Telegram-herald., 1890-02-19
THEBOARD OF TRADE
The Directors Meet and Discuss
the Water Works Question.
Mr. GILBERT SAYS 'SQUHCH II"
Report - Submitted by the Com
mtuee ou nupieiPzi Auatrs
Resolutions lu Honor OF
> b. sfuiiiken

The directors Of the Board of Trade
held a meeting last evening 70 discuss
the sale Of the city water wor4s system.
There were present, Alessrs. $. r. Aspin-
wal, o. A. Ball, Geo. a.. Briggs, %. r.
Brown, J. a. C0yode, NJ. :. Crosby T.
b. Fisher, L. y. Gilbert, II. r. Hastings,
julius Housemau, {. II. Leonard, r..
Lete.lier, A. : Musselman. Gaus ".
Perkins, l.. j. Rudge, ". K. shelby, G.
Il. Sigh, J. j. Utley, C.G. A. No.gt, III.
d. c. Van Asmus and John Mddicomb
President George G.. Brigg, called the
meeting 20 order, and announced The
purpose OF the meeting. lie called for
the report Of the Committee on Munlci-
pal Affairs 10 whom the matter Was
referred.
Hon. L. y. Gilbert, chairman Of tho
committee, SAID the committee had had
short notice, and therefore their report
would be rather meager. lie submitted
the report OF the special committee that
was submitted 20 the Common Council
several weeks ago, and related briefly
the new proposition OF tine hydraulic
Company. lie SAID the offer was based
upon fllse premises and gross ms
statements as TO the revenue derived
from the city water works, and he
would prove It 10 be 20 On Friday even
ing, At the adjourned meeting OF the
council.
The report of the Committee on Mu-
nicipal Affairs recapltulated all that
had been done heretofore IN regard TO
the water question. and gave the latest
proposition of the Hydraulic Company.
The substance of the report was in
the first clause, which contained the
recommendation of the committee 10
the natter IT reads a follows:
Your committee j. opposed 10 a sale
of the city water works, hence is OPP
posed 10 any steps being taken IN that
direction before 1t shall be clearly
shown 10y petition of responsible c.ti-
zens presented TO the council, that a
large minority, not Il majority, OF our
responsible taxpayers wish Il. IN the
absence Of any movement IN that drec-
ton. we can not see any reason Tor do
ing what the Hydraulic Company seem
inglv almost alone wishes done, hence
we give il a. our opinion that there is
no occasion for submitting the matter
to popular vote.
Respectfully submitted,
1lHOs ID. GILBERT,
JULUs HOUsEMAN,
G.. ". PERKINS,
CHAS. X. SIIGH.
M Gilbert said 1t only cost ten cents
to get a line into the papers stating that
there was sewage in the water for the
purpose of preiudicing the public mind
.4rr Il Tff t~af a.
matter of selling the works ought 10 be
squclchcd on Friday night and not
allow the matter TO be submitted TO the
people.
President Briggs said that until the
people had expressed n desire TO sell the
water works he would not take any
steps for the sale. but should they do SO
he would consider the matter in
purely busines, way and get the high
est price to bc Obtaine ed IN the markets
OF the world. The report was unani-
mously adopted.
Mr.. Gilbert moved that the secretary
be instructed TO prepare copy of the
report and forward to the city clerk as
an expression of the sense of the Board
OF Trade. The motion was adopted.
The Committee on Transportat on re-
ported the concessions that had been
secured from the car service assOcla-
ton I'M favor of the milIcrs and lumber
dealers, and asked that any others who
had grievances 10 make them known.
r. y. Fisher spoke OF J. +. Mullken's
retirement from the management of
the D.. /. x y. railway, and referred
to the many Improvements and ad-
vantages that he had been instrumental
i'm securing for Grand Rapids. lie sad
that. IN conslderat on of ms valuable
services to thrs city. he thought that
some expression of the business men
should bc made To show their appro-
ciatiOn Of h, services.
Hon. r. y. Gilbert moved that the
president and secretary bc instructed
to frame suitahle resolutions of appro-
cation and respect, and to express the
regret of the business men OF Grand
Rapids at b., retirement from the
management of the road.
The meeting then adjourned.