Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-10-26


from the northwest and southeast
segments of the town, thus saving
time and giving pleasure to all citi-
zans. Values thus added to pres
ent low cost land will justify owners
in giving the land required for the
roads and reservations, and the city
in expending the necessary amounts
for drainage and construction with
in them.
To make the connections to the
Riverside road from this reservation,
the upper bluff top road is carried
over the n. W. R. R. tracks at a
railroad cut, and the bluff bottom
road is carried under the railroad a.
long the stream where there is an
open railroad trestIe. Connection is
made with the river shore drive thru
the proposed park on either side
of the railroad right of way to the
point where this river drive is car
ried under the railroad at the edge
Of the shore at the bridge abutment.
These divided crossings will make
it practicable to do away with the
present grade crossing.
At the proposed 500 line, extension
roads are also carried along the side
Of the right of way to the river side
drive where it is hoped that a sep
aration of grades may also be made.
| The reservation roads proper where
they cross the 500 line extension are
borught together at the base of the
bluff north of the Irving school, in
order that they may be carried IN
| der the tracks readily, then beyond
the proposed right of way a road is
| brought together at the base of the
fortunate that such favorable oppor-
tunities exist for separating grades
here, and it is to the advantage of
both city and railroad that they be
worked out.
A similar opportunity to seperate
grades and do away with an existing
grade crossing is indicated along
shore under the North Western Rail
| road bridge on the westerly side. It
is true that there may be short pc
RODS of extremely high watert when
| these shore roads will not be usa-
BILE, but the drive to over track roads
above high water is not far.
To provide for direct road lines
| through the town, the roads along
railroad right of ways already referr-
ed to are made. Other roads are
indicated to reach outlying segments
having no direct approach to the
city. | have also indicated the sub
division of the open land in district
No. and the broadening of Oak
street which seems to me quite as
important as the broadening of Vine
street which will be the continuation
of Grand avenue over the bridge; al
SO several minor notifications te
secure >directness and safety, such
as the cut off at the corner Of Fifth
street at the school grounds, and the
making Of a small triangular park
next to lots and 6, the continual
ton of Ninth street through to Frank
lin street to give an adequate street
connection here, also the continual
ton of Fourth street to Saratoga to
take the place of a narrow passage
and to do away with an old barn
that is not an attractive terminus to
North street as one looks through it
to the northeast.
Bridges.
The present river bridge when re
placed ought to be of concrete be-
cause of it's beauty, it's permanence,
and it low maintenance cost. Con
slider in this connection the beauty
of the bridge to Belle Isle.
Future bridges must also be cOnsid
cred, and l have indicated one to
follow parallel to the North Western
Railroad bridge, and another paral-
lei to the proposed 500 line bridge.
It should be possible for the city to
secure cooperative action with this
railroad so that abutment piers may
be built that will be sufficient for
both the tracks and the highway. The
next bridge required by the growth
of the town obviously should be a.
bove the Consolidated dam
Streets.
Many residential streets that are
not main thoroughfares are much
too wide for convenience, economy,
or beauty. Such rich towns as Brook
line, Mass, Lake Forest, H., and the
State Highway Commissions of Mas
sachusettes, Connecticut, New Jersety,
and other states, make the paved or
earth ways only wide enough to meet
the actual requirements of traffic.
The state highways are only made
Is to 10 feet with turf outside upon
which teams can turn out in emer-
gencies. There are few streets in
Grand Rapids where a greater width
than this is necessary outside of those
streets that are much used for bu-
siness.
Fairgrounds.
For Fairgrounds on the easterly
side 1 do not recommend large TAX
ings since there will be playground
opportunities at intervals in the cross
town reservation 1 have outlined. The
city also has a large amount Of land
about the Witter Normal Training
school and the High school, as well
as large lots about other schools and
some suitable land near the Court
House and at the civic center. ]
would, however, recommend that the
city set aside for Fairgrounds some
streets that run between blocks where
the sides of the lots are along the |
street. because the streets running |
in front of the lots are sufficient to |
oil cT1d I