Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-07

J. a.s..ss... e - '.s.
Ordway was one of the early gov
ernors selected by presidents as a
political recognition, and generally
looked upon, after the territory
gained permanency and growth, as
"carpet-baggers." But in those
days there were some strong men
named as territorial governors and
the pictures of them that hang ia
the capitol at Bismarck show some
strong old faces, one of which is
Ordway's. He was a large man
physically and mentally, with a firm
belief in the ultimate destiny of Da-
kota and with big ideas and aspira-
| lions for himself and for the terri
tory. 1t was he who stood with the
| fellows from the northern end Of
the territory when they came down
upon Yankton and removed the CAPT,
toll in 1883. Not that he had an idea
it would be removed to Bismarck
when the agitation was first begun,
| but his idea was to remove it to a
place nearer the center of the terri
tory. Yankton did not particularly
/ admire him, as a "carpet-bagger
| and he resented the attitude of the
capital So when the capitol was
placed on wheels, Alexander McKen
zie and few of his trusted friends
evolved the plan to bring it to Bis
marck, and possibly Ordway was
Influenced by his desire to have &
firm political alliance with the
northern end of the territory. Al
any rate the capitol bill was passed
| Ordway stood with his northern
4 friends, and the final location wa:
| a subsequent incident. 1t was Ord
4 ways idea to obtain a grant O.
| 500, coo and 800 acres of land from
the place where the capitol wa;
finally located. He had ideas o
going out on the prairie and build
ing a town for a capital, construct
| ing it after big designs, and making
lit capital in appearance as vel
as In name. Finally the Bismarcl
people, through McKenzie's general
ship and influence, landed the cap
tai, and ordway came to Bismarc]
| to live, ordered the records an
books to be brought to the mort
. capitol, went through a battle i
1.-The courts and won it, and did muc
1 to facilitate the location of the sea
of government up north where b
might have delayed it and emba
. raised the northern men had
!. been so disposed.
J: Ordway was in Bismarck at tf
!: time the capitol building was bein
!. / erected. He oyersaw the laying
!. the brick on the third story of Il
!: capitol building when the thermor
!. eter stood way below zero and eye1
workman had little sheet Ire
\. stove to warm his hands, and kee
1. his mortar from freezing when
was laid. He was anxious to ha'
:. the building completed for the sc
:. sion of the legislature, which co
tvened in midwinter, and the Ia
story of the building was constru
:. Led in perishing weather. He sto'
(. firm for tie northern half Of t
state In the legislature that f
lowed. He assisted with the DUP
catfon of institutions in the northe
half of the state. He was an cal
promoter Of division of the ter
tory and his influence brought
about more quickly because he ga
the southern half OF the terrific
!. to see that il they wanted CAPT
and state they should make Q
!. for themselves. When the enabH
act was passed to admit Dakota
two states, he worked for its p
| sage through his friend w.
/ Springer, who had been a friend a
admirer of his In the old days VIII
"a he was sergeant-at-arms. He b
enacted into the act the offie
recognition that Bismarck was
territorial capital. And 1t is lik
he had earnest ambitions to be
senator from the new state.
~ Il II { 3 ~ 81 e &