Arizona republican., 1910-04-03
An Important School Meetinq.

StiloolS VIII tclnoTTOW issue call tOl a meeting of the electors of the dis. trict to consider three separate req estate propositions. The meeting vii he at the Central school building or the evening of Monday. the 18th in. stant. at 7:30
 The first proposition relates to tn, purchase of some suitable site where on shall be erected a modern building for the exclusive use of colored chil- dren. There is some opposition tc the segregation of the colored chil- dren-opposition from colored citizens at least-but the question will be de- cided by the proposed meeting. There have been suggestions that the terri unconstitutional In order that this question may be determined before any money is paid for a site. the trus- tees intend. if the public meeting au- thOrizes the purchase of a site for the colored children. to invite a proper suit-presumably an injunction suit and have the district court pass upon the question as soon as practicable.
 The second proposition is the sale of the West End school property. at d minimum price of SIP, 900, the proceeds to be used in the construction of a hn GTH safN purchased in the Montgomery addi- ton. This proposition. if clearly un- derstood by the electors. will have their approval. The West End build ing is on a site adjacent to the rail- way tracks. Pupils attending there from the south side of town have to cross the railroads. The great new building which will be constructed this summer on West Adams street will. with other buildings north of Washington street, take care of all pupils living north of the railway tracks The proposed new building on the Montgomery block. with the present building on the Linville block, will take care of the pupils living south of the tracks. This arrangement will protect the children from the trouble and danger of crossing the railroads, and it is an important consideration, in view of the inevitable growth of the city and the certain increase in the number of tracks. The trustees and the city administration very properly abandoned the proposal of transferring the West End site to the city as soon as it became apparent that the use of the property by the city would be injurious to the in terests of adjacent property owners; but this objection would not apply to d sale of the property to private pur- chasers for residence purposes.
 The question of selling the Central school block is one which the electors of the district. should carefully con- slider. The trustees have included this proposition with the others for the consideration of the meeting, because CD there seems to be considerable sentiment in favor of having the mat ter laid before the electors; and @ because an offer of S150,OOO has been made for the property. The trustees will advise that the meeting place no limit on the price of the property, ex- cept as to the minimum. That is, that if the electors authorize a sale. it be with the stipulation that it must not be sold for less than s15O.O0O. but for as much more than that sum as the property will bring within a stated period.
 Provided this property can be sold for what the electors may think it worth. there are substantial reasons why the block should be sold The building itself is old and dilapidated, is unsanitary and is a fire trap, and is inadequate as to room. With the proceeds the board would construct a fine and modern building on the block of ground recently purchased at the corner of Van Buren and Seventh streets: would construct an adequate ward building in the Evergreen addi- ton, on the block lately purchased. and probably a building in the north west section of the city.
 Practically all electors recognize the advantages to be gained by selling the Central block, and with all it is only a question as to the price it should bring. and as to whether it would be better to sell now or wait another year or two Estimates of the value of the block as made to the trustees range all the way from s100.000 to s15O,OOO: and doubtless there are citi- zens who think it should sell for more.
 The parties who profess to be will ing to pay s15O,O0O for the block tthe trustees having signified their unwill- iugness to call meeting to consider any smaller price) say that they