Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-07
Gbe Wermont 4Benlx.
BRATTLEBoRo. VT.
TURDAY, FEBRUARY u, 1857,
Location of the State House.

The recent destruction of our State House has
rendered come provision for the future nccommo-
dation ofour Legislature imperative. To meet this
the Governor Of this state has issued his
summoning the present Legislature
to meet at Montpelier for the purpose of consider
ing this exegency. OF the propriety Of this extra
session we are not now called upon to speak. The
Governor was advised to this course by citizens OF
Montpelier and Of other towns, and he doubtless
acted from his own convictions Of public duty in
acccdng to their request While this mntter was
in allegiance we RETAINED from oil expression OF o.
pinion upon the matter of rebuilding the State
House, MS we deemed il inadvsablc to agitate the
subject prcmaturely But MS the session has been
called ii becomes important to give expression to
our convictions.
II will be remembered by many Of our readers
that at the time the capitol of the State located
at Montpelier, and while the matter ofbuilding the
late State House was it its inception. the question
of location was debated vigorously and decided by
n very lean majority II was only after violent
and protracted struggle that Montpelier was de-
cided upon for the future scat Of our State govern
ment So long rs the late Capitol was in condition
for the accommodation Of the several departments
ofour government the subject Of locality remained
comparatively quiet; but since its destruction the
question is re-opened in more than its original i'm
portancc and bids fair to be the a-engrossng top
ic Of debate ut the approaching session. Montpc-
lcr is naturally DESTROYS of its continuance in that
village, while several other towns are prepared to
make liberal offers contingent upon its removal
within their limits respectively.
To us it seems that this question Of locality should
be decided upon the broad and general basis Of
public good The best interests Of the state should
be made paramount to all other considerations
As against such interests the desire Of individuals
or towns should not be suffered to weigh. There
are three conditions in the settlement Of this mat
ter that should not, in our opinion be dispensed
with LIST, town should be selected for the loca-
ton of the Capitol which is most easily accessible
to the members from the several towns in this
state,-one which will most reduce the mileage,
provided it contains sufficient accopmodations /;
md, q town most capable and best fitted TO con-
vene those in attendance upon the sessions OF the
Legislature; and 81, a town which from its natu-
raj location, situation and surroundings will most
add to the attractiveness Of our public buildings,
and thus make them credieble to our taste rs well
as our purse. These are conditions that will COM
mend themselves to every individual whatever may
be his location, provided he looks to public veal
more than to private ends; and they should take
precedence in the decision Of this important mat
ter.
What town in Vermont best fulfls these condi-
tons is the great question then to be decided
When the capitol Of the State was fixed at Montpe-
lier that town was territoraly very near the CEN
ter Of Vermont. Under the dispensation Of stages
and private conyeyanccs it was psrhsps quito a.
accessible as any other town Of equal size. Thus
its location was then eminently proper and just
But since then public ccnters have materially
changed. They arc now determined by railroad
facilities entirely This fact is illustrated in the
difference in the mileage Of members from town.
not more than thirty or forty miles from Montpe
lier, it existed at the time the present location
given to the Capitol, and as it is now reckoned
Since the introduction of railroads the representa-
tives from those towns are paid for from one hun
dred to one hundred and fifty miles travel to place
they can reach by going thirty miles. Hence
territorial center may he the most out Of the way
place, and the last TO be named in connection will
the meeting of public bodies. by removal 9th
Capitol from Montpelier TO Burlington or either o
several other towns sensible reduction could b
effected in the mileage of the Legislature. The ia
cilities for reaching Montpelier by railroad are
the most mcagre and embarrassing kind. No 9th
err town of any significance in the State is so unfi
vorably situated.
Again, the convcniences for the accommodates
of members Of the Legislature and others havin
business at the capitol during the sessions of tn
General Assembly, are not such as should be en-
ioyed. or as can be furnished elsewhere. In max
ing this remark we intend no dispangement to tn
citizens of Montpeler They have done oil in thei
power to extend such facilities to their utmost lin
it, and have been hospitable to an unusual extern
The Of the nsufIicency is beyond their reacl
The evil can only be remedied by removal to som
larger village.
1t is undeniablc that the situation of the Capt.,
: at Montpelier, and all its surroundings are nc
5 ouch as are in consonance with the magnifcenc
e of the building in which our state business hu
| been transacted. Visitors from abroad as well q
/ thousands of our own citizens, when viewing gu
] former very beautiful State House have mary ellie
that SO elegant structure should have such an in
different site. The situation was the best the tow
afforded but it was not in keeping with the builc
/ ing nor II, consonance with good taste. The SUI
roundings of soil and All osphere, and the unplea
G ant mode of ngrcss greatly enhance the force
-, the reasons for removal,
For these reasons chiefly we are DESTROYS that IL
: Capitol should be removed from Montpelier to Blu
= lington. Better than any other town in the sta
the latter fulflls all the necessary conditions
suitable location. Its beautiful situation, magni
cent buildings, commanding views, large populi
" tion dry soil, fine sites for building, and very col
,, venient accessibility, all point ii out to an unpr
= JUDGED mind as the most suitable place for the ca
= itol of Vermont. 1t is emnently free from tho
objections that have so frequently been urged again
Montpelier and which have led to serious efforts
q removal even when the State House was in go
| condition 1t SO situated and connected with 4