[SOUTH DAKOTA]. Autograph Letter Signed. [Sioux Falls], “Monday Morning the 22d,” [ca. 1889]. Two 4to pages on one 4to leaf of ruled laid paper. With embossed (governmental?) stamp at upper left corner. Approximately 228 x 178 mm. Some toning, soiling, one small burned hole at top margin, two vertical and one horizontal creases, left margin trimmed a bit and somewhat worn. This letter concerns the establishment of Sioux Falls as the capital of the Dakota Territory: “That Sioux Falls excitement of mine is no humbug and I am fully confident that it will finally pay principal interest and all the trouble it costs me - that joint [?] will undoubtedly be the Capital of the Territory as is the most central in Joint of locality as well as in natural facilities for a flourishing city - It is the head of navigation of the Sioux river and possesses the most beautiful fall of water in the whole north-West country - a rail road had already been run out to that point from St Paul Minnesota out S. F. is to be the terminus - I think that five years will make property in that place valuable and 160 acres I hope will make a fortune for me - but all these sort speculations are uncertain. All that one can do is simply to watch the chances and make a strike in some new place where there are undeveloped facilities and then wait for time to develop them…” Sioux Falls was never the capital of the territory; it was Yankton and then later Bismarck.