Arizona republican., 1917-02-02
Let the People Choose

There will be courses open to the voters Of Phoenix tomorrow when they come to vote on the proposition to sell the Center street school property for $21OOO0 They these:
 On the one hand if the property is sold to private owners either speculative holding for business development immensely valuable asset will have passed of the hands of the people of Phoenix at much less than it is worth. There is not another block east, north of it or anywhere near it. that is assessed so low valuation s2l0,000 and it is more valuable than any adjacent block except the one immediately south of it.
 This also should be borne in mind. Under the terms of proposed sale the interest the school district would get per cent, with the saving which the school district would make in interest. would be less than $10OOO and during the first year the city would get no benefit taxes. With the steady advance which is bound come in Phoenix values. owing to the substantial and steady development not only through the city but all the county the purchasers would reap large profit in the in crease in the value of the land in the next twelve months.
 Or the other hand if the of the district this property for greater Phoenix re- taning it's civic center the following things will happen:
 FIRST, have the assurance of the city mssioners that on the presentation to them of petition signed by two hundred tax payers, they will arrange at the earliest date practicable, to present to the citizens of Phoenix the question of buying the Central school property for the purpose of civic center
 SECOND, believe at such election the citizens awake to the wonderful opportunities of utilizing this site to make of Phoenix the city beautiful, will overwhelmingly vote to purchase this property and to issue bonds therefor
 THIRD, At the time that the question of issuing bonds to buy this property is presented to the citizens of Phoenix. the question would also be presented whether instead of issuing bonds they prefer sell the north portion of the present city hall block, which could be sold for practically as much the price named for the Central school block--still retaining the of the city, the south portion of the block where the public com fort station and band stand and the fire house located, with a tract of land 3oox175 feet. This land could be maintained park and a portion of it adjacent to the fire house could later be used for the installation of public showers, feature much needed in Phoenix
 Should the citizens of Phoenix decide they prefer to sell the north 25 feet of the city hail block instead of issuing bonds, the Central school block could be acquired without mourning dollars worth of indebtedness of the people of Phoenix, and the school district at the same time would have all the money needed for school deve- opment without incurrns a dollars worth of in- debtedness through bond issue.
 FOURTH: After the city has acquired the Central school property through one of the fore going methods suggested the step should be to present to the county the opportunities of join ing with the city in the ownership of this block and erecting thereon joint county and city, fire proof administration buding-beautfu in design and involving many economies and efficiencies in the conduct of both the county and the city business.
 We believe that when this question is fairly pre- sented to the people of the county each day gettine more prosperous and who are beginning tC realize that through the sales school lands and the money to be repaid Maricopa county to take car, of the Maricopa & Phoenix railway bonds with tht interest thereon, in few years the county will have S45O'OOO in cash coming in from this source and vii become of the strongest financial counties in the entire west; that the people county recognizing the situation will in the spirit of the cooperation and county pride be glad to join with the people of the city in great central administration building such al suggested This building, of course. will include large auditorium of thoroughly modern construction for the free of all public gatherings either city o county will furnish convention hall for the free us.
  of the state national conventions and add i'm. mensely to the renown of Phoenix as forward look ing progressive city Such joint building could b. constructed along beautiful, simple substantial eco nomical lines for approximately s32OO00; while tn. city building alone would cost considerably Ies money
 After this matter has been presented to tn, county we will then know whether this site is to b used for the joint administration building or for cit, purposes only, and the next step should be to secure the advice of men trained in civic planning and mun cipal construction, that Phoenix might have on th site, the most modern complete and efficient munic pal building in America Nothing less than the bes should satisfy our people, and we believe that witt the splendid future now confronting this great cit, it's people will not make the irreparable mistake O letting this wonderful natural site for civic cente pass into private hands.
 But if they let it be sold tomorrow there vii