352 GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.

that the seat of government was not removed from Salem to Corvallis by that act, nor would it be until such times as congress should take action. Nor could the governor pay out any part of the appropriation under instructions from the legislature, except under contracts already existing. The executive office, more over, should not be removed from Salem before con gress should have approved the relocation act. 11 So said the comptroller; but the governor s office was already removed to Corvallis when the comptroller reached this decision. The Statesman, too, which did the public printing, had obeyed the legislative enact ment, and moved its office to the new seat of govern ment. 12

When the legislature met in the following Decem ber, Grover introduced a bill to relocate the capital at Salem, which became a law on the 12th of De cember, 1855. But this action was modified by the passage of an act to submit the question to the people at the next election. Before this was done, and per haps in order that it might be done, the almost com pleted state house, with the library and furniture, was destroyed by fire, on the night of the 30th of Decem ber, which was the work of an incendiarv. The

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whigs charged it upon the democrats, and the demo crats charged it upon "some one interested in having the capital at Corvallis." However that may have been, it fixed the fate of Corvallis in this regard. 14 Further than this, it settled definitely the location question by exhausting the patience of the people. 15

11 Or. Jour. Council, 1855-6, app. 12.

12 Corvallis had at this time a court-house, two taverns, two doctors, and several lawyers offices, a school-house, the Statesman office, a steam saw-mill, and two churches. The methodist church was dedicated Dec. 16, 1855, G. Mines officiating. Or. Statesman, Oct. 13 and Dec. 8, 1855; Speech of Grover, in Id., Dec. 18, 1855.

De.adtf* Hist. Or., MS., 26; Graver s Pub. Life in Or., MS., 51-4; Or. Statesman, Jan. 29, 1856; Id., July 29 and Sept. 30, 1856; Or. Argus, Jan. 5, 1856; Or. Jour. House, 1855-6, app. 165-70; Armstrong 9 Or., 17.

14 At the election in June 1856, the votes for the capital between the prin cipal towns stood, Portland, 1,154; Salem, 2,049; Corvallis, 1,998; Eugene, 2,316.

15 At the final election between these places the people refused to vote,