Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-20
TO BUY A DREDGE
The Board Of Trade Petitions
the Council
FOR ACTIVE AID ON The RIVER
The Matter Is Rsf=rreds TO the Committee
An Oftinanee Amended.

The sldermanic deliberations were
presided over last night by tina mayer,
and the seats back of the railing were
filled with spectators. Many OF them
were interested IN the board of trades
petition TO the council.
Residents of Oakland avenue remon-
strated against the new roll made for
the improvement of that street Re-
ferred to city attorney.
Residents on Mathews Court remon-
strated against the paving OF that
court and say that IL is not needed.
Committee on streets
Residents OF Plalufield avenue asked
that the sewer IN that street be not con-
strueted tins season. Committee on
sewers.
RESIDENT. on Eureka avenue asked
for sewer III that street. Referred TO
committee on sewers.
Wants - Street Car franchise.
Percy I. Cook asked for a franchise
TO operate street car line, beginning
81 the corner of Hall and Iona, aud
extending from Iona street to Wealthy
avenue, TO Spring street, TO Monroe
street, TO DIVISION street, to Pearl
street, 10 lonia street, to Coldbrook
street, to Carrier street, aud thence TO
the north city limits. Referred to com-
mittee on streets.
Charles K. Sigh, S. NJ. Lemon, NJ. S.
Crosby, L. c. Smith and CIV. Perkins, q
committee from the board of trade,
presented the following memorial:
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council of the City of Grand Rapids:
GENrLEMES-Tne board of trade of
this city, through the undersigned, Its
committee on the Improvement of
Grand river, would respectfully beg
leave to submit to your honorable body
the following:
There are three questions vitality af-
fectIng the health and commercial IN
terests of this city, which, We believe,
warrant immediate action on the part
OF your body.
First, the improvement Of the chan
mel In Grand river within the city linn
its and as much farther as may be
found necessary. by dredging and
otherwise, so as 10 afford a safe and
proper outlet for the sewage of this
city. This Is especially imperative at
this time, in view of the p ssibility of
a visitation of that dreaded scourge :,
the cholera.
For Better Water supply.
Secondly, there is an almost unani-
nous demand on the part of all citizens
that better and more ample supply of
water, suitable for domestic purposes,
shall be at once provided for. OF the
many projects that have been sub
mitted, the one that commends itself
10 the judgment of this committee, is
the plan TO construct an open channel
outside the banks of the river to a
point above the Soldiers home, thereby
getting a sufficient supply compara-
| lively free from contamination and at q
| small cost.
Thirdly. the question of transporta-
ton Is one of paramount importance to
| this community. Several large and
hourlshing manufacturing establish
ments have left Grand Rapids within
| the last two or three years because
| other cities near here afforded super
| Tor facilities IN the matter of transpor-
tation. The population of tnis city has
been lessened by these removals by
from not less than ] 200 to l 500 per-
sons. At least twice this number have
been debarred from locating here be-
cause We could not offer them deep
water communication. On &C
| count of low water rates
the cities of Chicago and
| Milwaukee during the season of navi-
| CATION, monopolize almost the entire
| trade on the east shore of Lake Michi-
| gan, 10 the detriment OF the lobblng IN
| terests IN this city. Since the passage
| Of the interstate commerce law, the
manufacturers of this city, on account
of the large advance in freight "a ties,
| have lost very large part of their
trade in the west and northwestern
states which they once possessed. If
they are going to retain what they now
have. speedy action must be taken to
| secure deep water TO the lake.
The fame which this city enjoys is at
| tributahle largely to the intelligence
and interchangeable energy and persever-
ance of its citizens, manufacturers and
| others. Their factories and products
are the envy and wonder of more fa-
yored localities. They have maintain
ed their prestige under unfavora-
bic conditions. but they cannot ac-
complish imposIbillties. Lower freight
rates are an absolute necessity to their
| continued prosperity. The surest,
| quickest and cheapest way to secure
| this IL TO improve the water way which
nature has provided.
Must Remove Distractions
| The persons comprising the CONNER
| cial interests of this city have, within
/ the last two years, raised by subscrip-
ton over $4,000 for the purpose OF de
monstrsting the utility of Grand river.
| Two light draft boats are now running
daily between this city and tie Haven,
but are dong 50 under great q tiicnl-
ties, owing TO the Instructions IN the
| channel, which consist of numerous
| bars, caused principally by suuken
/ logs, treas ard bOulders. Many of
these are wlthIn the city limits. For
/ sanitary reasons. gwen by the board 81
4 health. your honorable body has or.
I dered toe old boat channel hlled Tins
will necessltGte toe opening 81 a new
/ channel west OF inc Island, and dredg-
ing a basll large enough 20 operate
/ the boats. We believe the city should
I undertake the ABOVE named improve.
/ ments without further delay. There
| tore, we respectfully petition that your
/ honorable body viii AZ once order tie
I purchase Of dredge, with grapfue
! appliances suitable 20 this work. arm
fn ina con, v5otfgu That the hnnpfss a. a