Telegram-herald., 1891-10-19
CONDITION OF THE STREETS.
Progress OF the Various Paving Jobs
About the City.

About the City.
In speaking of the cities where the
A. A. w. has held its meetings Miss
Emily Rowland of New York, said:
"One impression that we always re-
ceive on visiting western city is the
wretched condition of the streets and
sidewalks. Some of the cities are not
so bad in this respect but the average
of them are open to criticism. Grand
Rapids may be clsssed with the ma
jority."
The lady's remark can arouse re-
sentiment for il is true beyond dispute.
The paving contracts seem likely to
linger in the lap of fall and bridge over
into the winter season now almost at
hand. The Cherry street contract has
reached South Union street and il the
rate of its future progress is to be
Judged by its past, the remaining four
blocks will be completed by June
/. 1892. The condition OF the
streets where paving is in progress
seems to demorallze the highway COM
missioner of the third district, for he
allows the other thoroughfares to re-
main III an unsafe condition. Every
person who is obliged to drive on Lake
ave. on the eastern part of Cherry-st.
pronounces the neglect Of the ccmmis-
sioner an outrage. The board or pub
lie works contemplates the improve
ment of these streets next season, but
if the coming winter is TO be as snow
less as the past three, the hundreds who
are obliged TO drive over the main thor
oughfare TO the east will raise howl OF
indignation, and the broken vehicles
10y the wayside will be multlplled until
the street is blocked.
Great have been the anticipations oil
proud citizens as to what the condition
Of the city shall be when the large
amount of money appropriated for I'M
proyements will have been expended.
Three kinds OF pavements have been
utilized, and from the start much spec
ulation as to which would, in the end
prove most serviceable. In the main
iho-oughfsres brick has predomlnatcd.
The following streets have brick sur.
faces: Pearl, Monroe, Waterloo and
West Bridge. Asphalt has been placed
on Canal, Cherry and south Iona. On
the extreme west OF Bridge and east
end of Cherry cedar blocks have been
used. so far as Pearl street is con-
cerned, IN come respects the job IS q
poor one. At the corner OF Canal and
Pearl there - hollow in which u duck
pond forms upon the slightest downfall
of RAIN. There IL no crown to that por-
ton of the street, making the sewers
constructed 10 carry the water awav al
together useless. From Campau square
to Division street the brick pavement
has been LAID. with the exception of q
small space In front OF the Wonderly
building. Instead of that floor Ike
surface presented by Asphalt, . walk
through Monroe brought to view tina,
cobblestone roughness which causes
vehicles to rattle aud thunder
along, creating deafening din
which IL 10 so desrous to
obviste. The propheaes of the brick
,ompa0y and the contractors were that
tins feature would be eliminated. There
- marked contrast between Canal
and Monroe, aud tue difference u yer.
ceptble so soon as a carnage or wagon
passes from one TO the other. The
brick pavement has . decidedly IN
finished appearance, especially on
Pearl, Monroe and Waterloo, upon
which thofoughfsres the quality IL
about the same. The West Bfidge-st
cedar block 10 almost finished and the
street IL in splendid condition. Asphsli
hss been laid upon both sdes OF the
street car tracks on South Iona q
Fulton. The material aud workman
ship sexeelIsnt, 40 far - Il IA. beer
completed. The street would now b
pss-sn ole were Il not for the fact tia
The brick pavement between the rsu
way tracks nss not been laid became ol
the Iaek of material. Frouf Fulton
| south. the foundation - being pre-
| pared. The steam roller has been ac
lively 81 vgfk duFisg tue psst wees
and xG6G progress hss been made.