The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-01-27
TELLS OF PLAN TO MAKE
HANCOCK NATION CAPITAL
Was Proposed in Congress When
Location of Government Seat
Was Much MOOted Question

tCulCilG VI dNNCSo W pOl IlOlS VI
the country, was a much-mooted ques-
tion among our National legislators
following the signing of the treaty
between the United States and Eng
land at the close of the struggle of
the colonies for independence.
And how many of you know that
site within 80 miles of Hancock,
Md" was seriously proposed for the
Capital of the United States?
In recent address bearing on the
history of the National Capital, Con-
gresham Frederick N. Zihlman, an
assiduous student of history, tells in
detail of the origin of the residence
movement and of the competition of
States for the National Capital.
Was to Be on Navigable River.
The legislators and Congress, Con-
gresham Zihlman stated, decided
that the permanent residence of the
National Capital was to be central as
to position and territory; that it was
to be on a navigable river, and that
the jurisdiction of the Federal gov
eminent was to be supreme.
This was in 1888, Congressman
Zihlman said, when transportation
was difficult and slow. In these days
the National spirit was still feeble
and the Confederate of States looked
as though it might fly to pieces at
any moment.
Kingston, N. Y he said, decided
to ask the House, the Congress of the
United States, to come and reside in
their town. On March IA, of the same
year, the State Legislature passed a
measure authorizing any town or
municipality in the State to cede for
Federal purposes. This was done and
a site one mile square was set aside.
william Floyd and Alexander
Hamilton petitioned the Federal gov
eminent to make it two miles square,
instead of one.
Annapolis Makes Bid.
"On May u, 1888, Annapolis adopt
ed a resolution, reciting that it had
knowledge that the Congress should
have fixed place of abode. Two
days later, a meeting of citizens was
called and 300 acres including the
State House and Public Circle was
offered and set aside for the home of
the Federal Government.
New Jersey and Virginia followed
with various offers. Congress had
been meeting in various places-in
Philadelphia, in Trenton, then at
Princeton, Baltimore, Lancaster and
York.
Southern members favored a site
on the Potomac River. The Northern
members, however, favored a site
near the falls Of the Delaware, above
Trenton, and a resolution to this eff
feet was passed.
'In consideration of the Southern
members, a resolution was provided
for two capitals-one at the falls of
the Delaware, and another at or near
the rivers of the Potomac. Finally, in
1887, the House sent to the Senate a
bill naming a site near the falls of the
Susquehanna. Debate on this bill con-
sumed the entire balance of the ses-
sion, and during which reference was
made to the establishment of the Ma,
tional Capital in Western Maryland,
within 80 miles of Hancock
Hancock Suggested for Capital.
at was one of several amendments
introduced but was quickly disposed
of. But the location, it was pointed
out, gave a significance and import
ance, as it undoubtedly furnished an
other indication of the tendency away
from Southern location, as well as
purpose to crafty the three states of
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland
at is also interesting as being the
most advanced Western point that
wa voted upon during the entire dis
cussion. For Hancock lies in the mar
row strip Of Maryland between the
Pennsylvania and Virginia state lines.
1t is SO miles east of Cumberland,
the latter being 146 miles from the
city of Washington.
Within 80 miles of Hancock
Congressman Zihlman said, "The new
Federal district could have been Who'll
ly located within the state lines of
Pennsylvania at about the same lati-
tude as that of Chambersburg and
Bedford. Or, it could have been placed
within the territory of the three
states or in either Maryland or Vir-
ginia."
But, as said before, the amendment
failed of approval. 1t was finally de-
cided that the site on the Potomac
later known as the District of Column
bia, became the choice of the major
ity of Congress, the National Govern
ment moving there from Philadelphia.
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