The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-05
,reat national enterprise, to pay you

great national enterprise, to pay 70,
homage.
From the moment your magnifi.
Gently equipped trains passed the Rec
river of the north, and entered Far.
60, the golden gate to the wheat belt
continuous ovation has awaited
you. One that kings might count
You have now reached this favored
spot, the center of Dakota, following
your great thoroughfare from cas-
to west, and within less than 81
miles of its great geographical cen
ter, and where, under the provision
of the organic act, the governor ane
legislature assembly have perma'
nently located the territorial seat o.
government. For more than q
years the capital has remained a
Yankton, in the extreme southeast.
ern portion of the territory, within
sight of Nebraska and within q few
hours ride of the western boundary
lines of Iowa and Minnesota.
Division Rejected
1.-THE refusal of the last congress
to divide or admit Dakota compelled
the last legislative assembly and thu
executive to meet the requirement.
which a population of half a million
people would impose upon them
Provision was therefore made for tn,
erection and completion Of 10 penal
charitable and educational institu.
tons, so located that nearly every
portion of this vast territory, cover.
ing $4,000 square miles, would re.
ceive the benefits of these absolutely
necessary institutions.
"The rapidly increasing population
and wealth in the central and north
ern portions of the territory rendered
a more accessible point for the seat
of government very desirable.
In order to relieve the people from
excessive taxation and secure com.
modious capitol buildings without
cost to the taxpayers Of the territory
a plan was adopted by the governor
and legislative assembly whereby the
seat Of government has been changed
from Yankton to Bismarck. This
plan, which was enacted into law
provided that nine agents named in
the act should select from accessi-
BILE localities, whose citizens should
guarantee building fund of 500 ,OO(
and at least 160 acres of land suit.
able for the erection thereon of com.
modious capitol buildings, giving 6
permanent seat of government.
Examined Many Sites
Under this act the nine gentle.
men named therein, known as thu
capitol commission, after examinine
various sites and considering the &C.
companying propositions, accepted
the proposition of the citizens of Bis.
marck, to guarantee BY a good ane
sufficient bond, 100000 toward tn.
fund for building the capitol and tx
give 800 acres Of valuable land. Thi
land has been plated and will b,
sold, except that required for CAPT
toll purposes, and the proceeds arts
ing from its sale will further increas,
the building fund sufficiently to en-
able the commissioners to erect /,
capitol building as commodious ane
even more imposing than the CAPT
tol Of Minnesota.
1.-THE promised condition havin,
been complied with, the capitol com
mission, on the second day of June
1883, located the permanent seat O
government Of the territory of Da
kota upon the commanding sit
where we now stand.
AFTER due advertisement. plan
were accepted and the contract wa
awarded to G. w. Thompson for tn
erection Of the main building. TIL
work was commenced Aug. rs, 1873:
and has progressed without inter
mission until we are now prepared t
lay the cornerstone Of q building tina
we trust will remain as a monumeu
OF the skill Of the artisan and q
the wisdom, fidelity and economy q
those who projected It.
I'm the name, therefore, Of tn
citizens Of Bismarck, the donors, an
the people Of the territory of Dako
Ia who are the recipients Of this i'm
posing temple devoted to legislation
now have the honor to invite 70,
President Willard, and you, J. Cook
whom we all recognize as the alph
and omega Of the great national er
terprise, the completion Of which 70
are now on your way to celebrate,
assist In placing the cornerstone I
the capitol Of Dakota"
| Willard Makes Response
Henry Willard responded rs follow
Mr.. Governor and citizens Of d.
kota. Tho interests and prospects /,
the corporation over which have Il
honor to preside, are 50 identifil
| with the prosperity Of Dakota, tn,
We feel deeply Interested in every stt
she takes. It was . source Of no o
binary satisfactiea to me to be pc
mittsd 70 conduct this extraordina