Telegram-herald., 1890-12-29
consrocs coaREcrs


To sc 80 tak 81 ta~ O. $40 = aAs<te-
ssh - cali ssfsntson % les errors
embodied Ia aa Article rslatsng 10 far
grounds. puhbshsd IA tbs sunday
slofnlag ksgas, DseemseF zlst. par
pertag 70 &c from ene OF ksns eoan-
ty's boaFa VI directors lie ssys test
the directors Of his society u TIE exsE-
e.e Of shsir besa judgment, selected tas
IaIas4y NsEaeEpool site II TINS be
tae, 4 seems 20 give assurance 10 al
uapseludieed minds that they are
very incompetent body, vita narrow
slsws. aad are unfit to 10 trusted with
lie expsnditGTs OF money not taeE
owa 1 understand taey pad over
sls eco for the ground. while ! offered
them tor So SOC the Comstock site,
when Il vas known the Nssg Asch'gsn
society desired 10 locate tners, OF 10
lease the same tor taen TO hold eahi-
blt.9ns thereon. Although be states 10
the contrary, he NandeTpool site -
farther from the city hall thar the 9th
eE, another eviGspse OF bis OF their u.
capacity 10 learn or tell the truth. IL
| what tae members OF the horse assoeia-
| ton stated 10 ne at the uule pur-
| chased THIS property be correct, tast
| track could be constructed upon the
ComstCek site for less money than
| Ike track could be hslilt upon the VAN
derpoOi grounds, and | am ready TO
| guarantee that result. lie also
states that it will cost $1,000 10
| $40 geo; another serious error IN
/ Judgment. IL Is not true, as he as
sumes, that TIE Comsiock grounds have
been under water from time 10 time,
| with the grain floating oil. Nothing OF
ia. kind has happened since | pnr-
chased the grounds III August, 1870,
and il was said AZ that time mat the
main portion had not been plowed Tor
| nineteen years, and a large portion had
| never been. They had been Kept as
! moving and pasture lands. found II
rich, deep and strong soil, and have
| cultivated every pant except i little
near and where the buildings stood
one season raised forty bushels OF
wheat per acre upon about thirty acres,
and have often cut two tons OF hay per
acre upon TINS land; have never lost
any portion of my crop by reason o.
high water. except by the Hood OF lee'5,
at the time the river was blocked by
l50, 0O0, 900 feet OF logs piled IN IN,
river above the d., G.. IL. NJ. X. IL.
bridge. His history of agricultural so
cietles and horse associations may be
true SO far-as Il relates TO the Old henI
society, but II Is not true IN many otner
cases, and especially SO as regards the
West Michigan society. The latter has
mace and saved money when operating
under great disadvantages as conf
pared with being located upon the Com
stock grounds with suitable improve
ments. In my judgment 500, 600, care,
fully expended, will not furnish equal
facilities for getting to and from the
Vanderpool site, that now exist IN con
necuou with the other. A strong sod IL
necessity to prevent the great annoy,
ance of dust upon a fair ground, and
$1,000 per acre will not produce so good
sod, with a soil TO MAINTAIN 1t, upon
the Vanderpool grounds as there now
Is upon the Comstock grounds. IL
matters little with me whether my otter
TO donate these grounds to the West
Michigan Society be accepted or not
for II IS the most valuable land l OWL
Tor farming purposes, and II | did moi
consider them especially adapted to thu
use OF the society, | should never have
made the proposition. With the rlgh
to bring an abundance OF pure sprlns
water at small expense, and all other
advantages OF this site over the one
selected by the Kent Society IN the ex
ercise of their best judgment, would
have been the exercise OF sound ludg
ment and wise d secretion, in the interes
, OF that society, and the public at large
to have paid 500. 900 for the Comstocl
site, fif IL could not have been secured
tor less) than to have accepted the on
they selected rs donation? And / be
Iieve that If both sites are improved
this view will be fully demonstrated
| consider that the bonds which tin
West Michigan Society propose TO Issu
To he safe investment, we'll secured
and that the interest and principle vii
be promptly met when due. With tn
advantages they would have, located
upon the Comstock site, with suitahl
improvements, there can be no doub
aboutthcir success and ability to NICE
every obligation and be one gran,
cnterprisp, the establishment OF exhibl
tlOus which will tend to give natlona
notorlety TO Grand Rapids aud greatl
| aid in aiding up and sustaining al
parts of our city and valley, furnlshIn
market tor much farm produce an
bringing trade to our manufacturer
| and merchants even from other state
| hope It may not become necessary 10
me TO expose any other mlsrepresenta
tons, or 70 MAKE more comments upo
| this subject III ordpr to have the matte
fairly presented. but VIII bold myscl
, ready 10 prove what Is here written i
contradiction OF the statement OF on
ri Kent county's board of directors
At my expense If not proven, Otherwis
1T his. 4. &. CousruCK.