The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-27
Removal Of the Seat Of Government.

Will YOU allow u citizen oil the eastern sec
ton of the State, who has no prejudices for
Portland or against Augusta, to cite your
readers to a few facts connected with the
| question relating to the removal of the seat OF
government In doing this l assume, that
this is not a question per Sc between the cities
| of Augusta and Portland, and the inhabitants
| of these cities have no right to make n such.
| 1t is q question for the consideration oil the
people of the whole State, to find expression
| through their legitimate agents, the members
| of the Legislature. / assume another posi-
ton, that the location of the seat of govern
ment at Augusta over thirty years ago is no
estoppel upon the right of the sovereign peo-
pie of the State to change that location If
their best interests require it. Whether the
original location was procured by fraud or
corruption, as many allege and honestly be-
lieve, l don't pretend 10 say. / assume for
the sake of the argument that it was an hon
est location. Since Augusta was made the
seat of government great changes have taken
place. The old-fashioned way Of travelling
by stages and private conveyances has been
very generally superseded by rail and water
communication. This has changed the lines
of travel so that many of the travelling con-
veniences of 1880 are no conveniences at all
now. Men now do not seek for air line routes
"across LOTS to the capital, but avail them
selves of the appliances of steam power to
machinery and thus save time and expense.
Before proceeding to notice any arguments
in favor of change, will look moment at
some of the objections used against it.
l. 1t is said that it will be large bill of ex-
pense to the State. How so? Portland will,
through its municipal authorities furnish,
free Of expense TO the State, all necessary
halls, committee and other rooms for the leg
isative and executive departments, SO long as
the people desire to occupy these apartments
for such public purposes, and give lease that
will fully insure the State against any expense
for buildings.
.. 1t is said the legislative andexecutive de-
partments cannot be SO well accommodated at
Portland as at Augusta. There is nothing in
that, for when Portland built her large and
beautiful city building, she finished a portion
of the same with direct reference 10 this OBJ
ject, to vita Representative Hall, Senate
Chamber, Council Chamber, Library and Com
mittee rooms, also rooms for the Adjutant
General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer,
and Land Office. They are all equally as
good and many OF them better than those
now occupied by the State at Augusta.
- A. A. Al.
and If we remove the seat Of government to
Portland what shall be done with it? Sup
pose we shut 1t up few years, who is to be
injured, if the State has buildings furnished
free by the enterprising citizens of Portland
But if they desire to use the Capitol, all the
Legislature has got to do is to accept the mu-
nifccnt grant Of land made by Congress for
an Agricultural College, and just locate the
same in the Capitol buildings. But very lit
tie alteration in the interior would be required
in fitting it up for this purpose; and then the
State owns land enough right about the Cap
itol to make an Experimental Farm to 60
with the College. This is grand idea, and
when it is adopted the farmers Of Maine will
probably lose all the benefit wisely designed
by Congress in making this liberal grant.
But Portland win hereafter come in and claim
pay for the use of her buildings? The gener-
Gus, enterprising, high-minded people of til e
"Forest City," would scorn ever to ask pay
for what they generously gave, and If any
have doubts upon this point try them. There
are few other objections urged against re-
al huf 10
vanish into thin air.
will now give few affirmative reasons
favoring the change.
1. Portland, taking everything into account,
is more central and easier to be reached by
the present modes of travel than Augusta
Take the ) Western Counties OF the State,
Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford
and York, with population of 225, 749, with
G7 Senators and Representatives. the people
could all be better convened at Portland than
Augusta. Penobscct with her 1886 inhabi-
tants and II Senators and Representatives,
can go to Portland over the Maine Central
Il. II. by direct route, without stopping easier
than she can go to Augusta. Then Aroostook,
Hancock and Washington, with a population
Of 102,732, with so Representatives and Sena-
ators would all be better accommodated in
going to Portland than Augusta; by water
communication or otherwise, and in fact many
Of the members now 90 to and from the ses-
sions of the Legislature via Portland. These
Counties have an aggregate population of
400, l57 and lis members of the Legislature.
Then snpposing that the Counties OF Kenne-
bee, Knox, Lincoln, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc,
Somerset and Waldo with total population
Of 22S.422 and 6i members of the Legislature
would be better accommodated at Augusta
than Portland, we have the balance in favor
of Portland OF almost two to one. As many
Augusta towns would be better accommo-
dated at Portland, as there are portland
towns that would be accommodated at Au-
gusta; so one is a fair Offset against the other.
Result, whole population of Maine, census of
1850, G2SG0O, Senators and Representatives
lS2-Portland, 40c,l57 population, lis men,
Der Augusta, 22s, 422 population, members
GA.
2. Members of the Legislature could trans
actmuch business both for themselves and
their constituents; il the sessions were at
Portland. Everybody knows their pay is
merely nominal, and if they do something by
way Of business for themselves and friends no
body OF any reason would complain. The
same remark will apply to all outside of the
Legislature who have to do business at the