Telegram-herald., 1890-03-23
THE OBSERVER

noFe eagerly lcozed fer tan ta9se
Wnlcn Announce TIE Necessity q gee
sral improvement tor tae elty present E
az fuEuxe g0oc-s1ch a. sun1clent
supply " pure ~ater. f9r r.eh and poor
allzs, aDd "a eysFy part of the city; TIE
getty eqltit.on CT streets and alleys.
toEose sidewalks, syLzaslrlcz cana
aad river Daak curves, 0lgh the nam
eEo1s lL--e yell88-cssered bsy-.4kes -
insl-lag dlrng the summer months.
aad adapted - resort ercanlpHents.
These river and cana surrounding ale
p.easlng ~ tie eye of strangers. as they
pass oge. tae RIVER bridges from one
SIDE % sns o.aeg, ana asng forth many
remarks not entirely complimentary %
our ml snt-Ue beautiful CITY. There >
elAnee IoE niucn needed Improvement
Do al these things and j properly made
Sp4ld De Ele alea Is 0t 4ddl8g much 10
general health beauty culture and re-
lAenent, IS vel a. 10 tie financial
prosperity Of ouI city.
TIE common impression aud expres-
son OK visiting straageFs are not very
complimentary regarding these things.
They think Grand Rapids much behind
toe times, neglected or mlsnIanaged.
There seems 10 &c but little chance 10
te.l the difference between street, walk
or mud. and but little choice which 10
take. There . always = perfect deluge
u mud after each tall OF SNOW or rain,
and the same 5 allowed 10 remain tor
days, weeks, and even months, until
the crossings are seemingly sunk out Of
sight. People who have lived here for
years have become somewhat accus-
toned 10 tns state OF things, and there
are those who have become quite tImld
or indifferent TO AL surroundings. But
Wth strang = Il IS the hrst impression,
favorable or unf4vOrale, for or against.
We are quite apt 20 drIit into state
OF apathy, after long contlnued unn-
spring surroundings. II IS SO IN the
nature of things. But as citizens of
Grand Rapids we can not afford 10 be
neglectful. We mast keep up with the
times and the progress Of other cities.
OF lose golden Opportunities. We can
not we'll afford 10 nave strangers come
mere with view Of locating with us
and then 70 away disappointed. The
old Grand Rapldan, VINO does not
travel away from homo, and does not
see or hear Of the general advance
ments throughout the country, can
scarcely De blamed for not being up
with the times.
The condition OF our city must neces-
sarily be placed before the people once
or twice 3 week, IN order that they may
become educated 10 our real needs.
Many of rs are aware that there is
lack OF duty somewhere, but whether
this lack lies with the Board of Trade,
the council, the marshal, or the street
commissioners, seems TO De a disputed
point. But true II l., the point lies with
Somebody, and in order 10 reach the
gullty parties, we are obliged to keep
the matter before the people, and in
/ tins way reach the dificulty. Know
ing and seeing what the ingenuity OF
OF man has accomplished, from the
Construction Of the pyramids to the
tunueliug OF the Alps, 1t Is not impos-
sible Tor the citizens of Grand Rapids
/ 10 construct good streets, good SIDE
walks, good crossings, yes, even
straighten out the river banks and build
a ship canal to Grand Haven.
We ought to take special pride In the
Eal!Ing up OF our r,ver lhlgh enough
and strong enough) from Fulton-st.
! bridge TO the dam, or some distance
above, so as TO prevent high water from
| flooding our streets and cellars along
1 the river. on both sides. The channel
| should be narrowed to straight dock
/ lines, so as 70 let surplus water and ice
I glide through swiftly, without giving it
! chance 10 clog, causing great dam
\ age. Again, II the river was narrowed, +,
I 10 would deepen, and the bed would be
I completely covered through the dryest
/ seasons. II would carry of with rea-
+ sOuable swiftuess the sewer and street
i fluids, contribute freshness and health
/ 10 our numerous inhabitants. Ii would
give the center of our city a most beau
tful, substantial and grand appear
/ anCe, which would be worth thousands
OF dollars to all property holders and
/ business men n every part OF the city.
/ To build our streets, our sidewalks
and crossings as they should be built,
would De 3 radica! revolutionary de-
parture from the old time custom, ira
/ dluOns, practices and precedents.
Unless some OF our outerprising, pro.
/ gTesslve business men will MAKE move
T in the direction OF city improvements,
toe now uls ghtly streets, walks, cross
I AIN ~ ia ~ y al JAbHf(bAF AF-
man In their present state OF collapsed
/ dilapidat They Will wreck them
selves through future decades, until our
I people, after gong through years OF
SAD. unpleasant experiences, are ready
TO conduct munic pal affairs in an IN
telligent, orderly, busness-hke way,
instead OF from n striving, political
. party standpoint.
Let as make a move IN the right direc-
/ ton and receive the benefits in the IN
crease Of population, business, health
and pleasure.