Telegram-herald., 1890-10-30
DISTINGUISHED MEN
CEs 0. n. Poe AID COL. LTDLOS
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He 5 Colonel or rag glnsers for the Disl-
s.on Of Ihs Nors ssst, and All recon-
mendAt.Ons for marine improvements
must De passed upoa by aim before go
ing - Gen. Casey, and from him 70 The
War Department beadqusrtsrs-
Col. Wn. Ludlow. OF the Engineers
corpe, has his headquarters IN Grand
Rapids, and has me supervision OF al
harbor improvements on the east coast
Of Lake Michigan. To pass upon the
.ImprovsmenG Of Grand River" 10
among the duties OF these gentlemen.
Although the Board Of Trade. repre-
senung the enterprising citizens OF
Grand Rapids, has already had sur
yey Of the river made at It's own ex-
pense, il was not exhaustive enough N
some of rs details 10 satisfy Uncle sam.
It accomplished is purpose, however,
which was 70 put the matter IN such
shape as TO attract and hold the stten-
tion Of the officials OF the Government,
and there IS now good prospect OF the
desired action. There was no appropria-
ton m the River and HarbOr bill re-
Gently passed b, Congress, for our
waterway, except such IS can De used
from the general fund OF s225 200 pro-
y.ded Tor surveys. The matter ls now
being looked into IN formal way, as
illustrated by the visit OF Gen. Poe yes
terday The formal ORDER 20 investi-
gate was issued by Gen. Casey To Gen.
Poe, IN charge OF the Division of the
Northwest; ne N turn gaze his insEruc-
tons 20 Col. Ludlo~. This latter gem
tlem4n being already familiar with the
nver. It's advantages and necessities,
was able 10 make his report very som.
Gen. POe's recommendation either ad-
verse or favorable. will be attached TO
that report before it's forwarded. The
report will finally reach the Secretary
OF War, and, If all recommendations
are favorable, II Is quite probable that
an order for survey will De issued
AZ once; the survey and report TO IN
Olude recommendations and specihca-
tions for any engineering problems
that may present themselves.
Before passing upon Col. Ludlow's
report, Gen. Poe desired 10 personally
inspect the river, and accordingly, &
party of gentlemen. fifteen IN number.
assembled yesterday morning At the
steamboat landing TO take passage on
the Barrett" along with the officials
mentioned, for trip down the river.
Nine O'Clock was the scheduled hour
aud everyb body was on time. At 9.05
the steamer cleared the dock and
started for Grand Haven. The weather
was more agreeable than might have
been expected at this season of the
wear. The air was raw, but everyone
was In good spirits and weathered it
well. Gen. Poe at once took MS posi-
ton a. the bow of the craft that he
might better view the contour or the
river and the formation OF its banks. A
condensed map of the river, taken
from the recent survey was tackled
against the side Of the cabin, and was
studied with interest by all on board.
The diagram showed that between
Grand Rapids and Grandville, a dis
tauce of SIX miles, there Is fall Of
three feet; between GrandvIlie and La
mont, a distance of thirteen miles.
nearly the same amount. From La
mont 10 Grand Haven the river Is
practically on level with Lake Michi-
gan, with depth of seven 10 sixteen
feet of water. A very little digging
would make the river navigsble TO this
point for the heavy lake crafts, and
little more digging. would
make IL navigsble TO Grandville.
lsOuly from Grandvllls TO this city
that any serious problem would seem to
arise. On TINS stretch of the river the
depth of water is sometimes ss low az
four feet. while the fall Is about slx
inches 20 the mile. II is 10 determine
whether dredging, and dredging alone,
will accomplish the purpose. or If y
series of dams and locks viii DC the
most feasible and economical, that the
proposed government survey will be
made. Gen. Poe was non-committsl
with his impressions and opinions, and
did not say what his recommendation
would De. In fact. no one OF the party
tried 20 have him commit himself.
That the report viii be favorable, how
ever. there can be htsle doubt, because
OF the merits of the thing asked for.
Few people in Grand Rapids realize the
beauties OF Grand river, as presented
by trip TO tho mouth Of the stream.
High grave banks nearly sil the Way
down. with fins farms and farm build
ings for back ground, present PFC
ture not 80 novel ss IL = unknown TO
the average Grand Rapids citizen and
business man. As the boat and party
passed Jsnisonville. Col. {. 3. Pierce
pointed out what q nov known az
iJeuison's Old Landing. and where =.
made as srst ard last public speech
years ago. Thos. Heffron, nov OF this
city. formed one Of the party, and ws-
made known as sn sr-csptsln OF the
largest boat that ever Piled on the river.
I'VE bad thrse Or four boats every day
in those hmes,' sad Captain thss. ".
Eaton. and others Of the party whose
memories 70 away back, united m
the assertion that Grand river 80, vhsi
made Grand Rapids. The citizen Of to
day can sCsrCelv realize this, nor she
great and incsiculabie influence the lnl-
provement of the river VII have on toe
future Of ths CITY.
At2 o'clock a. we're summoned =
TIE cabin 20 psrtaxs Of rsfreshmepts
provided BY Caterer Swstlsnd Thls
feature Of the trip vas more thar sat
isfactorv. and reflected credit on the
gentleman who furnished IT, After
4 dz~rssirr the visnds for nearly two
hours. WITH iupr0mptu sfter-di1ner
speeches. both serious and iovial. By
rssriv every one there, the party found
itself nearly 81 Grand Haven, where ar
rval was made &C t.3o ,. n.
Ex-senator Thomas Ferry, Hon.
Dwzhs Cuaer. Nr. Sherman Boyce ard
other ciurens II Grsad Haven net tae
party st The dock. but bad hsd ID no
tce Inst snvcue wss coming. excepi
t1e news items thst had appeared IA
tne Grand Rapids rarers They az.