The Prescott daily news., 1916-12-28
/, CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY

 state. comes the natural question, evil Arkansas make the most of her opportunities ?" We believe our grand commonwealth is awake, and we also believe that the time is ripe to strike for a comprehensive educational sys- tenn which will make Arkansas real leader, instead of trailer.
 Arkansas voters heartily indorsed at the recent election, an amendment to the Constitution, permitting coun- ties to increase their tax levy for school purposes to F mills. As most counties voted in favor of the amend ment. it stands to reason that these counties will avail themselves of op- portunity to secure more funds by voting the increased tax.
 With practically every school dis trict in the state provided with ample funds, modern school houses will ap- pear and districts which have held but a few months of school each year will have full terms. With these addi tional facilities for educating Arkan- sas youngsters, will come the natural desire for a higher education. True, the majority will consider themselves fortunate to have had advantage of the neighborhood schools and go from the schoolroom into the world, but how about those who demand chance to continue their studies?
 What is Arkansas going to do for them?
 Is the state going to offer to them the alternative of attending it's insti tuition situated up in one corner of Arkansas, or their going to educa- tional institutions of other states?
 Does it not seem an absolute neces- sity, that Arkansas provide itself with an institution of learning which will compare favorably with those of other states, if ot excel them? And should not such an institution, should it be established, be so located that it is easy of tccess to the entire people of the state?
 The Commercial is in no way op- posed to the University of Arkansas in it's present location, nor does it wish to handicap it in any way, but it does favor real university, and it believes that one of the centrally To- cated counties of the state will erect one. The time is certainly coming when Arkansas must have a centrally located University, though when it does come, the present University should be maintained as a branch in- stitution.
 The Commercial is firmly convinced that one of the central counties of the state could we'll afford to contribute S1,500,000 or $2,0O0,0O0 to be expend- ed in buildings for greater, and grander University of Arkansas. The Commercial desires to propose to the legislature that in it's coming session 1t permit the counties so favored as to be obliged to such a contest, through their geographical location to bid for the privilege of becoming the home of the University of Arkansas. 1t has been suggested by financier, that any one of the counties near the center of the state could we'll afford to organize itself into an improve ment district, levy an assessment of hve or ten per cent of the property valuation, and donate the proceeds to new university, to be maintained by the state.
 Should this plan be approved by legislative action, the bill should go further and provide Board of Trus- tees or a University Commission to select the location and erect the buildings. Such board should be composed of the leading citizen of each of the seven Congressional dis tricts, with probably five other mem- oers selected at large. If the selec- uons were wisely made there would never be intimation of politics in the institution.
 A university in the center of the state with s1.500,000 in modern build ihgs and equipment, would equal that or any state in the Union, and we are confident there would be 2,5O0 or o'ooo students enrolled the first year, With representation from every county Tn the state instead of the 600 now at tpndinn @L~ .~.-A.A.4.