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


near your city assure permanent in
dustries. Add to this railroad trans
fer, more electric car lines to out
lying towns, as well as such a state
scenic highway as is proposed, also
the increasing prosperity Of the
farming region, the attractive resi-
dental conditions now existing and
in prospect, the town should have
more than a normal growth and be
very attractive to persons of means
who wish to settle down for perma-
nent homes.
The Wisconsin River.
This river is so important to the
general welfare that. the public should
forever have the right of access to
its shores and waters, but in such a
way as lot to interfere with the de-
yeIopment of industries or commercial
enterprises that are dependent upon it
for their success. The value OF lands
held to protect fIowage rights is not
impaired by the use of its shores for
waterside roads and paths, or for
camping, or its waters for boating and
skating, or other forms of recreation
when under the proper supervision.
While the natural beauty Of rapids or
falls is destroyed by dams, they create
q large body of still water with a
beauty of its own better fitted for
the recreation uses of large numbers
Of people than were the original con-
ditions. Even dams themselves may
have features Of beauty quite as in:
teresting and attractive in their way
as the original falls were.
Grand Rapids has acquired between
one to two miles of the shore and
three large islands, a splendid &C
c0mpIishment that is a long step to-
ward the completion of this plan. Fur
thermOre the town has improved this
shore. The accompanying plan in
so far as it relates to these shores,
only represents a continuation Of
these same shore reservations with a
broadening at Bulls Eye, where there
is a particularly fine outlook from the
highest point along shore, and inter
ior reservations and Fairgrounds in
order that all the people of the town
may have equal recreationaI and re
sidantiaI opportunities.
Home makers are rapidly coming
to recognize the value of the river
front, with its outlook, it's boating,
and its unlimited supply of water for
lawns and gardens, for new houses
are finding their place here and old
homes that backed to the river view
are establishing entrances, gardens,
and outlook apartments on the river
side.
The industrial interests as repre-
scented by the Consolidated Paper
Company have taken a notably ad-
vanced stand with reference to the
Improvement of their lands and a
generous one in giving the public
free access thereto.
The commercial interests as repre-
scented by property owners on First
street have not yet recognized the
values represented in their river
frontage where attractive outlook and
cool braezes would represent a finan-
cfaI return to the individual and to
the city if united action is taken
to fix a uniform bulkhead line and
establish thereon an attractive prom,
enade, to be owned by the city, and
store frOntages. A sketch is with
the plan suggesting on overhanging
promenade. Under this floats for
boats could be established, which
could be drawn up with the boats
on cement inclines through the re-
tanning walls to floor levels at the
top above high water. When the
Centraia P. and W. P Co.'S dam
below the city is increased in height
to make still water in this lower
basin, it will be greatly used for
recreation and water ,fetes, and the
promenade and the balconies of build
ings established upon it will be /
deal outlook points from which to en-
JOY these water spectacIes.
So many town water frontages are
greatly shut in and disfigured by IN
attractive private boat houses of vari
Gus sizes, that Grand Rapids, not
having an established precedent,
should exclude these from its river
front except at places and in the
manner designated by the city auth
GRITTY. Owners may find opposite
their property moorings for boats
over which canvas covers can be
tied for protection when necessary
and which may give an opportunity
for attractive bits Of color along
shore.
Many shore owners to pump water
for lawns have engines in small box
like structures which need not be
Objectionable if not increased in size.
These, however, will probably be a
bandoned when the city water supply
is adequate.
The City's Plan and It's Terminals.
The first village roads followed
the river banks with short right
angle IateraIs and a few out country
highways passing on direct radial
lines rom the village to other vii
lagos as the railroads also pass. As
the villages grew the newer roads
were made to follow or parallel the
section lines which ran for the most
part at an angle of Is degrees with
the original lateral roads. This ar
rangement of roads gives the city
one Of its greatest plan distinctions,
for road angles give street terminals
and terminal opportunities that are
impracticable in the rectilinear street
system unless the line Of travel is
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