The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-05
WE OVERLOOKED THIS


WE OVERLOOKED THIS
Reeder, N. D., Feb. %, 1892.
Editor, Tribune:
We cannot conceive Of any one who
would be so brainless as to vote for
the capital removal idea down IN
this territory. It will put the CAPT.
tai further away from this section
than it is now, and what advantage
would that be to us here. James
town states in her propaganda that
We on the Milwaukee road would
have it Just as convenient to get to
jamestown as to Bismarck by rail-
road. This is pure humbug. Dis
lance is not the only factor IN travel.
and in particular on a railroad. Train
connections count just as much as
distance. I have tried to get TO
jamestown from here by rail and I
found that the only dependable way
was to 60 to Fargo and then from
there to Jamestown. and this Is not
very convenient, to say nothing about
the cost.
In presenting your side OF the case
Bismarck has overlooked a very i'm
portant point. 1t Is stated that the
state will lose a certain amount OF
money or value for property invest
mentS now held in Bismarck. That
Is we'll as far as it goes. but the tragic
part is this: Just what are We to 40
with such a building as the Memorial
building? The Bank Of North Da-
kota building can be sold at a fair
price since it is down in the business
section. but the Memorial building;
who would buy this type OF build
Ing located a mile out from the busi-
ness section? A hospital is about
the only thing it could be used Tor
and you have at least two OF them
now. so there would be no use or call
for another one. Looking at it from
this angle doubt If the state would
get $50 900 for it as is mentioned as
q possible price in the Bismarck
argument. To me 1t appears that the
building would be total loss. Ana
this Is not the end of 1t either II
left up on Capitol Hill. empty ana
unused, it will stand there as an eye
sore to future generations, and as
such It will be first hand evidence
of the imbecility of the electorate OF
1882. II we permit the capital to be
moved. Personally, am OF the opln-
ion that We have enough imbeclhty
written into the history OF the past
without adding some more.
Another point that jamestown
lodges completely. and that Tor rea-
sons quite obvious. Is the potential
opportunities of development IN the
western part of the state. what OF
Il II we have not the railroad con-
nections yet that the eastern cart
has: is that any proof that we VIII
not have them in time to come? Inc
west River country has been settled
only about one-half as long as the
eastern part. Give us out mere an
other Is to so years to develop on
and then let us see where we stand.
The eastern part of the state has
only agriculture and the business
that rests on this as their one re-
source of income, while in the west
ern part of the state we nave un-
told resources both under ground
and above ground. Above ground or
near the surface We have scor1a 1or
road building; pottery clay IN un-
limited quantities; a semi ARD Gil
mate which is godsend to the peo-
ME when man once learns to under
stand its full value: and in connec-
tion with the last one named we
have agriculture and business. IN
der ground we have Ignite coal with
the possibilities Of being gigantic
industry some day. In addition to
this there are so many possibilities
of other resources lying buried here
for man to use when the time comes
that in all 1t makes the eastern part
Of the state look like pignly for
possibilities compared to the West
River country. If jamestown then
wanted to be 50 far sighted they
should look into the future as it az
fects the whole state and not as II
apparently appears now. For the
railroads we now lack, If we are pro.
gresstve minded, we can work to put
more railroads out here which we
need badly, particularly north arC
south. One railroad north and south
built west Of the river, would make
Jamestown's argument rather shall.
low. Putting such railroad through
would be building up the state, while
removing the capital from its present
location will simply be tearing dowr
what has been built in the past.
Finally we wish to add a wore
about the idea of relocating state in
stitutions. If perchance the locating
of our state institutions in the pas
has had some rather queer polite!
back Of them. what is that to us nov
il these institutions are in place!
that serve the general pubic quit,
satisfactorily. The only excuse TO
relocating public institution at an
time as see it, is when it has b,
some odd circumstance been formerl,
located in some corner OF the state
or some other part OF the state no
very easily accessible But none O
these conditions can be charge,
against the present location of tn
state capital. Where railroads ar
lacking now We are in hopes tina
some day they will be built. So il
closing We state that there is no sens
whatsoever in the idea which tina
Jamestown group is fostering. VIVA
We hope happens is that jamestown
gets 80 defeated that it will take tn
city and its residents SO years t
recover from the shock; and what
more I have a bunch that this
what Is going to happen. However
10 have our sympathy for the citi
zens Of Jamestown who have com
mon sense enough to be opposed t
this removal idea.
Yours truly,
CLARENCE TWEET