The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-01-13

Alm1nary political conferences are
held with open doors. If any Of
such meetings disclose sordid pur-
poses they will be judged according
".
MITCHELL'S RANK.
Says the Aberdeen News:
The Mitchell Republican, direct
ly under its heading on the first page,
bears the caption: The only daily
newspaper printed in the second city
OF souLn DAKOTA The Republican
evidently believes Mitchell has out
stripped Sioux Fails and Watertown
in the race tor population and pres
tige. OF curse the Republican does
not mean to intimate that Mitchell,
good town though it is, is ahead Of
We expected some such protest
from our neighbor on the north, be-
cause the temerity of Aberdeen peo-
pie when they are talking about Aber-
deem is we'll known. They are as
q lot Of folks as can be
found anywhere and they never bore
any one--except when conversation
turns to Aberdeen. So it is that our
Aberdeen contemporary seems to con-
slider us guilty OF lese majesty or OF
irreverence in calling Mitchell second
city Of the state.
But we must say that the legend
which appears on the first page Of
this paper was written with all de-
and we stand ready at any
time to defend our claim.
What is 1t that constitutes the city
that excels? First Of all, we believe,
and more important than the height
OF business blocks Or even the hum
of factory wheels. is the kind of peo-
pie within its borders. In this re-
spect Mitchell is easily the first city
in South Dakota. The city has had
the helpful influence Of the largest
educational institution In the state
and . remarkably fine system of pub
lie schools. It is all but recognized
as the educational center Of the
state. Mitchell people have dwelled
together In harraony-as Sioux Falls
people have not; and they have re-
tanned their sanity concerning all
matters, including the prospects Of
their own city-which Aberdeen has
not. Aberdeen has been Wanting her
SELF. putting herself up. seemingly In
fear lest time might cheat her Of
some Of her hopes. When SO shrewd
. man as the head of the Jewett
Wholesale houses in Sioux Falls and
disposes of business houses
put up in Aberdeen as an investment
we can not be said to speak rashly
when we say that Aberdeen has over
the future. That is a
fault OF Aberdeen people. They have
not kept their heads. Therefore. we
say. In point Of quality. the popula-
tion Of Mitchell stands ahead Of the
only two cities In the state that have
a chance of being shown by the CEN
u to have a larger population. This
advantage is one that cannot be Offset
by q difference Of a few hundred in
population.
Second in importance in rating a
city is its territory. In this respect
Mitchell has. If anything. a little the
better of Aberdeen. Those who have
been keeping in touch with the moves
made by the Milwaukee and st. Paul
railroad company and with the fact
that the line through northern Iowa
to Mitchell has been ballasted and Is
now being Strengthened and leveled;
those who have talked with authorize
tive officials Of the system and know
their plans for the extension Of the
Rapid City line from q point this side
OF Rapid City to q junction with the
coast line in Wyoming; and those
who have taken the trouble to find
which is the more direct route from
Chicago 70 the coast. have good rea-
son for saying that the main traffic