Telegram-herald., 1891-08-31
MONROE sTsfeT GRADE.
a Esw words Absat the Kicking Nos
Gslsg Os.

Editef IELkG kAs- hkEAEDs
Allow me space In your celuns 90 ex-
press any views In regard 70 the whole
sale kicking which is gong on against
the profound way Of improving Monroe
and other streets IN this city.
saturdays edition of the Democrat
contained an article entitled kick on
the Grade" and il ls this article which
/ especially wish 70 eritlcise.
How any person possessing the least
particle of that article known as hu-
man intellect, and having any knowi-
edge whatever Of municipal affairs,
could be the author OF such statements
is pact the comprehension OF an intelil-
gent being. In the fret place he states
that the new grade OF the street rait-
way track on Monroe-st is exactly oEe
and one-half inches below the top OF
the sidewalk. True enough, but
the gentleman does not consider the
fact tnat the bottom of the gutter
Is five inches below that, thus making
nearly seven inches of gutter. When
THIS Was explained TO Mr.. Wenham at
the meeting of the Board of Public
Works, and be was asked what more ne
wanted, ne only whined that he wanted
il as it was. Bat Mr.. Wenham, as well
as thousands of other pedestrians on
Monroe-st., will learn to appreciate the
difference between an easy step from
tho crossing to the sidewalk, and .
climb OF eighteen inches as Mr.. Wen
ham would have 1t.
Upon examination the plans of streets
already improved, we find that there
IS scarcely a street in Grand Rapids.
where the crown of the street does not
come close to the top of the sidewalk,
and yet there Is plenty of gutter.
Again the same gentleman has taken
pains TO heap blame and abuse upon the
shoulders OF the city engineer. Here
again he makes grand display OF his
ignorance, for though the writer does
not claim to be we'll versed in affairs of
this nature, he would call the gentle
mans attention to the fact that the city
engineer IS simply = servant OF the
Board of Public Works, and they In
turn are agents of the Common Council.
and if he will take the time to examine
the Council proceedings for q few
months back, he will find that the grade
was ordered changed by that body.
Now, we don't believe that this was
. sudden whim of the Councils, but
that it was the result Of careful study
and thought on the part of those who
had the matter IN charge, and among
all the street Improvements completed
In the past few years, not one can be
singled out that mas proven unsatis-
factory if completed in accordance
with the plans which were adopted
| after careful consideration.
| Mr.. Wenham styles Mr.. Collar, .
boy who happens to be city engineer"
1t Is impossible for any person to come
in contact with Mr.. Collar without re-
cognizing the deep thought and anxiety
which he has for his work. He has
grown gray In honest, faithful. service
for the city, and, while We do not wish
TO question any persons intellect, We
would frankly state, that, could the
kicking" gentleman be placed IN Mr..
Collars position, the citizens of Grand
Rapids would soon be brought to realize
the difference between experience
learned by years of careful thought and
study. as compared with the blunders
of long ears and vast amount of bray.
An OBSERVER.