The Portland daily press., 1870-03-17
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
Thursday Morning, March II, 1870.
Le,fcr from WING censin.
CORTLAND


MADISON, March 0, 1870.
To the Editors of the Press:
Leaving Chicago for little business excur-
sion yesterday, I found myself last evening at
the capital of Wisconsin, and naturally stray
ed into the State House, to get aridea of the
Western style of doing Legislative work. The
question up for discussion reminded me of
Old experiences at Augusta "Shall the capi-
tai be removed" 1t seems that Milwaukee
with her large accumulations, her hotels. her
business and her metropolitan advantages
generally, comes in and asks that Madison
surrender the capitol to her superior claims.
with the generous offer of one million of dol
lars in State buildings. OF course the con.
test is earnest aud exciting. "Fair women
and brave men" crowd the galleries and all
available space below, to listen to the discus
sion. Both sides of the questian seem to have
put forward their ablest advocates, and the
debate is conducted with remarkable vigor,
not without the usual spicings of filings and
personalities, to enliven the sleepy passages.
As mere matter of debate the arguments
were very handsomely presented by both par
ties, and the merits of the case appeared to
be very much those of Portland and Au-
gusta. The vote, deciding the question,
leaves the capitol at Madison by a large ma
jo;ity. This is doubtless consistent with all
the proprieties. The location of the city is
magnificent bt:Iifng, just completed, with
ample rooms for the business of all depart
ments.
The book question has just been discussed
here ,as in the Maine Legislature, and niforna-
ity defeated here as there. Here, they say, by
the book-agents; a respectable class of travel
ing gentlemen, whose occupation would be
gone, whenever uniformity should come. /
have been interested to find by inquiries at
the superintendent's headquarters, that the
Normal schools, recently provided for-one
for each congressional district : are going
into operation with very promising success.
One is already established at Plattsville, with
two or three hundred students, another at
Whitewater with nearly as many. Each has
model department attached. The work of
opening the other schools is progressing.
At Madison is located the State University
and Agricultural College, now under the eff
cient presidency of Hon. Paul A. Chad
bourne, native of Maine, and we'll known
there as laborer in the earlier institutes and
as Professor at Bowdoin. He was afterward-
while still professor in Williams College,
member of the Massachusetts, Senate for two
wears. and president of the Agricultural Col
iege, until failing health sent him Westward.
He has now been three years at Madison,
and has infused new life into the veins OF the
university. We regret to find that his over
work is again telling unfavorably upon his
| health.
In several excursions during the past win
ter l have invariably met with1more or less
Maine men, lin various business and profess
ions. At supper party few days ago in
Chicago, in honor of Judge Blodgett, recent
ly elevated to the Supreme bench, the small
w fOnn6 IN iva1I11o tho no of
five natives Of our State: Hon. j. G. Scam
mon, Judge Drummond, George L. Dunlap,
Esq, Superintendent of the Chicago & North
Western railroad. and Mr.. Howe, the Attor-
ney thereof, with some other gentlemen,
whose name I have forgotten. l see by a
morning paper that ]. McGregor Adams,
Esq, successful young merchant of Chica-
go, has just been elected to the Presidency
of the Young Mems Christian Association,
to succeed Mr.. D. L. Moody, who declines
further service in that capacity. Mr.. Adams
is son of the late j. K. Adams, late pastor
at .Gorham; and their numerous friends in
that place and in Portland will be happy to
learn of his prominence in the Christian cir
cles of Chicago. l find here at Madison your
old friend, Col. G. G.. G. Thornton, formerly
of Scarboro. After long and faithful service
in the war he came West, and is now engaged
in large Touring establishment, enjoying
the high respect of the business and social
community. To the politeness of the Colo
mel and his accomplished family, President
Chadbourne, Judge Cole, Governor Fairchild
and other gentlemen at the capital, your cor
respondent is indebted for very pleasant
day in this beautiful city. The snow lies six
or eight inches deep on the fields in this lati
'tude, and innumerable runners are improving
the last chance along the mingled snow ant
mud of the streets. At Chicago the snow i.
trodden out, and the sunny side Of March il
beginning to show ITSELF Yours, w.