Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-25

of business handled and its Importance
in the department, and the department
follows a liberal policy in the matter
of providing for the extension of city
delivery to outlying territory. The
tract involved now enjoys rural free
delivery under the city Office, and this
would be changed to city delivery in
case of annexation,
The law requires that grades be es-
tablished when the property owners
ask for them, and it is the custom TO
fix grades for large districts at time.
case of annexation.
All of the aldermen, and Mayor
Schaffer. too assure the people of
South Rock Island that if this tract
comes into the city it will be provided
with reasonable street lighting, al
though lights cannot be placed on
every intersection. AS Mayor Schaffer
stated in discussing this phase of the
matter last evening, the city does not
now provide street lights to that eX-
tent, and certainly would not be eX
pected 10 in the new territory. a
reasonable number of lights, however
would be certain.
In the same way. police protection
would be automatically extended to
cover the new territory. The people
of the proposed district, are, as was
stated by their representatives, very
quiet and law abiding population, and
as Cornelius Donovan said, the fees
of the justice of the peace there i'll
| 20 years have not been sufficient to
pay for the commission. To be sure
The city police have always been an
influence and a protection for the res
idents of the territory outside of the
city.
| Question of Water Mains.
Up TO this point the council and
| Mayor SChaffer showed a ready en-
couragement for the committee, and a
| disposition to do everything possible
to encourage the proposition. But the
water main question is not settled. Ii
| is likely that it will be Monday even
| ing. when the aldermen have a chance
10 see the blue prints and realize that
the proposition is not such a mon
| s.rOus one as it may appear.
| Cost Is Not Great.
The cost of laying such water mains
as will be required to furnish adequate
fire protection it is estimated will not
| exceed $4,000 or $4,000 The city en-
| EiuCer stated that roughly estimating
the matter. the investment would pay
for itself in six years if only third
OF the property owners whose places
are along the line of the proposed
mains subscribe for water. He stated
that on the hill mains required he be
lieved that the pipe would pay foi
itself in two years.
Mayor Schaffer, viewing the PROPOSE
ton from the question of private serv
ice mains, objected to laying these a
the expense of the general waterworks
fund. the present system being one o
special taxation, the tax being re
bated TO the property owner in water
rents, SO that ultimately the city pay:
the cost of laying the mains.
MIR. Donovan stated that this attitude
would positively kill the movement 70
{ annexation, but some of the aldermen
: in discussing the matter, showed tina
with such a situation as this, it woul
be a simple matter and could be han
; died by the waterwOrks funds directly
or by issuing bonds to cover the eT
tire tract
Representatives Heard.
The council was addressed by Co
: nelius Donovan, City Attorney Wittel
George Seimon, Mr.. Bollman, NJ
Brashar. John>Stapp and George Ricl
; lmond. Mr. Stapp opposes annexation
e Mr.. Brashar objects to making divi,
l. ing line this side of Rock river, an
Y Mr.. Richmond opposes the movemen
/ The other spoke enthusiastically in f
j vor of the measure and urged the cit
to make its position clear in the ma
t. ter
@ Alderman Anderson, Alderman Tue
S is and Alderman Smith all spoke favo
y ing annexation, and indicating tn;
r they would be in favor of giving II
s South Rock Island people assurance
Il the improvements they desire. MayC
If Schaffer stated that he is not oppose
d to annexation, but does not take kin
J. ly to the idea of laying water mali
n other than by special assessment.
e City Attorney Witer explained Il
legal phases in detail, and spoke
i, the mutual advantage both to the eli
f and the annexed territory. He show,
Ie that the South Rock Island peop