Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-20
HAS HAD SEVEN CAPITALS.
Kansas Scat OF Government Has
Been Located in Seven Places.

Kansas Scat OF Government Has
Been Located in Seven Places.
The Nail and Breeze thinks 1T is
somewhat Of q coincidence thet Kan
sas has had seven capitals.
But few know the conditions in
which these statehouses now are, or
how romantic has beeu the history Of
the seven buildings which has served
the commonwealth as headquarters
The most noted Of these, perhaps, is
the old Pawnee house, the first capt.
tai, out in the center of the state near
Junction City. IT,. WIS Il large two
story building Of stone erected for the
first territorial legislature on promise
of Gov. Reeder that he would order
the session to be held at the boom
town of Pawnee, then just started,
aud 10 which it was thought Governor
Reeder had an interest. The lpgisa-
ture thought so, for the members
went to the meeting in prairie schoon-
ers aud cooked their own meals, re-
fusing to patronlze the hotel. They
stayed two days, organized, and, get
ting into their wagons, went to the
Shawnee Mission, which then became
the capital Of the state. The resolu-
ton to adjourn was the only business
transacted. The Pawnee house still
stands, a roofless, windowless ruin
1t is the states most picturesque ruin
and many visitors look it over every
season.
The Legislative body met, according
to adjournment, at the Shawnee Man
ual Labor school, Mt Shawnee Mission
July 16, 1853. The members were
more reconciled to this place and
were not so much inclined to boycott
the town. The Legislature had al
ready dethroned the governor in Of
feet, and he had no choice but to fol-
low it from place to place as it should
dictate. The session at Shawnee was
stormy and disastrous, marked chiefly
by deadlocls with the governor. The
building was long, barrack-like
structure, erected originally for q
school house 1t has been destroyed
The next capital was Constitution
hall, Topeka, in which were held the
SESSIONS of the first state constitution
al convention, Subsequently the ses
sion of the legislature was held there
The structure, a plain brick building
remodeled and made into a business
house, still stands on Kansas avenue
and few of the thousands who pass il
realize that the first constitution oil
the state WAS adopted there.
Then came the Lecompton capital,
in which the second territorial legIsla
ture met January -, 1857 1t was g
two story building, entirely guiltlest
of ornament and lDdlfferently suited
to the small needs of the members.
The next meeting place was al
Lawrence, where the session of the
third legislature was held. This was
store building and used only for
present convenience. The fourth leg
islature met at Lecompton and ad
iourned to Lawrence, where it occu
pied a shabby two story building
again.
In 1855 congress he'd made an ap
preparation of $4,000 for a new CAPT
tai, which was begun at Decompton
The money was squandered and little
of it used as it should have been
Walls were begun and the approprla
ton ran out. No more was forthcom
ing and the workmen left The foun
dalton was utilized as fortress anG
barracks by the pro slavery soldiers
Later the site WAS secured by Lane
university, a United Brethren college
now located at that place.
Topeka was finally chosen as thu
permanent capital aud on December
Is, 1869, the east wing Of the present
capital building was ready for occu
pancy. For several years it stooi
alone. Then the west wing was bull
aud now the NAN structure connects
the two and 100000 more will finish
a 100000 building, one Of the mos
imposing in he west and we'll suited
to the needs of the state Co-operGtOT
-
Mortgage Redemption Law,
| Fropo tba YoDoo,s Cif1i .To,tr,1l,J tyt