The Portland daily press., 1889-01-11
THE FOREST CITY AS THE CAPITAL.
Many More Legislators Speak In
Favor of The Change.
Augusta Sidewalks Afford Them a
Powerful Argument.
Portland Should offer Inducements
and Have the Capitol.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Pressl
AUGUSTA, Jan. 10.-The PRESS, with its
expressions of senatorial opinion on the i'm
portant subjects of change Of the State
Capitol, was eagerly read by the legislators
this morning; and so general was the ap-
proval of the views expressed that the PRESS
Representative found almost everyone
willing and even anxious to express his
opinion. Nature, and the art of the Augusta
street commissioner have also lent their
powerful aid to the encouragement Of the
desire for better Capitol in a better city.
Said prominent senator this morning 1.-THE
PREss's proposition to move the State Capt.
tol from Augusta to Portland, seems to be
gaining friends everywhere and one power
full reason for the change in few minds
that know of is the condition of the streets
andwalks Of Augusta at the present time
Among many others is the sidewalk on the
north side Of Grove street, lover which many
of the Senators, Representatives and other
members of the State government with their
ladies are obliged to travel several times ev-
cry day in going aud coming from their
rooms to their boarding places. A more dis
village of any Importance in Maine" The
unusual weather for this time of year-green
grass has appeared on the terraces of the
Capitol-has taken Augusta at disadvan-
tage for which she should not, however, be
blamed too severely. The general senti-
ment expressed today is very pronounced
and interesting. These are the men who
have spoken and here are their opinions:
Senator Charles +. Libby-"I have never
seen any reason why the capital should re-
main at Augusta, whatever may have been
the original reasons for locating it here. l
think that the comfort of legislators and the
interests of the State would be promoted by
having 1t in larger CITY, Portland presents
more and greater advantages and attractions
than any other city in the State. But the
change Will never be accomplished until the
citizens OF Portland show united front and
work Systematically ito that end. Let
Portland present to the State suitable site
for capitol on Bramhall Hill for instance,
and believe majority of the legislature
would vote for change today"
Senator Lord Of Kennebunk-"I think the
capital would be great loss to Augusta, but
l think Portland by far the better place."
Senator William L. Haines of Watervile:
II want to see 1t moved If it can be moved to
Waterville. Waterville is a central place, a
railroad junction, and the most accessible
place In Maine. 1t has fine hotel, and we
be accommodated at reasonable prices. We
have business for hotels at other times than
when the legislature Is IN session. If they
will move the State House to Waterville we
Will give as fine site as can be found in the
State, within ten minutes walk of the depot,
with ample grounds to accommodate all pub
Tic grounds that ever will be needed in
Maine. We will also guarantee healthy NOR
al influence for all legislators"
Senator Burrill of Ellsworth-'T trust that
the State Capitol should be moved out of
this town at the earliest possible moment
Bangor Is nearer the centre Of the State and
Portland is the great metropolis of the State.
Personally should rather see it in Bangor,
but l prefer Portland next"
Representative Otis Kaler of Scar5oro-'I
am surprised at the number find in favor of
moving the Capitol. 1t will be done, too; if
not this year, soon. They will have to lay
out $50, 900 here to make this House decent,
and II will be an old House then. Let them
appropriate million dollars for a State
House in the city that will offer the most in
ducementS. Portland is my choice. 1t is the
best and most accessible city in the State"
Speaker Frederick N. Dow-ssI think Port
land should be the seat of the State Capital.
1t has every advantage for it."
Representative J. b. Madigan of Caribou
Il think they might have shown better taste
locatingit originally; but as it is here, and as
1t would be expensive to move it perhaps it
had better stay"
Representative Louis G. Stearns- am not
at the present time prepared to say | think
i should be moved, But If it should be be
lore Caribou gets big enough to take it l
should want to go to Bangor, think 1t
rather unfortunate that the capital was not
original located in Bangor"
Representative Lewis A. Barker of Ban
gor: II am in favor of having the capital
moved to town that can accommodate it.
| should want to see it go to Bangor, but
rather than not have IL moved
at all, / would see il 20
to Portland. | would vote to move it, too
1t ought to be in city where the hotels can
care for it without an effort and at regular
rates. They could do that either in Bangor
or Portland. My opinion is that this is to
come by and by. 1t ought to come now.
Representative j. G. Clark of Bangor: 81
have an opinion, but l don't want to express
it,"
Representative C. II. Fiske, Of Old Or
chard: II am in favor of moving it to Port
land every time. Portland can entertain
legislature better than any other city. 1t is
really the hub of the State, and l believe the
majority OF the business people, after giving
it thought, would decide to locate it in Port
land"
Representative J.W Wakefield of Bath-"I
would like to see it 60 anyW here under the
heavens to get it out of Augusta. If we
could have summer sessions | should want
to see 1t go to Bar Harbor; If we are to con-
land or Bangor with preference for Port
land"
Representative Z. X. O'Brien of Thomas
toni have very decided views on this sub
ject. went to Santa Fe, New Mexico. and
saw their capitol there last winter, 1t cost
S225.OOO and had manifi1ent hall of repre-
sentatives with four fire places and as much
room again as there is in ours. Their COM
mitiee rooms were splendid too We haven't
decent one. should be very glad to see
the capital moved from Augusta and would
vote for it too l should like to see 1t 60 to
Portland"
Representative VIM. M, Nash of Cherry
ield-"l certainly should like to see it moy-
ed, and should like to see it go to Portland.
My business interests take me to Portland or
Boston, and It seems to me that the capital
should be at the business centre of the State
My second choice would be Bangor"
Representative j. +. Hichborn, of Stock
toni guess we had better hold on here
year or two until we get the Insane Asylum
provided for"
erville-"I think the present capitol is en-
trely unsuited to the needs of the State.
should say that as the eastern part Of the
State Is developing fast, 1t should go to
the eastward, which would take it to Bangor.
am in doubt"
Representative William Engel of Bangor
II should like to see it moved, and l want il
10 go TO Bangor. Bangor is centrally located,
has good hotel accommodations, is a-.railroad
and steamboat centre, and i think the city
of Bangor as city or its citizens would Of
fer any inducements that any other COM
munity could possibly offer. We have some
elegant sites, Thomas Hill, Dale Park, Ban
gor common, the old Novel; Farm"
Representative 0. G. Clark of Saco-"l
should like to see it moved. and it ought to
go to Portland by all means. State House
could be built on the Western Promenade
that we could see from Saco. 1t would be
magnificent site Then Portland has accom-
modotions for the entertainment of the legis-
lature that no other Maine city has. Port
land, moreover, is the business centre of the
State, where all interests seem to centre"
Representative Glover of Rockland-"I
think the State House is not at all adapted
to the purposes of the State and eventually
should be moved. If we should get that
$420,000 from the government, | think we
might move it then"
Where would you have it go?"
Personally, should like to see it go to
Portland, though Bangor may be nearer the
centre of the State. Still, 80 years hence.
Portland will be the great and populous
metropolis Of Maine, and ctpital there
would always be convenience to the State
and the pride of its citizens"
Representative A. d. Bird of Rockland:
81 think it should be moved sometime, that
1t should go to Portland when the change is
made"
Representative John w. Lombard of Wind