The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-07-15

When the capital was located at
Pierre fourteen years ago it was done
with the honest belief that the promises
and predictions made by Pierre would
be fulfilled. The theories advanced
seemed plausible and the people had
faith in them. But the claims of
Pierre for support can nj longer rest
upon mere theories. She must now
make her claims upon actual exper-
fence and the in which she
has fulfilled her promises.
1t was claimed fourteen years ago
by Pierre that, being near the geo.
graphical center Of the state, she
would soon be the center of popula-
ton. Was the prediction true? In
the ten years following the location
of the capital the center of population
moved west just one mile, and is now
Is miles east Of Mitchell and 1873 miles
east of Pierre.
1t was claimed that Pierre would
become the metropolis of the state,
and that the country surrounding it
would develop into a rich and thickly
settled farming community. Has the
prediction come true? In the decade
from 1890 to 1900 Pierre lost one-third
of her population, and the country in
which it is located lost the same pro-
portion.
1t was Claimed that the capital at
Pierre would develop the country
across the river. Has it done it? In
the ten years following the locating
of the capital Stanley county, a county
as large as ten ordinary counties east
of the river, gained just 313 in popu-
lation, including Indians.
1t was claimed that the capital
would enhance the value of the state
and endowment lands in that part of
the state. and also greatly increase
the evenu from rentals. Has it done
it? The only income received by the
state from the sale of school lands in
Hughes county during the past thir-
teen years is the price of 80 acres and
there is not a county east of the Mis-
souri, river in which the school lands
rent for less than in Hughes.
1t was promised that new lines of
railroad would be built connecting
Pierre with the Black Hills and Aber-
deem with other parts of the state.
Are they built? Today there is not
even a reasonable prospect of i'm
prOvement in that particular.
If every prediction made by Pierre
fourteen years ago has failed what as
urance have we that they will be full
filled in the future? No one claimed
at the time the capital was located
that under present conditions Pierre
was a suitable place, but the selection
was made on the expectation of future
development. Fourteen years have
made no improvement in the location,
and an opportunity is now offered to
change the location without expense
or sacrifice in any way, to a place
that will always be convenient of ac-
cess for a majority of the people.
These statements are made, not for
the purpose of casting reflections upon
Pierre or on the surrounding country.
Both have advantages for settlers and
the settlers will come, just as readily
without as with the capital located at
that place. The facts simply show
that relatively the development of that
section has been slower than other
sections of the state, and the disad-
vantages of Pierre as a capital loca-
ton as compared with Mitchell, in
spite of the predictions made to the
contrary, are ven greater today than
they were fourteen years agO.-Scot-
land Citizen.