The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-02-10
Bismarck Should Remain Capital,
Fargo Judge Declares in Letter
Judge A. T. Cole Says Move-
ment Inspired BY James,
town Group Is Unwise

Belief that Bismarck should remain
the state capital and that the move
ment inspired by few persons in
jamestown Is unwise is expressed by
District Judge A. T. Cole of Fargo in
letter made public Wednesday by
the Bismarck capital defense COM
mittee.
Judge Cole expresses friendliness
for jamestown but warns against
moving the capital and increasing the
tax burden, against establishing a
precedent which may result in NOV
ing other state institutions and
against permitting local pride and
local ambition to rule in matter of
Importance to the state as a whole.
Is Centrally Located
The essential parts of Judge Coles
letter follow:
Bismarck is quite centrally located
and right on the Missouri river, and
the water supply is always certain
and never questionable. Besides. one
nal1 OF the state, practically speak
Ing, lies west of the Missouri river,
and much, or considerable portion
OF the territory south, and running
70 some extent in southerly direc-
lion Is more convenient to Bismarck
Tor the capital than any other town
In ne state. The western half of the
state IS entitled to all of the consider
alton that the easern half is, or any
other portion, and we must bear in
mind that the west Is going to grow
and that we, in the eastern section,
are as much interested in having the
western pert grow as we are in hav-
Ing our own section grow. Our inter-
eStS are In common and the whole
state and every part of 1t must pull
together. or we are pulling apart.
We have number of state in
situations and very important ones
IN the eastern half, and we should
not aim to monopolize state instiu-
lions in that particular section. We
should aim to build up every section
OF the state and so far as the CAPT.
tai Is concerned it should be so loc-
ated that in the future, as our state
grows, it viii lbe as centrally located
as possible. Capitol Hill at Bis
marck is an ideal place for building
the capitol and that also should be
taken into consideration.
In these times when some people
talk about depreSsion-a matter that
should not be continuously reiterated
we should certainly see to it that
we do not engage in any foolish ex-
penSe. While Jamestown is a good
city and it has good people in and
about 1t, yet it is not question of
simply dealing with the good people
IN a town or about it. The matter
OF capital location is a matter of
locating and holding location that
will serve the best interests of the
people in the future and it would
seem for this purpose Bismarck is
what may be called an ideal location.
Should Be Settled
1.-The capital question has been
supposed to be settled and in my
Judgment it is settled, but if we re-
locate the capital, we will have the
same question up, and may have it
up, as to the relocation of any and
all other institutions in the state.
We want matters settled and perm
anently settled and do not want to
be forever trading and dealing in
matters of this kind. Local pride
and local ambition may be we'll used
IN certain matters, but local pride
and local ambition should not be al
lowed to dominate, for the time be-
ing, in the location Of any state in
stitution, unless such location fits in
for the best service of the people and
not simply to favor local pride or
local ambition.
Possibly it may be said that this
IS none of my business, but believe
it is some Of my business, inasmuch
a am citizen Of the state and
have been for Al years, and inasmuch
as I live in Fargo where we have
one Of the state institutions located
on the eastern border of the state.
Let us permanently settle the capital
question, and settle it permanently
at Bismarck.
Il have as much pride in James,
town and that section of the coun-
try and that community as any local
resident, and we feel rather proud of
the progress that section has made.
but it seems to me that to attempt
to relocate the capital and to take it
from Bismarck would be a very un-
wise move"