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THE COURIER.
if HISTORICAL
No 2.
The departure of the capital commis
sion to bunt a site for Lincoln was a
subject or merriment to tbe newspapers
of tbe old capital. Not until after much
travelling to and fro, looking at the
sites through the length and breadth
of tbe territory defined by the act, tbe
commissioners on the 29th of July 1867
having issued their order locating Lin
coln, in Lancaster county, on and about
the site of Lancaster, its county seat,
and commenced to survey the same into
blocks, lots, reservations, streets and
alleys, did the press of Omaha wake to
the realities of the situation.
There was music in tbe air. Tbe act
provided that within ten days after its
pa Rage the commissioners should quali
fy and give bonds to be approved by a
judge of the supreme court. The bonds
wero to be filed with tbe state treasurer.
Now it had beeji ascertained that
though the commissioners had sent in
their bonds to the chief justice, and be
had approved them in the stipulated
time, they had not been filed with the
treasurer inside of tbe ten days. It
was announced, therefore, that they bad
no authority to do anything under the
law, and that if they sold what purport
ed to be lots in the town site of Lincoln,
the treasurer. Hon.AugustusKountzeof
Omaha, would receive the money and
hold it for future disposition, but he
wouldn't pay out any of it as a capitol
building fund. At any rate an injunction
would bo applied for to prevent him.
Tbo announcement was calculated to
discourage those intending to become
purchasers of Lincoln lots. It did have
a depressing effect.
The sale of lots opened on the new
site in October. The commissioners
were on the spot with quite a number
of possible purchasers. The auctioneer
was a handbome man and had a good
voice. There was a band of music in
attendance, and it played as well as any
band ought to play so far away from
civilization. But not a bid couIJ be
coaxed from a single soul. The com
missioners had decided, upon consider
ation, that they would not personally
invest. It was deemed proper to observe
the proprieties very strictly, and to
avoid future scandals they jrould keep
out. But this was a matter of suspicion
to the crowd present. If the commis
sioners haven't enough confidence in the
new city to purchase a residence or a
business lot, -why should we venture
any investment? Night came on and
not a lot had been sold.
A council of war was summoned in
tbe evening in the Donovan House, and
the commissioners and certain gentle
men from Nebraska City were in attend
ance. Tbe Nebraska City capitalists
said that the commissioners ought to
bid on lots, and the commissioners said
that the Nebraska City men -who were
so much responsible for the scheme
ought to bid. Finally it was conceded
that both ought to bid. The Nebraska
City men formed a syndicate that agreed
to bid the appraised value on every lot
as it wis offered and as much more n
case of competition as they thought
safe, until they had taken ten thou
and dollars worth of lots. But there
was a proviso that in case tbe sales did
not amount in rive days to twenty
five thousand dollars, including the
syndicate's ten thousand, tbe whole
business .should be declared "off, the
enterprise abandoned, and no money
paid in. The commissioners also re
scinded their compact against becoming
personal bidders, for they saw that mat
ters were in a very precarious condition
and they had to imbue the people pres
ent with some confidence in Lincoln.
The next day business began in earnest.
When the five days had uaBsed 844,000
had been realized, and the prospects
considered certain for the erection of a
capitol building. By the time the sales
at Nebraska City and Omaha bad been
finished $53,000 had been taken in, and
no supplementary sales at Plattsmouth
and Brownville were held, though com
paratively few lots had been disposed of
to realize the necessary amount.
Lancaster, the site of which had been
swallowed up by Lincoln after the pro
prietors had deeded it to the state in
consideration of the location of the
capitol, was a hamlet of five dwellings
a part of one being used as a store, and
the stonewalls of a building commenced
as a seminar' by the Methodist church,
but which had partly burned before
completion and had. been temporarily
abandoned. The residents on the origi
nal plat of Lincoln were Captain W.
