The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-22
COUNTY PROCURES WHEELER LAND IN GOLDEN HILL ST: Buys Property Adjoining Courthouse on the West
 for $15,733.M. SEE IN DEAL PLAN
 FOR CIVIC CENTER Purchasers Draw Up Con- tract with Seller for
 Other Strip.

A plan to nave a CIVIC center ou Golden Hill is intimated today by the terms of the contract by which the county commissioners have purchased from Samuel H. Wheeler, land ad- joining the county courthouse on the west. In the contract with MT. Wheeler it is stated that in case the city. desires to purchase part of the plot as a public library site the county shall sell 20 feet at the same price for which the land was purchased. This stipulation probably refers to the re- port that the Library board was thinking of buying the Gen. T. l.. Wat son property. which fronts on Golden Hill street and adjoins the tract bought today by the county.
 The county obtained the Wheeler plot for $15,73a.44, which is exactly what. he paid the Congregational so- ciety for it. As public spirited citi- zen MT. Wheeler said he did not view the matter as a money-making propo- sition but was anxious to do anything to help beautify the courthouse prop erty. Thep roperty has g. frontage of 106.1 feet on Golden Hill street and a depth of about 15O feet. The contract between the county and MT. Wheeler was drawn by. Attorney Charles E. Williamson, counsel for the commits sioners.
 Chief Justice George w. Wheeler of the supreme court of errors. who has taken a great interest in the courthouse, when asked today for statement said:
 "I presume that the suggestion of you gentlemen of the press that I make a statement concerning the agreement entered into today by the county of Fairfield with Samuel H. Wheeler for the purchase of the North Church par sonage property adjoining the court house comes through my connection with the committee in charge of the building of the addition to the court house which has, of course, made me familiar with the matter. from it's in- ception.
 "The county representatives author ized the county commissioners to ac- uire by, purchase or condemnation the church parsonage property adjoining the Fairfield county court house. com prising a plot 106 feet on Golden Hill street by 1s0 feet deep. In the course of the negotiations for this purchase 1t was suggested that the rear lines be strengthened; that MT. Wheeler deed to the county a strip four feet wide In the rear of the court house and in the rear of the parsonage property and that the county deed him the small plot of the Hall home purchase in the rear of this new rear line as extended.
 .It was suggested to MT. Wheeler that as a public spirited citizen he ought not to desire to make money out of his purchase of tke parsonage and that as he had purchased this plot for s15.O0O he ought to convey 1t to the county for the same price he had paid for 1t plus such expenses as he had been at in making and carrying this purchase. MT. Wheeler agreed to this and the county at the same time agreed to the strengthening of and changes in the rear lines as has been suggested.
 ")This agreement is very advan- tageous one for the county. The commissioners recognize that MT. as a business proposition but has treated it in a large and public spirit ed way and without reference to his pecuniary advantage.
 s"The people of the county ought to understand the manner in which MT. Wheeler has acted and when they do we are sure that they will greatly appreciate it. It is we'll known that MT: Wheeler refused a price of S5,- 900 in excess of the price he sells to the county.
 '"The county has added to it's land in the rear of the court house and thus help protect the light of it's four court rooms on the north. In addi- ton it has by its purchase protected its west side against the possi bility for all time of building close to the court house property line, and fur nished the county adequate land upon which to enlarge the court house when in the long course of time this may be required.
 '"The agreement which the county commissioners have made seems to me to be farsighted provision for the future, and as the west side Is the only side of the court house property upon which the court house could be enlarged 1t was wise to acquire this land, especially since the pecnniary consideration was small and the ulti- mate benefit to the county great Aside from the utility standpoint it Is a valuable purchase for no public
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