Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-17
WILLING 10 AID Ii
The Board of Aldermen and
City Officials
FAVOR RIVER NAVIGATION
And VIII Do All IN Their Power 10 As
sist Il - Yesterdays Inspection
Of Grand River.

the party tnAt went down the river 10
Grand Haven yesterday on the ex-
eurson rendered by the Grand river
Improvement committee OF the board
OF trade 70 the common council, city
ofiielsls. members II the press and
other invited guests on the river steam
er Valley City. The day Was ali that
could be desired for the occasion, and
the trip was one of the pleasantest
ever made down the river. The fol-
loving city officials aud their wives
were among the company;
Guests of the Hoard
Mayor stuart. City Attorney Taylor.
Marshall Bragg. Aldermen Gezon, Frost,
Campbell, Ieachont, Kinney. saunders,
Mahoney. Anderson, Emmer, Hause r,
Turner, DeGraaf, Dregge. Stem. Gil
den; Supervisors Benjamin and Scher-
merhorn. John ). ICurts and George +.
Richardson.
Besides the city officials " ere the fol-
lowing members of the Grand river
improvement COMMITTEES OF the LOard
Of trade: Chairman G. II. Sigh, NJ. ).
Crosby, II. u. {. Van Asmus, Thomas
iIetferOn, John Covode, c. w. Coli,
John WlddicOmb, Gen. |. c. Smith,
samuel Lemon and o.. w. Perkins.
The steamer started from the dock at
5 am. and while going from the dock to
Lamont the river improvement commit
tee availed itself of the opportunity to
show the aldermen the condition Of the
river and point out the instructions to
navigation and to suggest remedies to
alleviate the trouble.
Lunch was Served
The principal distractions 10 naviga-
ton are encountered between this city
and Lamont, and there being nothing
else of importance to impress upon the
minds of the visitors after having
passed that point, the guests were in
vlted TO lunch. The lunch was served
by Warren SHETLAND and four assist
ants, who had been engaged for the
occasion. Hot coffee was also served.
This part of the exercises consumed
about an hour, after which a meeting
WAS held on the deck for an expression
from those present concerning
the advlsablllty and feasibility OF
of making al effort TO facilitate navi-
CATION by improving the river. and the
manner IN which such thing could be
made possible.
Mayor Stuart Presided.
The meeting was presided over 10y
Mayor Stuart who called uDon Charles
X. Sigh to state the purposes of the
meeting and the objects of the board
of trade. Mr.. Sigh reported the efforts
made by the board of trade and the
citizens interested IN the matter toward
getting an appropriation from congress
for the improvement! OF the river, and
the present condition Of the mat
ter was fully explained. What the
committee now asks IS that
the common council shall appro-
pirate a sufficient amount TO pro-
cure a dredge and graphing hooks with
winch to deepen the river channel, and
to get apparatus for removing the
large boulders from the river bed.
This apparatus can be purchased for
about s. 900. After the city has done
this work within the city limits Mr..
Sigh suggested that the apparatus be
rented to parties at nominal sum per
day TO be used IN extending the I'M
provement down the river. He recon-
liltlutl liab All tlOtb Dt tllduC W lih =
the city charter amended by the COM
ing legislature, giving the city the right
TO bond itself for 100000 for the pur-
pose Of improving the river.
spoke in Favor of 1t.
Mayor Stuart spoke IN favor of the
project and assured the committee that
1t met with his hearty approval. The
mayor declared that If such an appro-
| prlatlon should he made he would not
| veto 1t. All of the aldermen present,
save two or three, spoke IN favor OF the
| Appropriation and were enthusiastic
over the prospects for making the river
navIgable stream. The aldermen
| who did not express themselves quite
so openly gave the committee to un-
derstand that they would do nothing
| to oppose that which would result III a
benefit to the city. George f. Rich
ardson, peoples party candidate
! for representative IN congress,
was in the party and made q speech,
in which he assured the board of trade
| that he was Sangulne IN his belief that
the river could be improved with good
| results TO the interests OF commerce.
| tie was emphatic IN his approval OF
/ tho undertaking. lie assured his hear
! ers THAI If ne should be elected to con-
| gress ne would do all he could to get
/ an Appropriation for the improvement
/ of the water way.
Other speeches.
/ The Hon. NJ. :. Crosby. :. NJ. Lemon,
/ John Widdicomh. John Covode, &. W.
( Colt and John l.. Curtiss also spoke IN
/ favor of the Improvement and promised
! their influence and support toward
+ bringing the undertaking 70 a success
+ full issue. The party was me. = short
{ distance this eide of Grand Haven by
+ the steam ting Spute. OF which were
+ ex-senator Thomas W Ferry, George
/ ". Mcbride, Thomas Parish. Mayor
/ KIRBY. and others. The aldermen and
city officials were taken aboard tho
/ SpTite and carried down 10 the mouth
T OF the ryer. where the condition II
I tho harb AMI the piers was carefully
exam ned. TIE piers were IN lt bv the
+ government at 81 expense II 100000.
! De harb0r AZ tbs point - considered
+ 90 be the widest and most convenient
I II any hsri.0r on Lake Michigan. he
party returned TO Grand Haven ans
we're taken 10 the Gutter house. where
saosher meeting was held At winch
Mayor Stuart ags'n pres .dfd.
Mayor Hirhy's oGer.
Speeches were made touching thg
/ subject under consideration bY ths
I BIZ tae course OF his remarks usle a.
of O. drodre The river for $50 COO
T making = channel containing siEteer