Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1909-03-17
COUNCIL DISCUSSES PLAN
OF BRICNNG MAIN STREET
AUTHORIZES MESSRS. ROBINSON
AND ROBERTS TO INVESTIGATE
Committee Will Visit Milford and Sal
isbury and Ascertain Something
About Vitrified Brick and Cost

Committee Will Visit Milford and Sal 4
isbury and Ascertain Something =
About Vitrified Brick and Cost 3
At the regular meeting of the
Smyrna Town Council Friday even l
ing, Harry B. Grieves started the
ball rolling in favor of paving Main
street with vitrifed brick instead of
the present method of matchmaking
as has been experimental upon Com
merce street. Al the members were
present except Councilman Stockly
and Hudson. After a lively debate
on the subject, Messrs,. Robinson
and Roberts of the Street Committee
were directed to make a trip to
Milford and Salisbury at the expense
of the town and look into the matter
of building streets with brick and to
report if possible at the next meet
ing of Council. With the desire on
the part of Town Council to start
work on Main street with the opening
of good spring weather, Councilman
Grieves thought it time to call halt |
on the matter of so much waste of |
money on streets and advocated |
system of permanent road building.
While it was figured that to pave
Main street would cost upwards of
Sl4 600 or SIG, 600. Mr.. Grieves was
heartily in favor of doing two squares
at time and doing it light, rather
than try to make 81, 600 or $4,000 do
for the whole street as was the case
of Commerce street.
Paving of Main Street Strikes Favor
His remarks made hit with the pro-
gressive element of the Board and it
was at least decided to thoroughly
investigate the matter. Mr.. Grieves'
plan was to btick Main street from
South street to Mt. Vernon street this
year, which he figured would cost ap
proximatey Sc, 500. Of this amount
the town would bear three-fourths OF
the expense and the property owners,
in front of which properties the bricks
were laid, to bear the other fourth !;
viz: the Town to require the pro-
perties to bear the expense of paving
the cutters on each side of the street.
Two blocks could be done out OF this
year funds, two blocks out of next
year, and two blocks the year follow
ing. When all was done the town
would have an evenly bricked roadbed
fom North street to the Lake and a
work of permanent character that
would last for generations. President
Reynolds heartily endorsed the system
of permanent roadbuilding but went
a step further than Mr.. Grieves anC
advocated borrowing money, enough
to do the whole of Main street anC
let future generations pay for it.
Under such plan he would put thu
whole matter of bricking Main stree
out at contract to the lowest respOn
sible bidder.
e j. c. Robinson Praises His Own Wor
e Chairman of the Street Committe
N Robinson was also in favor of perma
# nent road building but wanted
=, understood that Commerce street
Il which was macadamized last year
" was fine piece of reading and too
a occasion to praise it highly from hi
point of view, especially the east en-
of Commerce street. He liked tn
idea of bricking, however, if tn
=. Council wanted to go to the expense
= and if anything, he favored PresideI
30 Reynolds idea of borrowing the none
and doing the whole street at one
- but did not see how this could be dor
&c now, since the Legislature whiC
Su would give the Town of Smyrna rigl
. to borrow the money, is now nea
''' ing adjournment and will not tai
III on new business. To borrow the mon'
u the town would have to wait tw
do years. Mr.. Roberts, also a memb
"s of the street committee, favored pc
:" manent road building but want'
nc thorough Investigations of the cos
'S style and guarantee of bricks, etc
III before he would come out strong
ns advocating taking Up the work at tn
W time.
)er
.ch Alderman Grow Reports Good Ord
The In his February report to Counc
Alderman Crow reported no arrest
Ids This was received with delight
ply Council, and speaks we'll for the GO
raj order Of the town. Much of this
nee credited to local option which see
ast to be working splendidly in Smyr
and and vicinity. The Street Commit
on again reported progress in the mat
in of opening Peterson Street. The n
street will be surveyed and damal
fixed by the Street Committee Def
"'' Council can act upon the matter
OF this is assured by next meetil