The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-27
FLORIDA's CAPITAL.

FLORIDA's CAPITAL.
jacksonville now has her orators out
on spenbinding tours for the purpose Of
trying to demonstrate to the people Of
the state why they should vote for the
removal of Florda's scat of government
from Tallahassee to that city. Hon. Frank
Clark who appears TO be leading the
movement in behalf Of Jacksonville, fired
the opening gun at DeLand, where he
presented the other day a carefully pre-
pared argument to show that his city
Is the only logical site for the Florida
statehouse In brief, Mr.. Clark's argu-
ments in favor of Jacksonville are its
accessibility, its ability to furnish the
necessary conveniences and facilities for
the transaction of the states business, its
offer of 100000 in cash toward the new
building, besides other considerations in
the way Of temporary quarters, and the
fact that DuvaI county pays about one
tenth Of the states taxes.
Mr. Clerk also called attention at some
length to the present condition of Flor
ldas capitol which stands to-day prac-
eral government in territorial days. II
may be far from adequate for the accom-
mediation of the states officials and the
storage of che states valuable records.
The fact, however that the Legislature
has not seen fiji to add to and improve the
building, is not an argument against Tai
lehassee. As a matter of fact as good
~. H.,
see as in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala,
or any of the other candidates for the
seat of government.
As to accessibility some of the other
candidates for the capitol may enter the
debate with jacksonville. Heretofore,
however, there has been no complaint of
the inaccessibiiity of Tallahassee except
from the northeastern part of the state.
and the Legislators from extreme South
ern Florida have not appeared averse to
going there. The conveniences necessary
to the transaction of business can be pro-
cured at any point if the funds are pro
vided for them. About the only special
advantages Jacksonville has 10 offer, so
far as can be seen, are that it is the
largest city in the state, and a gift Of
100000. Many Floridians will doubtless,
ponder long time before they vote for
the state to spend 100000 or $500 900 at
jacksonville, when one-third of that
amount invested at Tallahassee will an
swer every purpose.
The coming primary on Nov. will
decide nothing more than whether the
Legislature shall pass a resolution pro-
viding for a change in the constitution
of the state for the removal of the cap
itol to some other point, and whet point
shall be named in the resolution. If such
resolution is passed the amendment
must go before all the voters of the state
for their ratification or rejection and thus
they will have two whacks at it. Prac-
tcally the question before the people, in
brief is whether the capitol shall remain
az Tallahassee and be remodeled, and i'm.
proved to meet an the present needs of
the state, or removed to some other point
a. the great expense of putting up an en-
tirely new structure. The question is one
of the most important which has CON
fronted the people of Florida in a decade
o; more, and its outcome will unquestion-
ably be fraught with much meaning 20
the Peninsular State.