Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-03-03
FORUM SESSION
HELD INTEREST
Chamber of Commerce Meeting
Drew Out Many Members
Tuesday Night.
GOOD ADDRESSES WERE GIVEN
William T.. Reynolds, w. A. Bahlke
and Joseph Winslow We're
the Speakers.

The second monthly forum meet
ing of the Alma Chamber of Com
merce was held Tuesday evening at
the |. o. o. F. hall and proved to be
an enjoyable as well as instructive
affair for the members.
Nearly 175 members attended the
forum meeting and nearly 80 others
were turned away, because Of the
lack Of room.
Following the luncheon at 6:15,
with Charles II. Goggin, acting as
toastmaster, short addresses were
given by William l.. Reynolds, city
manager; William A. Bahlke, and
Joseph Winslow.
Mr.. Reynolds was called upon to
speak on the subject, "City Paving
and Road Work in 1921"
He called attention TO the fact that
petitions were in for the paving Of
Pine avenue, Woodwork avenue, part
Of Downey, Prospect south from Su-
perior to the railroad, and Park from
Superior south to the railroad, and
the expectation that a petition would
be submitted very soon for the paw
ing of Gratiot avenue, making in all
about two miles of paving that Alma
residents desire this year.
He called attention to the differ
ence in cost of pavement 20 and 30
feet in width, and especially the cost
# the street intersections to the city,
showing that the amount of paving
that the city could do in one year
vas somewhat limited because of the
fact that funds for this purpose
would be limited TO some extent. He
called attention TO the desirability
because Of this and because of the
cost to property owner Of the 20
'oot pavement, without curb, which
,ould easily be widened at later
date by the addition Of five feet and
cuIb on each side of the street. lie
also called attention to the fact that
he 20 foot pavement was desirable
because Of the fact that some vacant
lots passed which it would be neces-
sary to pave were not given a valua-
ton high enough so that the cost Of
the paving could all be collected. The
amount that can be assessed for this
purpose is only twenty-five per cent
Of the total valuation.
He also spoke of the difficulty Of
improving all of the outlying streets
at once. He called attention to the
'act that where in 1916 Alma had
only 20 miles of streets she now has
- miles of streets TO keep up, and
that because of this growth which
made unusual demands on the city,
his work can only be done a little at
4 time as money is available, and in
1ther cases where valuations are suf-
ficient TO allow collection in full Of
special tax for such Improvement as
is made.
William A. Bahlke was called upon
to speak of Alma's Immediate Needs.
First Of Alma's needs he said was
he re-opening of the Republic, which
could only come as the re-adjustment
,omes in the period of deflation. At
that he said, Alma is more fortunate
than many places.
He spoke Of the need of highways,
especially highway west to the
county line, connecting with the
trunk line to Grand Rapids. through
Stanton, in order that Alma mer-
chants. who in the past few years
have been looking to the Republic,
might again turn their attention to
a greater extent to the farmers in
this rich agricultural section of
Michigan.
Another need he mentioned was
paving, discussed by Mr.. Reynolds,
Continued on page FOUR