CAPITAL QUARRELS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 18

CAPITAL QUARRELS.

JEALOUSY BETWEEN. STATES. Regarding the delay in connection with the territory required for the Federal Capital of the Australian Commonwealth, it may not be generally known that the United States was only two years old when. Washington was founded n> the capital of a country which then had only a few more than three million. Inhabitants. The reason why Washington was chosen, ana not New York, or some already existing city, was that the 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 aame 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 be trouble In South Africa over a capital. A decision in favour of the federation of the colonies having been arrived at, they were bound to choose a capital, and the Cape, the Tran«vaal, and Natal all put forward claims. Eventually, a threecornered capital was decided on, it. beiug arranged that Parliament should meet at Capetown, that Pretoria should be the headquarters of the civil service, and Bloemfontein of the Judiciary. CAPITA!, OF BRAZIL. Brarll is one of the latest countries to have trouble about Its capital. Hitherto Rio de Janeiro—which Is Immeasurably tho largest and most important city in Brazil has been its capital. But Brazil, like the United Statee, is a confederation of a number of minor States, and some of these 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 Kio's ■hot, fever-ridden atmosphere. If it be chosen ft will be 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 tho Argentine. When Buenos was chosen to be the capital of the Argentine Federation, a number of local magnates were muoh annoyed. "Tils Is all very well for the country at large," they eaid; "but what about our provincial Government? It will be entirely overshadowed by the Federal." So they made up their minds to build a new provincial capital, and chose a site 30 miles away, which they called La Plata. For Its giie. 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, mueeum, and schools. Yet, at the same time it is a flat railure. No one lives there except the State Government employees, and they only because they hare to. You can rent a palace there for next to nothing. At night everyone goes home to Buenos Ayree, and the great electric lights gleam on deserted, grass-grown street*. In Europe, St. Petersburg in the only "made to order" capital. Founded by Peter the Great on a swamp, It Is one of the' most unhealthy cities to Europe. To this day Moscow is the real centre ot Russia, and eecretly, if not, openly, regarded as the ttut capital. •