Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-02-23
c. F. Easley Ex-
plains the Stand
of Members.
MAKES OUT STRONG CASE
Action Taken for Best In
terests of City in Sale Of
Lot to Elks Lodge.

Charles +. Easley, member OF
the Board of Education of the City of
Santa Fe, having been asked by a
representative of The New Mexican II
he had anything to say respecting the
statement published in The New Mex
lean of the 22nd inst, by Judge Laugh
lin and Mr.. Catron, giving their rea'
sons for voting against the conditional
sale of lands to the Elks for use as
an opera house site, and indirectly
charging the majority Of said Board
OF Education with robbery of school
POUNDS, said that he first saw these
statements in the columns OF The New
Mexican; that these gentlemen had
stated at the meeting of the Board
on the 18th inst, when the proposition
was voted upon, that they would pre-
pare written reasons for voting mo"
and file the same with the Secretary
of the Board, and that no objection
was made to giving them as much
time as they desired for that purpose
Mr.. Easley said: "'As 10 the rob-
berry insinuation of the distinguished
President of the Board. that will
doubtless need substantial corrobora-
ton before being taken seriously by
the citizens of Santa Fe. 1t might
be well in this connection to call the
attention of the people and tax pay
ers to few facts.
History of Lot.
In the first place, the land con
'tracted and conditionally sold to the
Elks for the construction of an opera
house, commercial club and lodge
room purposes, is a part (about 140x
11S feet) of the Alfalfa Field which
was originally part of the old Pal
ace grounds. and was never within
the boundaries of the Fort Marcy Res
eryation.
1T belonged to the United States
until about 1893, when 1t was donated
to this Territory by act Of Congress.
and the Legislature Of 1903 donated
and granted part of said Alfalfa
Field (l00x150 feet ON Washington
Avenue to the Women's Board of
Trade and Library Association Of
Santa Fe, the balance to the Board of
Education of this City, to be used as
a building site for public school
house, If deemed suitable. It was not
deemed suitable and the High School
building has been located upon other
grounds.
1t was donation and grant made
by the Territory, through the Legis-
lature and not robbery" and 1t
was no doubt the intention Of the Leg
islature, that If the tract should not
be used for school purposes, then for
other public and beneficial purposes.
The Legislature has been quite liberal
In helping the Santa Fe public schools
and other public institutions by pro
viding for furnishing brick and lime
free for the construction Of the High
School building, which Is now nearing
completion, and in many other ways,
and believe would indorse the action
of the Board of Education In accept
ing the proposition of the Elks. con-
ditioned upon the building of mod,
ern and commodious opera house In
the Capital City of New Mexico
Is Essential.
1T is a building that is absolutely
essential and will be of great benefit.
not only to the City of Santa Fe, but
to the people Of the Territory who
come here to sessions of the Legisla.
ture and the Supreme Court and other
business which brings the people to
the Capital. Besides, the taxes to be
derived in the future on such a build
ing and other improvements connect.
ed Herewith, will be Of great bene-
fit to the public schools Of this city.
"The resolutions adopted ny the
Board explain quite fully the reasons
for the action taken by 1t In this mat
ter and why Messrs. Jose Segura.
Pedro Roybal James l.. Seligman, Six
to Garcia and myself, members Of the
said Board, voted Yes on the propo-
sition. In order thai the people may
this matter more fully.
hope The New Mexican will publish
the said resolutions in full and any
other matters pertaining to this i'm
portant question of the building OF an
opera house here.
The resolutions were as follows
Whereas, the Legislative Assembly
of the Territory of New Mexico, under
the provisions Of Chapter 81 Of the
Laws Of New Mexico of 1903 4 donated
and granted In fee simple to the
Board Of Education Of the city Of
Santa Fe and Territory Of New Mexi.
co, to be used as a school house site Or
tContinued on Page Eisht)