Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-08
Friday, February 8, 1907.
Portland Wants it, But Maine Cannot
Afford il.

Afford it.
When Portland made its ATTEMPT to
capture the capital in 1889 it was gen.
orally talked that new capital could be
built for 81 ,000, 600 above whatever dona-
tons Portland might make for the sake
Of booming it's real estate and gaining
new attraction for the entertainment
of it's summer guests. That estimate
was doubtless far below what the ac-
tual cost would have been for almost
never has state capitol or other pub
lie building been erected within the
original estimates and appropriations.
At the present time nobody who speaks
seriously of the matter estimates the
cost OF new capitol at less than ST.,
100000 or $5.00O,0O0, and judging from
the experience of other states it would
be far more likely to cost a million or
two more than the larger of these
sums.
Now have the people Of Maine de-
sire to spend all these millions for
something that is not needed. some
thing that would not in any degree
promote the welfare of the whole State
and something that would not give us
any better government? Naturally
Portland has no objection to such an
outlay. On the contrary it would
very cordially welcome it, and would
very cheerfuly pay it's own share for
the sake of getting the millions that
the rest of the State would be forced
to contribute. Nobody is going to be
fooled by the golden promises Of Port
land or by it's confident assurances
that a new capitol would cost less than
stated above.
The rest of Maine cannot blame Port
lard for its ambition to become the
scat OF State government and to have
o. new capitol as an added adOrnment
to the many it already possesses. But
the rest of Maine-which would have
to pay the bills-cannot afford to graf
fly the city of Portland in this ambi-
ton. 1t prefers to spend its money
for it's schools, for it's hospitals and
institutions for the insane, the blind
and feeble minded, for the cause of
good roads. for it's great farming inter-
ests and along many other channels
where there are pressing needs and
where the expenditure would be for
the benefit of the State as whole.
For 30 years Maine has been struggling
To get free of burdensOme debt and
now that the debt is at last below the
million mark it is not anxious to
mortgage the future with debt Of sew
eral millions more.
The only argument advanced by
Portland why it should be made the
taxpayers of Maine has been that of
inadequate hotel accommodations in
Augusta. This argument has
promptly been answered by the organi-
zation Of the Augusta Hotel Company
with the funds fully subscribed for
tie erection of a hotel equal to all the
demands Of n legislative session.
hotel at which the rates shall always
be reasonable. Even the Portland
papers in their daily sneers at .Au-
gusta have not ventured to question
the good faith Of the well known men
behind this hotel project or their
financial ability to build a dozen such
hotels if they are needed. The case of
Portland has reached the stage where
there is nothing left for it to do but to
abuse the other fellow.
OF course Portland wants to become
the capital of Maine. This desire has
been gnawing at its vitals ever since
the people Of Maine decided these were
good reason for it's present location.
The tendency in Maine however was
the same as it has been in al
most every state of the Union.
namely to have the seat Of gov
eminent near the center Of popu-
lation and away from the direct intlu-
ences of the commercial metropolis.
The center of population in Maine has
steadily moved eastward and if the
Car:tal Of Maine is ever changed it will
naturally be moved in that same direc-
ton. Portlands only argument is
fully answered, and Maine will an
swer its present plea in even more
emphatic fashion than it was answered
in 1889, The people Of Maine have
better uses for their money than TO
throw away millions to crafty the
local pride of the very charming city
I'm the southwestern corner of the State.