Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Sound Sense From Aroostook.
(Aroostook Star-Herald.)


time preached in previous sessions OF
the Legislature, and heretofore &c
garded lightly as a mere joke, recurs
this year, with some symptoms or seri-
BUSINESS, and with rumors at least that
it has succeeded in enlisting considera-
BILE promise Of support among the law
makers.
1t hardly seems possible, however,
that the project will rally to its support
anything like majority Of the menu
hers. in the face Of the fact that there
is no general public demand whatever
for such a move, and every reason 10
believe that any serious attempt 10
carry it through would meet with the
strongest kind of opposition from. the
people of the State as whole. In the
first place, the present location better
serves the present and prospective
needs Of the people Of Maine as
whole, as regards accessibility, than
would the city Of Portland. The puiK
of the present population OF Maine can
reach Augusta more conveniently IMAM
they can reach Portland. and this con-
sideration will weigh more and more as
time passes, inasmuch as the growth of
the population of the State is and will
he chiefly in its northeastern section.
The Rockland Courier-GaZette. COM
menting in general terms upon this
fact, and without any reference to its
bearing on the capitol removal ques-
ton. saws, in it's issue OF last week:
1.-THE growth in population in Maine
during the past two decades has been
steadily toward the East. The total
gain between 1890 and 1900 was 33.3so,
of which II, 155. or more than one-third
Of the States total gain. was in the
single county of Aroostook." In the
face Of this single fact the absurdity
of the pending proposition to move the
seat of government pretty well down
to Kittery is sufficiently manifest. but
the question Of convenience of access
is not the most vital point involved.
The most vital objection is that of
expense-needless outlay Of public
money to serve no purpose whatever
except to crafty the local ambition OF
Portland. The latter city may donate
a lot which. when given. will be no
more beautiful or commanding than
the site at present occupied by the
State Capitol in Augusta. and 1t may
supplement this with q further bal: of
gift of half a million dollars. This
having been done what would follow!
Merely that Maine would launch up
on the same voyage Of lavish extrava-
gance that has been pursued without
exception by every state in recent
wears in a new capitol building enter
prise. In every one there has been an
expenditure of millions upon millions.
far outrunning all original estimates,
ard not a few have been made the
cover for wholesale graft and specula-
ton.
if Maine cuts loose from Au-
gusta and goes to Portland to build
new capitol building. she merely en-
ters upon q project of uncalled for eX-
trayaeance and ostentation, and this at
a time when there is crying need FOR
funds, to found new and to increase
the scope of usefulness OF already es-
tablished charities for the benefit OF
various classes Of unfOrtunates, whose
duty it is for the State to care for, eth
er in bodily maintenance, or in furn-
,shing the means of improving their
condition through training and educa-
ticn. If there is any surplus OF pubic
money, put it into some vitality need
ed institution, either to further some
patiently waiting claimant in the cause
of charity or benevolence. or into some
practical enterprise. such as road I'M
pr0vement. 1t would be a crime to
put what belongs to these deserving
claims upon the State. now denied, or
grudgingly supplied. into wholly un-
called for and unwarranted extrava-
gance in a new capitol building.
To sum up, the State does not need
the proposed change on the score Of
convenience. because the present loca-
ton serves the hulk of Maine people
better than Portland would. The State
needs no imposing edifice in that city.
rivalling or attempting to rival other
costly structures of the kind in the
country, to increase her prestige, be-
cause it is much saner and more sensi-
BILE to win and maintain respect and
prestige as Maine has heretofore won
and maintained that sort Of recoSni-
ton, through insisting on brains, char
actcr and honesty in the law making
and administrative Offices. Maine has
been and is now too poor to lavish mil
lions, as other states have done. on
magnificent state buildings. but she
can co and does do what many Of the
great and wealthy commemorative OF
the Union do not do. send to her halls
of legislation clean and capable men.
VINO care ably and honestly for her in
tcrests in law-making, and when called
upon to do so. represent her with
weight and influence in the councils Of
TIE nation. On this score of State
prestige we believe every man has rea-
son to feel a more just pride in the
comparativly modest and unpreten-
tious capitol in Augusta with it's his
torical memories and it's associations OF
public careers which shed lustre on the
State, than he could possibly have In
any new structure in Portland, which
would be famous and imposing only as
a monument of lavish public extrava-
gance.
Augustus Eloquent Champion.
Lewiston SUM-
Augusta may we'll be proud Of Her
hol No I'M nv 10,