The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-11-24

erect a city hail on the old unlvsr-
aitY grounds. witch r. 20 BE- dis
GUESSED by the committee en pubiis
buildings end grounds tomorrow
night has aroused great interest
among local business men. Many OF
them look upeu it ~ an excellent
plan FOR the riU Co get much
needed municipal building at n min
ifnum cost a. the present time when
the city n iIiy prepared 10 meet an
added sxpenas. the Indications be-
Ing that the tar levy viii Be raised
next year from ia % iaG or Il
mills
other considerations Ia connection
with the proposition are thought Go
be equally important n brings the
location for the neW building farther
north. where more persons thing u
should be. n accepted u would DO
away with the chance ~ she Great
Northern 70 sell the comparatively
worthless property comprising the
east half 81 the block nov arcu-
pied b. the city halt lily taxing out
q the hands o. the council the op-
poftuuity Of purchasing any site
vhatsysr Il prevents all possibility
q any big Eran. which almost In
vaFiabiy arises In the purchase Of
land BY a municipality
Thus Ear the only active opposi-
ton to Moore's scheme has been
from persons who have been hoping
70 sell a site 10 the city Tn ease
the Great Northern falls IN ita plan
20 dispose Of tia property to the
city. Several of the councilman
have also Unlimited soHns hostility
some persons look askanca AZ the
plan because 81 the fact that they
have natural dislike towards the
city leasing a site or renting q city
hall They feel that the municipal
~ IL amply able 10 take care % g.
self IN this regard. and By uurc has
Ing q site outright. and should re-
ceive the benefit Of the value ac-
cruinz to Il as the city grows Older.
Most business men look upon this
position AZ matter OF sentiment.
and one that is uatenabis when eK-
amined from a financial standpoint
The city Wiil be able q get a very
cheap rental % the university
ground. as the property. being own
"a BY the state. Is not subject 60
taxation. Moore ~ willing 70 give
" 20 the city for the same rate that
he pays the university regents for
the whole Of the tract This lease
rent ~ very reasonable. II II said
being based on an appraisal 81 the
property az frequent intervals. only
few years ago the city could have
purchased outright the whole OF the
university grounds for $3.50. GOO. The
scheme had many advocates at that
time. but Il fell through by the
terms Of Moore's lease with the
state. all the property erected on
the ground goes back 70 the state
In 50 years This is one reason why
an unusually low rate OF rent can
be charged BY the regents for the
lease.
However. az the expiration of the
lease there Is little doubt that the
city could obtain renewal. or "
desirable purchase the property out
right. Hy that time. however. the
city would be obliged % secure
large building. perhaps In a new 10
cation.
one advantage Of building on the
university grounds would be that
construction could proceed while the
present building ~ in use. II the
hall is built on the present site
quarters viii have 10 be procured In
the meantime. which viii cost acv-
eral thousands Of dollars In rent
As the Great Northern values it's
half Of the city hall block at $3.50
600, the hnlf now owned by the city
being better situated - worth al
least 100000 by selling " a fund
can be started that Will amount Tn
90 years 70 more than t2.Q0000o The