Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-09-16
BETTER i II on all POINTS
Postofiice Inspector Planert Dis.
cusses Mitchell's Location as
to The Capital.

sation recently Mr.. Frank Planert
who is post Office inspector sni
who has been working over the stat,
for nearly two years. expresses it q
his opinion that Mitchell was Ger
tainly q winner in the fight for th.
location Of the capital II the contest
between Mitchell and Pierre was set
tied purely on the basis of accessible
ity and economy, and which, we be-
lieve should be considered in deciding
this proposition Mr. Planert said, in
effect: - . 60 W
Even to the most casul observer
It is very apparent that the conven.
ience Of at least two.thirds of the
people of the state would be sub.
served by having the capital located
at Mitchell, and that the character of
the country west and north Of that
point is such that even the most
optimistic cannot foresee very radical
change in the center Of population.
That part Of the state west, of the
Missouri river as well as material area
Of that part Immediately east, while ad.
apted to grazing, will never support
the population which is even now
found in the southeastern parts, while
the development of the farming in.
dustry from Watertown 10 Sioux City
and along the Missouri river as far
north ss Brule county indicates that
II is not supporting one half the pop
ulation which it is capable Of doing
So far as the Black Hill district is con.
cerned. the distance to Mitchell is ap-
preciable less than to Pierre by the
present facilities for reaching them,
and a. to encouraging the building Of q
railroad across the plains the people Of
that section, as we'll ss those in the
eastern part of the state, would Ger.
tainly not be 90 largely benefited by .
road which would create no more com
petition than now exists. and 1t would
seem that the securing of competing
line, which the locating Of the cap.
ital at Mitchell would encourage.
would be the most reasonable view Of
that feature Of the contest.
AS regards the site. surroundings,
probably growth Of the town. facilities
for accommodating capital and hav-
ing in view the impression made upon
the minds Of those who have occasion
to visit it, I would say that Mitchell
is 90 obviously in advance Of Pierre
has the geographical central location,
and were it reasonable to presume that
this would. even in the distant fu.
,ture, be also the center Of the popu-
lating, then proposition to move
the capital would seem to me to be
absurd. but do not think that an
unprejudiced observer can anticipate
such . contingency, OF that the danger
line will ever be properly drawn west
Of the Missouri river, but am we'll sat-
SIZED that the relative proportion of
population will continue as it now
exists. with but slight percentage of
increase for the now sparsely settled
parts Of the stste.
On the score Of economy, the
time and milsge saved by locating
the capital nearer the Of population is
of itself an item of which the tax
payers are all Interested, and the same
time, to those whose personal business
Of pleasure causes them to visit the
seat Of government, becomes much
larger.
South Dakota should have a capi-
tai which accessible and certainly
should have quarters more appropriate
and in keeping with its dignity than
are now provided. and which the cas-.
ual visitor may reach without resent
ing the inconyenience and leave with.
out the memory of his visit being one
of surprise and disappointment, and, of
the two locations Mitchell is so far in
advance that it would seem that it
should have decision in it's favor 80
overwhelming as to be practically un.
animous."
This statement. coming from one
whose training causes him to view a
proposition from the basis of the facts
presented, and not to form an opinion
without careful investigation, should
commend itself to those who will be
called upon to decide whether or not
the capital should be relocated. and
the more 90 as Mr.. Planert has an in.
innate acquaintance with almost the
entire state and is not biased in his
opinion by prejudice or personal in
terest.
Lincoln County Teachers.