proper author
D ties" Here a quibble arises as to VIII
q are the proper authorities as mean
by these instructions The "Dropc
authorities referred % in these ir
sfrnetions can moan nothing else bu
&c Na.i,
|. possible, send wagon down "a