Telegram-herald., 1890-06-02
PRESIDENT DAVIS
He Has an Elaborate scheme for the
Dock Lane Improvement
LEGAL. SANITARY lyD FISCAL VIEW
how Hs ~ ould Assess tbe b psnse of the
Improvement it0s q eloala Be
Madv something Also A5out
Bis sewer WA AZ.

Tie lmnr0yement oi Grand River by
therearraneemeut of dock lines. s s..l
attracting tie attention of prominent
citizens Though different minds differ
somewhat ss u details, there = "a re-
magkable consensus of opinion that the
Improvement should he made PIes.-
dent J n. DAVIS. Oi the Board OF fab-
be Works n an interview wlth N,aaas
Ns~aag Esg's reporter goes somewhat
elaborately Mo details lie says.
"Nhat would he my method
Il would show. first, that the inn
proycment would be of great benefit 20
the pubic, and therefore Was nocess-
sty and, secondly, ,Thatit wouid create
valuable property that would ass,s, .n
bearing the burden OF the taxation,
placing the advantage 20 the public
rstaud tOindividual owners afterward.
would not call Il the establishment
o. the dock lines. but would designate
it plan for tie improvement OF Grand
River within the llnts of the city oi
Grand Rapids.
81 would show that the establishment
of the present dock hnc, instead OF inn
proving the sanitary condition ~
Grand river. would be detrimental 10
health, tor the reason that all rpauan
owners are not compelled % build %
It's line, and therefore those who should
build would make various hooks and
eddIes. IN which sewerage would settle
IN summer, and IN low water would be
preiudicial 10 the health of the city.
Ii would show that the Improvement
would greatly enhance the property
adjacent thereto, aud therefore the
expense should be borne by the owners
thereof in proportion TO the benefits
derived.
Il would show there are at present
certain obstruction, m the river In tie
shape OF cribs and dams 10 facilitate
the passage Of logs the necessity of
, which Is now passed D, and ask power 20
remove all such or any other Obstruc-
| ton tmeaning the KObarg island in the
/ river, near the south hne OF the city,, III
| necessary, in order 10 prevent the
| damming oiithe river at that point.
II would show that the present pro-
visions OF the charter relative 10 con-
| strucbng public Improvements, and
! preserving the sanitary conditions OF
! Grand river, were inadequate TO pro-
| vide for an improvement of the I'M
portance and magnitude asked for.
"Heviug done tins, would ask the
I Legislature 10 pass such a measure,
either by amendment 70 the charter, or
| a special enactment, authorizing the
I Common Council 10 declare the I'M
provement of Grand river necessary
public improvement, and call upon the
Board of Public Works for an estimate
of the cost.
"The estimate should contain the
cost of a continuous line of masonry on
either side of the river, leaving ample
room Tor the passage OF water, and Till
ing in with earth between the wall and
the shore. The lines should be as near
~ parallel, and have as few angles rs
pos be.
"The estimate should contain the cost
Iof sewer 10 be constructed I'M
imedlately along the inner side Of
the line of masonry, and should be OF
sufficient capacity tor the passage of AL
sewage that should be emptcd into
them through every sewer now, or
hereafter 70 be constructed that WOuil
otherwise discharge INTO Grand river.
''If i should bc decided 10y the coun-
cll that there was no necessity for tbe
| improvement rs an entirety, the work
could be commenced at "A point say at
the Leouard-strcet bridge and end al
the g.. x. Il /. L. y. or the c. s. ". VI
bridge, but should be continuous as IA
as constructed.
al think the sewer not the least i'm
porJant part OF tho improvement. Be