The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-08
Fern Hill Starts
The Annexation
Campaign
Parkland and Other Suburbs Hit by Boost in Street
Car Rates Likely to Follow - Plan to Take in
Whole Section South to Lakes.

Annexation" Is to be the cry
from Steilacoom to Puyallup.
The suggestion of the Times
yesterday of this means of relief
for the residents of Tacoma su'
burbs from the burden of In
creased street railway taxes
struck a ready response in the
sentiments of the people.
Mass Meeting Called
Fern Hill is the first to act
A mass meeting has been called
at Odd Fellows hall at o'clock
tomorrow evening to plan an an
nexation campaign. The people
of this thriving community are
hit hard by the new rule. 1t
means 10 cent straight fare 10
Fern Hill, which Is but a few
steps beyond the present city linn
it's. The people say they will not
stand 1t. They will come into Ia.
coma and then they will get
straight scent fare.
Feeling Is running high today
in all the suburban sections.
I
Protests Do No Good
| The Stone-Webster company IL
being roundly scored but the peo-
pie realize that the company ~
in a position to dictate and they
will have to abide by the result,
or take the other course In un-
| nexation to Tacoma.
There is no doubt but that Fern
Hill will come into the city. Park
land will probably follow IL II
does not combine with Fern Hill
in the same position for annexa-
tion.
After the increased rates go IN
to effect and the people have to
dig down for the extra cash every
time the conductor comes around
it is expected the annexation cry
will become contagious In the Su-
burbs. 1t Is not impossible that
a movement will be organized to
take in the whole territory in a
circle running from the Puyallpp
city limits to Steilacoom, includ-
ing part of Spanaway, all of Park
land, Larchmont, Fern Hill, Lake
City, American lake and Stella
COON lake.
Would Increase Property Values
These places will now have to
lpay from 10 to 20 cents straight
fare one way, most of them Is
cents. II they come into the city
their fare will be but cents. In
all these communities there are
scores who have built homes and
who work in Tacoma. The saw
ing in railway fare If they come
in and get five cent fare will pay
their entire extra taxes and the
neation to Tacoma.
would be clean profit. As this
fact is discussed 1t is not improb-
able that the whole circle with
a radius of about twelve miles
from the city hall will be knock
ing at the door. Fern Hill g
going to lose no time in coming
in.
Add 10000 to City
Should this annexation plan
be carried out It would at once
add at least 10000 to the popula-
tion of Tacoma. 1t would cause
a flood of workingmen to these
outlying sections, where they
could get an acre and a cottage
instead of twenty-five feet OF
ground In the congested parts OF
the city. This would increase tho
value of all the real estate in
the suburbs and property owners
would more than get the return
of their investment in extra taxes
In the increase that would come
at once.
1t would probably start a new
advance in Tacoma such as there
was three years ago in suburban
realty.
The suburbs would have the
advantage of Tacoma schools and
as fast as sections are settled up
they would get city light and
water.
From the tone OF discussion On
cars coming to the city today the
annexation plan of meeting the
Stone-Webster company's rate
boost promises to be utiIized at