Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-02
River FaI,s--County seat, etc.
l. has been said or sung that

j
uneveuly balanced there will
be, for while at least, a preponderance
TO one side which creates some friction at
the central point.
That this place is becoming an attract
i've point, and has received good dea!
os outside attention for few months
past, think will be readily conceded.
BY some of our more fortunote neigh
bors. this place has been called "aa am
bilious little village though what this
nay really mean, it may be difficult to
determine.
If it means that we are an industrious,
frugal, temperate people, possessing a
laudable ambition for virtue and intelIi
gence, it nay be just. If it means any
thing less, or if it means a sordid, selfish
ambition, we demur. We modestly
claim this to be gravitatirg point, and
believe the time is not far distant when it
will be nucleus around which the sur
rounding country is destined to gather.
Geographical lines are not to circum-
scribe us, and we shall yet fully realize
the growth and prosperity to which our
own natural advantages entitle us. We
would by no means disparage any other
locality for the purpose of building our
selves up at its expense. But circum.
stances compel US to speak CT certain
facts and among these is one too well
known to be overlooked by any man
who has an eye to the present or future
b BUSINESS or interests of Pierce county
namely, the re location of its Capitol
It is no longer considered "a fixed fact"
nor should we in any way attempt to
disguise the more important fact, that an
effort will me made to remove it. And,
that the people of the county may ponder
the question, and by so doing be prepar-
ed to act more inteHigently upon it,
propose to proffer few words bearing
upon this subject.
Of course, River Falls is not in the
geographical center of our county; but
on the contrary, it is quite on its north
ern border. Geography, however is but
one among many considerations which
should determine the location of Capt.
tol, and is, in fact subordinate to many
others. A capitol is Lot wisely located
up a tree, though that tree should be To-
cate ] in the precise geographical center
ola county or state.
Let US illustrate. Boston is not in the
interior of Massachusetts, but that State
would no sooner think of removing its
capitol to Worcester than of removing
Cape Cod back into Vermont. ALBANY
is not near the geographical center of
New York, but is scarcely more than
cannon shot from her eastern border, vet
that city, or the city Of New York, is de-
cidedly preferable as capital to Utica,
Syracuse, or any other point in the int.
rior.
The truth is, the locati on of capitals is
not entirely dependent on will, or in any
respect strictly arbitrary, since Nature
has a voice in all such matters. The state
of Tennessee tried for long years to make
Murfreesboro her capital, but Nature
was too strong for her, and compelled
removal to Nashville. Michigan has re-
moved her State Buildings to hole cut
in the woods, called Lansing, but De.
troit is her natural capital to, day, and
another generation will not pass away
before the State edifice will be returned
there. We are all aware that these To-
cations of capitals in backwoods are gen.
eialIy tho result of side issues, of bribery
in land speculations, and other unworthy
considerations, and are in the nature of
things, transtory. Good practical COM
mon sense, stubborn facts and sound DO
litical economy refuse to recognize and
conform to them.
A true capital is something more than
a place where county buildings have
been arbitrarily located and erected,
where county officers are compelled to
reside, and where, at certain seasons you
may find Board Of SUP ervisors or
Circuit Court in session.
A true capital is the legitimate
focus of the natural and artificial
elements and powers of the county; and
where these are absent, you can have
only the narrowless bones of capital
the body without n soul.
Prescott is goodly city, and Dia
mond Bluff, Maiden Rock ard Ellsworth
are fine, thriving little villages; vet, if
you were to ask any candid, well in
formed resident of either, "Where, with
out prejudice, other than in your own
city or village, would you prefer to 10
cate the capitol of Pierce county ~
nine out of ten would answer, "In Riv-
err Falls" There is no doubt of this.
Aud for this choice there are many
reasons. 1t is easy of access to a very
large portion of the coupty-the ex-
tIeme southeastern part onl, excepted
county buildings can be erected at a
moderate expense: the town possasses