CAPITAL QUARRELS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2664, 20 November 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

CAPITAL QUARRELS.

JEALOUSY BETWEEN STATES.

Regarding the delay in connection with the territory required for tlie Federal Capital of the Australian Commonwealth, it may not be generaby known that the United States was only two years old when Washington was founded as the capital i of a country which then had only a few more than three million inhabitants. The reason why Washington was chosen, and not New York, or some already existing city, was that me makers of the Constitution were determined that there should be no jealousy between the different States comprising the union, and it is for the very same cause that the Australian Commonwealth will not use any of the already existing capitals for its Government centre. At one time it seemed likely that there would bo trouble in South Africa over a capital. A decision in favor of the federation of the colonies having been arrived at, they were bound to choose a capital, and the Cape, the Transvaal and Natal all put forward claims. Eventually a three-conered capital was decided on, it being arranged that Parliament should meet at Capetown, that Pretoria should he the headquarters of the civil sendee, and Bloemfontein of the judiciary. CAPITAL OF BRAZIL. Brazil is one of the latest countries to have trouble about its capital. Hitherto Rio de Janeiro—which is immeasurably the largest and most important city in Brazil—has been its capital. But Brazil, like the United States is a confederation of minor States, and some of these are so jealous of Rio’s preponderance that they suggest building a new Parliament House at Minas. Minas is in the mountains, about 30 hours by train from Rio. It has a splendid climate, instead of Rio’s hot, fever-ridden atmosphere. If it be chosen it will he made the centre of a new State, to be called Genas. It makes one realise something of the immensity of Brazil to hear that the new State will be nearly as large as all Spain. LA PLATA. The greatest city south of the Line is Buenos Ayres, the bustling centre' of the Argentine. When Buencs came to be chosen to, be tho capital of the Argentine Federation, a number of local mandates were much annoyed. “This is all very well for the country .at- large,” they said; “but what about our provincial Government? It will be entirely overshadowed bv tho Federal.

So made up their minds to build a new provincial capital, and chose a site 30 miles away, which tliev called La Plata. For its size. La Plata is perhaps the most magnificent city in the world. It has a bank building bigger than the Bank of England. It has a magnificent post office, museum, and schools. Yet, at the same time it is a flat failure. No one lives there except the State Government employees, and they only because they have to. You can rent a palace for next uo nothing. At night everybody goes home tp Buenos Ayres, and the great electric lights gleam on deserted, grass-grown streets.

In Europe, St. Petersburg is the only “made to order” capital. Founded by Peter the Great on a swamp, it is one of the most unhealthy cities in Europe. To this day Moscow is the real centre of Russia, and secretly, if not openly, regarded as the true capital!