Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-06
The Hotel Argument Answered.

feeling of pride over the action of the
citizens of Augusta in Incorporating
the new Augusta Hotel Company
Whatever criticisms may have been
made in the past of the hotel accom-
niodations Of the capital city have now
received their final answer. The
names and spirit of the citizens behind
the movement which has eliminated
in the taking over under perpetual
lease of the old Augusta House prop
erty, and a stock subscription Of sixty
thousand dollars, to be spent in re-
building and remodelling and return
ishing the present property as we'll
as in the erection of a large addition.
assure the people OF the State who
GENE here on business or pleasure the
best modern hotel service and ac-
Communications and assures them too
that if more money is needed it will be
forthcoming.
Thus is answered the only argument
worthy of serious consideration which
has ever been advanced as a reason for
moving the capital to Portland. And
it has been answered in a logical way
which gives to such a proposition d
ridiculous appearance.
Certain persons have of late advo-
Gated abandoning the present State
House, and building new one in
| Portland, because forsooth the hotel
accommodations in this city were in
sufficient or unsatisfactory. 1t is not
| to be wondered at that editorial COM
ment in various parts of the State has
viewed this matter as joke.
| To abandon the present capitol thus
! losing the money invested in It. and to
erect n new one at Portland, with its
hotel accommodations, would certainly
cost 81 100000 Of the peoples money,
which the People would have the pleas
urc of raNng. To build a modern
and adeuua4 hotel here represents an
investment ff something over 100000.
which the citizens Of Augusta contrib
ute without increasing one cent the
debt of the rest of the State OF the
burden of it's taxpayers.
Ii is not difficult problem to deter
| mine which is the cheaper: which will
cost The citizens Of the State less: and
which VIII leave more Of the State 9
money for ncedt d public works.
We do not wonder ut the natural
tendency Of editors to vjaW as joke
n proposition to move the capitol to
the hotels and Portland at cost o.
$1,000, 900 as compared to building q
hotel here at a cost OF nothing at all SC
far as the rest Of the State is con-
cerned. The idea Of the mountain go
ing to Mahonet is not without IL
economic weaknesses after all.
OF course the question of the re-
moval of the capital is one affecting
the whole State. The wishes or
! single city In the matter whatever IFS
ONLY In so far rs they are the wishes
Of the whole State.
The seat Of the State government Is
not a thing to be auctioned off to the
highest bidder, but rather its location
is p matter of the will of the people
No one city can afford to oppose Its
voice to that of the whole State, or tt
attempt to advance its interests
through the swollen Indebtedness ano
increased taxation which the whole
State would have to bear.
1t is easy to see the advantage tt
any particular community of an IN
yestment for which others have to pay
even if such an investment would NEAR
Tho removal of the capitol. But il
considering the relocation of the Stat
capital. a step which would plunge tn
state into debt after a struggle o
many years 10 get out OF it, 1t ma!
occur to many that the question is on
dependent on the wishes Of all the reo
pie and not on any one city even II I
!. have a dozen hotels waiting TO a.
obeisance to now capitol. Even il
these days s4,0OocoO is quite a sum o
money and it bchooves the people .
the State to decide whether they wisl
to invest it in removing the capital T.
Portland. The capital is theirs n
we'll as the money. and if they gener
ally hold an opinion adverse to spend
, ing it in this manner, it is probably be
, cause they realize how strongly sue
an unneeded move would smack OF ex
travagance; to what extent 1t woui
increase taxation; how far it would de
Law other needed public improvements
and how entirely lacking is any ade
auate reason for SO doing.
The School Savings Banks System.