Telegram-herald., 1890-04-11
IMPROVE CANAL ST.
Result Of the Telegram Herald 8
Two Years Advocacy.
IHiT Is The CRY ALONG The LINE
Every body w~nts Ia D0ns, Bat sSHae Are
Csaati.x tEe Csst-fhs Ls~FSa OF
gublie spirit At W oTS Asaaax
the People.

The people o. the city are waking up
10 the Importance of the paving quss-
ton, ard particularly the business men
on Cznal-st. The pointers gwen 10 the
TELEGKAN-HERALD, and published yes
terday, have caused a great deal OF dis
cussion. Every one ON the street IS
aware Of the fact that tins spring tile
telephone and telegraph poles must
come down, and the street must be re-
pared between Bridge and Pesfi-sts.
There IS a difference Of opinion as TO
how the street IS 10 be restored TO It's
former attractive and prosperous con-
iition. Some are for continuing the
present gullies on each side OF the
street and, ia order 10 make more room,
they would oblige the property owners
Oh both sides 10 cut two teet on the
edge Of the walk and build new area
walls inside the present ones.
The more sensible ones are in favor
of continuing the street at its present
width, but 10 remove the deep cutters
and level up the street and put in a
metropolitan pavement. Something
viii not need renewngevery two years,
IS the pavement 10 put IN Csnsl-st.
The visitors 10 the paving exhibit at
the city hall, continue 10 increase in
numbers, and citizens are reading up on
the paving question, which indicates
that paving on the cheap and nasty
plan is nearly at an end in Grand Pap
ids.
Detroit has just been wrestling with
this important subject, and committee
was sent out 10 visit Buffalo Cleveland q,
Indianapolis, -. Louis and Chicago, To
inspect the various styles of pavement
and report. They returned with much
valuable information and stated that
they had found good and bad pave
mcnts OF every sort, and that much de-
pended upon the way the way the work
was done. They recommended that in
future, no pavement of any description
be lald IN Detroit except upon a con-
crete base, from four 10 six inches
thick. That no contract for paving be
accepted, except upon guaranty Of
five years or more. For the better class
of streets, wherever it can be afforded 4,
they recommend asphalt; for suburban
residence streets they recommend q
cemented brick pavement, lad upon
concrete with twO-inch layer of sand
between the two, for a cushion. For
streets given up to heavy trucks and
draws they advocate Medina sand stone.
Desiring to- ascertain the sentiment
of some who are understood 10 be op-
posed to putting in a first-class nave
ment in Canal-st.. the TELEGRAM HER
AID saw ex-Mavor Dikeman.
Bless your heart I'm not opposed
10 asphalt in Canal-St. Nothing would
suit me better, but Pm afraid the ex-
pensc Will be too great"
The reporter called his attention to
the fact that the greater part Of the
street is occupied hv railway tracks.
and that the cost would only be about
50 per foot front.
"That is something less than ex-
pected. | believe that If the street
could he so paved, II would he the max
ing of IL and. il would not only increase
the value Of property, hut would double
the travel on the street and make Il
better for business.
"If we had q smooth surface on the
street. it would not he necessary TO
round it up so much from the curb, az
all the water and filth could easily run
off,"
A prominent member of the Valley
City Milling Company was seen
and he did not hesitate TO
say, 1--WE must do something to redeem
Canal-st. At present il is in deplora-
bic condition. and if the city will put in
a pavement like asphalt. we viii be
willing to contribute toward it. although
We are entirely off the street. It Will
increase the value of property all
along"
One gentleman was seen who strongly
argued that Canal and MonrOe-sts., be-
ing business center and thorough
fares frequeuted bv all citizens, the
cost Of the paving should be paid for
out OF the general fund and not by
the property owners themselves.
The four track nuisance still con,
tinucs while the business men pray foi
a speedy and amicahle adjustment OF
tie matter. All this is extremely on
couraglng and directly attributable to
the efforts of the TRLEGRAN-HERALp
which journal has, for over two wears
waCed war against our wretChedly IN
adequate pavements and called for re
form.
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