The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-10-17
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER Il, 1902.
MITCHELL AND THE CAPITAL
Very Favorable Expression Of a South
Dakota Citizen Directed To.
ward Mitchell.

ward Mitchell.
The following interview with a
prominent South Dakota citizen con-
corning the coming. capital campaign
appeared in a recent issue. Of the
Minneapolis journal. The sentiment
that is expressed in the journal state
ment is quite prevalent over the
state. The interview is given out by
a gentleman who speaks with consid-
cradle authority concerning railroad
matters and of the good feeling that
exists for Mitchell over the state.
The interview is as follows:
South Dakotans who are in the
city this Week-and there is a host
OF them who have come hitherward
to see and hear L. Frank Baum's
"Wizard of Oz''-assert that the
prettlest capital fight ever known
in the state is due to be pulled off
this winter at Pierre. There is a
preponderance Of sentiment. they
say, for removal and Mitchell is lead
ing Huron and Redfeld.
a thorough campaign is being
made in the interests Of Mitchell.
The place is already the capital of
Dawson county which lies about mid
way between the Minnesota-Iowa
line on the east and the Missouri
river on the west. Taking the state
at large Mitchell is pretty well east
and pretty well south, bearing a rela-
tion not unlike Madison to the state
OF Wisconsin. 1T has north. south
n west extensions of the Milwau-
kee road and a line of the Omaha
from Sioux Falls. 1t is primarily a
Milwaukee road town.
The Milwaukee railroad corpora
tion has entered the fight and is aid
ing Mitchell in its canvass. 1t is
learned from indubitable sources that
an the territory not conceded to
Pierre. Huron and Redtield has been
invaded by partisans of Mitchell and
that its campaign is the best organic
ed and most aggressive of all the
candidates. One influential South
Dakotan here this week assert that
Mitchell will be able to resubmit the
capital question irrespective of what
Pierre, Redfield and Huron do. It'll
has been thought that Pierre would
keep the capital because Of the in
ability Of the removalists to uniteI
on a town. The constitutional
amendment must be specific-Shall
the capital be removed to such a 4
city? and not-Slall the capital be
removed to such and such cities? !
naming them all and leaving the
voter to make his choice and thus
settle the dispute. The legislature
determines the city to be voted for. |
Hence, the claim that Mitchell has
strength sufficient to resubmit with
out help from Huron and Redfeld is
significant and calculated to throw
a double scare into the supporters of
Pierre.
The Milwaukee railroad company
IS, of course, in position to be of
tremendous benefit to Mitchell. Its
line west from that city passes
through Plankinton. KimbalI and
PukWana and terminates at Chamber
lain on the Missouri river. There
nave been persistent rumors that it |
was preparing to extend from Cham
berlain to the Black Hills and thence
eventually on through Wyoming and
Montana to the coast. In other
words, Mitchell through Chamber
lain is about to offer the same bait
TO the people Of the reservation and
the Hills that Pierre has been
dangling from the end Of the North
Westerns line at the present capital. !
MltchelIs bait is new and fresh
Will be tempting to the Hills
appetite, for several reasons.
This influential South Dakotap, |
who is in a position to know what !!
the railroads are doing and what they !
purpose TO 40 to some extent, said: |
"The Milwaukee company pledges
itself to extend from Chamberlain
to Rapid City or some other point in
the Hills. 1t is not ready to begin
hauling material to Chamberlain for
this purpose, as generally stated by
the press. But it is ready TO bind
itself to build eventually and to
have the work started in the course
OF two years. II the capital ques-
tion is resubmitted next winter it
cannot be voted upon until the
next general election, or not until
1904. The company will have,
therefore two years in which to make
good. If the promises it makes to-
day and will reiterate at Pierre next
winter are carried out, by the be-
ginning of actual construction work
on the extension from Chamberlain,
why, then, nothing will stand be-
tween Mitchell and the capital. The
Hills will be for Mitchell just as the
southeastern part Of the state is to-
day and just as all the northern part
OF the state will be when it comes to
take a calm view of the situation
and decides where its best interests
lie.
MAY not the Northwestern make
a show of extending in the meantime
from Pierre or Forest City. the town
the river west Of Redtield? do you
ask.