The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-04-25
CAPITOL OF MISSOURI.

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Should the people of Missouri
declare by their votes to be cast IL
1895 that the state capital shall bt
removed from jefferson City tc
Sedalia, this latter point will be the
fourth ut which Missouri Legislators
have met and deliberated in Mis-
souri'e history as a territory and
state.
The first Of these places was st.
Louis, the second st. Charles, the
third Jefferson City. Is Sedalia now
destined to achieve fame as the
capital city OF new and Imperial
Tho history of the capital changes
Of the state is an especially interest.
ing one. In view of the proposed
further change its presentation fol
general study just now is peculiarly
timely.
On June 4, 1912, Missouri was
organized into territory by act Of
congress. A governor and a general
assembly were specified as it's execu-
tive and legislative forces, the latter
to meet annually in the "town of st.
Louis" On October 1, 1912, Gov.
Clark, issued proclamation reorga-
nizing the territorial districts into
the fve counties of st. Charles, St.
Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girar-
deau and New Madrid, and ordering
an election to be held on the second
Monday in November following for a
delegate to congress and members
of the territorial house of represent
atives. Under this election the first
general as sembiy met on Dec. z,
1912, in the house of Joseph Robi
doux, about where Main street now
runs, between Walnut and Elm, in
st. Louis. John B. G. Lucas, one of
the territorial judges, administered
the oath of office, and William G.
Carr was elected speaker.
The last meeting of the general
assembly held in st. Louis was in
September, 1920. The Territory of
Missouri was then about to be ad
mitted to statehood, and among the
acts passed at this session was one
fixing the seat of government at st.
Charles until Oct. 1, 1926, when it
was to be moved to Jefferson City.
This change Of location had been
decided upon in order that the state
capital should be in as central a
location as possible. For the pur-
pose of establishing this central
locality survey of the state from
north to south and from east to
west had been made. 1t was found
that the geographical center of the
state was at point now known as
Centertown, in Cole county, but it
was desirable that the capital should
be on the river. Jefferson City,
about ten miles west of Centertown,
was chosen. NV should Sedalia be
named such choice would move the
state capital an additional seventy
miles due west.
In admitting Missouri to the union
as state the United States govern
ment donated four sections, or about
1850 acres of land in and about
Jefferson City. In convention July
10, 1920, the citizens of the new
state adopted an ordinance accepting
the proposition of the government,
aging, "We do accept the four
sections of land referred to for the
purpose of permanent seat of gov
ernment and do ordain, decree and
declare this ordinance shall be
irrevocable.n The land was divided
into lots and sold to the citizens Of
Jefferson City. The money paid for
this real estate was used to build the
original capitol on it's present site.
The center portion of the building
was erected at that time, and the
north and south wings added in 1887,
under Gov. Marmaduke. The cost
of the original building is claimed to
have been 100000 and the wings
$500, 900, making 100000 in all.
Every foot of ground upon which
the city of Jefferson now stands was
included in the original land grant.
The claim is now made by Jeffer-
son City that the capital cannot be
removed without compensation for
the money paid for the city lots, as
the government contract of accep-
ance read "irrevocable" and the
statute established the capital at
Jefferson City "forever." AS, how
ever, the voice of the people is law,
the vote to be taken In 1896 will
definitely settle this question.
From 1920 to 1925, therefore the
Legislature OF Missouri met at st,
Charles. During this time the state
buildings were in course of erection
at Jefferson City, and the sale of lots
at the new capital was under way,
The first sale took place in May,
1898, with Maj. Josiah Ramsey, Jr.,
J. P. Gordon aud Mr.. Adam Hope
acting as trustees for the state
There were but two families residing
in the place, those OF Maj. Joaiaf
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