, 1866-02-08
REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAI-pu.
TOHts SITE.

,
country, however, twenty times as much *
defend the capital against rebel capture dur
Ing the civil war, as 1t would have cost to re
move 1t to some other site, and replace all ths
public buildings II contains. II must be ad
mitted that the present location is one of til,
very worst that could posslbly be selected
1t accommodates neither the population
buslness nor convenience of the people
Washington Is as fnconrenieut to the tnhab
itants Of the United States for q national cap.
itnl, rs Shawneciown would be to the people
OF Illinois tor State capital.
The removal Of the Capital from the Poto
mac VIC regard as only question of time and
agreement as to the place for the permanent
location. The first question TO settle wonld
be, whether the Capital should be located
with reference to the centre of population
and territory, or centre Of trade and cx.
change. II the political capital should be 10.
Gated at thecommercial capital, New York Is
tue place for It. New York is the emporium
1.-THE internal and external commerce of the
Union. Fousdflhs of the customs duties arc
collected there, and two.thirds or three.
fonrths OF the exports OF The country sail
from that port. The American prices OF
nearly all commodities are there fixed.
Stocks Of MI kinds, from United States bonds
down TO petroleum shares, have their selling
values regulated iu New York. Gold and
paper, corn, oil, cotton and dry goods,
everything that is taxable, useable or specu-
lafahle, from real estate 10 moonshIne, passes
through the Wall street mint to be assayed
and stamped; ind have lis yalnc determined
and recorded.
But rs geographical center, or Us = ceuter
of population, New York is located far AWAY
to one side Of the right place. II is a seaport
town, sitnated on the eastern edge Of the
Republic. II the capital were to be removed
TO tAc present center Of population, Cincin.
natl would be the place among all the larger
interior cities. The center Of population will
slowly trass westward from Cincinnati to-
wards st. Louis, passing little north of
Louisville, within two decades hence; md
thence very slowly approaching st. Louis,
moving at constantly diminishing ratio OF
speed as 1t ncars the Mississippi river. In tho
year 1900 the center Of population Of the
present area Of the United States will be somc-
where In the vicinity Of Centralia, in this State
Us it Is now Ia Southern Ohio, few miles east
u Cincinnati. Twenty-Five years ago the
center Of population was at Wheeling, Va.
There arc more square miles OF territory
vest than east OF the Mississippi, but, taken
is whole, it is much inferior In food pro.
1ncing aud population sustaining capacity,
There are vast tracts Of country west Of KIM
rs almost sterile and incapable Of cultiva-
Ion. It Is safe to estimate oue-tbird Of all
he territory Of the United States west Of the
Mississippi Rvlr as Of little value for Turning
purposes, consisting Of barren mountains and
rceless deserts. No conceivable develop
ncnt Of gold mining can maiutaln a popula.
Ion 10 the hundred thousand squire miles,
,Dyth1ng like a. dense as can the fertile re-
lions east Of the Mississippi. For these rcas-
ans We think the centre Of population of the
present limits Of the United States Is not des-
lined to cross the Mississippi River for centu-
'ies to come.
If the British provinces were annexed to
Lhe Union at this time, the centre Of popula.
Iion would be somewhere between Cleveland
Ind Pittsburgh, perhaps about New Castle,
Pa From thence 1t would move westward
loward Chicago. passing through Fort WAYNE
md reaching here at the end Of this century,
II Mexico werr also annexed at this time.
he centre OF population would then be some.
where between Louisville aud Cairo. The |
after place is not far from the geographical
:entrc Of the North American continent, as
veil MS being near its present and future cen
Re Of population, and u It possessed as high,
~ and handsome site for great city as
t, Louis, IT might some day become the
oAttcal capital OF the continent.
But the nre& of the United States is 50 i'm.
ense, that any point in the Mississippi val-
), within couple Of hundred miles OF the
.ntre Of territory and population, wouId be
ar enough, and within that limit Cincinnati,
Chicago and St. Louis might all
'npete With nearly equal weight Of asEu-
ent In behalf Of each city. A multitude of
mailer competitors would also enter the lists.
Ut as none Of them command the influence
more than the congressman of their re
'cctive districts, the choice wonld Ultimate
le between Chicago and St, Louis-the
astcln States north OF the Potomac voting
r Chicago, and the Southern States voting
r St. Louis, while the Western States would |
divided in their choice, the lake region mud
'e country north Of latitude forty degrees
ou1d probably prefer this city, while the
hio River valley and the .tfar Vest would
refer St. Louis. In any event 1t would be
difficult question TO determine, and the re.
otion OF the Capitol where It now Is, de-
ends on the difficulty Of agreeing upon q
ew location, Whenever Congress can agree
poe new site the days Of the Capital on
Goose Crcek'' are numbered, and the sooner
lat happens the better.