Americus times-recorder., 1919-11-13
Hill PROPERTY
BOUGHT BY CITY
FOR PLAYGROUND
ANDCLUB CENTER
Council Accepts Propo-
sal of $1,000 Auc-
ton Sale OF

Aiiioi Jus louay mas playground
and community center. The CITY
council, meeting in special session at
o'clock yesterday afternoon for
that purpose, voted to purchase at
an agreed price of $1,000 the Hill
property on Hill street, which was to
have gone on the block at public auc
tion Friday. The papers were drawn
and signed today.
The action of the council did not
technically specify the purchase of
the property, the proposal being left
to the purchasing cammittee, C. H.
Burke chairman, with power to act,
the understanding being that the
committee would act favorably, as
every alderman present had express
ed himself favorable to the project.
1t took the purchasing committee
only minute after adjournment of
the formal session to accept the pro-
posal and order papers drawn bind
ing the city.
The terms called for the payment
of $4,000 to the Hill heirs and ST.
600 to the Home Investment Com
pany, the land sales company which
had contract for the sale of the
property and which had prepared it
for selling Friday. The negotiations
with the firm were conducted with A.
M. Kitchins, of Cordele, and Sam
1 Clegg, of Americus.
Easy Terms for City.
The factor in the purchase of the
property by the city was the offer
by Frank Sheffield, of the Bank of
Commerce, who, with Mrs Sheffield
had been very active in behalf of the
/ playground movement, to advance
the money for the city on practically
its own terms, taking the citys notes
for $4,000, payable at any time up
to FIVE years at z per cent, thus di-
viding the payments into $4,000 per
year if it is desired to meet them in
equal amounts annually.
The property is considered by
many judges of real estate property
to be worth at least SIS, 900, and the
price fixed by the Hill heirs in order
that the city might acquire it, and
by the auction firm, which had ex-
pected to net twice the gross figure
received, were regarded by those
T handling the transaction to be really
a sacrifice in favor of the public.
Although the desirability of ac-
quiring this particular piece of prop
erty before it should be sold and sub
divided, as was planned, was accept
ed by the mayor and members of the
council, considerable time was con-
sumed at the special meeting in
reaching a plan whereby it could
properly be bought. 1t was ruled by
City Attorney Lane that the city
could not buy property except for
educational purposes. And it was
finally with the understanding that
the playground would be turned over
to the board of education for main
tenance and supervision that the pur-
chase was authorized.
The Educational Viewpoint
'It was purely from an education
al vi i,wpoint that I have stood behind
this movement from the first" said
Prof. J E. Mathis, superintendent of
public schools, when it was question
ed whether it could be acquired as
a part of the school system or was
sought as a park. "The time is com
ing, and should be here within the |
year, when physical education will be
a fundamental in our school plan. In
fact it is my intention at this time
to recommend to the board of educa-
ton that physical director for our
public schools be employed regular
! ly as one of the teachers. And in /
this case the direction of the play
ground under the board of education /,
would become part of his duties"
W. w. Dykes. a member of the
board of education. welcomed the
idea of turning over the property to
the school board He and others as
sured the officials that it was highly
improbable that the city ever would
be asked for one penny for equip
ment or maintenance of the proper
ty. It was pointed out that the wom-
ems organizations of the city already !
have a good fund in hand for this
Continued on Page Eight.)