Arizona republican., 1912-08-25
ANTI B. 5. PARK
 LOUD PROTEST
Scores of Residents and Taxpayers Show Many Reasons Why Baseball Grounds Should Not Be at Second and Polk
The Editor, the Arizona Republican.

per a protest against the establishing 1 of a baseball park at Second and Polk | streets.
 Last Thursday afternoon Governor 1 Hunt broke ground for the proposed | All American Basehal! P@r!, at Second and Polk streets. In the course of his speech of dedication the Governor said, 'I believe in baseball, the great na- tional sport. It is one of the produc CTS of this active robust race" Every body will heartily voice the sentiments of the governor: but nevertheless we the undersigned proprty owners, resi- dents and tax payers of the First Ward, to say nothing of all those who have the best interests of Phoenix tt heart. are opposed to the establishing of a baseball park on the proposed site.
 We are all lovers of the national sport and are most willing to promote it's popularity in Phoenix; but our op- position to a baseball park in the first ward is based on cogent reasons.
 In the first place, a baseball park al Second and Polk streets would mean depreciation of the surrounding property This is a residence section of Phoenix and its value as residence property depends on it's pleasant sur roundings and peacefulness. It will occur to any unbiased reader that the erection of an unsightly fence and granJlstand will materially detract from the apearance of the locality.
 We. who have lived in this section for years. who have expended time, la Dor and money in the improvement of
 +al mn Cno9 II pride in watching the growth of our neighborhood, are today confronted with a situation, which if allowed to exist, will jeopardize the best interests of those who have striven to make this locality a homelike place.
 Of course. the erection of a ball park on Block 16, Churchill Addition, mat ters little to the owners of the prop erty He does not reside in Phoenix and. working through his agent. seiZes this opportunity to gain sufficient in come to pay his taxes on the land
 What cares he about the appearance of this locality? He is considering only
 his immediate gains. He lacks suffl-
 cient civic spirit to improve his proper
 tv and simply bides his times till he
 reaps the riches of enhanced values
 made possible by the efforts and perse-
 verence of the residents of the First
 Ward As a matter of fact any inn
 prOvement on Block 16 has been made
 at the expense of adjoining property
 owners who out of civic pride and de-
 sire to improve their own property have planted shade trees and today attend to
 the watering of the same.
 In the second place, a baseball park in this locality will prove a positive nuisance. The value of a residence
 section largely depends on it's peace fitness. It is evident to anyone that crowd of shouting fans" practically | in our front yards, will not promote the l quiet of our neighbOrhOod. It Will De l no inducement for people to make thelr l homes in this section.
 Furthermore, .a large number of peo- ple are firm believers in peace1ul | Sunday. That day they observe as day of rest. Baseball with it's atten- dant noise will make traVesty or a l peaceful Sunday.
 1 Rut nerhaps. the best reason why | this baseball park should not be lo- | cated at Second and Polk streets IS l the nearness of that site to the Sisters | Hospital. Surely it is our plain duty to do all we can to promote the com 1 fort of our sick. In the Sisters HOS pital are men, women and children
 burning with fever and tossing on beds
 of pain. Rest and quiet are what
 those sufferers need. In some cases
 ouiet is absolutely necessary for thelr
 recovery. For that reason along the
 walls of the corridors in the hospltai are hung signs bidding the visitor be as 1 ouiet as possible. Will the shouting
 and screaming of an excited crowd
 lan1 neacefuIness to the hospital? Wlll the noise soothe the nerves Of our SICK | folks or hasten their recovery Any one who is not so selfish as to seek hls pleasure at the expense of other peo- | ples, comfort and welfare will declare
 with us that the establishing of a | baseball park so close to our hospital
 would be a reflection on the good judg- ment of the citizens of Phoenix
 Finally we maintain it is a short
 sighted policy that would establish
 baseball park at Second ana FOX
 streets It is more than likely that in couple of years the growth of the city will necessitate the removal of the l Dark rom so CeHlIdl ot lONe'AlOii' A11N those who are behind this proposition look beyond today and establish the hall mark where we can consider it a permanent institution. Let our ball grounds be located in q park where the natrons of the sport can go and enjoy the big outdoors, and not disturb any part of the community. Is our city so large that we object to traVellng to the suburbs? Hardly Is an outlying ballpark contrary to established cus- tom? Tn no city of any importance can vou find a baseball park centrally To- cated. This is due, first, to the value of central property and to the fact that ball park. centrally located, especial lv in a residence district would prove positive detriment. Whats more ! Second and Polk streets would become the camping ground for every Vagran' circus that finds it's way to Phoenix r 0t 0f