Arizona republican., 1917-02-02
People Decide City's FMturv
 Wlth Ballots

Saturday witnesses the most mom- entous decision Phoenix has made in many years, for by o'clock on Sat urday evening the people will have decided whether or not this city is to have a Civic Center If they vote to sell the Central school propesty for commercial purposes they have voted away their chance to acquire in the easiest possible manner and at the minimum possible cost as fine a Civic Center site as could be secured in any city anywhere. A vote No" on Saturday is a vote for the Civic Gen. ter.
 Inquiries made of the Republican indicate that some do not fully un- derstand the exact situation. The vote on Saturday is on the question of authorizing the sale for conner cial purposes of the school block. If the people vote to sell this property their chance to have a Civic Center with great auditorium and public buildings. is gone. If trey vote not to sell the property. but to retain it for public service, then steps will be taken at once to bring to fruition the plan to create such a Civic Center as any city might be proud of.
 Civic centers are formed by the grouping of public buildings so that public business may be done in the most efficient manner. They usually consist of the public business struc lures. sucn as the postoffice court house. city hall and an auditorium for conventions and public gatherings. Phoenix already has one public square on which are effectively grouped three splendid public buildings, the federal structure. the Water Users building, where nearly every man and woman in the valley has business. and the splendid Y. NJ. c. A. It is now proposed to acquire tEe adjoin ing block and place thereon such structures, as q combined city and county building and a tine auditorium. Then Phoenix would truly have something-at least five fine struc- lures in q veritahle park touching five streets and in the heart Of things.
 To expatiate upon the desirability Of Q public auditorium, casino and convention hall is scarcely necessary. Here the people could meet to attend great public gatherings, tO be enter tained and instructed and here, also, could be held conventions which now find no suitable shelter in the valley. That this is splendid plan, many of the most forward looking people in this part of Arizona believe. This morning another group of prominent men and women express their views in the following fashion:
 I am decidedly in favor of the Gen. tral avenue property being used for civic center As soon as reasonable l believe in building Q joint city hall and court house in place of the eye sore that now occupies the premises-Mrs. J. c. Van Leuwen.
 am not in favor of selling the Central school property. The pIesen- proposition of allowing private people to come into possession Of it IS not to my liking I should he very strongly in favor of selling the block to the county or city, to be used for e public building.-Dr Ancil Martin.
 Surely there is no question in the minds of those who believe in the city beautiful plan that the Central schoo; property is the logical site for civic center.-Mrs. w. R. Battin.
 The school property should be re- tained for a civic center. l am thor oughly in sympathy with the plan.- Mrs. V. E. Hanny.
 1 am in favor of q civic center, and l believe that the present price of fered for the block is too small. It is less than was offered two years ago, and I am opposed to selling it. unless the city or county wished to purchase it. The money to De ob- tsjned in the present proposed sale is certainly not enough to be given in
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