New Britain herald., 1927-11-11
NINE CAPITALS OF ! UNITED STATES
Washington Has Not Always
 Been Seat Of Nation

Washington, D. C., Nov. 11-York,
 Pennsylvania, this fall celebrates the 150th year Of it's nine months career as capital of the United States.
 When General Howe marched his British and Hessians into Philadel- phia l50 years ago. Washington win tered at Valley Forge and congress wintered in York.
 York shares the honor of having been capital of the United States with eight other towns: New York. Philadelphia and Lancaster, Penn sylvania; Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey; Baltimore and Anna polls. Maryland, and Washington, D. C.
 During its first c5 years congress moved as frequently as a New York apartment dWeller. Indeed. when it was endeaNorins 10 select a per manent seat,' congress came near achieving perpetual motion by voting for alternate meetings at two capi- tals, one on the banks of the Poto- mac, and one on the banks Of the Delaware
 Baltimore Second Capital
 Lancaster was capital Of the United States for just one day. Sep tomber 27, 1777. After single meeting in Lancaster the congress- men decided it would be safer to put the Susquchanna river between them
  adjourned 10 York. Once before the continental congress had fled Phila- delphia. While Washington was crossing the Delaware the year be- fore, the legislature moved to Balti- more for two months.
 Eyacuation of Philadelphia by the British in ITS permitted congress 10 make the metropolis of the col onios again the capital and so it re- mained until an incident five years later which led angry congress to . demand an independent federal dis trict Although the war was over the legislature found itself short Of . money to pay soldiers and dismiss them. Eighty men in the Lancaster barracks mutinied and marched on . Philadelphia. where they were cor diallv received by brothers in- arms. They monaCcl Independence Hall . where congress. in session, appealed ' vainly to the PennSylvania state gov ernment for protection. Indignant F at the insult congress ad diourned to Princeton, New Jersey. and resolved that when it established national capital it would be independent Of !, any state or city protection. i
 Nassau Hall and Princeton living accommodation cramped congress so it adjourned to meet the follow ing year at Annapolis, In the grace ful-spired Maryland state house, Washington resigned his commission while the dignifed law makers re- Ceived him with their hats on. Gen eral Washington completed his brief address. bowed, and the legislators lifted their hats but bent not an inch.
 Congress Voted For Two
 Next year congress met in Tren-
 
 10 New York Washington was in aUsurated first president Of the United States on Wall street where stands the present subtreasury of the United States
 Washington, n. C., owes It's choice 10 the insistence that the perma- rent government seat should be in the geographic center of the United States, The capital, 1t was argued. should be located neither north Of the Delaware river nor south of the Potomac river. on tide water but far enough inland to be safe from enemy attack. . Vigorous bidding for the capital Of the United States foreshadows present "booster" methods. Kings ton. New I ork, was first in the field with an invitation. Annapolis urged it's central location. Historic Will Virginia, petitioncd. When congress once actually voted to create capitals on the Potomac near Georgetown and on the Dela- ware near Trenton, it proposed to meet in Annapolis and Trenton all tcrnately until the ''Tesidenccs' were The federal capital was a live question. Trenton, German town Carlisle. Lancaster, York and X Reading sent prospoctuses setting forth their advantages.
 Long Ride for Washington
 In 17S9 the senate and house voted finally to establish the capital it Germantown. Pennsylvania, and the enactment of this bill into a law failed only because of a minor n offered by Madison, which required postponemont of the X measure until next session.
 The compromise, by which the south voted for Hamilton's debt funding bill in exchange for a capi- tai on the Potomac, resulted in con- gress instructing President Wash ngton to select site between the eastern branch and Conococheague -rcek. The eastern branch enters he Potomac where Washington. D. Y. now stands, but the Conoco- 'hcaguo joining if 75 miles north and west. Near that Indian place. as congress called it. the Potomac river bends within two miles of the Penn- ,ylVania border. A federal city in bis region could have touched three states; Virginia. Maryland and Ponn- ylvania, so this possibility was in 'ludcd for political reasons. And .cncrable George Washington did in Iced journey mp the Potomac raising 'alsc hopes in the hearts of resi- G Tents in Conococheague now Will ShephcrdstoWn near