102 years ago .... RODGERS SITE APPROVED FOR INSANE HOSPITAL Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, January 2, 1913 The Illinois Board of Administration today voted unanimously to accept the site known as the Rodgers tract, east of Upper Alton, for the new insane hospital. This means that a tract of 1,140 acres of land will be bought for an average price of $189.54 an acre. The decision was reached after long investigation and much hard work on the part of the members of the Board of Administration and the Alton Board of Trade. Alton people have been much worried of late because of the shortness of the time, and the fact that there remained much information to be obtained before members of the Board of Administration would vote to take either the Rodgers tract or the Bowman tract. A few days ago, as told by the Telegraph, the Bowman site was withdrawn by the Bowman family, to cut short any further delay and to insure that the good natured rivalry would not prove fatal to the chances of the city of Alton in consummating the sale of the site. With the site purchased, the Legislature could hardly ____ to make the remaining appropriations, which would be necessary to erect the hospital. The original tract upon which options were offered consisted of 1,013 acres. To this, the Board of Administration insisted a tract of 127.49 acres must be added. It belongs to Mrs. H. E. Kirkpatrick, who refused to give an option until recently, and it is said, the price she asked is higher than asked by some of the others. The high average price per acre of the Rodgers tract includes the value of some very fine buildings and other improvements. It was said today that unless a lower price than that fixed for the Kirkpatrick tract could be secured, other land would be purchased ....[unreadable] ...The Rodgers site is an idea place for an insane hospital. The land is rich, there are orchards of young trees on the place, and the place is near enough to Alton for the fire department to render aid in case of emergency. The selection of the Rodgers site by the Board of Administration today cinches for Alton the hospital. The abstracts are all in good shape, and when passed upon by the Attorney General will be ready for the transfer of the property.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 02:00:00 +0000
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