Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1918-05-02
Many Important Changes are
Being Made at Present
Time in City.
COST IS WELL
OVER sl25,oO0.o0
Alma Planning for the Larger City
Which Past Growth Makes
Certain.

Municipal improvements are COM
ing rapidly in the city of Alma, which
because Of its growth, has outgrown
its former system OF water mains.
sewers and streets, because of the de-
mands which have been made upon
one and all of them.
1t seems but only a day since
Alma was quiet little country viii
lage, with its wooden water mains,
its sewers down just a few of the
more principal streets Of the village,
and which did not know what paved
streets were.
How different today, when the city
is stretching forth on every hand, and
the council and mayor Of the city are
forced to extend themselves to find
ways and means Of meeting the
great demands which are coming for
water mains, sewers. for paving and
for street lights, when changes come,
seemingly almost over night.
When Alma started on her rapid
growth five years ago, she had few
short blocks of paving on the main
street of the city. With her growth
the demand for paved streets grew
| and paving was extended north and
south on Superior and Michigan.
south on State street, east on Su-
perior street and Michigan avenue
to the Republic Motor Truck plant.
and was also extended north on
Wright avenue for a block.
Last year more paving was laid,
jobs which were held up by winter
are being completed this spring.
Michigan avenue has been paved far
east of the Republic plant, Bridge av-
cnue has been paved, and now West
! Superior is being paved west to the
college hill, and East Superior street
is being paved east from Grover av-
enue to plant three of the Republic.
More paving is bound TO come. The
heavy demands upon the streets Of
Alma make this foregone conelu-
/
need of paving and it cannot be more
than matter of few months be.
fore more municipal progressivesness
in this respect will be shown.
The heavy bond issue of last year
! provided money with which to ex-
tend sewers to all parts OF the city.
at cost OF nearl fifty thousand dol-
lars. The increased growth of the
past year the opening Of new streets
new subdivisions and the construc-
tion of new houses, importations
where sewers had not been planned.
still makes the sewer system short OF
the ideal This is one Of Alma's new
cr-ending municipal improving prob
lens. Sanitation is It's governing
rule, and the city heads are abiding
closely by it, in supplying sewers
where they are needed.
Alma's water system is as good as
the avertge for a city OF It's size. but
still Alma strives for something bet
ter and indications are that Alma will
continue to strive until she gives to
her people the very best water which
can be obtained, water that is pure
and wholesome, and in good quantity.
She plans to do this by the sinking of
large wells, and pumping the water.
AS further means of giving Alma
a complete water system the water
mains Of the city are being extended
to all sections within the corporate
limits, where it is felt that there is
need Of water. The water is a.
present drawn from Pine river. hy
use OF the pumping station of the
Alma Grain e. Lumber company,
which is being operated by the city.
through a lease executed few
months ago. There is but little ques-
tion, but what, sooner or later, Alma
will own her pumping station
Alma boasts of a fine system of
boulevard lights, which extend from
the railroad on the west on Superior
street, east to the river. and north
from the railroads on State street To
Downey street. Large carbon arcs
furnish the light in other sections of
Alma.
Alma has a city hall, which few
years ago, was considered a most
splendid one for the city, but the !
growth of Alma, has been such that
the municipal building OF the city
is rapidly becoming too small for the
demands which are made upon 1t, ani !
Continued on page three)