New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-11
BIG CITIES AND STATE CAPITALS

The State of Maine is more or less agitated
over a proposal now before the Legislature
20 remove the capital to some larger city than
Augusta-either Portland or Bangor. As the
metropolis Of the state Portland is Of course
the chief claimant, and the fight for removal is
made largely IN that citys interest. The peo
PIE Of Augusta vigorously resent the proposed
transfer Of the seat of government, and the old
questions Of accessibility, relative convenience
and suitability of environment for legislative
deliberation and administrative work are being
duly thrashed out. We are inclined TO think
that the weight of logic and precedent is on
Augustus side; for since the foundation of the
Republic American practice has tended steadily
toward the arbitrary erection Of capitals at
points geographically central and toward an
avoidance of centres of population and great
industrial or commercial activity. We have fol-
lowed, a rule, the notion that palmer living
and higher thinking are fostered amid modest
surroundings, and that a whOesomer legislative
tone can be maintained at a small capital where
social temptations are lnconsiGerable and pub
llcity is unavoidable. This theory may not be
altogether sound: yet next to the demand for
general accessibility ii has governed in the Sc
lection of capitals in from two-thrds to three
fourths of the states.
The determination of the federal government
10 quit Philadelphia-then the largest, most
United States-and to create a capital of its
own out of a tract of virgin Maryland swamp
and woodland undoubtedly exercised a decisive
influence and set fashion for the earlier adj
nitted states TO follow. Washington was in
1900 also midway between the North and South
and the East and West, and the states entering
the Union from that time on applied these two
rules in choosing seats OF government with the
natural consequence of ignoring the forces
which were likely TO make for future CONNER
clal or Industrial growth Thus in Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Missouri, Ohio, Michigan. Wisconsin Illinois
and Indiana the actual centres Of population
were passed by and capitals were selected
which in most cases have failed TO keep pace
with the general growth Of the state Indian
apolis is the only capital IN these eleven states
which Is not overshadowed by one or several
larger non-capttal cities. Montgomery Jackson
Baton Rouge, Frankfort, jefferson City. Ian
sing. Madison and Springfield are, IN fact, to-
day little more than hourishing country towns.
while Nashville has been outgrown by Memphis
and Columbus by both Cincinnati and Cleve-
land.
1.ven In the later ana more sparsely settled
states beyond the Mississippi and Missouri the
same principle has been pretty distinctly an
piled The people of California made Sacra-
mento their capital instead OF San Francisco.
and the people OF Oregon set aside Portland for
Salem. Olympia las been preferred IN Wash
ington 10 Seattle and Tacoma Des Molnes is
the largest c.g in Icwa, Little Rock the largest
In Arkansas and Denver the largest in Colo.
rsdo. Cheyenne, Boise and Salt Lake City are