Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-02
BEST In THE LAND
VERY HIGHLY c0MPLIMENIED
By the Most Eminent Authority on the
Ssejeet--Ihe Street. Railway Review
Prints Fine Article.

The current Street Rallwsy Review.
published in Chicago, contains the fol-
losing article On Grand Rapids:
This brilliant city OF western Michi-
gan, rejoicing Is Il does in the beauty
OF its location, the intelligence OF its
people, the magnitude Of its mapufae-
turss. and lie political significance.
looks cut from between the protecting
bluns OF the Grand river, the Longest
stream IN the state. Here. forty miles
from the great lake. are gathered So
oOo people, who have raised on both
sioes OF the stream this progressive
Town, and named il in honor OF the
water power which 10 il life. The
stream At this point Is 900 feet wide.
running over fall of twenty feet to
the mile Of rocky bed. and although
furnishing, as above limited. IN I'M
mensc water power, is also navigable TO
this point by steamboats,. In point OF
population the city 10 second TO Detroit
and, politically, the county seat Of
Kent county. Organized ia 1888. and ia
point OF age Incorporated ia 1850.
Our Msnufacturisg Interests.
AS to its manufacturing interests,
Grand Rapids possesses unlimited facil.
ltles, aud utllizes them IN the produc-
ton OF fine furniture, carriages, rough
and nniahed lumber, tanned hides.
plaster, barrels, hubs, farming imple-
meun, mill machinery and oil the
varied articles appertaining to the COM
pieion OF these products. Although
possessing q canal on either side of the
river. which furnishes some of the
power required, and the rapids in adj
diton, one-half the power used issteam.
Besides these natural advantages, the
system OF public instruction has neces-
STATED public school buildings, fine
public library and the Kent Scientific
institute. The court house and govern
ment buildings are an honor TO the
city, both as regards material and
style Of architecture. The rapid tran.
sit facilities Of such city should be in
proportion to the enterprise of the pop.
ulsce. And in truth theyare. In rapid
transit Grand Rapids compsniea
have placed little snort Of So, 000, 900 in
horse lines, cables and electric traction.
Reign of the aule Broker.
The first horne road dates back to
1870. in the good old "hose" days.
For eighteen yeara the faithful mule
made regular trips and furnished the
material for the kicker's sarcasm. The
reign of the mule Was interrupted in
the year 1883 by the beginning of the
construction Of the cable line of the
Valley City Street q Cable Railway
company, which organization laid sew,
eral miles Of single track, with turn.
outs at intervals, 90 arranged that the
car would take the switch automat I.
ically, and without lessening speed
In 1890 the cable line was extended al
q heavy outlay. The route, however
was full Of curves, some of Q very
small radius. and the result was the
rope was short lived. Except ut the
double track at tuYnouts, the OUTGOING
and returning rope were in the same
channel, but carried upon individual
pullsys. The venture was most un,
fortunate one, and occasional . heavy
loss, which was sustained by the Valley
City Street & Cable Railway company
now merged into the consolidated sys
tenn.
Cousolidstion Of Roads.
This consolidation was effected BY
the union Of the Street Railway com
pany of Grand Rapids and the VALLEY
City Street & Cable Railway company
The new company had its inception ir
charter granted to the Valley Cit,
company, April, IS. '9l, and accepted
last May. On accepting the charter
the Valley City company absorbed thu
Grand Rapids company. Despite i'll
failure financially the cable road did
good service in building up ontlyins
districts, advanced the values of rea
estate and made many holders of prop
erty rich. 1t WAS another illustration
however, of the folly of trying e
adapt cable construction TO condition.
for which 1t was never adapted
After the fact was demon
strated that q cable system wa.
not suited to this particular evirou
ment, the Consolidated company with
out delay made preparation for thu
overhead electric system. The cabl,
line was eleven miles in length and I'M,
mediately wired. while additions were
made with the utmost dispatch TO give
the other portions OF the city stree
transportation. The other lines wer,
rushed through until today the presen
| mileage IL 39.7 miles. During the com
ing year new lines win he put through
to The extent of II miles of new track
The greater number Of Grand Rap
ids streets are paved with stone ane
wood blocks, making with the care
fully laid track . solid. serviceabi,
roadbed, while tho fact that the 6e}
pound and 70-pouVt raii is made b,
the johnson Co., 10 sufficient guarantee
OF its excellence. The steepest grade
are, one, per cent for 5000 feet, anc
one 81 per cent for 400 feet.
| The Power Plant.
As Q legacy from the cable plant
the electric station ipherits Hamilto,
Corliss aud Wheelock engine, agereea
ting 1900 horse power, and two boiler
of the Babcock. Wilcox make. one
marine. This power 10 al suf5iciens
as 900 horse power IL the maximum
and about half that the usual exerticu
The power house rope drives Arc o
interest TO every mechanic. The diam
eter Of the large drum 10 twenty feet
making sixty revolutions per minute
The small pulley 10 Ave feet IN Diane
ter. and the rope used 10 manilla
These are driven BY the Hamilton en-
gines. 24tso inches.
The wheeiock engines, 24x4e inches
drive cotton rope. the drum owe
which IL runs being fifteen feet in diam
eter, going at . spes1 Of eighty revolu
tious. and the small pulley 10 FIVE fee,
The new power hoose 10 ssx2i3 fee
and we'll fitted 10 discharge IT, neces
sary functions. The ear barns are ser
arste, Eve IN number, with . fetal "a
paci'y OF rs cars The largest harm j
5ox2se feet.