The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-05
Pioneers Beggared
Selves for Capital
Many Mortgaged Homes to Get
Money to Pay For Seat
of Government

Persons in whose memories the
capital removal election of 1892 Is
still fresh have little appreciation of
the sacrifices made by pioneer resi-
dents of Bismarck to have the seat
OF government located here, according
to many old timers who well remem-
Der that event.
In the bill permitting a capital
commission to select site, it was
stipulated that enough money and
land should be offered to build the
new statehouse.
Towns which were little more than
wide places in the prairie trails made
offers and at least one town, Ordway,
was laid out for the purpose of be-
coming capital site.
Numerous offers were received and
some OF them appeared at first glance
to be better than that made by Bis
marck, but investigation showed there
was little to back up some of these
promises. whereas Bismarck actually
produced the cash.
1t required heroic efforts and some
scheming to do it, however, and the
details OF the Job are lost in the haze
Of time.
Cash Hard to Get
The contract entered into by peo-
pie of the city was that they were
to provide 100000 and 800 acres of
land. The latter item was easy but
the money was difficult problem.
Everyone was aflame with enthusi-
asm and each gave according to his
means. Citizens We'd with each other
to see who could give the most and
it is more than a tradition that many
mortgaged their homes or other prop
erty to raise the money. Committees
circulated about the village soliciting
subscriptions and everyone gave at
least little.
A list OF the donors which was sub
sequently found in local bank, lists
1888 separate donations, ranging from
$1,000 down to IS. Some names were
listed more than once but it is not
known whether these Estings repre-
scented more than one separate dona-
ton.
For some the capital did not bring
the prosperity of which they dream
ed, since business competitors appear
ed with the new building and event.
ually attained prominence in the local
field. Others assert that some of the
mortgages incurred at that time new
er were paid off.
Be that as it may, when the last
possible dollar had been collected
from local citizens. the fund still was
far short of 100000. It was at this
point that the financiers stepped in
to the picture and local banks, whose
active heads directed the fund-rais-
ing campaign, guaranteed" the bal
ance. Wherever it came from the
money was obtained in cash and paid
to the capitol commission.
j. w. Raymond, then territorial
treasurer, was head of the Bismarck
National Bank and George H. Fair
child was vice president and active
manager &C the First National Bank.
The subscription list was found in
the records OF the Bismarck National
Bank by Captain I. P. Baker when
he later took over that institution. It
is now yellcwed with age and the
signatures, many of which are hard
ly legible, are somewhat faded.
Text of Document
The text of the document, the
names appearing on it and the
amounts listed as having been SUBJ
scribed follow:
We the undersigned in consideration
of the benefits which we have received
from the location of the capital Of
the Territory of Dakota at Bismarck
hereby agree to pay the sums set op-
posite our respective names, to the
Territory in accordance with the leg
islative enactment and the bid Of the
city of Bismarck which has been ac-
cepted by the capital commissioners,
said money to be paid at once to a
committee consisting of j. w. Ray
mond and G.. n. Fairchild.
E. H. BLY, Observation-Disclosures. 100000
j w. Raymond .............. 100000
@ A. LounSberry ............ $4,000
Emerson & Wakeman ...... 10000
Flannery g. Wetherby ....... 100000