Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-11-07
City Affairs.
EDITOR CITIZEN

EDITOR CITIZEN
The hotel question seems TO occupy
the minds OF cur citizens to a considera-
bic extent, and as one of their number,
would like 20 give some facts connected
with this question.
Having served them Id the capacity
Of county assessor during the present
year, my observations have led me to
believe thai there would not be dis
seutlng voice to the proposition of deed
ing the Military Plaza to any party who
would improve the same to the extent of
100000.
About nine or ten months ago, real
estate transactions were, so to speak, at
standstill, but no sooner was the hotel
proposition noised abroad, than our
wide awake citizens, business men whe
saw the great Importance Of the enter
prise, invested their ready cash in lots
surrounding the Military plaza, and in
fact all over the city, and at that time,
with the hotel proposition in view, the
investments were well made. The con-
sequences were, that lots near the school
house which went formerly begging at
s25 found ready sale at from 500 to $50.
The assessment roll of 1890 shows a total
valuation of Sl,119,418 of real estate in
the city of Tucson; the same has a total
valuation of 81 ,266,5 S3 for the year 1891.
can see no other reason for the in
creased valuation, than the hotel propo-
sition.
BY this increased valuation of real es-
tate our county treasury will be enriched
in the neighborhood of over $1,000.
This much for the bare proposition,
when nobody knew whether the hotel
would be built or not.
Let US for moment suppose that the
hotel will be constructed. We know
that every dollar of the cost of the same
will go into circulation among US. It
will give employment to a great number
Of our mechani 8 and laborers, and
when completed, it will support a con
siderable number Of people to keep it
running; thus proving source of
steady financial help to the city il gen.
eral.
At present. il half a dozen of families
should come to our ancient pueblo, and
seek hotel accommodations, they would
find them entirely inadequate to supply
the demand on account CT limited room.
We know that before this, people have
come to spend the winter for health or
climate, and been obliged to go else
where on account of insufficient accom-
modations.
With this hotel we could invite not
only one half dozen families from the
outside world. but 100 families every
winter.
1t is in possible to state how much
wealth it would bring Tito our city every
winter. Many of our visitors would
doubtless remain, and make permanent
investments, bringing Tucson to the
front as growing, prosperous city.
Now, then, let us see what induce
ments we are offering to an enterprise
which promises such gratifying results.
We are asked to give the Military
plaza, consisting Of somewhere in the
eighborhood of 20 acres Of "caliche"
ground, not fit to grow single tree upon
it, without digging hole 6x6x12 feet
and filling it with good soil.
Mr.. Manning, who is one of the best
posted men on the valuation of real
estate here, and who hes gone to the
trouble of making map Of the Military
plaza, and laying it out into lots, finds
that after allowing for streets and then
placing the present value upon the re-
mainin lots, the plaza would sell for
nearly $4,000.
Gran ed that all the lots could be
sold, and OF the present valuation, what
would be the result? Would it increase
the valuation OF other properties about
the city? Would it bring an increase
of population to our town? Would
100000 be expended upon the ground?
All these questions can easily be
answered in the negative. In my estim-
alton we carnot afford to turn the cold
shoulder to this worthy enterprise. We
have done too much of this sort OF
things in the past.
Let us give all possible encourage
meut to any and all enterprises looking
% the permanent Improvement OF Our
city and to the present one in partic-
u!ar.
May the hotel be b lit, ard stand
monument to the good sense of this
community.
II. BUEHMAN.