The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-09-14
HISTORICAL
No..

Inc departure OF tue cdpitdi cOfnmls-
sion to hunt a site for Lincoln was a
subject OF merriment to the newspapers
Of the old capital. Not until after much
travelling TO and fro. looking at the
sites through the length and breadth
OF the territory defined by the act, the
commissioners on the 10Th Of July 1867
having issued their order locating Lin
coin, in Lancaster county, on and about
the site OF Lancaster. its county seat,
and commenced to survey the same into
blocks. lots, reservations, streets and
alleys, did the press Of Omaha wake to
the realities OF the situation.
There was music in the air. The act
provided that within ten days after its
passage the commissioners should quail
fy and give bonds to be approved by a
judge OF the supreme court. The bonds
were to be filed with the state treasurer.
Now il had been ascertained that
though the commissioners had sent in
their bonds to the chief justice. and he
had approved them in the stipulated
time, they had not been filed with the
treasurer inside of the ten days. 1t
was announced, therefore. that they had
no authority TO do anything under the
law. and that il they sold what purport-
ed to be lots in the town site OF Lincoln,
the treasurer. Hon. Augustus kountze of
Omaha. would receive the money and
hold it for future disposition, but he
wouldn't pay out any OF it as a capitol
building fund. At any rate an injunction
would be applied for to prevent him.
The announcement was calculated to
discourage those intending to become
purchasers OF Lincoln lots. 1t did have
a depressing effect.
The sale OF lots opened on the new
site in October. The commissioners
were on the spot with quite number
OF possible purchasers. The auctioneer
was a handsome man and had a good
voice. There was a band of music in
attendance. and it played as well as any
band ought to play SO far away from
civilization. But not bid could be
coaxed from single soul. The CON-
missioners had decided. upon consider
alton, that they would not personally
invest 1t was deemed proper to observe
the proprieties very strictly, and to
avoid future scandals they would keep
out. But this was a matter OF suspicion
to the crowd present. II the commits
sioners haven't enough confidence in the
new city to purchase a residence or a
business lot, why should we venture
any investment Night came on and
not lot had been sold.
A council OF war was summoned in
the evening in the Donovan House. and
the commissioners and certain gentle
men from Nebraska City were in attend
ance. The Nebraska City capitalists
said that the commissioners oaght to
bid on lots, and the commissioners said
that the Nebraska City men who were
so much responsible FOR the scheme
ought to bid. Finally it was conceded
that both ought to bid. The Nebraska
City men formed syndicate that agreed
to bid the appraised value on every lot
as it was offered and as much more in
case Of competition as they thought
safe. until they had taken ten thou
and dollars worth OF lots. But there
was a proviso that in case the sales did
not amount in five days to twenty
five thousand dollars. including the
syndicate's ten thousand. the whole
business should be declared of" the
enterprise abandoned. and no money
paid in. The commissioners also re-