The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-08
LARPENT[UR ASKS
HOUSE TO open DOOR
First Owner of New Capitol Site
Would Sit Near Law
makers

During the inauguration of Gov.
Johnson spry old man sat before the
platform from which the speeches Were
delivered and gazed on the scene with
the most intense interest.
The man was A. L. Larpehteur, who
came to the state when dozen would
more than cover the number of white
people living west Of the Mississippi
river and east of the Montana border
in the territory lying north of what is
now the southern boundary Of Mime
sofa and South Dakota.
When he appeared at the door of the
house of representatives he was met
by Claiming Seabury, who found him
seat where he might witness the cere-
monies. At the close of the governor s
peroration tears lined the face of the
veteran and as he left the chamber his
appearance was noted by many of
those who crowded the corridors.
1t was a great day for the old man
and marked the attainment Of his dear
est ambition. He has seen the state
grow from infancy to a. high rank of
Importance among the states.iscf the
nation. He had witnessed the city ex-
pand from a collection of rude huts to
one of the best built towns on the con-
tinent. And above all he had seen
one Of the noblest structures in
America reared on what was less than
sixty years ago sand dune surrounded
Dy tamarack swamp, constituting a
part of his farm.
One Thing Lacking
Yet there was one thing lacking to
complete the satisfaction Of Mr.. Lar
penteur. He considers himself a kind
of grandfather of Minnesota He want
ed to have a place reserved where he
could witness the Inauguration and he
found that he had to take his chances
with the hundreds of others. Mr. Lar
penteur did not protest, but it was
evident from his remarks that he was
a little hurt.
II also WISH. he said to a. G 10 bre
man yesterday, that it would be pos
sible for the legislature to amend the
strict rule that has been passed about
allowing outsiders on the floor Of the
house so that could occasionally wan
der down to the new capitol and get a
seat where I could hear what is going
on. 1t seems proper enough to me
that such action should be taken by
the legislature. These young men who
are guiding the state now are no more
interested in Minnesota's welfare than
L, who am the grandfather of the state
and l believe if they knew I wanted the
honor they would give it to me-.
Site Once Sand Hill
Il came to the state when it had no
name and when everything for the sup
port of the white population had to be
imported. In 1851 entered. s1tpon a
rather unpromising tract of land ada
cent to the first quarter section plated.
We had sent down the river to Prairie
du Chen for a surveyor to come up
here and lay out a town, and the land
l chose for my farm lay to the north
OF Seventh street and extended past
what is now North Rice street. There
was hill of sand sticking up about
midway of the tract and on either side
OF this hill there was a tamarack
swamp. That hill is now adorned by
the great white marble capitol worth
millions and 1 bought the land from
the government for $1.25 an acre.
sometime ago I deposited with the
State Historical society the original
certificates of entry to the tract now
occupied by the capitol, and they now
form part of the documentary relics of
the early days. &c.
1T seems to me that the first owner
of the land upon which the capitol has
been built should be entitled. to sit and
hear the deliberations of the body of
men who have grown up under his eve
and who now are making laws for this
great state on the very spot where the
pioneer planned to erect his home