The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-15

only from Fargo to Grand Forks and
west as far as Bartlett-a few miles
east of Devils Lake. The Northern
Pacific had not completed its line to
the Pacific but had gotten beyond the
western boundary of the territory. 1t
owned a branch of CaSSelton to Blan-
chard or Mayville and it had built
the Southwestern to LaMoure or
Edgeley, and possibly one or two other
branch lines, and the Milwaukee was
reaching into Fargo from Ortonville.
In the southern part of the territory,
the lines extended from the east to
Aberdeen, to Pierre, to Chamberlain,
and to Yankton, with some cross lines.
It's entire railroad system belonged to
the Chicago, Milwaukee, and st. Paul
and the Northwestern roads.
Legislature Met in 1883
The legislature of 1883 met in Yank-
ton in January, apparently with no
thought of capital removal. Prior to
that date territorial institutions had
been located in the southern half and
at that session the penitentiary, the
insane asylum. the university. and the
agricultural college, were duplicated
for the northern half.
On the assembling of the legisla-
ture it was recognized that the two
railroads mentioned would be very i'm
portant factors sometime in the relo-
cation of the capital; that they would
desire to locate it where it would do
them or one of them the most good,
and that contest might result be-
tween the two systems, then in process
of development and extension. The
roads were uncertain as to the future
location of their lines and what cities
might be their principle detectives.
It was understood that they had
agreed that as far as they could influ-
ence the legislature, there should be
no immediate attempt made to change
the capital, that all action should be
delayed until the officials Of the rail-
roads might determine where its loca-
ton would best serve their interests.
Members of the legislature conferred
secretly and 1t was determined that
the legislature was the proper body
TO control the capital location and
that the time to do so was before the
railroads were prepared for it, and it
was recognized that so many cities
would become candidates that major
tiles of both houses would never come
to an agreement.
Determined on Removal
The location of the national capt.
tai, within certain limits, had been
left to President Washington, and in
some other instances the location of
public institutions had been dele
gated to officials or commissions. Ac-
cordingly it was determined to secure,
if possible, the passage of measure
removing the capital from Yankton
and providing that it should be re-
located by commission consisting
of nine members, all named in the
bill.
Our legislators. in those days, We're
not higher minded than were Hamil-
ton and Jefferson, and they were not
averse to adopting log rolling methods
to enact or defeat the capital removal
measure and assume that some votes
were secured for the measure by a
judicious selection of those named to
serve as members of the commission.
I was not at the legislature at all and
knew nothing personally about the
proceedings. What I saw regarding
them must be termed as hearsay, but
I am satisfied that it is substantially
correct.
Hon. Nehemiah G. Ordway of New
Hampshire was then governor Of the
territory. He was about six feet, four
inches tall, well proportioned, attract
i've personality, of extensive expert
ence in political and business life, and
had deep knowledge of human nature.
He had served as sergeant-at- arms of
the national house of representatives
during the Civil War. He recognized
Yankton as a poor location and ac-
lively participated in securing the
enactment Of the removal measure.
The bill is at page pit of the laws
of the territory for 1883. and it first
provides that the capital is removed
from Yankton; then it names the
commission, consisting of Milo w.