The Hope pioneer., 1895-12-20
OUR CAPITOL.

u. II. bduSSs
OUR CAPITOL.
The citizens of North Dakota, and
especially Of Bismarck, the capital
city, have always been a hopeful peo-
pie. In IN issue Of the Bismarck 1rib-
une, dated July %, 7S73-over twenty
two years ago-appeared this prophe-
cy: "We have an abiding faith in the
to day not very far distant, on which
1t will be announced to sister states
and the world that Bismarck has be-
come the capital of the State Of Da-
kota." That this prophecy should have
been realized just ten years later Is
somewhat of coincidence. On June
2, 1883, it was proclaimed to the world
that Bismarck had become the seat Of
government Of the Territory Of Dako-
t. For twenty-one years the sessions
of the legislature had been held in the
city of Yankton, in private halls and
buildings wholly unfit for such pur-
poses, and no move looking to the con-
struction Of capitol building had
been made. The four years preceding
1888 had been prosperous ones for the
territory, especially for that portion Of
the north in which the extension Of
railroads had opened up an empire of
fertile land. Settlers f1ocked in by
train loads, and ambitious towns came
into existence as if by magic. At last
the pride Of the people asserted itself
against the primitive environments Of
the temporary seat Of government at
Yankton, and scheme looking to it's
removal was inaugurated.
The selection of a capital commits
sion, composed of nine citizens from
different parts Of the state-three
from the northern portion and six
from the southern portion-the strife
of many cities for capital honors and
the final success Of Bismarck are in
teresting bits of history. The removal
of the capital to northern city was
contemplated by few if any Of those
who at that time were members Of
the legislature or active in the remov-
al scheme. The removal act provided
that the commission should select a
suitable site after careful investiga-
tiOn and consideration of all advant-
ages, present and prospective, and an
other important feature was the re-
quirement of donation to the terrific
ry of at least 16O acres of land and
100000 in cash from the city or local
ity receiving the prize. The promi-
nent bidders were Bismarck, in the
northern portion, and Huron, Pierre,
Mitchell, Redfield, Ordway, Aberdeen
and Canton in the section south Of
the seventh standard parallel. At a
meeting Of the commission held in
Fargo, June 2, 1888, the bid of Bis
marck Of 320 acres of land and $780,.
600 in cash was accepted and the per-
manent seat Of government located In
this city. This was but the beginning
of the struggle which finally resulted
In division and statehood and the an.
choring of the permanent seat Of gov.
ernment Of North Dakota at Bis
marck. The selection Of the site was
followed by the acceptance Of plans
for magnificently-pror build
ing and the letting Of the contract for
the construction Of the center or main
building. Another coincidence is the
fact that just ten years later, by act Of
the legislative assembly Of 1893, the
building of the south wing was au-
thorized, which gives the building the
finished appearance it now has. OF
the legal barriers encountered by the
capital commission the sectional strife
engendered, the unsuccessful attempts
at removal on the part of the disap-
pointed members from the southern
portion In the memorable session Of
1850. 1t is not the province of this arti-
Gle to enumerate. For years the north
ern portion of the territory largely in
the minority in political conventions
and in the legislative assembly, had
acted only as tail to South Dakota's
kite; but in the session Of 1888 the
northmeD went down to Yankton de-
ternfned to wage war against existing
conditions and obtain suitable recognl-
tion for their sectional that time
without public buildings of any kind
and weak in representation. Hon. E.
A. Williams Of Bismarck was chosen
speaker Of the lower house, and in
the upper branch of twelve members,
the north was represented by Hon.
George H. Walsh Of Grand Forks,
Hon. S. G.. Roberts Of Fargo and Hon.
Johnson Nickeus of Jamestown. A
combination was finally effected that
secured for North Dakota a duplica-
tion Of all the public buildings, and
finally, through COMMISSIONER
which the northern section was repre-.
sented by Hon. Alex. Mckenzie Of
Bismarck, Hon. Milo w. Scott of
Grand Forks and Hon B. r. Spalding
Of Fargo-the removal of the seat Of
government.
The laying Of the cornerstone Of the
capitol building occurred on the 9Th day
Of September, 1888, and extravagant as
the statement may sound, was wit
messed by the most distinguished as
semblage Of people ever congregated in
the United States. The ceremonies
were SO timed as to receive the assist
ance Of the members of the great VII
Lard excursion en- route to give the
golden spike that marked the compile
tion of the great transcontinental
Northern Pacific railroad, and by
chance junction was formed at Bis
marck with the Rufus Hatch party Of
foreign dignitaries. 1t was cosmo-
politan crowd, in which the direct rep
resentatives Of some Of the crowned
heads Of Europe and representative
men Of this nation stood elbow to elbow
with Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the-F Face and
other representatives Of the once pow
erful Sioux nation. whose retreat be-
fore the march Of civilization this event
emphatically emphasized. There were
several cabinet officers, a score or more
Of United States senators, thirty or
forty members Of congress, the govern