Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-08-07
CITY COUNCIL WILL COOPERATE
With THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
To Aid in Beautfying the Fair Grounds
Land Will BE Granted When it
is Needed.
Council Room, August 4, 1903.

Council Room, August 4, 1903.
Council met in regular session
Mayor Wheelan presiding. Aldermen
present, Lutz, Schuman, Metzger
Gross, Kruger, Pratt, Lubbock, Otto
Hill and Boles.
On motion reading the minutes oil
the previous meeting was dispensed
with.
Engineer Philleo reported on the
estimated cost of deepening the
quarter line ditch between Cranberry
street and the Sigel road as follows:
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council of the City of Grand Rapids
GENTLEMEN-In regard to the cost
of deepening the quarter line ditch,
which question was referred to me at
the last regular meeting of the coun-
Gil. / submit the following report:
The present ditch is doing all the
work which was intended it should
do.
The total fall from the Sigel road
to Cranberry street is fifteen feet, to
put the ditch on a uniform grade from
Cranberry street to the Sigel road,
would lower the grade of the
present ditch, where it runs through
Mr.. Browns land, an average depth OF
three feet, making the average depth
of the ditch through the Brown land
about five feet. The greater depth OF
ditch would be between Wisconsin
and West Hooker streets. The average
depth between these points would be
about eight feet. To get this depth
the right of way required would be at
least fourteen feet.
The amount of dirt required to be
moved would be 6200 yards which | esti.
mate would cost 1916. 40. BY lowering
the present ditch one foot at the
Sigel road and running to a point in
the present ditch about 1000 feet from
Cranberry street would give fall OF
nine feet between the two points,
would lower the present ditch between
these two points an average depth Of
two (2) feet, making about four foot
ditch through the Brown land. This
| estimate would cost about $3.50.
E. /. PHILLEO,
City Engineer.
On motion the same was received
and ordered placed on file.
The committee to whom was re-
ferred the petition asking the city tc
deed the balance of the fair grounds
to the board of education reported as
follows:
To the Common Council of the City OF
Grand Rapids:
Your committee to whom was
referred the petition asking the city
to deed to the school board that part
of the northeast quarter of the south
west quarter, section II, township %
range 6, known as the fair grounds
would call attention to the following
facts and report as follows:
The above described forty of lane
was paid for by the county and the
deed taken in the name of ''The WOO(
County Agricultural and Mechanical
Association" on March 9, 1880,
This consideration was paid by tht
county with the common understand
ing that the grounds should be uset
for the purposes of maintaining
county fair, but the county fairs dit
not prove, as a rule, a financial sue
cess, and portions of the grounds wer
sold from time to time to cove
deficits, and the association becam
SO much involved that it's remaining
land, consisting of about twenty-tiv
acres, was about to be sold at sheriff
sale in September, 1897, to satisf
certain judgments then outStandin
against that association. A shor
time prior to the day fixed for th
sheriff's sale, meeting of the stock
holders of the association was calle
and by majority vote it was agree
to sell to the city of Grand Rapids th
said twenty-five acres upon the cond
tion that the city should assume all {
the liabilities of the association, nc
exceeding, however, the sum {
100000, and should give back to th
association a lease for the use of sal
grounds for the purpose of holdin
county fairs for term of ten year
The land was purchased by the cit
for city park upon the condition
above named, and although it W;
conceded at the time of the purcna:
that it was not well located for Gil
park, it was agreed that it was be.
for the city to hold it as such unit
such times as it could sell and inve
the proceeds in park at some mo
desirable location.
Eight acres has already been deedt
to the school board for school pu
poses. The remaining seventet
acres, if plated, would make abo
seventy-tive lots that would s,
readily at $4,000 piece at retail. al
when sold, would create park ful
of about SIS. 100000. 1t is our opini
that the value of this city park W
not leSSened by the deciding of t
eight acres to the school board: th
the remaining seventeen acres wi
the Lincoln high school located Whe