Smyrna times., 1907-01-16
TOWN COUNCIL DECIDES TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC STREETS
STREET COMMITTEE, JAMES c. ROBINSON
CHAIRMAN, AUTHORIZED TO GO AHEAD.

Oyster Shells VIII Be Used Except On Com
merce Street Between -Four Corners" and
Delaware St. Where Stone Will Be Used
The meeting of the Smyrna Town
Council last Friday night was given
over largely to the discussion of streets.
After a lively debate Chairman James
@. Robinson, of the Street Committee,
was given full authority to go ahead
with street Improvement and to pur-
chase the necessary shells aud stone
At first it is expected that about 5000
or 6, 900 bushels of oyster shells will be
purchased and that later Commerce
street from the -Four Corners to Dsla-
ware street will be scraped off and
covered with thick coating of fine
crushed stone. The discussion on
streets was brought about by a general
complaint on the part of the citizens of
Smyrna who thought that the Street
Committee was derelict in their duty
in allowing them to be so rough and
muddy. Mr.. Robinson, who has been
present at but few sessions of the
| Council the past year, rose in defense
of the streets and said that they were
never in better condition than they are
today. He referred to the time just
| previous to his becoming member of
the Council, about fifteen years ago,
when M ain and Commerce streets were
so heavy and muddy that wheels sank
nearly to the hub of vehicles. He ad-
mitted that in some places at the pre-
sent time there were rough places and
said he was willing to give the streets
thorough overhauling if Council
would only give something to do it
with. The committee, he said, were
entirely out of shells and stone, and
had no material with which to work
with. The question was then raised
as to methods employed to shell streets
and there was lively debate between
Mr.. Grieves and Mr.. Robinson, the
former declaring that the mud should
be scraped off and that the roadbed OF
holes should be picked before throw.
ing the oyster shells on. Mr.. Robin.
son contended that it was right to mix
the shells with the mud but said if the
matter was left to him he intended
going with the Street Supervisor and
seeing that the shells were put on
much thicker than they have beer
done in the past. 1t was unanimously
agreed, however, that the mud should
be scraped off, the stone ballast OIL
Commerce street fir ON the "Four Cor
ners" to Delaware street, aud that 6
, coating of fine crushed stone should bt
laid on. The one thing that handi
caps the Council in the matter of stree
improvements is money, but notwith
standing this Chairman Robinson wa
given authority to go ahead as to hi
best judgement.
: Council Offers Reward OF Fifty Dollars.
The frequent hold-ups and annoy
ances to women pedestrians on ou
streets was discussed seriously b,
Council. 1t was thought nothin,
could be attained by increasing the pc
lice force for this particular case, s.
= upou motion of James 9. Robinson
was authorized that Council offer a re
, ward of $4,000 ''for information lead
ing to the arrest and conviction of an
person or persons found guilty of in
= sulting and annoying ladies on tn
public streets of Smyrna" Ever
!. member of the Council seemed willin
: to do anything to punish the guilt
y parties, and it is thought that thi
, reward will solve the question bette
, than anything else at the present time
Owing to the fact that Council held n
= meeting two weeks ago bills to th
amount of 81, ,402.07 had accumulate
~ which were allowed on Friday nigh
= Mayor Crows report for Decembt
amounted to $7.56.
a Smyrna at Municipal Convention.
y Samuel j. Reynolds, president an
IN Harry B. Greives, secretary, were al
r pointed by the Town Council to repr,
8 sent Smyrna at the State Municip
of Convention to be held in Wilmingto
'e tomorrow and Friday, Jan. 18th an
20 18th. Clayton will be represented b
le r. Y. Wallen president and Abel Sev
secretary of Clayton Town Council.
to SMYRNA RIVER RECEIVES RECOGNITION