Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-18

Something Abou; the Condition OF the
River and It's Trafic.


IL was long ago conceded that per-
maaent Improvement of Grand river
aoovs this city was impractIcsble-
that IS, the cost OF deepening and wld
eniag the channel would be- out of al
proportion TO the benefits to be derived
therefrOm. The building OF railroads
that peuetrats the county 10 the north
ard east has oaly confirmed tina. opin-
ION; so that n so far a. navigation for
commercial purposes - concerned only
snat portion OF the stream extending
from tne rapids 10 Lake Michigan IS
worthy OF attention. That srcn I'M
pr0vement OF the river as will render
u navlg2biu Tor lake craft IS not Only
desirable, but OF vital Importance 10
the trade OF Grand Rapids and great
. portion OF the lower peninsula Is, We
think, amply shown by the statistics OF
shipments OF manufactures presented
N this .ssGe OF The HERALD.
Bakers history Of the city Of Grand
Rapids SAYS: 'tlne state, in 1888, made
al appropr alton for the Improvement
OF certain nsvsgable streams, $4,000
OF which was 10 be applied for improv-
ing the harbor At Grand Rapids, for
clearing the channel at the foot
logs from the stream above as far rs
Iyon street A considerable
part OF It was used in the removal OF a
large accumulation of boulders from
tins channel near the head of the
islands no longer IN existence) above
where now "a Pearl street bridge. The
channel from Grand Haven to- the
foot OF the rapids has always been
navIgable during the open season, ex-
eept at times of very low water, for
bats of not over thirty inches draught.
Most OF the improvement IN
the navigable channel, aside from the
appropriation just mentioned, has been
made by private enterprise, the
only additional state aid being
an appropriation. IN 1871. OF
5000 acres OF land TO construct a
canal and locks around the rapids at
Grand Rapids"-a work that resulted
only IN the construction of q nImsy
log, brush aud loose stone dam, small
basin, a narrow canal suitable for mill
race purposes, anu alleged locks. the
contractor abandoning the Job IN the
spring of 1850. What remained of the
appropriation 1900 acres of land) was
exhausted Ia the construction of T. mid
river log raft channel.
Daring lo44-45 the state appropriated
81. 65S for Grand and Maple rivers.
Baxter says: "Qulte liberal approprla-
tions have been msde by congress in
later years for the improvement OF
Grand river below the rapids and the
harbOr 81 Grand Haven. the amount
gwen the latter place from 1852 20
1888 footing up S57S.75l, chiefly
for pier building, pile revesment, dredg-
Ing and repairs. For the river appro-
prisuons. aggIegating $4,000. have
been made between 1851 and 1883 and
expended IN great part for surveys,
though some dredging has been done.
November 3, 1870, II. ID. {. Van As
mus, secretary Of the Grand Rapids
board of trade, addressed. on behalf Of
that body, letter TO Major William
Ludlow. United states engineer corps,
a reply 70 a letter OF inquiry for data
relsting to the improvement OF the
rver, IN which the secretary set forth
briefly the following facts:
/. The population OF the city, about
10000 AZ thai time, including the en-
virons.
2. The number OF manufacturing e.
tabilshments--9i9--w total tnnuaI
product valued AZ SIS So. 46S, OF which
s5.7Uo. 000 was in furniture alone.
.. The extent of tue territory covered
by trsnd Rapids nianufscturers-tho
Whole United states aud some foreign
countries.
4. The increase of railway freight
rates, especially 10 the west, under the
Iutsr state commerce law. and iulur-
ious competition with rivals situated
o. the axes and navi2sb,e rivers.
lie adds herss "ltcn Industries. need
i.ix cheap water transportation at least
for :heir raw material. have passed "a
~ srd located 1t lake p0rts. Hard
wood lumber. X Which We az present
uss = 900 800 feet annually, becomes
each yssr more difficult Of access By
railroad. ard tie fine oak llmbeF lands
IN Northern Mich gSn are Invaded by
manufacturers from cites on ths 0ppo-
site shore of Lake Michigan. wh.lC We
for want Oh water communication. are
poweriess 70 claim our share Of this
wealth.
5. TIE jobong trade, in which about
$4,000 eco a invested. feels the need Of
water transportation 20 meet favored
competitors. Ns need more job
hug houses. aud The capital il
really, provided It esn zes wares
from eastern ANT foreign markets By
a. al.-water route Grand Rapids = j.
port OF entry anil sc sport direct.
-
are growing - sl0wa ~ the combined
tounaxa Of the railroads aud one srialt
river steamer 81 ,lle SD "a fr lss4
against 6Se 600 toes Tor 1883. the pas
senzer traffic amounting 90 co. SO PER
sons tota wsys fer 1850.
1ha fature af our city vlli depend
largely Hpon such uprovemsnt ot our
RIVER ~ vii EsFalt axe vessels 90 load
and dischafge freight 50 cur port.
Eregy 5us ness nan of the city II awe
to lhal project. Tie counties e IT,
tswa aa1 Kent. tnroagn their repre-
~rtaiives. save rdcrssd tnis scheme
~ snstsbia resolutions presented to
ccnsress. Rapidly growing Northern
aud Western Mich gan and toe
uauar penirsuis aFe Depending
iron Grsaa Eapids tor a
market. ar thesr newspapers
have seconded eng etForss % tn&t
sIset. ne iebbiag Interest," with but