The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-08

the townsite and gotten up beautiful
Autograph map showing the future cap
1tol, court house, churches, school houses
and other public buildings, they were
ready for business, shortly after and prior
to the meeting of the territorial legis-
lature Of 1887. All the members of the
legislature had been seen who could be
relied upon the division and silence: in
fact, it was a majority of both houses
The records afterwards disclosed the
price-some members got two lots In the
new town, some four, others half a block
in one instance whole block and five
acres adjoining the town plat It is diff
ferent now-nothing but spot cash goes;
certified checks and money under stone
are not considered legal tender.
On the 7th of February, William D,
Lowry, member of the council from
st. Cloud, as previously arranged, opened
the ball by the Introduction of "a bill for
the removal Of the seat of government
Of the territory of Minnesota at the
same time making a few remarks, say
ing among other things that in his opin-
ion the time had come to take action in
regard to the location of a permanent
seat of government for the territory and
future State of Minnesota, and that the
place named in the bill for the future seat
of government, st. Peter, he thought
would give general satisfaction. The To-
cation was more central than ST. Paul
and would be easy of access, as it was at
the head of Navigation of Minnesota riy-
er This was before the day of railroads.
Henry N. Setter, member of the coun-
eli from the st. Croix valley, believing
the matter to be a farce, at once jumped
to his feet and gave notice of the intro
drction of bill to repeal so much of the
organic act as would enable the legisla-
ture to locate the seat of government at
st. Peter
The Town Lot brigade was invincible.
After many motions to ttible, commit and
amend, al. of which failed, the bill passed
by vote of to Z. w w. Wales.
OF st. Anthony, and Joe E. Bassett. of
Hennepin county, no doubt in spirit of
neighborly kindness, working to the hest
of their ability to secure the passage of
the bill and voting for it, as it would be
so much more convenient for their con-
stltuents at the Falls to go to st. Peter
than to st. Paul to do business which
they might have at the capitol. or per-
maps. because the morals of the members
OF the legislature and state offices were
safer and there would be less temptation
for them to do wrong in a country village
than in city.
may say here that the Hon. John d
Ludden, then member of the council
from the st. Croix, now reside Mt of this
city, was one of the staIwarts who on
posed the passage of the bill.
The bill was reported to the house ON
the 18th of February, and then commen-
ced another struggle, but friends in the
house were too well trained. While nm
der consideration in the house a motion
was made to submit the question Of the
relocation of the capitol to the voters of
the territory, which was voted down with
whoop. Another motion, to elect com
missioners by the people, who would have
power TO relocate, met with the same fate
After these motions and some others
had been voted down, thinking it possible
that II the bill had to pass it might he
amended so as to locate the capitol on
N1collet island, at the Falls of ST An
thony, with the approval of my associate
In the house, l made a motion to that
effect, but it met with no better success
than the other motions to amend. What
was remarkable about the matter was
that Henry Hetchman and Jonathan
chase, OF st. Anthony, and T. p. Plummer
and T. T. Troll, of the Hennepin county
olstrlct, voted against the amendment.
perhaps on the theory that ST Peter
was going to be a larger town than Min
neapolis, and it may be possible that r.
Minneapolis and st. Anthony delegations
had done what they ought to. If thew
bad been loyal to their constituen the
capitol of Minnesota today might be a+
Minneapolis instead Of ST. Paul. vet then
as now, there were some people living
around the Falls of ST. Anthony who
wore a six and three-quarter hat. After
the passage of the bill it was returned to
the council After having been enrolled
1t was given to the Hon. Joseph Roulette,