Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-27
PLAN annexation
OF BIG TERRITORY
INCLUDING SEARS
Big Project Endorsed at Meet
ing of Residents of Section
Seeking Admission.
ARE CIRCULATING PETITIONS
800 Acres Of Land Included in the
strip-WHI Probably Go on
Ballot in the Spring.

OeNt|N ~ ~
Petitions for the annexation TO the
city OF Rock Island Of about 1900
acres Of land south OF this city and
west OF Twenty-first street including
the village OF Sears and the territory
IL secured at its recent election, were
started in circulation at the meeting
CT the Southwest improvement asso-
Z citation held al Joe Kennedy's store at
I Eleventh and Aiken streets last even
/ ing. Il is estimated the total popula-
I ton OF the district is about 1900.
/ The big project. conceived by peo-
pie residing in the territory and in the
/ southwestern portion OF the city as the
only way TO alleviate adverse condi-
! lions that are preventing the growth
and progress OF the community. was
given the hearty endorsement Of some
/ two-score members OF the organization
! present and this morning a number of.
I residents Of Sears started out 10 Sc
cure signatures 10 the petitions
/ An idea Of the size OF the undertake
/ ing can be gained when il Is realized
that the territory will extend from
/ the present southern limits OF the city
/ TO the Rock river and from Twenty
/ first street 10 the Mississippi river.
/ Twenty-hrst street. II cut through 10
I Rock river. would Join that stream
Just east OF the inn al Watch Tower
park
Excludes Recent Project.
/ This. Of course. excludes the terri
tory. for which petitions have been
/ circulated. extending from Eighteenth
avenue TO Brashar street and from
I Twelfth 10 Twenty-fourth streets.
I This territory was not taken in by
I Sears and the project is independent
I Of the more recent one started.
Those circulating the petitions in
1 Sears will have 10 secure the sigma
I lures OF one-third Of the voters in the
] Incorporated village. both men and
women. The law in regard TO the mat
I ter is different than In the annexation
. Of territory not Incorporated. In this
I instance there Is no reference to prop
/ erty owners. but only voters
After the petition Is circulated ask
ing that the village be annexed 20 the
city. Il Will be taken before the Coun-
I 8 court and the clerk will publish g.
/ 10 will then be submitted by the coun-
I - Judge az some regular election at
Sears. 4 majority Of votes will be re
CURED in order TO make Il q portion
Of this city.
Lauded BY Speakers.
Speakers at the meeting last even I
ing iauded the plan, pointing 10 II as 1
the path 10 greater progress in that !
community. The improvement Of
school facilities was emphasized. as F.
well as the installation OF modern con-
veniences such as the section stands
In need Of
The proposition was conceived by
after talking e over. presented the
matter TO Mayor II. n. Schriver. The
latter heartily approved the plan.
In an address 10 the association at
the meeting last evening. Mayor Schri-
yer said. regarding the annexation OF
this territory:
We must recognize that Rock Is
land has great possibilities. It's geo
graphical position. its shipping facili-
ties. its railroads. and the deep water
way which will come within a very
few years. means that this territory ,
in the course OF a short time. valuable
now. will increase in worth. I,
The territory all along the river. A.,
you can see. will be ideal for manufac-
turing sites. The future of this ter ,
ritory is bright
OF Mutual Benefit.
4 don't say this because / am may
or OF Rock Island. but because / re-
ally believe that the annexation OF this q
territory Will prove a mutual benefit c
Your question will be. when you (
circulate these petitions. what can the ,
city give Sears2 They want water. Il
They want sewers. We have water at r
your back door knocking to get in y
As for sidewalks and other improve $
nents. We will treat you just as we y
10 people in the city r
we don't propose TO force some o
hing on you that YOU don't want a
that will be exorbitant in
price. You can also hold up the school
20 Sears" II
J. g. Britton spoke on the school '
question. he recited TO the associa-
ion OF how years ago the people in
he present southwest territory, then
outside OF the city limits. wanted the
privilege Of sending their children
nto the city schools. but did not want
o get into the city. He traced the r
ime 70 where they were annexed to
icck Island and thus secured the ben r