Arizona republican., 1917-01-31
An Error of Statement

It has been enormously stated by advocates of the sale of the Center street property to private syndicate that four years when the people of the school district voted sale of the property for a site for civic center they had been induced to do so by promise the sale would be actually effected and that the money needed by the school would be quickly forthcoming It is therefore, nti mated that the movement now in opposition to the sale of the property private persons. if the sition should succeed would be equally unproductive of results so far as concerns the satisfying of the needs the school district
 As a matter of fact promise given four years ago that the property would be purchased by the city and the county but that effort would be made secure the purchase of the property and such an effort was earnestly But the board of supervisors then opposed to the project and it could not be laid before the people of the county So far the city concerned the matter was practically favorably settled by the election the proposition sell the property the city and the county $25OOOO, That overwhelmingly carried. Then ensued a state of depression in this valley which brought projected private enterprises standstll For that matter the whole country similarly suffered
 We now live in happier times Conditions in the city and valley prosperous. The rested enterprises of four years ago are going for
 
 cred, that situation is much favorable than could have hoped four years ago that it would be now
 The board of supervisors is believed to be unfriendly to civic center idea which we think is also much stronger in the city than it has been We believe, however it can now be carried out by the city independently of the county however desirable it may be that the county should join with the city in the purchase of the school property site for joint administration building.
 Nothing has been lost in withholding the property from private ownership for the last four years The argument in favor of putting it the roll the calculations concerning the amount of interest that would have accumulated the proceeds of the sale of the property trifling in comparison with the volume of that would be few years hence at shortsightedness letting that natural civic center site go for mess of pottage. The sum Of s2lOoOo for which it is proposed sell the property is mserably small This is time sell property, either private public if expects to receive full value for it.
 Give the people chance to say whether they will make better of it than to sell it for small part of its value and we will give surance that the public spirited citizens Phoenix will leave nothing undone to its transfer to the city and county to the city alone pur- poses of civic center. and it's prompt improvement under plans approved by thoroughly trained in city planning Fortunately there many such men in America today and before building plans are de- cided upon their advice should be secured that the proposed municipal building might be not only one of beauty but thoroughly practical and minute from the standpoint of efficiency and economy With the transfer of the school property for this purpose the school district will be provided with money it needs and must have and money will be easily and cheerfully raised carry the civic center plan.
 We feel certain that if there is a representative vote at the election next Saturday the proposition to sell the property to the syndicate for s21O000 it will be defeated It becomes the duty of those who are looking forward to city beautiful as well as those who do not want to public property sacrificed to turn out and cast their votes against the propos tion.