The Somerset reporter., 1907-03-07
Removal of State Capital.

One of the most important questions
that will come up before the present
Legislature will be the matter as to
whether or not the question of referring
to the people the removal of the seat of
go iernment from Auguata to Portland
shall be voted yes or no. Only one side
of this question 80 far has been heard by
the people.
The Portland side of the question is
this: The city of Portland offers to give
$780, and site towards the building
of b new capitol, which when built
shall not cost more 81 100000
If Portland stands by It's offer, az it
undoubtedly will, it means that the tax
to the State shall be only 1925 900 annu-
ally for four years, which would mean
that the state tax, would not in reality
be Increased in the slightest.
1t is said on good authority that it
will cost at least $500, 900 to fix over the
present State House 30 that it will be
anywhere near adequate to take care of
the business which it is now necessary
to carry on in our growing State. If
this sum is expended on improvements
10 the old building instead of on new
Capitol the State will not only have an
ola building, which can never be made
over into modern one, but will have a
building that stand as IA positive menace
to the State departments in that the old
State House is not fireproof and in case
of fire priceless records covering years
and years of the States life would be
lost. No insurance policy could cover
such damage as might result from a fire
iu the old State House.
Portland not only comes forward with
splendid offer as to the construction OF
new building for the State. but also
offers attractions and facilities for eco
nomcal administration of the States
! aft airs
A the time the Capitol was moved to
Augusta. Is years ago, it was not be-
cause Augusta was the geographical
center of the State, but because il was
then one of the centerS of trade
Today the center of the State is its
center of transportation, where all the
railroads of the State center-the city of
Portland, the State metropolis
Owing to it's railroad facilities Port
land can be reached more easily from
any part of the State than any other
city. 1t has splendid hotel accommoda
lions, theatres, etc and is able to pro-
vide much more in the way of comfort
and convenience to it's visiting legislat.
ors than can any other city in the state.
The Capitol located at Portland would
give the Legislators from up state an
opportunity to get broader views on bill +
relating to sea shore and fishery ques
tons than could possibly be had if they
never visited the sea coast
In this regard it might he said that
the whole United States is better served
by having it's capital at Washington thar
IL 1t were located at some interior town
in the geographical center of the coun
try.
Portland does not ask the Legislature
to remove the Capitol. 1t asks only
that the people of this State shall be al
lowed to vote on the matter
1t seems to be the only broad, liberia
and intelligent view to take of the ques
ton to give the people of this state the
right by referendum to vote as to wheth
er or not they will remove the seat o
government from it's present location t.
the city of Portland.