The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-03-12

and sometimes it is somebody else-that
the capital of Florida ought no longer to
be Tallahassee but that some other place
should be. A Mr.. J. +. Brown, of Eustis,
is now "agitating the subject through
the Semi Tropical, for he wants the CAPT
tai established down there, and he earn
estly argues that the Constitutional Con-
vention should provide that he shall have
the capital down there. He does not say,
however, that the capital should be there
because he wants it there, but gives the
usual reason, cit would be more CEN
trail, as his main argument. The map does
than Tallahassee, which is about midway
between the Eastern and Western boun-
diaries of the State-and, indeed, all the
resources of trigonometry would be ex-
hausted in an attempt to establish the
territorial centre of the crookedly shaped
State of Florida; while as an equitable
centre of population in the future, Talla-
hassee is not likely to be far out of the
way. Pensacola to the Westward and
Jacksonville to the Eastward will be
large cities, and the fertility and salubri-
ty of Middle Florida are guarantees
that it will be thickly populated.
But we would ask Mr.. Brown to look
with US at the map of the United
States, and note to what extent con-
siderations of centrality control the
locations of State capitals. He will note
that the capital city of the empire State
of New York is within few miles of the
eastern boundary while her territory
stretches westward about five hundred
miles The capital of Massachusetts, is on
her coast boundary line. The capital of
Maine is in her southwestern portion, and
Of Pennsylvania near her southeastern cor
ner. The capital of Virginia is not far
from her eastern limit, and the capital OF
Georgia was removed from almost a ter
ritorial centre at Milledgevile to At
lanta, point nearly three-fourths of the
distance from her southern to her north
ern boundary. The capital of Alabama
is about one'third of her length from her
southern boundary, and the capital OF
Louisiana occupies position quite as
one-sided. Other States could be cited
to like purpose, but Mr. Brown has seen
enough to satisfy him that the capital OF
Florida is not nearly SO much " off the
centre" as the capitals of some other
States.
We would ask Mr.. Brown if he has
prepared any estimates of the expense Of
moving the capital down to his place
and if he supposes that the people Of
the whole State will be willing to pay q
special tax to meet it. The present suit
able and handsome State House being
abandoned another would have to be
built down at Mr.. Browns place, and ii
should be something fine in the way of a
modern capitol. The Georgians aban
doned their capital at Milledgeville, and
for many years their State government,
was quartered at Atlanta in street
block which is quite suitable for mercan
tile purposes, for which strangers often sup
pose it is still used until told it is the leap
itol." Becoming ashamed of it the Geor
gians determined to build a real caplto
last year, and we ask The attention of Mr.
Brown to the following telegraphic &C
count of the fix the Georgians are il
about their new capitol, and if he car
offer any assurance to the Convention tina
the Floridians will not get into the same
predicament if they start new capitol al
his place:
ATLANTA's STATE CAPITOL.
Special to the Journal
ATLANTA, GA, February 1S, 1854 gentle
man who speaks by authority states that as NJ
figuring will allow the States obligations ano
expenses to be met, and the new capitol bull
without raising the rate Of taxation, the poin
has been reached where il becomes necessary fo
the Legislature either to raise the rate of taxa
ton or to stop the work on the building it is no
improbable that bill will be offered in the Leg
lSldluTc ulahlnB INC Tdlc vi HVc ullllS next yea
and four mills each succeeding year until thu
capitol is completed. The present rate is three
mills, and the Legislature refuses to increase it
A bill has been introduced providing for levyinl
a special tax to build the capitol. The presen
complicated state of affairs is the result of The
method Of "whppng the devil around thu
stump" and is quite common in Georgia legisla
lion since the ndODtOn of the nreSpnt COnstu
ton.