Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-30

At this time when interest in the proposed
extension Of the State Capitol is so general,
il is interesting 10 recall the fact that the
original plans Of the State House conte m
plated an extension, a. occasion called FOR II
TO srchiteeturally complete the edihee
IL is in accordance wiki the original archi-
tscts expectation. that after many years this
enlargement is made to accommodate the
state Departments
Our oldest citizens recall the facts Of its
original location and il is clear TO whom We
owe our sckBov ledg ements for making Au-
gusta the State Capitol
Hon. Rsuel Williams was a me u Der Of the
Legislature in 1922 "a 5-B-7-o-9, and during
that time he was the active and efficient
leader In the movement to make Augusta
the capital. In 1888 also and again in l5iS
he represented this city in the Legislature.
ITO him, mainly" says John A. Poor in his
graceful Memoir Of Hon. keuel Williams
lis the city indebted for its political and
commercial Importance
To him has always been awarded the
credit Of the removal of the seat Of gov
eminent from Portland. And it appears
that the friends Of the extension put the
question upon exactly the same footing as
the question of original location. For Mr..
Poor continues HE regarded the question
of the location of the seat OF government
as one addressed to the common sense and
judgment of the Legislature and labored
for it with zeal and pertinacity that
finally Overcsme every obstacle"
Mr. Williams interest in the matter led
! him to accept the position of Com nssioner
of Public Buildings and he had charge of
the work until the completed Capitol was
turned over to the State Government. That
he did his work well is sttested by the fact.
as stated by Architect Spotford that after
nearly sixty years this noble building shows
neither crack nor flaw from foundation to
capstoGe,
I Ia his memoir Mr.. Poor says; This
chaste and beautiful edihce is mon
ument to his taste and good judgment 1t is
90 constructed that If the public e1gencies
call for more accommodations (Which
Portland assures US has now come to
be the case this can be provided, by eI-
tending wings in the rear which are said to
be called for by architectural rules to give
symmetry and proportion 10 the whole
/ edfce This statement is due to Mr.. Will
/ Ii ans reputation, and to the professional e1-
perts under whose guidance il was originally
planned.
While Augusta made no reply to the eff
4 forts made carry IN the session 10 DeHliIe N'
position and influence, as Mr.. Poor was
a Portland gentleman, Ierhaps We need
not be too modest to quote his words
when he speaks of 1.-THE vast influence
and power which its central position and the
Capitalization of talent and capital, have
given to Augusta; a city Of less population
and wealth than some other in the State, YET
superior in the ability of its press and the
sagscious foresight of its public men, II
many respects the leading place IN the State
and second in all these particulars to ne
capital city of the country, of similar rela
tlons"
This was written in 1864 but our beautiful
city has kept step with the most ambitious
improvement and it is no iattery to claim
this language to be as true and appropriat,
today as twenty years ago. l.. 1.