T. Donovan, whose house stood ou the
corner of Ninth and Q. on the site now
occupied by the Peoria house; Jacob
Dawson, whose log dwelling was on the
south side of O, between Seventh and
Eighth, and who had commenced the
foundation of a residence on the corner
of lenth and O, where the State Nation
al bank now stands; Milton Langdon,
who lived in a small stone house east of
Dawson's between O. and P; Luke La
vender, whose log cabin stood in Four
teenth, just south of O, and John Mc
Kesson who was constructing a frame
cottage two or three blocks north of the
university. Scattered about just out
side the city limits as then established
on premises that have since been
brought in in the shape of additions,
were the residences of IJev. J. M.
Young, Win. Guy, Philip Humorick,
E. T. Hudson, E. Warnes and John
Giles. Between the date of the location
and the first sale of lots a number of
buildings were erected on tbe site, the
owners taking their chances at the sales
of securing their titles by purchase.
There wero two frame stores, one occu
pied by Pflug Brothers and another by
Rich & Co., a law office by S. B. Galey
a shoo shop by Robert and John Mon
teitb, a stone building, afterwards rent
ed to the Commonwealth, the predeces
sor of the State Journal, by Jacob
Drum, a hotel called the "Pioneer
House,"' by Col. Donovan. These build
ings were located on or in the vicinity
of the public square and fixed tbe busi
ness center of Lincoln.
As soon as tbe sale was finished the
commissioners proceeded to advertise
plans for a capitol building. John
Morris was the successful architect, and
Joseph Ward secured the contract for
its construction on his bid of forty-nine
thousand dollars.
The excavation was commenced in
November, and by the first of December
of thn following year, 186S, was suffi
ciently completed for occupancy,and
the governor issued his proclamatian
transfering the seat of government to
Lincoln and for the removal of the state
offices and archives to the new build
ing. The first capitol was constructed
of sandstone, quarried at various points
within Lancaster county, with a facing
of magnesian limestone from a quarry
near Beatrice. This stone was hauled
the forty miles over roads and bridges
in part constructed by the contractor.
A GUIDE TO HEALTH
with every purchase of
Munyon's Remedies
at RIGGS' pharmacy,
BICi'CLE 1UDERS SHOUD USE
EIGGr'S CALENDULA
for sprains, bruises, sore muscles after
-J RIDES, etc.
In 25 and 50 cent sizes,
Instantaneous in its results
RMM&ViWS
Gost a Kurvdred
on't wait for lower prices.
Fop next ear
.
TlMlRSst a hundred
F. R. GUTHRIE, Agent
1 540 O ST.
You want the best
The best is always the cheapest
GOLDEN THISTLE and LITTLE HATCHET FLOUR
are always the best
WILBUR ROLLING MILLS
MANUFACTURERS
TIIERE'S NO USE SWELTERING.
Over a hot stove cooking picnic lunches. Deviled
and other canned ham. Canned salmon, German
and American cheese, domestic or imported sardines.
Bottled pickles, a few lemons, some sugar, two or
three loaves of bread, butter, and there you are, all
ready to go. We keep them and put them up for
parties better than you can put them up your
self. Everything we keep is first class too. No
"cheap" stuff and yet we sell it chenp.
VBITH & RESS, Grocers,
909 O STREET.
- UNIVRSITY of NEBRASKA -
SCHOOL o MXJSIO.
11 and Q Streets.
Offers superior instruction to all in artistic piano
playing, and the correct use of the voice in song.
All principal branches of music taught by special
instruction.
Pupils of any grade of advancement received at any
Fall Jerm opens September 2.
DIRECTOR.
129 8. Twelfth street
Ladies and Qentlemen's
Grill and Oyster Parlorsj
Regular dinner, 25 cts.
Short orders a Specialty.
All the delicacies of the' season.
OPEN ALL NIGHT. A CALL WILL CONVINCE YOU-
66
99
FLOUR
. . S. M. MILLS,
Manager.
FOR SALE BY ALL DEALERS.
Absolutely guaranteed by
X S. Johnson Ss Co.
229 S. Ninth Sreet.
LINCOLN
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