Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-06
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
PortIand's Periodic Fever.
(Wateryille Maii.j

Tho question OF moving tie capital
4. on III earnest. When the matter
was first preached 1t seemed to be
but the periodic fever which SOME
good people are subject to about Once
in two years. which shows itself I'm
a clamor to move the capital from
Augusta This question has been
raised in a mild sort OF a way at
every session Of the Legislature for
years. But heretofore the matter has
been easily laughed out OF court.
Most people have looked upon the
whole proposition as Joke. 1t was
Portland's biennial pleasantly.
But the matter has now passed be-
You'd the jocular stage. Portland is
much in earnest this time. She
never would have backed up her city
council in Offering a half million
Of clean cash If she did not mean
business. Portland does not enjoy
parting with her good dollars as her
dilatoriness in raising the funds for
the Reed monument attest. But now
she sees in her dreams the picture OF
the new two million dollar state
House perched OF some one of the
slightly elninences, and she has aroused
herself and opened her purse strings.
Her great and small men have been
pouring into the already crowoeo
hostelries of Augusta and are lobby
ing sor the removal Of the capital.
Should the capital be removed 10
Portland? The reasons urged for this
action are, first that Portland IS the
metropolis of Maine. second that she
can take care of the people that crowd
the capitei every two years better
Than Augusta can, and third that the
State needs q new capitol building
and that she stands ready to give half
a million towards 1t. The first rca-
son is not valid. New York city Is
tho metropolis Of the Empire State
but New Yorkers get along with
. their capital 1T the much smaller
city of Albany. In regard to accom-
! modations we have not heard Of any
one seriously suffering for want OF
bed and board at Augusta. But al
loving that Augusta is little short
an hotel accommodations, the people
thare are waking up and will doubt
! loss provide larger and better QUAR-
tiers. il they find they are in danger
of losing their prize. The state
| House may be inadequate to all the
needs Of the state but as Governor
Cobb recommends adequate provision
/ could be mad, for time by securing
| office rooms outside for some of the
, departrnents The State is neither
able or ready to erect new CAPITA
| building AS to cash contributions
| Bangor or Lewiston would raise more
| than Portland has PROMISED.
| But what about the associations o!
| the past that cluster around the Ole
! State House? What about putting
the great constituency living in north
| ern an, eastern Maine 10 the
trouble OF travelling almost TO the ex-
| IRENE southwestern corner Of the
State when they have business at the
| capital? The great section Of north
| ern Aroostook and Somerset coun-
| ties Is developing in population and
| wealth more rapidly than any other
| part of the State. The capital ought
to move northerly and easterly rather
| than farther west. Indeed Water
vile is the railroad center of the
| State. and WatcrFille IS whore the
| capital ought to 5a located whenever
1t is moved from Augusta p
| We are not ready tor 1t Yet. neitll-
er has the tine Come 10 move it
But in ten years we shall !, bc pre-
pared. Then II Augusta can AoiI
you no longer. dear old capital. wt'll
| open our arms and take you in and
provide You 4 beautiful new home
| Portland? Never. Watervilie-i,
may be sometime.