Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-05-09

Ia The matter Of dolatln. slts, Dul t1ousol
Der cltihsns ~oald do az size las ever done
cous square to the front and tilke . taes
seal for ~ one
Dr. Grls~old said De hsd heard but ons
rapressi0n IL the community. and thst ss-z IA
favor of the establishment of a Soldier.
Home by the State Grand kaEids wants
ths Institution, bat has, a. get, talked little
Of the matter Of a donation. The loc4l
committee did not Know, until Mednese4s
the amount VI hand necessary for q site.
Good sites have been offered containing from
10 70 ~ aeres, aud the committee considers
many Of them excellent. Ia Ehe matter ~
location, good soil, good water and drainage,
they can hardly DO surpassed
Col. jos. Penny said it had been demon
strated BY actual figures that Grand Rapids
was the cheapest city IN Michigan M which 10
concentrate a body OF men from al portions
Of the State. This speaks well for our
transportation facilities. The Legislative
committee should also consider that
Grand Rapids would be donating much
more than the other cities named. ia giving
q site, by reason OF the higher values of real
estate.
Gen. I. ". Heath said he believed Grand
Rapids citizens would do everything reason
able TO secure the Home, aud has DO doubt
of the city's donating the site A. busines-
man he considers the institution valuable
one for city to secure, and thinks Crane
Rapids could make no better investment
than TO donate good site. lie spoke OF the
benefits of the Soldiers Homes 10 the citie-
Of Dayton, O., and Milwaukee, Wis; thought
it would be one of the attractions OF the
Valley City, if located here, and every cifi-
zen would take pride III It's being a place of
resort, surrounded with beautiful park aud
approached by handsome driye.
Representative NorthwoOd, who, at the
solicitation of the Grand Army boys. of
which organization he is a member, intro
duced the bill for a Michigan Soldiers
Home in the House. spoke of the objects o.
the bill and its requirements. Mr.. North
wood shows by an empty sleeve that he Is
not altogether unfamiliar with the hardships
and misfortunes of war, and. although he is
not needy and dependent but ON the other
hand owns a large and beautiful farm in the
Saginaw Valley, spoke earnestly for the
wants of the soldier boys. He is enthusiastic
for securing for the unfortunate ones Il
Home, and is not going to quarrel for its
location in any particular part of the State.
Just before the committee took an adjourn
ment, Senator Hueston, who had been sepa-
rated from the State committee on account
of the illness of his daughter. arrived at Tie
Morton and was introduced 70 those present.
Senators Curtiss anC Penneu, WHO &C.
companied him from Lansing. also met
with the committees and an informal re-
ception was held until the hour for supper
was announced, when all the committee
men, several invited guests and the mem
bers of the press present sat down TO the
elegantly spread tables of this opular hotel.
The Morton-"the" hotel of Michigan
After the informal banquet the gentlemen
met again in the parlors and Senator Hues-
ton was called for. He said the site for the
Home should be located where il is easy of
access; where there are good facilities for
sewerage and should be- large enough to not
only accommodate the buildings. but to pas
ture cows. The land should slope south or
east: the soil should be good enough to
grow grass, garden products, etc. The
grounds should be near city. The com
mittee does not come begging for "A
site. and it is not the city which
offers the greatest bonus that will secure tho
Home. The best situation for it j. wanted
and it would be better for the STATE TO pay a
large price for the right place than to accept
the wrong one, because 1t Is gift. Gen.
Pierce assured the gentleman Grand Rapids
has lust the place with all the requisites.
The committees will start from The Nor
ton to-day at o'clock a. n, ram or shine,
TO view the eligible sites about the city.
They will first be driven across the river Ia
the "Ball forty and adjoining property, and
then will cross to the East Side and visit the
sites in the southern and eastern portions OF
the city. A general tour of the city will then
be completed; the party will take dinner at
/ The Morton and the Legislative Committee
will separate to visit other portions of the
State.