Smyrna times., 1906-05-02
COUNCIL GRANTS CITIZENS
PUBLIC STREET SPRINKLER
RESULT OF A MONSTER PETITION SIGNED
BY A MAJORITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
Committee Appointed TO Purchase Sprinkler
and Put II ln Operation, To Be Done as
Soon as Possible. Council Meeting.

AS the result of strong petition,
signed by practically all the business
men and property owners of the town,
Council at its regular session Friday
evening granted the citizens of Smyrna
Public Sprinkler to be operated dur
ing the summer months to lay the dust
in the streets. The movement was
started last Monday and by Friday
noon nearly all the merchants and
prominent citizens of Smy1pa had
signed the petition. Accompanying
the petition was a strong resolItion
adopted and unanimously passed by
the Twentieth Century Club of Smyrna
endorsing the movement. 1t was the
strongest appeal that has been pre-
sented to our Town Council in a lopg
time Residents grew tired of having
their eyes and mouth filled with dust
every time they went out on the street
and it was for their comfort and health
that they encouraged the plan of having
the dust layed by water sprinkler
which should go systematically over
the town, the same that is done in Do
yer and Middletown.
Robinson and Hudson Fight for Petitioners.
After reading the petition and reso-
luton above referred to the matter
was placed squarely before the Coun-
Gil by Councilman Robinson who
moved that "Council purchase a street
sprinkler and operate it" This had a
prompt second from Councilman
Thornley,. ANlively debate followed.
There was not member of the Council
who did not favor a sprinkler but
Councilman Stockly, and Grieves and
President Reynolds were opposed to
rushing pell-mell into the matter with
out first ascertaining what shape the
town was in to bear the additional ex-
pense incurred and what the taking on
of the new project would cost. On the
other hand Councilmen Hudson,
Robinson, Thornley, and Wright con-
tended that they were petitioned by
the greatest preponderance of public
sentiment ever placed before them,
that the people had asked for it, had
even agreed to continue payment on
their pave wash that the town would
have no excuse for turning them down
for fear of a loss of revenue. They
cOntended that it was their duty to
grant the request and if a way was not
clear. it was their business to provide
a way for a sprinkler.
Councilman StOckly Wanted Matters Deferred
Councilman Stockly considered that
Council was perfectly at sea regarding
the matter aud offered an amendment
to Mr.. Robinson's motion that the
matter he placed in the hands of q
committee with the secretary as chair
man and that after they had thoroughly
investigated into the cost, to report q
the next regular meeting. There wa
no second to his motion. The debate
continued in earnest. Mr.. Grieves ad
vised the town to go slow, that the OF
Grating of a public sprinkler woul'
cost the town at least $500 not incIud
= ing the cost of the sprinkler. MI
Stockly contended the town was no
in financial condition to take on tn
new expense in the face of just pui
chasing new dynamo and the probi
bility of having to buy another ne
boiler within year. He did not thin
the tax rate could be increased for th
charter only allowed the town to rails
$4,000 year from its taxables aud thf
the limit was already reached. II
was opposed to raising the tax ratt
Hudson Scores Several Telling Points.
MIR. Hudson argued that Counc
should not defer the matter. If sprinl
Ter was to be purchased, it should |
purchased now; that the town could a
certain as much in intwenty-four hours @
they could in two weeks. He col
tended the Town was not so hard-u
that they could not take care of Il
sprinkler if the people wanted it, al
he cited the smallpox cases which co
upwards of $500 ana yet the expen
was taken care of. The citizens wa
it, the citizens have asked for
the citizens should have it. The
views were also endorsed by Messr
Robinson, Thornley, and Wright, M
Robinson producing a proposition
writing where one man offered to
the work for $1,000 week, fguril
the whole cost within 100000. N
Stockly still insisted that the To'
should not be needless in the matt
and offered to change his motion
having the committee to report in o
week at special meeting to be be
Friday night. Mr.. Wright, in ord
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.