Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-06-24
EAST SIDE
RIVER DRIVE
Paper Read by Mrs. Witter at
the June Federation Meeting.

oPCi nC0u " WI o. VltlCi al
the June Federation Meeting.
Ever since the agitation for making
a more beautiful Grand Rapids was
begun the possibility of a road on
the East Side of the river has been
one of the main features which has
entered into the scheme.
No doubt everyone here is fam
iliar with the beauties of the West
Side drive down the river and if we
have given the matter any thought at
all it is to wish that the road might
run more closely to the waters edge
and that some day the old road
along the river bank from the Lyons
property down to the South Side mill
might be restored
But | wonder how many of those
present know of the bewitching
vistas opening up along the river
below the city on the East Side.
l myself was only initiated to the
of the South Side dam by an en-
thusiastic friend who rowed me in
her own dainty bark through this
fairy land one lovely day last
summer. We disbarked at the foot
of Bulls eye bluff and Toasted our
eyes on the magnificent views from
itS summit opd pofb;pp o,,+ e;do "a
the grandeur of mountain scenery
that 1 have ever seen was more
lovely.
And then the broad beauty of the
river farther down between Port Ed
wards and Nekoosa--of al pictures
que scenes of pastoral loneliness this
is one of the gems. Where one might
wish to spend his days in peaceful
rest, where
'The birch trees weep in fragrant
balm
The aspens sleep beneath the calm
The silver light with quivering glance
Plays on the waters still expanse."
Few, believe, of the Grand Rap
ids people are acquainted with the
beauties of this side of the river
from the fact that the road to Ne
koosa lies so far to the east that
one only catches glimpse of the
river here and there.
Now why not open up a road all
along the river as far as possible
and thus give the public chance
to see what nature can really do and
has done in our very midst towards
making a veritable wonderland of
beauty.
| Ours for the asking All we need
to do is to concentrate our energies
to this end and in short time this
wonderful addition to the beauties of
our town will be ours.
Now the practical side of the ques-
ton. To begin with we have at the
end of High street an ugly bend
where the main road makes a triangle
on to Mr.. Vaughn's property. What
would be done with this obstacle,
remains to be seen. 1t might be
feasible to build a stone arch under
the N. w. bridge, or some other way
may be found to do away with this
disagreeable feature. Beyond the
bridge we have interviewed the prop
erty owners and find that in nearly
every case they are willing to give
the road way if relieved of the ex-
pense of putting it in and keeping it
UP and on condition that there shall
be rules for the protection of their
property. For defraying expenses
possibly a toll system might be ar
ranged and perhaps the county or
sary. Several small bridges would
have to be built, one just south of
the Evans property, one at Four
Mile creek and one at Five Mile.
Then the problem of Bulls eye bluff
presents itself. Clearly it would be
easier for horses and automobiles to
go around the bluff, thus avoiding
the steep ascent. But as this is a
crusade of beauty, let us thitch our
chariot to the stars and go straight
over the mount, and I am sure the
gorgeous outlook will repay every eff
fort in getting there.
These however are problems batter
left to the engineer who lays out the
}, road The practical thing for US to
do is to bend our energies towards
pursuading the property OWE ers along
the river to request a road be opeTed
!, Such a request or petition might
. be sent to the chairman Of the
town boards Of Grand RAPIDS and
J Saratoga The town boards are then