Several other matters of peculiar interest to the historically-minded
citizens of Wisconsin were acted upon by the recent legislature. We
record with chief pleasure in this connection the provision made for
the preservation of our first territorial capitol at Belmont (now
Leslie). Eleven years ago the superintendent of the Society, Dr.
Thwaites, made an effort to secure the restoration of this quondam
statehouse for a region imperial in extent, and the story of his
effort is told in the _Proceedings_ of the Society for 1906. At that
time the legislature failed to act upon his sensible advice, however,
and the matter was allowed to drop. At the recent legislative session,
Mr. M. P. Rindlaub of Platteville, veteran editor of southern
Wisconsin, took up anew the agitation for the preservation of the
capitol building. This time the advice was heeded and the sum of
$3,000 was appropriated for the purpose in view. Mr. Rindlaub’s plan
contemplated the removal and renovation of the capitol and the making
of provision for a permanent caretaker who, under the control of the
state conservation commission, should look after it. For these objects
the sum of $10,000 was asked. The amount granted will suffice but
partially to execute the entire project, but it will at least insure
the permanent preservation of the building.
The action of the legislature in naming the state park at the mouth of
the Wisconsin was, in our opinion, distinctly unwise. Citizens of
Wisconsin do not need to be reminded that the historical association
which provided the driving motive for securing this splendid tract for
a state park preserve several years ago was the discovery of the
Mississippi River at this point by the famous expedition of Jolliet
and Marquette in 1673. Because of this fact, and of the additional one
that the park was bought by and belongs to the entire state, the name
either of Jolliet or Marquette should unquestionably have been given
to the park. As between these two there would perhaps be little reason
for preference were it not for the fact that Marquette has twice been
signally honored by the state (by naming a county for him and by
choosing him as one of the two Wisconsin characters whose statue is
placed in the national capitol) while to Jolliet no recognition,
official or otherwise, has ever been accorded in Wisconsin.
Curiously enough, the park has been allowed to exist for several years
without a legal name. During this time residents of the vicinity
developed the habit of calling it Glenn Park, after former Senator
Glenn who sold the land to the state, while the conservation
commission, as a matter of convenience, referred to it as Marquette
Park. When a bill was introduced at the recent legislative session
providing that the park be officially named after Senator Glenn, a
number of officers and members of the Society bestirred themselves
to defeat the measure through the process of enlightening the
legislature with respect to the historical and other considerations
involved. It is proper to record in this connection that Assembly
Kurtenacker of La Crosse, on being apprised of the situation,
cheerfully joined with the representatives of the Society in the
effort to have the bill which he had himself introduced by request,
killed in committee. This effort met with success, and the assembly
committee on state affairs reported a bill to the lower chamber
providing that the park be named in honor of Jolliet. The assembly
passed the bill, but in the senate it was amended by substituting for
Jolliet the name of Nelson Dewey, first governor of the state, and in
this form it became a law.
We believe that the motive which prompted the senate amendment was
laudable, but that the judgment displayed was weak. Apparently the
impression that the park should be considered in some peculiar sense
as a perquisite of the people of southwestern Wisconsin, as opposed to
the state as a whole, could not be surmounted. With no remote desire
to detract from the fame or merit of Governor Dewey, we do not think
the mere circumstance of his residence having been at Cassville
constitutes a pertinent reason for giving his name to this park, the
very existence of which is due to the famous discovery of June 17,
1673. Incidentally, however, the entire discussion was productive of
good, since it called the attention of the public anew to the value
and significance of the factor of historical associations in the
selection of place names.