Telegram-herald., 1890-05-22
THE OBSERVER


" % . 10 SFo-@s&--Sf - = -
TIC old company. The Csole CoGaF~Ay
GAINS taAE s : 40 fxalt u the-Esi sAAt
thsy Cd not szns u rua c. C@n@l@st-s
aad sa0aAd not ee held responsible II
thezT s1stoaaens = oOFreo<. thsn mo are
TIE responsible p@rties7 Tae Common
Council ~ TIE Cznzl-st. Merchants
We aEe aware and - = every ell-SSn'
that the Old company opposed TIE Ioar
tracks first, lzst and al the time.
NoE, slRoe the tracks are II TIE
street. the old company LAS made con
cesslons far beyond the expectancy OF
is most vigorous aud bitter opPonen Is
Bug the trouble IS with Us, and most
likely % remain, unless other oonees-
ssons are made. The only way IN
which 70 adjust would De, 80 Il seems
% appoint = committee Of far minded
dlsinterested practical men.
Great caution and sound minded
action should be the watehword OF our
aldermen and every right minded cit
zen in regard 20 every important change
and Improvement 70 be made now and
hereafter.
We are aware that the people along
Canal-st. were too Jealous IN moment
OF excitement. They acted IN not
headed haste and have now q chance 10
repent in their calmer moments 1ney
have had plenty OF time for rehecuon
and = fair chance 70 repent OF their
unbusiness-llke four-track action. NlH
they commit themselves again and make
anoth er, Ike, serious mistake? IL 50,
they alone are. responsible 10 the clu-
Eens OF Grand Rapids.
The old company's lines Were built
for horse and electric car service, and II
has no need for change. This being the
case, why should the company be put
TO extra expense ID this enterprise,
simply for the purpose or accommo-
dating the new company, especially
when the old company was granted the
| first right of way and exclusive fran
| chise on the street? III the consOllda-
| ton is made, II will cost the cable COM
pany $4,000 according 70 their estl-
mates.
The two track consolidation IS now
now being advocated, and the question
arises IN the minds of many well think
ing people, "Will not this change
| prove to be another, and still more
! serious mistake than was the four line
/ track, and If so, Will 1t not prove 10 be
/ a lasting damage TO the entire city OF
| Grand Rapids?' Is It not better that
we move slow in this important matter,
/ and so have the satisfaction OF knowing
| that the change was made after care
| ful consideration, and best advise
ment?
Now, why this waste of money, unless
! satisfactory results can be secured TO
all concerned? All this trouble can be
avoided by the narrowing of the side
walks, the placing of vertical curbing
the removal of telegraph poles, the
/ leyeling of the street TO within SIX or
eight inches TO the top OF the walk.
| These important changes will give suf-
ficient room. and will be saving of
thousands of dollars to the cable COM
pany itself. OF course, the changing
of walks and areal walls Will be quite
| tax upon Canal-st. property own
ers. but this they should be as
anxious TO pay, as they were anxious TO
secure the four tracks. Besides, they
should be happily thankful for getting
out Of the dilemma so easily and
! cheaply. But We understand that the
! cable company is perfectly willing TO
! expend an extra So, 900 or more, for
the purpose of peaceful possession IN
| the street. Now IN case the street is
wldened and and their present tracks
are allowed to remain, 1t will leave both
| companies in a better condition than
with the two track arrangement, as
! each will run on It's own property with
out interference with each others
| rights. II the cable company IS willing
10 expend So, 900 or $50 900, which will
| only give them the privilege of running
| over the old cOmpany's tracks, would
they not be more than willing 10 pay
for the building of areal walls along
| Canal-st., which will cost them not
more than $4,000, all told? If the
cable company can hold peaceful pos
session in the center OF the city, their
bonds will sell readily at-S0 cents on the
dollar, instead of 90 cents now,
and they are quicker worth
fifty cents now, than they were worth
twenty-five cents before coming into
! Canal-st. Under these circumsta ances
the cable road shoul d be perfectly will
ing to pay for building the change Of
of sidewalks and areal walks, from
Lyon to East Bridge-st., and still be
money ahead, besides being owners OF
their own tracks. We are frank and
far IN every statement made, and re-
iterate our former words, edo not des-
troy your property 10y this, your second
and final change" Understand well
the present and future condition OF
things, before you give your final in 50
g4,r
once made will always remain with you
however annoying and damaging 1t
NAV prove. If all the roads are 70
run over two tracks, accidents and de-
laws will occur, and there Will be no
| remedy. Which of the two evils Will
YOU choose2 Narrower sidewalks and
have business transsc cted within the
stores. whereas now the goods are
stacked on the walks; or nave two
tracks for all the roads with untold
hIndrances7
If the street - widened. and the
walks narrowed, then an ordinance
should o. passed compelling merchants
70 keep their goods inside Of store IN
stead 81 on the walks. Teams should
not BE- allowed 70 stand on the street,
neither should merchants Be allowed
% load or unload tneT goods on the
walk IN front Of store, bot instead
they should losd and unload az the
bsck doors
The IEGRAN-HFRALD has exp AIMED
the situation several times, and Te slu-
cerelv hope that p solution for the goOd
Of the street Vlii soon be reao he'd
Nstfse - th- Public
Iwish - notify al thatanv bills con