Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-05-11
BEAUTIFUL SITE
FOR PUBLIC
LIBRARY

A. L. Fontaine, Editor Daily Re
porter.
Dear Mr.. Fontaine:--I have been
greatly interested in the various ar
| ticles which have appeared in the
columns of your paper, concerning
a better city. | want to say, that I
am in hearty sympathy with the idea
and wish to be known as a "boos-
ter" for this beautiful city on the
| Wisconsin river. The plan to make
our city attractive ought to appeal
to every property owner, as well as
to those of US who are renters. A
certain personal pride ought to in
spire every one in this matter. An
idea has come to me in regard to
one of the proposed improvements,
and with your permission I'd like to
mention it through your paper There
has been some talk about a new Pub
| lie Library, and several locations
have been mentioned, all OF which
have some things in their favor. In
going about the city this has been in
my mind, and l have a suggestion to
make The work of the Federation
deserves great credit and the mem
hers ought to be heartily supported
in their plans to make more beauti-
full that for which nature has done
so much The river front from the
bridge south is certainly very at
take pride in the same, and 1 pre-
sumo they do. The suggestion l have
to make is this, why not locate the
Library on the bank of the river at
the west end of the bridge? There
are several reasons why this seems
most ideal to me. 1t is centrally To-
Gated and accessible to all.
Every one crossing the bridge will
pass in front of the building. Strane
ers in the city, going from east to
west of the river will come in touch
with one of the most important pub
lie buildings we have. 1t will add to
the beauty of that side of the river
bank. With the beautiful new Con-
gregational church on the east side
and the Library on the west side,
we will then have two of the newest
and most attractive buildings where
all can point with pride to the eyl-
dences of our growth and prosperity.
With a fine lawn in front of the
building, trees and flower beds, and
a splendid view down the river, what
more ideal place for people to spend
leisure time. or to enjoy the quiet OF
the reading room Of the Library
pense of fitting the same is too a
considerable degree lessened because
of that which nature has done fo1
lit. There certainly could be no very
good objection raised by those whose
property fronts on First Avenue, fol
such a building as the people OF
Grand Rapids desire to see erected
for a Library will be an ornament III
every way This arrangement would
give us two important buildings il
close range, the Post Office at the
east end and the Library at the wes1
end of the bridge. With a new
bridge it will give our city a kind o.
cosmopolitan air. Most of the public
buildings are on the east side OF the
river and this arrangement would eve
matters a little, and l am sure tha
every one interested in our city ha:
as much pride il one side as in tht
other wish to thank you for tht
| opportunity to give the public N.
views on this subject, and I trus
that it may inspire some enthusiasm
in our people that will hasten tn
day when the Library will be an es
tablished fact.
Very sincerely,
FRANCIS A. PEASE.