Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-06
PATRIOTIC RING
IS SOUNDED FROM
SO. ROCK ISLAND
Citizen Who Expects to Come
in by Annexation Tells
Wholesome Truths.
WHAT REAL GROWTH MEANS
Greater the Number to Pay Taxes the
Less the Proportion to Each
For All Measures.

There are two ways to look at the
annexation proposition TO re voted on
in connection with the special election
next Thursday said an old time resi-
dent and taxpayer Of South Rock IL
land, this morning 81 am one of those
who are anticipating being invited in
TO Rock Island; that is unless the peo-
pie of this city turn US back and say
they don't want us, which ! hardly an
ticipate will be the case. If it should
] cannot very well see how a citizen
OF your wide-awake city can come
down town the morning after election
without hanging his head in shame.
A negative vote on the annexation
proposition would surely put a damp
ener on Rock Islands prospects of
growth that would last for ten years
at least.
WILL HELP BUILD.
But ! am not worrying about that
! want 10 get in and help build this
town, and what I started out origi-
nally TO say is that we of the south of
Rock Island are willing to stand our
share OF what is necessary to get the
in town have. We want water and
fire protection, we want street lights
and the privileges of the high school
that you people in the city have and
we are willing to pay just as the
towns-people do our share of general
taxation and our proportion of what
is necessary for public improvements.
general and by special assessment.
We expect to use water and expect 70
pay for the latterals that tap our prop
erty and for what we consume, but We
expect the mains put within our reach
just as has been the case all over
Rock Island. We expect the sane
general advantages in fire and police
protection and general street lighting
that any other part of the town gets.
But to get back to the central idea of
my conversation:
"Doat the people know that the
greater increase in territory the lower
the taxation because there are more
people TO pay for il. Territorial expan-
sion naturally reduces taxation, so
that what the people of Rock Island
are asked 10 tax themselves in bond
pended for the waterworks extension
and will be repaid by that Department.
will come back e.sily in what the new
territory will bring in. And the best
part of T. is, that the people of Rock
Island of today. of which we hope to
be a part, will not have TO pay for
1t all, although enjoying it all. Those
who are to come along in the next eight
or ten years and who will share in
the enjoyment, will likewise have to
pay their proportion of it, Is that
not a fair distribution both of the
favor and burden?
BENEFITS FROM TERRITORY.
But | am still thinking about the
benefit that is to come to Rock Island
by reason of territorial growth DC
you know that Rock Island, so far as
area is concerned, is smaller, many
times smaller, than either Davenport
or Moline, and that it has often been
alleged that it's taxes are higher, al
though il has less debt than either!
This shows that Rock Island wants
TO cut loose and expand it's lungs
or IL will suffocate'one of these days
II shows, too, that Rock Island is al
ready in good financial condition, ar,
the way TO white its taxes is L
broaden out in territory. take more
people in, and proportionately as
these newcomers help bear the burden
Of taxation, accord TO them the ad