Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-03-04
GIVES Ills VIEWS.

LAWSON .Il|lI GIVES HIS VIEWS,
a Representative of Union
County Expresses His Views
on the Capital
| Location.
Editor Charles r. Bruce, Of the Elk
Point Courier, published one of the best
bits on the capital removal matter that
hHs come to our notice. He addressed
. letter to the senator and three repre-
sentatives of the union county asking
their individual views on the matter of
capital removal and published the four
communications in the Courier last
week. Representative Q. E. Lawson
made an excellent statement of the situ.
alton, and coming from gentleman
who has dealings at the state capital
his views can be accepted az having
great value and worth. They are re-.
produced from the Courier as follows:
Editor Courier: Our state capital
was located in the years following the
flush of the early settlement of the
state. The main causes which contrib
uted to place it where it is were, First.
A feeling by many at that time that it
should be placed near The center of the
state. Second: The jealousy of four
or five ambitions towns that had failed
in the scramble for the temporary capi-
tai, which then gave their influence for
the candidate farthest away and least
likely 70 become competitor. Third:
A liberal campaign fund from the pro-
moters of the successful sspirant,
which was an effective means owing to
the then open ballot system.
Ever since that time The feeling has
grown stronger among the people and
especially with all who have had occas-
ion to do business there, that our capi-
tai was very much mislocated. After
numerous attempts in that direction
the plan was successful at the last ses.
sion Of the Legislature of again bringing
this question before the whole people
for action. With the experience of two
sessions in the legislature and having
studied the subject in all its bearings
we are certainly of the opinion that it
is to the best interests of large ma
jority OF the people of the state that the
capital should be relocated.
The capital is where the business of
the state is transacted. Every office is
more or less in constant touch with
every county seat in the state, as we'll
as with the different state institutions,
hence it goes without saying that the
logical place for any state capital is
where 1t can communicate with the
largest population and be reached in the
least possible time by those who may
have business to transact.
There can be no question but that the
capital located at Mitchell is conven-
iently accessible to all parts to the state
east Of the Missouri river. Located
there we believe it will be the means of
solving satisfactorily to all concerned
the rivalry on this capital question now
existing between the two great lines of
railroad. The railroads in question
compare in mileage in South Dadota
as about four to five, the Milwaukee
system having the greater mileage.
With the Northwestern is included the
Omaha lines with about 80 miles, also
the ElkhOrn line in the Black Hills
with about 1870 miles. These are all
parts of the Vanderbilt system and
though differing in name are owned by
the same people, have the same presi-
dent and close traffic connections and,
as far as service of the public is con.
cerned, constitute one company. AL.
though the Northwestern does not en-.
ter Mitchell directly, yet by means of
the Omaha line the whole system has
direct connection at Salem. Hence re-
location of the capital can hardly be
unfair even to the railroads, though
giving the Milwaukee system direct
connection which it has now. 1t il
but natural that the Northwestern hav-
ing once secured the monopoly of rail.
road facilities at the state capital,
should, by every legitimate means, try
to retain that pestige.
Any one at all familiar with condi.
tions knows that there is nothing pros
pective in the way of business that
would warrant another road entering
to compete at the state capital az locat.
ed now. Even with the railroad ex:
tended to The Hills, it should be re-
garded as very unfortunate and detri.
mental to The prestige of the state to
have its capital continue to be located
on but one line of communication. .
The lands west of the Missouri river
will doubtless in time be all taken and
occupied, but it is primarily q grazing
country and hence must always as
compared with the eastern half of the
state be thinly populated
The state capital relocated would
geographically compare favorably with
the capitals Of most Of our neighboring
states. Minnesota's capital is but 80
miles from the east line of the state.
Wisconsin's but go miles from the
south line and South Dakotas at Mitch
will still be further from the eastern
border of the state than either the capi.
tails Of Kansas or Nebraska are from
their eastern line.