Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-08-31
SOLDIERS HOME SITES.
MANAGERS TO se HERE TO-DAY.
The Various Sites 10 be Examined
Another Look al the West Side
Site-The Nelson Farm.

Since It was settled that the Soldiers
Home Was 10 be located hear the city, the
matter OF selecting a elite from tie hGif-s-
dozen or more proposed has been discussed
considerably, bat 20 far there is nothing Ia
indicate that the advocates OF either slte
have gained any advantage over the Others.
The trustees vail DC here to-day and 10 NOR
row for the purpose of ma6lng selection.
and the friends Of the Ball forty, the Ward
property, the Powers a Uhl site, the Buroh-
ard property al the Lake and the Nelson farm
up the river will be ready 10 point out the
advantages OF each location. Zach site has
friends among the citizens, those who favor
the Ball forty being the most numerous
at present. As each site has friends
each one must have opponents, but 80 far
the discussion has been conducted with good
feeling. and the disadvantage pertaining 10
the several sites have hardly been mentioned.
There has been some opposition shown 10
tt@ selection of the Ball forty, by SOME Of
the city papers who seem 10 have al idea
that the editor of the Democrat would be
greatly benefited by having the Home 10
Gated there. They seem To be preJudlcod
without reason, the facts being that Mr.. Ball
would receive no pecunlary benefit whatever
by the location of the Home on the land
gwen TO the city 10y his father. While he
would probably be glad 10 see the land im-
proved and used for such a purpose he
might justly be proud of ~ the land be-
longs to the city, and If additional land IL
wanted IL il not proposed To buy from
his fathers estate. Parties who favor the
selection of this site have induced Mr.. FItz-
patrick 10 set price on the forty adjoining
the Ball forty on the south. 1t can be
bought for $6,0o0-xlJ0 per acre. The other
land that would be wanted is the eighty ad-
joining these two forties on the west. Ii be
longs 10 the Plaster company and Is held at
800 per acre-So,OUO. Last week West Side
parties went out 10 the Ball forty and, with a
few hours work cutting underbrush, put il IN
such shape that IL will present a much better
appearance than when before visited 10y the
Trustees. They opened track from Hoga-
done road up the rayIne so that carriages can
be driven up 10 the highest point on
the lot where they cut away few
trees and obtain magnificent view of the
city. Saturday morning q reporter OF IHE
TELEGRAM accompanied party on a visit TO
the forty. lie had not been there before,
and was surprised at the advantages II pre-
sents. When seen from the bluffs on the
east side of the river the West Side bluffs
appear 10 be covered with oak grubs, but
when the Ball forty is reached many large
oaks are seen among those of smaller growth
on the higher parts and III the ravine there l.
a heavy growth of timber in which maple,
elm, ash, beech and hickory prevails There
Is timber enough TO make 1t most beautiful
park if properly improved, and its nearness
to the city-a mile and half from Sweets
Hotel-would make il very convenient place
of recreation for residents of the city.
To be of lasting benefit 10 the city, the Home
should be located where all visitors would be
Obliged TO stop In, or pass through. the city,
and this would result from the selection of
the Ball forty as a site.
There is another site, which, though not
visited by the Trustees, Is being discussed
now, mainly by residents in the northern
part of the city. 1t is known as the Nelson
farm, out on the Canal street gravel road,
just this side of the new bridge. Ii fronts
on the river, and large portion of ii is Gov
cred with timber. 1t il near where the
Board of Pnblic Works proposed 10 locate
the galleries for the city water supply, and II
ia asserted that water could be obtained
there that would flow 10 all parts of the
buildings without mechanical force. The
farm contains but ninety five acres, but ad-
joining land can be bought on reasonable
terms. II will probably be examined before
the location il fixed.