Telegram-herald., 1891-12-23


then Introduced and said The city Of
Aaastslaanl is TIE riches: city Ia Hoi-
land IL wss not always 80 IL ~as on
an Ennasigabis river but IN
1890 the Dutch government
afeagec tie river and made Amsterdam
accessible 10 ocean navigation. and to-
day it rivals Rotterdam and Antwerp.
am Al enthusiast IN favor OF deep
water navigation, and honor the earn
est enthus 4sGe gentlemen OF the board
OF trade who have done % much to
create interest IN the matter.
should IKE 20 subscribe 10 . fund 70
give every msa IN Grand Rapids free
excursion down the river, and whsn
tney returned every man would Dc
wiling 70 pack their grips aat walk TO
Warrington 20 work tor the measure.
csagrsssnAs nsik aap's Prophecy.
Mayor Unl then introduced The Hun.
Chas- 4. Bslknap. who WAS greeted
With great applause. Mr.. Belknap said:
wlsn You were all congressman.
There would be no trouble in getting
an appropriation. l want the people to
stop Calling this canal. The govern
mens never pat money into
canal. but 1t will put money into
rivers and harbors. The field work OF
the fourth survey Is completed and the
clerical work will be finished by Janu-
AIRY 4. That rep ort will be favorable TO
the im proysme Mt of the river. After
that report is received, the engineers
Will send IN an estimate. Tomorrow
the speaker appoints the committee on
rivers and Harbors, and II q Michigan
man IS on tnxt committee, our CLAIMS
will DC pushed; and If certain man IS
appointed chairman of the committee
on appropriations. he viii try 10 cut it
down. 1 will do all can to secure the
appropriation; but II fan, | hope you
Will keep up the night ev en- If you have
to go down INTO your own pockets.
A Resolution For Action.
Tie Hon. /. NJ. Turner introduced
the following resolutions:
Whereas, Grand river at the time Of
the settlement of Western Michigan,
and for many years thereafter, was
navigable for steamboats,, and formed
the leading highway for the commerce
OF tins section Of the state. and
Whereas, The navigation of said
river has been OF recent years much oh
structed and interfered with 10y sand
have gradually formed In said river, at
It's bends aud In It's shallow places,
which distractions now threaten to
speedily destroy the use of said river as
waterway.
Resolved. That. IN the opinion of this
meeting, steps should be at once taken
not oniy TO remove said bars aud o.
structions, but also to dredge and
"A ha chs Af m
such an extent that il will meet the
present requirements of commerce ana
furnish u waterway for all the freight
of Western Michigan seeking passage
by the great lakes; and be II further
Resolved, That We do hereby form an
ASSOCIATION to he known as the Grand
Rapids improvement association. the
object Of which shall be to use all avail
able means TO secure the deepening of
the channel of Grand river ard the i'm
provoment of It's waterv4y; and be 1t
further
Resolved, That we invite all persons
interested In this project to JON us and
lend ths.r aid Ia securing this most de-
sirapie end.
Short ant stirring speeches were also.
made by Vim. o. Webster of Iona, K.
r. Sweet and Judge Burcn of this city,
and the Hon. j. b. v. Goodrich of
Coopersvllle. Mr.. Goodrich moved
that a acommittee of seven be appoint
ed by the, chair to nominate officers
and announce the nominations
through the press. Mayor Uhl ap-
pointed W. b. Goodrich and George
Mcbride of Ottawa county, aud |. NJ.
Turner, John :. Lawrence, l.. +.
witsey anu Judge Cyrus K. Perkins of
Kent county.
The meeting then adjourned.