Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-24
FIRE PROTECTION
IS REAL PROBLEM
DECLARES SEARS is NOT PRE-
PARED TO HANDLE BIG CON-
FLAGRATiON.
Advances Strong Argument Favorius
Annexation-Rock Island Now Has
100000 Department.

That tine village Of Sears is not in q
position TO fight fire and that one of
the greatest advantages To be gained
through annexation would be protec-
ton from Rock Islands fine 100000
modern department is clearly shown
ln a statement today from Charles
Llocs. 1880 Eleventh street
Among other things he says,
"He-e aeal1 D. problem OF very
serious nature which the trustees Of
tlc VILLAGE Of Sears are trying To- solve
i- their own way. The village OF Sears
o. more Llan 90 seems 90 be 90 the cas-
ulT observer who travels along Ninth
o. Twelfth streets. ID includes one OF
fl- most beautifully located residence
districts of the three cities. = num-
Der OF residences have been built there
already al "a price ranging from 50 600
t1 $4,000. More arc being coutemp-
lated in the near future. Within a few
scar there viii arse n residence dis
rrict which VIII compare favorably
ffl any other il the tri-citiez. TAX
lug Tor granted that this viii be the
case within o. reazouabie space of
time. and d don't think there is hardly
anybody who would doubt what ! have
ali5 in regard tu this. the problem Of
l-e protection looms up as a very inn
uarflut factor. Iu case OF a fire fan
lel ly O. strong wind the destruction
az this district would be almost a GER
aiuty. It certainly would require
more than hose aud nozzle 90 cope
with a situation like that
Needs Profession.
Vow let us turn Tor a moment 10
tie territory recently annexed 90 the
VillaEe OF Sears and see what could be
done Tor them lu an emergency of Jhis
sind. The limits OF the corporation to-
day extend almost 90 a distance OF
two miles from the water system plan .
ned b. the trustees of Sears Fire pro
lection would be out OF the question
for people living that far. Nalu-
able farm property mas been annexed #
by Sears in the shape or houses, barns
hot houses and various other build
iugs The fire insurance cannot be re-
duced for these people by the before (
mentioned improvements, but sJiil .
they viii be compelled to shoulder
their share Of the burden on the bond .
issue without deriving any benefit
whatever and it certainly doesn't look
like fair treatment for these citizens.
The disastrous results of fire can be
seen in Milan and Sears more than
20 any other place Every mill or fac
tory located in these thriving towns
years ago has been destroyed by fire.
Shall history repeat itself because the
officials OF Sears attempt to replace
the bucket brigade OF former days by
a makeshift of a very questionable
Benefits Of Annexation.
Now let US call the attention of the
of Sears TO the advantages
~ hich could be obtained from the city
OF Rock Island in case of annexation.
For the last few years Rock Island has
been equipped with one of the most
1p-to-date fire fighting apparatus for a
city of its size and the following ia
BILE will be an effort TO show the cost
and efficiency OF same:
; fire stations worth at least $4,000
! combination pump and hose
car ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS S,UOO
combination hose and chem
ical car 5000
-hiefs combination car $500. 1000
pieces OF horse drawn appara-
tus ..- 5000 Z
10000 feet OF FIRE hose ........ $4,000
A total OF .........s $50. 900
The extension OF the newly in
tailed alarm system viii bring this
sum up to 100000. This equipment
s handled by 20 men under the con-
roi OF one chief Most OF these men
ave been lighting fires for years and
understand their business. The COM
lination hose and chemical car on
Eighteenth avenue and Ninth street
an reach Sears within three minutes
nd Eve minutes would be sufficient TO
ring the pump and hose car 10 the
lace from the Central FIRE station As