Arizona republican., 1917-02-01
CIVIC CENTER
 ADVOCATED BY
 CLUB SPEAKER

Civic Centers, main line railroads, covering up the town ditch and plant ing trees of beautiful varieties along the streets of Phoenix all came up be- fore the quarterly dinner of the Chi Versity Club last evening held at the Woman's club building.
 The subject for the evenings discus sion was how to beautify and to better Phoenix. The subject was taken up from many different angles. and at tackled from equally as many angles. Opinions were expressed openly for and against a civic center in favor Of and against planting cottonwoods along the streets and covering the town ditch, but every speaker was ab- solutely positive that the main need of the city was a mainline railroad.
 Dwight B. Heard was the principal speaker of the evening. MT Heard. who is a warm advocate of retaining the Central school block to be used as Civic Center, started his speech by explaining that he would come to that subject soon enough, but that in the meantime he wished to discuss a main line railroad.
 The 2S mile link between San Carlos and Winkelman. which is needed to put Phoenix on main line railroad is nearer to being built at the present time than ever before according to MT. Heard. In the past so days th, Southern Pacific has reached an agreement with John D. Spreckels. who is building railroad into the Inn perial Valley. to extend the lire to Yr- ma. MT Heard was confident that if this went through. it would only he matter of time, when the line was connected with another line running into Phoenix. Another material situa- ton which may favor Phoenix in a main line, is the fact that the South eIn Pacific is at the present time over crowded with freight, and that it is only matter of time when some out let for this flood of freight is going to be needed
 MT. Heard also took uD the subject of paving. He hardened back t0 thc time five years ago when a citizens committee was formed to further tho paving of Phoenix streets. While thai committee was behind the pavin~ plans there was no graft connected with the projects He pointed ont thc South Central avenue pavement. as ar example of what politics mived witN paving could do. He also advocated the laying out of more parks. the in- ducing of factories to come to Phoe- nix particularly cotton and Wooler mills and brought his audience to the subject of a Civic Center bv stating that Phoenix demands an increase ir public snirit and public pride.
 City Needs Civic Center
 In regard to the Civic Center Mr Heard stated that he had bee~ called dreamer by friends who disagree with him in regard to holding the Central school lot for that prrnose F0 stated that every known authority ir the country with whom he had talked regarding turning the block into 9 civic center. had agreed that it was wonderful opportunity to heautifv the cit" and erect an ideal civic center.
 He quoted in particular Allan D. AL bert. nationally known as an authority on heartifvine cities, who durine a visit 10 Phoenix some time ago. made the statement that it was most su- perh opDOrt'ritv to hpild civic center on that particular spot, and that it would he an irreparable blunder if it was not done
 John Collier of New York City. sec retarv Nf tho National Community or ganization. director of the Community Training school and secretary of tho PeODles ipstitute wired Mr. He1-S that he oauld not heliAve tha. n fpr ward looking comr'"nitv as Phoeni-- is known to he could seriously corsid- ar relinQuishing a na atural civic cante- on any DreteYt whatever MT Heard read the teleera p1 which is as follows:
 "I cannot believe that fo-
 ward -lookinn community such as
 ohr-riy i~ Lnc."- to Ia. o~, ser
 iously contemplate relinouishinu a
 natural Civic Ce-.ar or r-~-
 text whateve- New York o'ty
 would pay millions for space E<e
 vou deecribe. American cities
 -,ard rrillio-s every vn7r nurch--
 i-n back civic ~erte-e ir -o,-c--~I
 districts at ureat cost, due to lack
 of foresight. No feature i9 eo i'r'-
 portant in the development of nuh-
 lie spirit as civic center. Con- ventions, community choruses,
 community Christmas trees. -eo-
 ple's forums. folk ns-e---s fird
 place there free. cert-al' loo-.ed
 meeting places outdoors and in
 doors are vital to tho de"elonr'ert
 and preservation of demoo-siic
 institutions. Arizona is one of the
 great natural nlayorounde of
 Ameri2a and the decision of Ph"e-
 -ix will interest thousands outside
 the state. Cities sho1 their faith
 or lack of faith ir their own future
 by just such decision as Phoenix
 is now called on to take"
 Mir. Heard made an eloduert and earnest appeal for a Civic Center. He cited many cities in the United States ,vhfcb arc now manning and building