Page:A Brief History of South Dakota.djvu/200

 CHAPTER XXXI THE UNEASY CAPITAL

first settlement, except for the fur trade, made within what is now South Dakota, at Sioux Falls in 1857, was established with the express purpose of making it the capital of Dakota territory. For four years, in fact, Sioux Falls was nominally the capital, though of course it was only by common consent and without any law in support of it.

When the territory was finally organized, in 1861, Governor Jayne established the temporary capital at Yankton and made his office there, and his choice was ratified by the first legislature, as we have learned in the story of the attempt to unseat Speaker Pinney. This location was very unsatisfactory to many of the people, particularly to those residing west of Yankton on the Missouri River; and in 1867 General Todd, who represented Dakota in Congress for two terms, led in a hard fight in the legislature for the removal of the capital to Bon Homme. He succeeded in getting this bill through the house of representatives, but it was defeated in the council. In the session of 1880 an unavailing fight was made to remove the capital to Huron.

By this time a large population had come into central 194