The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-18
"GEoGRAPHlcAL" CENTER

tend to think at least that the cap
ital should be in the geographical
center of the state. They carry the
idea to the people that it will cause
the west to settle more evenly and
that prosperity will follow. We are
not sure that this proposition is cor
rect. We do not believe that the
history of the state in locating their
capitals establishes such a precedent.
Let us show to you the geographical
location of the capitals in different
states and then let US draw a con
clusion. The capital Of New York
is Albany, in the extreme eastern
part of the state; Texas, Austin,
southeast part of the state; Maine,
Augusta, extreme southwest part;
Mass, Boston, east of center; N. Fl.
Concord, south Of center; Vermont,
Montpelier, north of center; Rhode
Island, Providence in extreme east
and Newport in the south; Conn.,,
Hartford, north of center; Penn,
Harrisburg, south Of east: Ohio, Col
umbus, southeast of center: Wyom-
ing, Cheyenne, extreme southeast of
center; Virginia, Richmond. south
and east of center; Wis, Madison,
extreme south; Washington, Olym-
pia, far west and south Of center:
Ala, Montgomery, south and east OF
center; Florida, Tallahassee, north
of center; Mich, Lansing, far south
of center; Oregon, Salem, northwest
of center: Iowa, DesMoines. south
OF center; Mimi, st. Paul, extreme
east; Neb., Lincoln, southeast of
center; California, Sacramento,
north of center; Nevada, Carson
City, extreme west; Utah, Salt Lake
City, far north Of center; Kansas,
Topeka, Isl and north Of center;
Missouri, Jefferson City, east Of cen
ter; North OAK, Bismarck, south of
center; Montana, Helena. far west
and south Of center Colorado, Dem
ver. far north and east OF center.
Now the above shows that the cap
itals have not been located for the
geographical center but with a view
to the accom mediation of the greater
number OF people regardless Of the
states center. What has been the
result? Can any one point to any of
the above states and say that the
progress in any one of them has been
retarded by the location of the capit-
al? We think not, but ON the con-
trary the development has been sure
in and around the capitals and the
whole state in every instance has
pushed forward and no cry is heard
for the removal Of the capital.
Now, what about our state? The
capital has been located at Pierre for
about fourteen years. Has it grown?
Has any institutions of learning been
established there to assist the town?
Have good people been there to make
homes? We would answer yes, but
are they there now? And the ans
wer would be that the Presbyterian
college has been removed to Huron
and many good people have moved
from the capital city and then we
would ask the question, can any one
point to any enterprise in the capital
city, that gives u state any prom
inence whatever? We think the
answer would be in the negative. 1t
ic n rnnffar Of fonk <1,o% &1,1~o e., ~
less number Of people in and
around Pierre today than there was
years ago. We are compelled by
these facts alone to say that Pierre
as the capital of South Dakota has
proven that the geographical ques-
tion is of the most minor import
ance. in studying the location Of
the capitals Of the different states
there is sufficient evidence to prove
to the ordinary mind 1T seems to US
that the question has ever been
which will be the best for the great
est number of people anu not the ge-
ographlcal question. We believe the
question for us to consider is which
is the best location in our state for
the capital for the greatest good Of
the people, and the state as a whole
and we believe we are honest in
making the statement that Pierre
should hardly be considered as a
comparison to Mitchell. The loca-
ton Of Pierre is such that only a
branch railroad has ever..been able to
get there and no promise or prospect.
neither have we ever heard the mosu
ardent supporter Of Pierre, venture
to say he had a hope that there
would be another in town. But how
about Mitchell, railroads are coming
in there from every point Of the
compass and when you have arrived
IN Mitchell, you have not got to trail
back a hundred miles to get in touch
of the commercial world again.
We will try in the near future to
show to our readers how we view the
capital location as to the interest OF
Hand county, but we do not desire