Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-14
The Capital Moving Question.

Augusta correspondent in Bangor Whig.)
Bangor is taking an active part in the cap
ital moving melee and Just at present her en-
ergy BIDS fair 10 oyershi1ow the Portland
boom. Augusta " ..ule sidewalks. boarding
houses and Politicians have been glowingly( p
set forth in a CERTAIN newspapers articles has
mad very htle to say "a Yet. Meauwhile the
capital moving committee from the Legisa-
ture have enjoyed the hcurteous hospitail,ies
of Portland, and by a singular coincidence
tie first TO welcome hem OF their arrival were
Hon. Albion LATHE and Hon. J. z. Baxter
of the reception committee. Did it occur
to the committee that these two gentlemen
own the most available Capitol site in
Portland, To- 1900 feet, and that they would
consent TO sacrifice it for $50 900: If the
committee thought on these things they
kept il to Themselves and part00k right
heartily of the good cheer provided. BY
another singular coincidence Dir. Baxter is
said to have controlling interest in the
Portland Press, which at the first of he
session endeayored TO ind as much fault
with the Augusta sidewalks as the Adver
tser of Monday succeeded in doing with
PortlaHd's pedestrian thoroughfares. And
50 the fun goes on. Your correspondent
had thu pleasure of listening to the com
meuts Of a member, who at first espoused
the cause of removal These may give an
idea of tho situation of things He said II
favored a new State House, but confess |
had not counted the cost. | was not preju
diced particularly as to the location. but IA
vored Portland. | however took occasion TO
investigate the matter little on my own be-
half aud as regards Portland think the
Herald CORE spondent from Portland when
he said there is a painful suspicion that
SPECULATION RATHER THAN PATRIOTISM
is at the root of some of the talk hit the nail
on the head"
What do you think of the arguments a1-
van.ed by u CERTAIN newspaper with regard
to erecting CAPITOL with $1,000 of the
direct tax, which it is hoped the government
will return to the people, and the imagined
contribution of $4,000 from Portland citi
zeus?"
II think 1t the veriest nonsense. Why,
look at the Capitol of the State of Connect
cut, and there is no record of extravagant ex
pendi ure against it, Yet it cost 81 ,534 ,024
4G aud the lot and furnishings increased that
sum by ss0s ,526 %. Now Maine has 20, coo
more population than the State
of Connecticut and | am glad to say
is no more inclined than her nutmeg neigh
Vbi W w ANpN tOf tilf
Portland Press or any paper to pretend that
we can have suitable and new State House
for less than oHe-sixth of that amount is
simply absurd. These new Capitol schemes
have alsays proved leech on the tar pay
ers' pocket books New York moiestiy con-
GUIDED TO adorn herself with a new building
for So 900 coo. She has expended SIS
DOC. 0ou and the building is still incomplete
A fellow laborer in the legislative mill
who had been listening remarked Il agree
with you on many points, but | would like
to see Maine have a new State building be-
fore many yeas, though | II predict that
II WoN't RE LOCATED IL PORTLAND
any more than New York's capital was
placed in the city of New York, and there
are NJ more reasons for it.
Where would you locate III" was asked.
well, when the proper time comes the
pushing city of Bangor will develop back
ing that viii surprise some people in the
State"
And SO the conversation ceased. but suiii-
cient to show an inkhng of what practical
members are thinking, and by the way prac-
teal men are not a scarcity in the present
Legislature. These remarks were not the
oniT ones which have been heard on this
mat. er and there seems to be some common
sense suggestions in the following:
With two exceptions the State of Maine
has TO day better capital than any State in
New England aud a moderate appropriation
for repairs aud enlargems mt would fit il to
meet the demands Of the State for years to
come Meanwhile the increasing demands
for caring for the States insane which must
soou fiHd relief in the erection of new build
ings. probably at Bangor. the need of re-
formstory institution for women, another
general hospital for the care of our sick,
are necessities that must be met at an early
date BY the taxpayers of this State