The Parker post., 1917-08-04
EATS No MORE
PUBLIC MONEY
WHITE ELEPHANT OF FORMER
GOVERNOR GEO. w. P. HUNT IS
TURNED IN AS PART OF
PAYMENT FOR NEEDED CARS.

The famous ''car of state" which
with it's coat of chaste white was
made notorious over the highways of
Arizona by former governor George
w. P. Hunt during the years of his
administration, is to be disposed Of.
From the proud position of "first
motor car Of the state" it will in
few days take the place of an ordin-
ar" used car" and on the sales floor
among the other downcast, rejected
gas hogs" it will be sorted over,
criticised and condemned by the men
looking for something cheap" In q
motor car
The decision to finally dispose of
the white beauty" the symbol of
the common people during the ad-
ministratiOn of Governor Hunt, was
made recently by the new commits
sion which has the management and
control of all state institutions, and
in that capacity inherited, among
other things, the car which has
transported the impressive bulk of
former Governor Hunt over many
thousand miles of Arizona's high
ways
The commission had advertised for
bids to supply the state with a Ger
TAIN number Of motor cars, motor
trucks, tractors and ploWs A fea-
ture OF the specifications under
which the bids were made was that
the successful bidder should take in
part payment the states white
elephant" the motor car which had
been former Governor Hunts closest
companion during his occupancy of
the executive offices at the state
house.
They all knew the car. In fact,
everyone who has lived in Arizona at
any time during the past five years,
UP until January, knew the car by
sight, its white tonneau, with the
trunk strapped behind, having been
IN constant commission, day and
night, until the executive offices in
the state house changed occupants.
Since the day former Governor
Hunt was succeeded in office by Gov.
ernor Campbell, the car Of state has
been repOsing in the Apache Garage
on West Adams street where it was
eating it's head off, at the rate Of,
$50 per month. The commission was
only too glad to get rid of it.
The bids were opened on Wednes-
day III the office of the commission
in the state house in the presence Of
the bidders. There were nine of the.
bidders and each stated in igures
what the old car of state was worth
to him as part payment for new cars
or trucks. The least offered for the
big white car was $3.50. From tnat
figure the offers ranged upward to
S625, the highest. No awards were
made at the time, however
With the downfall of the famous
car assured, it is recalled that the
last trip of the white elephant" was
made on January %, 1917. the day
when former Governor Hunt
made his final departure from the
executive offices in the state house,
the superior court having decided
against him. The famous car was :.
used by Mr.. Hunt to move certain
records. 1t was then taken to the
| Apache Garage. Governor Campbell
has never used the car
The automobile which has come to
the end Of it's famous career and now
is just second hand" motor car,
was purchased by the board of con-
troll hive years ago for the use of the
state. 1t cost more than $4,000.
Records show that it has cost sew.
eral times that amount in upkeep,
however. Undoubtedly the car held
the state record for mileage. It be-
ing in almost constant use on long
trips about the state 1t is said
that Governor Hunts motor trips
from Phoenix to Florence and the
penitentiary were numbered by the
scores
Some time after the day Of his in
auguration when Governor Hunt
walked from the Ford hotel to the
capital, he having announced that
as the representative of the common
|
motor cars, but street cars as we'll
Governor Hunt formed an attach
ment for the big white car which his
board of control had purchased for
his special use and which attachment
| continued without abatement until
his retirement from the governor
ship.-Arizona Republican.