The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-22
1t Was Printed in Topeka by
Tribune 1862.
Told of the Vote for Location
State Capital.
LAWRENCE CLOSE COMPETITOR
Sixteen Towns That Received
Votes Are Extinct.
A Most Interesting Page From
Kansas History.

Newspaper readers in Topeka have
read hundreds Of extras which
headlined startling news Of disasters.
exciting news Of sports and fascinat-
ing worldwide information of cur
rent interest. The shrin voiced
'newsies" on Kansas avenue have
cried the features of a thousand items
that attracted the reader one, two and
three days-then faded away from
the printed columns to make way for
later events.
Newspaper men, plants and repu-
tations may come and go and one lone
"Wuxtra" will remain always at the
top Of the column of Kansas Journal
ism. It is the first extra edition in the
history of Topeka-and in all prob
ability, the state. And 1t contained a
news item that was Of more direct
Importance to Topeka than all the
columns Of material that have been
published in the modern sheets since
that time.
This extra appeared nearly 81 years
ago-January IA, 1852. 1t was is
sued by the old Topeka Tribune, q
paper long since faded into yellow
and lost save by the files of the faith
full. The Topeka Tribune published
an extra edition on that cold blizzardy
warmest piece of news that ever found
its way into the cabins and huts and
"pretentiOus' houses that huddled
the banks of the Kaw and strung out
hesitatingly over the hill and south
to what is now the center of the bust
ness section Of the city.
This extra gave out the official f1g-
ures designating the vote Of the peo-
pie of Kansas on the location Of the
state capital. And the returns re-
vealed the fact that Topeka had won
by a majority Of 1.430 votes over all
the other forty towns included in the
candidacy.
A copy of this famous extra was
found by c. K. Holiday of Topeka
among the old papers left by his faith
or and he framed it and presented it
to Frank p. MacLennan. as copy of
''the first extra in Kansas"
Towns That Exist No More.
But there is still another tale:
Forty towns and "cities'' Of Kansas
were candidates for the location Of the
state capital in November, 1851. OF
that number sixteen now are extinct
and are unknown to the postoffice de-
partment Of today. A few have
changed their faces. some have white
washed their regulations through
change in name, and others have en-
tered into the bonds Of municipal
matrimony with adjoining localities.
The fact remains. however, that in
fifty years, Kansas emerged like
butterfly from a cocoon-and the old
\habitation left behind carried down
9th 1t list OF hundreds OF towns and
villages and trading posts, and mis-
sions and overland stations and set
tlements-now extinct and preserved
only through the kindness and watch
fulness Of the State Historical society.
In the list Of towns receiving votes
xxyS11 no hot q
few Of the candidates have prospered
are now leading cities in the state.
Others still hover around the land
marks and traditions Of the past and
listen to the tales Of the ranchers and
cowboys and read Of the desperadoes
and rangers Of old. A few Of the ham,
lets are no larger than they were when
their citizens bid for the location of
the state house and the troublesome
meetings Of the legislature.
The first state legislature which met
in March, 1861, passed bill which
provided for the location Of the state
capital by popular vote. The election
was held November, that same year,
and the result quoted in the old extra
edition Of the Topeka Tribune brought
tAe permanent state house to this city.
Towns Not Found ON the Map.
In looking over the list OF towns that
placed their bid for the state house in
1861. 16 localities are represented that
cannot be found on the map of Kansas
today, They are: Sac and Fox Agency,
Whisky Point, Carey City. Scattering.
Greenwood. Superior, Junction, Potosi,
Delaware, wynder, Rodgersville. In
dianapolis. Benefits Station. Merrimlc
and Hendricks Creek.
The Sac and Fox Agency, a mission
among the Sac and Fox Indians, was
located in a Methodist settlement in
Usage county. 1t has long been out OF
existence. 1t was strong in Kansas in
those days. Only three cities received
more votes for the capital than the Sac