The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-06
OPENING OF
MITCHELL HOTEL
II. O. PRESTON SPEAKER AT
EVENT OF DECEMBER 81,
18Sl-NOW HISTORIC.

The destruction of the Mitchell
hotel by fire early Monday morning
has recalled to many of the old resi-
dents of the city the important part
the hostelry played in the early his
tory of both Mitchell and the state
of South Dakota, then a part of the
territory of Dakota.
The erection of the hotel was an
event in the history of the state. The
material for its construction had
been hauled to Mitchell free of
freight charges by the Milwaukee
road and it's dedication, held on De-
cember 81. 1881, a notable event in
the northwest. Prominent citizens
gathered from all over the lower part
of the territory and in the Immediate
neighborhood of Mitchell, the settlers
came from miles and miles by horse
back and wagon.
Two of the principal speakers at
the dedication, then rising young
lawyers in Mitchell. have since come
to occupy prominent positions In
public life. One was A. E. Hitchcock,
now mayor of Mitchell and president
of the state board of regents. The
other was H. G. Preston, now chair.
man of the state tax commission, who
had the subject. Dakota"
The address of Mr. Preston on the
occasion of the dedication in par
follows:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gen
tlemen: The hour is late-I dislike
In .lotatu van 1nnuor I wich cnu1f
say something that would be of inter
est to you. l wish it was within III,
power that 4 might construct sent
ences that would glisten Or sparkle
like the rarest gem, like the hidden
pearls of the deep. like the twinklint
of the little stars that adorn the firm
ament; then that | possessed TIN
power of eloquence like a Webster,
Beecher. or an Ingersoll, that | nigh
simply do justice to the sentiment tt
which l am to respond.
I'VE all remember but a few year
ago. that the name OF Dakota, wa
only spoken in connection with
barren waste-a treeless country
falo; where civilization and its re
filming influences was a thing un
known; where the hero of some vel
low covered literature enacted start
ling Genes
Nov we hear of Dakota as tn
land of promise. The pen and tn
press everywhere are busy pronounc
ing econiums upon her merits. He
wheatfields are filling the world
g~ranaries and furnishing bread TO
the hungry millions. Her mines ar
producing untold wealth of glitterin
gold. sufficient to decorate the CON
mercial Industries of the world; an
our beautiful prairies, as they stretc
away as far as the eye can reach, wit
not a ruffle to maj their beauty an
serenity, simply inviting the husband
man to tickle it's fertile soil that
may laugh with a golden harvest.
: I'VE have every element of SUI
cess. Our men are the strongest i
hand and heart-the fairest wome
and the sweetest babies in all til
land. Go out on a summers day upo
our prairies and you will see a littl
hut on the side of a stream, tn;
|, the pioneer husbandman and fathe
has built himself and covered wit
sod. There you will find the hon
of the Dakota settler, as he conten
! plates the grandure of the near fl
, ture that awaits him.
, Ere the Christmas anniversary
> > 1882, we will record in the fami
record of the great sisterhood of sta
, es, the birth of Dakota; and as 81
takes her place as the seth child
the American union, with her st;
emblazed upon the flag of our natl,
0 land, may her brightest hopes be re
: lized, as she shines forth the youn
est but the fairest of the galaxy
states; and as the favoring benedi
ton OF the Angel of Liberty, as 81
smiles upon the children she loves
we'll. cxclaim: Behold, these are n
Jewels and may she never blush
t add. This one in the center of IL
d diadem ! call Dakota"