Arizona republican., 1915-11-27
The Sale of the Central School Block

The school board of district No l has author ized election be held December I proposition sell the Central school block by lots the aggregate price to be $2OOOOO though a smaller parcel than the whole may sold. The block has been plated by the board for the purposes of the sale and divided into twenty-five lots, ranging price from $65OO to s25O0O
 We understand the great need of School District No. l money and we agree as to the unsut- ability of this block longer for school purposes but believe that better way for the district, for city and for the county be found dispose of this property than throw it upon the market at this time of depression in real estate.
 Three years ago The Republican advocated sale of the property for $25OO0O the city and the county be used a site for joint county and municipal building The proposition sub mitted the of the district and dorsed by a substantial majority of nearly four a total of about 1000 a very heavy vote this kind of a question.
 The county authorities declined to a joint arrangement such as had been proposed so that the matter abandoned at least temporar- fly. Undoubtedly, it could have been carried ward the voters of the city would have authorized the purchase of the property the civic center idea taken a strong hold upon people. With the group consisting of the Federal building, the Y. M. c. A. and the Water Users building on the adjacent block the west, with the location of the Central school block on the state highway and on the principal north and south thoroughfare of the city, there offered Phoenix such site for g civic center from which a town might be planned and radiate, and such opportunity, other towns and cities have secured only at a tremendous cost.
 If the sale proposed by the school trustees should be. carried this opportunity will be Phoenix forever. If these lots should be sold this time, the of depression or, only part of them should be sold, they will be pur- chased only for purposes of speculation. At this time buildings which would be credit any principal business street would be erected. the same time, the purchasers would not let their hgh-priced holdings lie idle and should the Central school block covered by lot of unsghtly shacks for years Ultimately the pur- chasers would be rewarded for this property will have an enormous value when Phoenix comes into it's own, it certainly will with it's imperial agricultural surroundings.
 There is still another effect of the sale be considered it's influence upon property which have stated temporarily depressed here as everywhere else in this country. The throwing of twenty-five business lots on the market just now will have further depressing effect.
 We do not know whether the county be duced into arrangement city for the purchase of the block but believe that a bond issue by the city of $2O0OOO for the purchase of the block will be strongly supported by the peo- pie. The block is really worth much more than $2OOOOO We doubt very much whether there should be full expression of the people, they would consent to sell it to private parties such a sum but believe that the people would gladly sell it to themselves or buy it from themselves at that figure, for the people of the school district and of the city practically the same
 We hope that the city commission will early action this matter, and any action at must be early. We have doubt mission will do it will have such cooperation by the school board as the latter can give