Arizona republican., 1911-06-23
PHoEN1x. ARIZONA. JUNE 28. 1911.
The School Meeting This Evening.

The School Meeting This Evening.
 Pursuant to the call of the trus- tees of the city school district, there will be a meeting of the electors of the district at the Central building this evening at eight o'clock for the purpose of instructing the trustees, as provided by law, as to a sale of the block of ground on which the Central building is situated.
 There should be a large attendance as it is a matter of great importance to the city and district.
 A public meeting several weeks ago unanimously instructed the trustees 10 invite offers for this block. The trustees. obeying this instruction, have obtained a tentative offer. and in performance of their duty in the premises now submit to the public the question of selling. The trus- tees. it should be kept in mind. are acting as trustees in the true sense Of the word-they have no axes of their own to grind. and are only anxious to carry out the wishes of the electors.
 The tentative offer mentioned comes from NIT. Dwight B. Heard. We speak Of it as tentative because MT. Heard is not sure that the clients he has in mind will take his advice and buy the block if the opportunity is offered. He thinks, however, that he can find buyers who would take the block at one hundred and fifty thousand dol lars.
 There is some question in the pub lie mind as to whether the block in question should be sold for the sum suggested. and the trustees are in no better position than anybody else to say whether this is the maximum value of the property. If. therefore, the electors this evening decide to instruct the trustees to sell the block the meeting will, if it follows the ad- vice of the trustees, authorize them to sell for not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and for as much more as can be obtained within, say four enthusiastically giving all possible purchasers a chance to compete.
 There are some strong arguments in favor of the proposition that the Central block be sold. The building is no longer adequate, is outeof date in every way, is a firetrap, and is lit- tie less than a public eyesore. The location is no longer well adapted to school purposes. A grammar school building, modern in every way, is nearing completion on West Adams street At practically the same dis tance from the center of town on the east the district owns a block at the corner of Seventh and Van Buren streets, on which there should be grammar school building similar 10 the new structure on West Adams. The district owns another vacant block in the Evergreen addition, near the Mcdowell road, on which before long it will be necessary to erect a ward building If the Central block is sold the trustees will construct modern buildings on the two blocks mentioned, will construct a commo- dious addition to the Churchill build ing, and will put up a new building on a site to be selected in the northwest section of town. This program would provide the city with splendid school buildings adequate for all needs for ish to the distant future all necessity for additional bond issues, as the proceeds from the sale of the Gen. tral block would provide the funds needed.
 Very possibly the Central block would command a higher price three or four years from now than IL VIII at present But if the electors decide to postpone indefinitely the sale of the block they should not overlook the fact that it will not be great while until the necessity will arise for incurring additional bonded in- debtedness in order to provide proper school facilities. The school popula- ton of the city is increasing rapidly, and if Phoenix is to be made ex- ceptionally attractive for home seek CTS it is absolutely necessary that we furnish the very best accommodations for school children. One of the ques- tions for the electors to decide this