The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-11-21
A. B. Beall, Of Sioux City, DESTROYS Of
Erecting New Opera House Here
To Cost $4,000.
TALK ON CAPITAL REMOVAL
Some Leading Men of the State Talk
to Sioux City Journal on
Capital Removal.

In the Sioux City journal Of the
18th there are some interviews with
leading South Dakotans concerning
the removal Of the capi tai from Pierre
to some other point in the state.
The gentlemen live in various parts
Of the state and what they have to say
shows something cf the sentiment
constantly growing for change
in the capital of South Dakota.
Following are some of the gentlemen
interviewed and what they said on
the matter:
A number of residents of South
Dakota were interviewed by Journal
reporter last evening in regard to
their views on the question of re-
moving the state capital from Pierre.
With the exception of the residents
in the Immediate vicinity of the
present capital, the consensus Of
opinion Of those interviewed seems
to be that the majority Of the people
| to some point nearer the center of
| population, and that if the removal
is ever to be accomplished it will be
done under the instigation Of the
coming legislature.
W. l. HoWland, of Sioux Falls who
is deputy internal revenue collector
for the Black Hills region, has just
returned from trip over his terri
tory. "The people vest of the river,n
said Mr.. Rowland last night. at the
Mondamin hotel, "would like.to see
the capital removed to more
accessible place than the present
location. With the present railroad
facilities Of Pierre, it is long road
to travel from the Black Hills country
to the capital, taking all of two days.
1t is almost as long trip, in time
as from Sioux City to New York, and
more tiresome. They do not find
any fault with Pierre as city, but
only with its inaccessibility. AL
though it is almost in the center OF
the state geographically, it is a good
distance west Of the center of popu.
lation
"This project to change the capi-
tai is not a new one by any means,
but it is being taken up more serious.
ly and with more determination than
ever before. In my opinion. the
Legislature will surely take action or
the question this year-that is, il
they ever expect to. The sentiment
around Sioux Falls is largely in favor
Of Mitchell, but as far as 1 can see
it would not make much difference
whether it were located at Mitchell
or Huron I should prefer one O.
these rather than Redfeld.
"The fact of the matter ISL con
tinued Mr.. Howiand. "the stat,
ought to have better capitol build
ing than it has. The present fran,
building was built as a temporar.
structure, and is hardly adequatl
for state capital"
Mr.. HOWland'S sentiments regard
ing the capitol building were echoe,
! by Charles W. Brown, an attorne
of Rapid City, who is on his way t
attend the session Of the suprem
court at Pierre.
"The supreme court is obliged t
hold its sessions in the senat
chamber,,.' he declared, "having n
other palce to convene. The nee
of new capitol building for Sout
Dakota is realized by ali who hav
any connection with che eXecutiv
and judicial business of the state.
''1n regard to the removal of th
capital from Pierre. l am neutral
Nor have [ heard many expression
of opinion from men in Rapid Cit
advocating the change. 1t is lon
trip to the capital for US in an
event. l am Of the opinion, how
ever, that there will be big tigt
on in the legislature on this question
and with the preponderance of It
presentation in the eastern porto
of the state I regard the removal
4 the capital to Mitchell or Huron {
extremely probable.