The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-11
old ROUND TOWER
WILL BE RESTORED
War Department Will Take the
Cement From the Historic
Walls

The action OF the war department
In undermining the round tower at
Fort Smelling will be rescinded. if
the recommendation of the command
ing offcers in this department. avail
anything. Strong public opinion re-
sarding this change in the historic
oid pile has been manifest since last
year The elements seem to be in
League with those patriotically in
clined.>
Gen c. c. c. Carr, commander Of
tne department of Dakota, and Col
u. j. Sweet, commanding the Twenty
eighth infantry, now stationed at the
fort, have recommended that the
change be made. These recommends
lions were read to the Minnesota
historical society executive council
iast night and were heartily indorsed
The round tower is the most his
toric landmark in the state of Min
nesota- Ii was a part of the original
fort built In 1920. Its walls are five
feet thick and built of stone. 1t
stands just across on the west ex-
tremity OF the quadrangle. q short
walk from the bridge leading into the
reservation.
Cement Falling Of
Last year while preparing for a.
regiment of cavalry at the fort the
officers had the tower plastered with
cement, completely effacing it's his
torical appearance. The cold weather
had cracked the cement until half of it
Is now fallen away. Gen. Carr thinks
II would be better to remove 1T en-
tirely
Three new members were elected to
the society last night Edward Nell
son of Hallock. Kittson county. was
made an annual member. and Senator
D. w. Stone OF Benton and Frederick
Fogg of st. Paul life members
A letter was received from Gov
johnson relative to devoting the old
executive offices to the display of GER
tain portraits the society owns The
governor was favorable to the propo-
sition.
Daniel S. B. Johnston, an oldtime
editor, read paper on Minnesota
Newspapers and Editors From the
Beglnnlng of Statehood Until the Civil
War" He said in part:
or the forty-five weekly Journals and
TWO dailies begun between May IL, 1853
and the end OF the year 1860, only three of
lhe weeklieS are now alive, namely. the
POST Record of Rochester, the st. Peter
tribune and the Albert Lea Standard. One
OF the dailies, the Republican Herald of
Mlnona, also has survived the vicissitudes
OF forty five years.
Forty-fve weekly newspapers begun IN
Minnesota in less than three years, dur
Ing the worst financial depression this
country has ever seen. following the great
panic OF August, 1857, show how men
| believed in the future of our common
wealth ard were willing to trust the out
come OF their journalistic ventures
fernaps the most remarkable figure
among the early Minnesota editors at that
time was William 8. King, more familiar
ly and commonly called Bill King, who
owned and edited the State Atlas. a week
iy newspaper OF st. Anthony. started in
May, 1853. He was born in Malone. n. Y,
Dec. 16. 1928, and died in Minneapolis.
FEB. "a. 1900. He had got the title of
militia service Of New York before COM
Ing to Minnesota
COL Kings Career
Col. King arrived In Minnesota In the
spring of 1859 and began the publication
OF the State Atlas. which finally became,
neapoEs Tribune He soon opened his edi-
torial batteries against the then popular
five million loan bill, a measure proposed
| DR.. Foster OF the st. Paul Minnesotan
stood nearly alone in opposition to the
Dill In the northern part of the state.
best for the future OF Minnesota and
though its chance had been doubly for
lorn he would have gone into the breach.
He used the editorial pen as a butcher
nanoleS his cieaYer, except that he never
trimmed his cuts. Among his enemies he
was rough and always ready. To his
1riendS ne was true as steel. In the COM
munity where he lived he was generous
| to a fault, whether the worthy or un-
| worthy craved his bounty. He was liberal
and devoted in every project for helping
Minneapolis. and that city viii feel the
need Of him more and more as the years
go by.
Secretary Warren Upham read a
paper telling Of the manuscripts own
ed by :he society. beginning with a
letter of George Washington. dated
Aug. II, 175f Letters addressed to
Maj. Lawrence Talliferro, Indian
agent at Fort Smelling, from Gen.
!, Zachary Taylor and others, a journal
| by Maj. Stephen NJ. Long and letters
OF Gen. Henry H. Sibley were de-
| scribed.
Other papers in the society shelves
are: The journal of Charles Larpen-
| teur. a fur trader on the upper Mis-
| souri, river. letters of Col. John II.
| Stevens. a manuscript entitled "The
| Dakota or Sioux Nation-Their His
| tory. Religion, Legends. Languages
and General Condition. by Gen.
| James w. Lynd, records of the civil
and the Sioux wars.
| CITY ENGINEER MAKES