Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1890-08-27
Backed Out.

DEAR SIR Would you lend me the
use of your columns to express few
natural reg cts I feel at certain illusions
being swept ruthlessly away? | am a
stranger here and Just lately arrived,
with the intention OF permanently
locating IN the Valley City.
That idea is now abandoned. Grand
Rapids has widespread reputation
Tor prosperity and general push and
hustling. | believe, from the few OBJ
servatlOns | have been able to make,
that that reputation Is well founded,
but found also that there pre-
walls an amount OF internal dissenSion
that bids fair TO render nugatory all
efforts al turthec progress on the lines
that have so far rendered the Valley
City akin TO Chicago. In the first place
there IS the uussemly dock line SQUAD
bic. Can there exist doubt as TO It's
desrabllIty? Is not the river disgrace
ana menace to the citizens Now Il
appears that the only reason for the
continuance of this condition OF things
is the "dog IN the manger" policy of
some who are afraid that 4 possible
benefit may accrue to those who invest
capital In.the project and that they won't
have share. Then there IS the street
car question. Two rival companies
are branching out and endeavOr-
ing TO secure as much terri
tory as possible and as favorable fran
chises. This is right and proper. and
IN hundred ways of immense benefit 70
the city. But IN such close competI-
ton, from the very nature of things,
- 20. bn
mony engendered. Charges and coun-
ter charges are sure 10 pass. The only
possible conservators of justice in
case like this must he the Common
Council of the city. Their aim, how
ever, should certainly lie b not only 10
act with fairness 10 both sides, but also
to so act for the best interests of the
city. They should, ! take it, be very
careful that no act of theirs should
retard the enterprise and large invest
ments of capital 90 commercially
being made by both companies.
Justice and encouragement should GER
taInly be the wstchwords of the coun-
Gil. To an outsider, 1t rather appears
as II both these virtues were growing a
little rusty from dIsuse.
Take, for instance, the contiguous
track matter. so called. AS to its feast
bility. other cities have tried II and 1t
has not worked. As ID its justlce-it
does seem As If the old company, when
IL obtained It's franchise, was at least
given 20 understand that, as an encOuT-
agement for is investment of large
sums. the Common Council at least
would under no consideration permit
the thin edge OF the wedge TO be
entered 70 a certain compet ton, before
the company had even begun To realize
on It's investment. For, of course. the
contiguous tracks Of the present simply
mean continuous tracks as soon IS they
can be got. And this against the e1-
pressed wish of property-ovuers and to
the manifest obstruction of the streets
utility or beauty.
Again there - the question Of trans
fer-. Does It not seem that on the eve
az \ change from horse cars 20 eleCtyi-
city, moving "a 10 does an immense
0Dtsv, the company should not De
discouraged by an attempt 10 deprive
them of a part Of their revenue, while
holding the pole question az whip over
IFS head OF course q e natural for
aldermen to wish 60 mske capital with
their constituents when they can, but
ara there not other WAYS II dong lt7
Then there "a the condition ~ The
streets. however. that "a about TO be
partially remedied. Then there Is the
water question, which = not vet solved
There are several other sualler.f me-
tons that could be srnoCthed With bene-
So TO TIE city and - prospects. bot the
ABOVE are the more serious. asd
those wno truly have the .ntsres 9
Of Grand Rapids a. heart vii sndesvor
q 10 away WITH thens.
Yours.
AHcrEn TO ~ CTrTzFN