The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-30

Editors Note: This is the third
of a series Of articles dealing with
North Dakota history, recalled by
the construction of the new state
capitol building and the corner
stone laying set for Oct. 8.
(By The Associated Press)
The crowds which throng to Bis
marck Oct. 8 to attend ceremonies
for the laying Of the cornerstone OF
the new North Dakota state house
will be witnessing the official begin
ming of what is really the states first
capitol.
The multi-colored old brick building
which burned in December. 1880, was
erected in 1888 as the capitol of Da-
kota territory. The commission OF
nine men who, amid much excitement
and opposition, chose Bismarck and
then superintended the building. was
representative of the whole territory
The money was not appropriated by
the legislature from tax receipts but
was contributed, together with a
large gift of land, by the people Of
Bismarck. It was, therefore, in Pc
culiar way, Bismarck'S capitol and
there is evidence in the newspapers
of the day that the northern half OF
Dakota as we'll as the southern, not
vet state minded, so regarded 1t.
The new structure soon to arise IN
its commanding location overlooking
the Missouri Valley consequently Will
be North Dakota's own in way that
the old one never could be. Yet there
always will linger around Capitol Hill
and the relics saved from the fire the
memories of the strange events that
preceded and followed the erection OF
the old building that served for al
most so years.
Story Told Many Ways
The story of the great political
coup by which Alex Mckenzie and his
forces brought the capitol from Yank-
ton, an admittedly poor location be-
cause of its distance from the centers
of population, to Bismarck, at first
dark horse in the race, often has beer
and variously told. Those who re-
member it agree no better than the
rival newspapers which. chronicled II
at the time. But there was enough
color about the strangely-chosen com
mission with it's unusual powers ana
about the startling way in which II
was forced to organize-on a slowly
moving train through Yankton. vhe
seat of government-to make the tale
go down in history as Dakota's great
est political achievement.
Nine men were privileged to ride
about in palatial special trains, will
ingly supplied by interested railroads
accompanied by wives, families, SER
wants, friends. newspaper correspon-
dents, and politicians, to choose from
all the locations offered the most de-
sirable capital city. They were tc
receive bids of lat least" 160 acres
OF land and "at least" 100000. thus
opening the whole thing to the high
est bidder. The general feeling was
that there was "nigger in the WOOD
pile" and that somebody was going
to make a lot of money through specu-
iation or other less open means. Peo-
pie were yelling stop, thief" with
no very clear idea as to what or whom
they were pursuing.
Meeting at Fargo on June l, 1883
the commissioners voted and voted
It was reported on the fourth ballot
that there were two each for Huron
Pierre, Redfield, and Mitchell, and
one for Bismarck. On Saturday night
June 2, after the 14th ballot, big black
letters over the front pages of papers
of the state carried the news, BIS
marck!" It was said that the finaI
vote, later made unanimous, had stood
as follows: Hughes, Scott. Belding
Mckenzie, and DeLong for Bismarck;
(Spalding and Myers for Redfield
Mathews for Huron, Thompson fol
Mitchell. Ordway and Odessa, ir
which the most speculation might
have taken place, "also ran"
Proceedings Were Started
It looked as though Bismarck had
become the capital of Dakota. But
quo warranto" proceedings dragged
through the courts for long time
assailing the appointment of the
commission. One Judge gave an ad-
verse decision. The full bench verdict
was delayed by the death of a judge
but when 1t came it was favorable to
Bismarck. Governor Ordway had re.
moved all his effects to the new seat
but when he instructed other officers
to do likewise, only his son, the audi
tor. obeyed. Many of the officials
were openly defiant and Yankton
continued to go through the motions
OF conducting territorial business.
On a sheet Of plain foolscap, now
in private hands, with no long
"whereas-es" to obscure the issue
Bismarck citizens, many Of them
clerks who could i'll afford it, wrote
their names and the amounts they
would give toward the needed $780,
900. The price Of lots, from which
much of the money was to come, sky
rocketed and then fell with q thud
when the first court decision was an
nounced, came back again. all with q
disconcerting suddenness that kept
the little town on its toes for months
When 1t became known that the
famous Willard railroad party which
included General Grant and many
foreign dignitaries was journeyine
west to take part in the gold spike
ceremony where the eastern and west.
ern halves OF the Northern Pacific
came together, an effort was made t<
have them stop In Bismarck. Their
consent received, the whole northern
half Of Dakota prepared to greet
them with bumper crops and with q
cornerstone ready to be placed.
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