Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-16
BLOCK ENDORSES
Annexation PLAN
OFFERS SOUND ARGUMENT IN FA-
voR OF ACQUISITION OF SEARS
BY CITY ROCK ISLAND.
Gives Ten Good Reasons Why People
in Village Should Continue Fa-
vorins the Project.

Probably the heartiest endorsement
and soundest argument in favor of the
annexation 70 this city OF I.5C0 acres
of land south of this city. including
Sears. comes in a statement from
Charles Block. 1880 Eleventh street.
Mr.. Blocks argument carries weight
because he resides in a section of the
city only recently acquired by Rock
Island and the benefits of annexation
are felt probably 10 greater degree
by him than others who have lived
within the corporate limits of the city
for a longer time.
Mr.. Block in his communication
says:
in discussion OF this question the
following points should be considered
fairly and without prejudice from
either side: First. water supply: sec
ond. fire protection; third. school IA
ciiities: fourth. sewerage: fifth. street
improvements; sixth, street car serv-
ice; seventh. garbage; eighth, police
protection; ninth. taxes; tenth. senti-
ment.
Friends Should Wage Fight.
Before entering into a discussion
of the matter / will state that the
writer is heartily in favor of the afore-
said movement. but nevertheless re-
allies the Importance of the step and
the opposition it viii create As ma
terial interest manifests itself in every
walk of life. so this affair won't be
any exception, and will in the end
solve itself in a matter of dollars and
cents. II the city OF Rock Island can
not show the people of Sears that it /
would be 70 their advantage to join
the bigger community, then the effort
will result in failure. Therefore, the
friends OF annexation should wage
fair fight. respect the opinions of their 1
opponents. and whatever side wins, /
accept the result with good grace
Il think every citizen should appre- 1
ciate the generosity OF the newspapers /
in this case for the use of their col ]
umns on matters of public interest. /
and I herewith proceed to express the /
opinions of myself and my friends TO
the best of my ability
The Water Supply: This question
bafied the Romans 1000 years
ago and IS the most serious problem
Of today confronting every city and
hamlet in the civilized world. The
village OF Sears is mp against this very
same thing and is trying 10 solve it in
their own way by drilling a well.
has sprung up in this
direction as to the advisability of this
and this has had a good
deal to do with the circulation of the
petitions for annexation. as many citi-
zens Of Sears believe that water could
be furnished cheaper and quicker by
the city of Rock Island
Il will now endeavor TO show what
Rock Island has 10 offer in this line
N case of annexation. The city of
Rock Island has a water system which
: worth at least 100000. II is one
II the finest II not the best in the
state. Typhoid fever and other germ
diseases are almost a thing of the
past in our city. The net profits from
{ amount to about 0.O00 a year.
These profits cannot be used for any
,ther purpose. but must be invested in
he plant in the form of improvements.
This enables the city TO put in i'm d
cheaper than il could 9th
'rwise. For instance. the city of Rock
sland has made provision 70 lay -
nch mains from Aiken to Brashar
treet on Twelfth street and an eight
nch main from Ninth to Twelfth
treet on Brashar. requiring an ex-
,enditure of $4,000. of which the city :
Ias taken up TO pay $4,000. leaving
. 900 70 be paid by the property hold
rs. reducing the cost to a minimum.
This assessment is spread over a
eriod OF 10 years. which is rebated
q water rent by the city. thus Undue :,
NJ the poorest citizen TO pay for it.
his improvement viii be accomplish
d within few months. extending the
-ater mains to the northern limits of c
ears. Should the annexation go r
trough. there is no reason TO doubt o
Thy the mains could be extended TO Il
be junction of Twelfth and Ninth O
treets in Sears within year or so u
nd make Sears the beneficiary of a U
! ,0O0. 900 plant which would not cost u
ne village a cent. AS we have every
sason TO believe that the policy of
ne city OF Rock Island will be the a
anne in the future as in the past. the
urden placed on the property hold =