The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-19
By B. F. SPALDING

There was no serious thought of the
Bismarck bid being considered until
we, in due course, visited that city.
When we reached Bismarck we were
surprised at the extent of the enter
tainment which awaited us. The
Eleventh Infantry band had been
brought from Fl. Keogh for music and
a great number of Indians from the
Standing Rock reservation to provide
a spectacle. One, and I think two
banquets were set up in which hun
dreds Of people participated. On the
lot where Webb'S store now is, stood
a little wooden building used as a
public library. The books were re-
moved and it became the headquar-
tiers of the entertainment committee,
where champagne was served freely.
When the people of Fargo and other
northern cities learned of the expen-
sive fete put on by Bismarck they
recognized that it could not have
been done simply from a desire to be
courteous to the commission, and they
began to look around. I shortly re-
ceived document setting forth the
facts regarding matters and protest.
ing against the capital being located
at Bismarck. 1t was signed by prac-
tically every business and professional
man of importance in Fargo. I still
have that document.
We went from Bismarck to st. Paul
by special train which stopped a short
time in Fargo. While the train was
waiting here. was invited to step in
to the Headquarters hotel and inspect
a map. Mr.. Mckenzie happened to
see this. That evening, after I had
retired in my berth, he came to me
and with much fervor and less tact
upbraided me for examining the map
and apparently assumed that I had
promised to vote for some other To-
cation than Bismarck. Naturally and
foolishly got mad and told Mr.. Nc
Kenzie that could cast my own vote.
I believe he never forgot this Incl
dent.
Met in Keeney Block
We returned to Fargo and met in
the court on the second floor of what
was known as the Keeney block at
the corner of Broadway and Second
avenue north where the Central Bar
Der shop now is, and on the 18th bal
lot Bismarck received the vote of five
commissioners and thereupon the
commission adopted the following res
olution: Whereas: At regular
meeting of the commissioners APP
pointed by that certain act of legis-
lature Of the Territory of Dakota APP
proved March 8, A. D. 1883, entitled
An act to provide for the location of
the seat of government of the Terri
tory of Dakota, for the erection of
public buildings there at held at Far
20, in the county af Cass in the said
territory, on June 2, A. D. 1883, 1t Is
hereby declared and determined by
the commissioners aforesaid that,
Whereas, suitable site for the CAPT
tai buildings of the said territory, sit
uated at the city of Bismarck, in the
county of Burleigh. in the said terri
tory, the same being that parcel OF
land described as the northeast quar-
ter (14) of section numbered thirty
three (33) town one hundred thirty
nine O30 north, of range numbered
eighty( so west, together with that
certain other parcel Of ground STU
ated in the said county described as
the north half Gk) of the north half
% of section numbered nine 90 in
town numbered one hundred thirty
eight Q38) north, of range numbered
eighty 900 west.
And, in addition thereto the sum
Of one hundred thousand dollars in
money having been duly guaranteed
to the said territory in accordance
with the provisions of the said act Of
legislature, to be used for the pur-
poses in the said act specified:
"Now, therefore, under and by au-
thority of the said act of legislature,
the said parcel of land first herein
before described as suitable site for,
and as the site of the seat of govern
ment of the said territory; and the
same is hereby declared to be the site
of the seat of government Of the said
territory.
Arranged for Survey
"Resolved: That the tract of ground
this day selected as the site of the
capitol buildings of this territory be
surveyed and laid out, as prescribed
by the act of legislature of this ter
ritory approved March 8, A. D. 1883,
entitled AN act to provide for the To-
cation of the seat OF government of
the Territory Of Dakota, and for the
erection of the public buildings there
at that. of the said tract, not to ex-
coed twenty acres shall be set apart
as the capitol grounds, and the re-
mainder shall be divided into lots and
blocks.
Resolved, further that the COM