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entrancing strains of the Fort Keogh military band, drinking in the beauties which were visible in every direction my hat comes off," the correspondent wrote.
• The commission agreed to meet on June 1, 1883, to select the new capital.
• The correspondent summarized the proceedings as, "Well, the agony is over and Bismarck, through all the shrewdness and persistency of Alex. McKenzie, and the stiff backing of the Northern Pacific, and her generous bid, and magnificent capitol site, has captured the prize in which nine of the best towns in Dakota have been striving in dead earnest for the past month."
• It wasn't until the 13th ballot that Bismarck received five votes - enough for a majority.
• McKenzie, a member of the commission, was the sheriff of Burleigh County and the political agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Many believed that territorial Gov. Nehemiah Ordway also played a role in locating the capital in Bismarck.
• Those who believed the commission was illegal brought a court case that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The matter was never settled, however, because statehood was granted before a decision was made.
• The cornerstone for the new territorial capital was laid on September 1883.  Bismarck's time as territorial capital was short-lived, however. Statehood was granted to North Dakota and South Dakota on Nov. 2, 1889. Instead of the fight being for the territorial capital, the stage was set for a state capital site battle.
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• This moment in South Dakota history is provided by the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society. Find us on the web at www.sdhsf.org. Contact us at info@sdhsf.org to submit a story idea.
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