Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-10-27
Mr.. KENT REMARKS.
On the Location Of the Present Capt.
toll and the Accommodations OF Pierre
The Towns West of Mitchell and
West OF Huron Compared The Cap
ital Question will not be Settled
until ii is Settled Right.

10 THE EDITOR: Speaking of the
valuable capital grounds at Pierre it
must be said they are of little or at
least OF trifling value as such. The
plat inclines to the east and north,
with a ravine passing through them,
its course being northeast. Should
pretentious building be erected on
them near the center it could not be
seen n )m the business portion of the
city. The depression in the site would
obscure the building on account of the
lay of the land, and again the large
brick school building just across the
street where the capitol should stand,
would hide it from the city. The Mon
tana capitol can be seen for miles; so at
St, Paul and Bismarck; also at Lincoln,
Des Moines, Topeka, Jefferson City,
Little Rock, Baton Rouge, Nashville,
Springfield, and in fact every state in
the union. We should have slightly
si!e in south Dakota Mitchell has
provided such site. Why not &C ,ept
it Is matter of good, sound judgment?
AS to accommodations. Our respect
ed Senator Frieberg and his brother,
| Representative FrieberE of Clay coun-
ty, a year ago last winter roomed at
he Waverly, little hotel moved up
from East Pierre and took their meals
| at the Saratoga restaurant. Think of
getting out terribly cold mornings
and going block and half to break
fast in restaurant. Representatives
| Martin and Ryan had to go from one
| house to another to get their meals.
Many others had to do the same thing,
q matter Of much. discomfort and very
dangerous to health. A great many
made the Owl restaurant their dining
place. Now that this popular eating
house Is burned, the land ouly knows
where they would GO for square meal.
| Somewhere we have read something
like this, "BIessed are the merciful,"
etc Now out of pure mercy to the
| men who are sent TO our capitol TO
transact the public business, vote for
a place where they can at least be com
| fortably cared for in the dead of win
ter.
Il is estimated by persons of good
judgment and business sagacity that at
least two millions OF dollars have been
lost to investors in business and real
estate investments in the last fifteen
years at Pierre alone. Is it fair to the
people Of the state in general to show
such a state of affairs to outsiders, and
claim for moment that it is fair
showing of our capabilities along these
lines2 Certainly not. In jus ice to
ourselves change should be made.
A practical demonstration of desir-
ableness of the location at Mitchell was
to be noticed a week last Saturday, when
a large party of our citizens left their
homes here and from the country,
practically after business hours, went
to Mitchell and enjoyed Sabbath Of
rare entertainment and returned here
for the business OF Monday. So it
would be for large majority of our
legislators; they could go home any
Saturday and return without fatigue,
and without neglecting the duties of
the session on Monday.
A good indicator of the country sur
rounding or supporting town is the
town itself. From this stand point com
pare the towns along the line of the
Northwestern from Huron west TO
Pierre, such as Wolsey, where a bank
tailed recently just as they had build
ing completed, Washington, the bright.
est town on the line, st. Lawrence,
nearly obliterated from the map, Mil
Ter, Rec Heights--to look out on this
town and notice the dilapidated con-
dition in the night time would almost
bring tears to the eyes of Rec Indian
-Bramhall, Highmore, Holabird, Har-
rold, Blunt, where twenty years ago
more freight was unloaded than at any
station west of Huron, Canning, Rous-
seau, and notice the condition of the
buildings generally, and then compare
them with such towns as Mt. Vernon,
twice wiped out by fire, Plankinton,
White lake, Kimball, Pukwans, and
notice the fine school houses, churches,
court houses and residences, all nicely
painted, with their beautiful lawns
and surfeit of shade trees, and you
have fair comparison of country that
is fully adapted to farming and one
that is not.
There are many other reasons, and
valid ones too, that might be enumerat
ed why the permanent capital of South
Dakota should be located at Mitchell
But perhaps enough has been said and
J written. We are certain a railroad
ride will not influence any thinking
voter to cast vote for either location
The location OF the capital will neve
be settled until it is settled right. AMI
1t will not be settled right by voting Ii
! retain it at Pierre.
NJ b. KENT.