Telegram-herald., 1889-06-17
NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
a Correspondent " ~ na1ts tas side
. alks 4ad the kisvE trs4t approved

A Correspondent n ~ Mats ske side
aAaks -aa shs kissE frsas Improved
fs rs Eester q EAs IslsssAx HseAln.
SrAKIA, Mleh., Jane is.-DEAs sIE--
Permit nle. y freqeent VISITOR "a your
city, h oecupy Short sEace in your
Ieuss. valuable paper Nh.eh Is - eA-
tenslsely cGeu.ased throughout 0aF
sction Of the country. IL facg, ! hnd
tie T1laGRAN- -MEgALD file al ali the
pruelpzl hotels Snd business houses m
the northern part OF the STATE, and ihe
universal opinion seeius 10 prevail that
i ls one OF the best II newspapeTs-
especially - s'nee 4 has assumed rs
present metropolitan form and donnsd
us new dress. II is welcome visitor
also u every h0us, hold n tbs part OF
tie country Oa account VI AZ ne~t APP
pearance and Well-chosen selection, edl-
torlals and correspondence.
ana greatly surprised Al tne loose
manner IN which the Common Council
Saw fit L. pass upon the building OF
lavlng OF sidewalks Uu the PRINCIPAL
tAoT0ughtaTes- business portions
0f the clty-as the defective and
dangerous walks the ups and downs
throughout the city fully testify. To
SAY nothing OF the danger of breaking
one limbs by slipping or stumbling, u
IS a disgrace - the prosperous cry Vi
Of Grand Rapids u have rs beauty
marred by suCh vast extent of board
walks, made mostly of plne, whose
knots prOtrude to such a hight that II
Is almost impossible Tor pedestrians 10
pass over them without stubh!ng their
toes, and often raising the sole OF their
footwear. This II not all. When IT
rams, or in the winter time, they are
very slippery, and many falls and serl-
Gus accidents are the inevitable result.
There u no reason, To my mind, why
| stone tagging should not be substituted
for plank, especially IN the immediate
business portion of the cly's busy
| thoroughfares, OF which SO great an
abundance can Toe had at little cost.
Then again, how much more beautiful
would IL be TO the eye of the strangers
who visits the second city-in size and
populatlon-in the state, for pleasure
'
upon the marvellous beauty of its build
irgs, its immense manufactures and
the gorgeous display of goods OF all
kinds which please as well a. entrance
and riyet the attention OF the most tas-
| tidiously inclined.
Grand Rapids is indeed growing de-
cidedly metropolitan III appearance,
and a few corrections IN Its conduct,
| like the above, would rank II among
| the most beautiful and pleasurable
cities To be found in the United states.
Nature has done her share Tor Grand
| Rapids and now IL only needs the art
of man to adOrn and beautliy what
nature has left undone.
Now, If the river could be narrowed
| down by the building of solid straight
wall on either side for few miles, sc
| that the flow of water would be more
| contracted, thereby causing a depth
sufficient TO float small ferry or pleas
ure boats, it would add great beauty to
| the city. as well as afford much pleas
| ure and convenience 10 the thousand,
| who would gladly patrOnlZe the bOat'
| during the heated season, at least.
| Such ascheme would be of great benefit
to the city, and capitalists could be
| easily found who would build the stone
| walls provided they had the privilege
| from the city and became the owner:
| of the made ground. Start the bal
| rolling and see what can be done, 4;
outlined above. Respectfully,
| A $ IL