Smyrna times., 1912-05-15
COUNCIL PROPOSES RIGID
LAW FOR HANDLING DOGS
TAX. MUZZLE AND IMPOUNDING
SYSTEM MEETS WITH APPROVAL
Efforts to Secure a Dog Catcher Who
Will See Law is Enforced Without
Fear or FaVor-CounciI Proceeds

At meeting of Smyrna Town
Council Friday evening, with every
member in his place, serious consid-
Grafton was given to the dog nui-
sance question, with the result that if
the right man can be secured to catch
dogs. Council may introduce the i'm
pounding and tax system which is
working to such good advantage in
other towns on the peninsula. That
Smyrna is being overrun with dogs,
many of them strays, was a self
evident fact to many members of
Council and needed no argument.
The old system of shooting unmuzzl-
ed dogs on the streets was found
impracticable in that ''strays" and
puppies made up the list of "killed"
while town dogs were in most cases
allowed to run at large without
muzzles regardlessly. Last Fall,
Joseph R. Cummins, special officer
in such cases, was relieved of his
duties, since which time no effort
has been made to enforce any kind
of law. The spring days find
large increase in the number of dogs,
and the dog nuisance has been so
much complained of, that members
of Council deemed it advisable to
take some action. One member eX-
pressed himself that Council had
been very lenient in the past, but
its ordinances had been so much dis
regarded that the time had come to
make rigid law that would reach
every phase of the case. The senti-
ment of the rest of the members
seemed to be that the dog tax, muz-
zle and impounding system was
what was needed, if an officer could
be secured to enforce it without fear
or favor. 1t was argued that owners
of good dogs and pet dogs would
never object to paying a tax, and
this in addition to a muzzle law,
which required all dogs running at
large to be securely muzzled, would
have the effect of not only securing
the safety of pedestrians but would
gradually tweed out the worthless
ours and make better condition of
things all around. The impounding
system would give an owner two
days in which to reclaim his dog and
pay the fine and if not reclaimed,
the dog is to be chloroformed. Coun-
Gil is looking into the subject with
the view OF taking 5arly action.
To Grade Commerce Street Curb Line
1t was unanimously agreed to
make some needed improvements to
Commerce street, and, on motion,
the property owners on both sides
of Commerce street, between Market
street and the Spruance property on
the other side of the new hotel, were
ordered to reset their curbs and pave
their cutters with vitrified block.
With Commerce street already ma-
cadam, this Strengthening of the
curb line and laying of even cutters
will add very much to the appearance
of the business section of the town.
In number of cases the curbing is
already in line and cutters bricked.
The motion has to do with those
having eobble stones, belgian block
and the like. These must all come
up and give place to vitrified block.
Council also passed sweeping orders
to the relaying or repairs 20 pave
ments on South, Main. Union and
Mt. Vernon streets. The road be-
tween High street and Jerman
Chapel will be macadamized. The
Street Committee will take the
matter in hand and have the work
pushed as rapidly as possible.
lnfractions of Automobile Ordinance
Councilman Lloyd brought up the
question of the non enforcement of
the automobile ordinance with re-
spect to speed limit apd the blowing
of horns on approach to street inter-
sections and turning corners: Sec
rotary H. B. Grieves turned to the
minutes and read where Alderman
OTOW anu LOllOCiudu L LuAhCA VSEc
present at a meeting of Council last
year and instructed as to their
duties. That the law was being
disregardei in number of cases,
none could dispute and while no
definite action was taken at Friday s
meeting, the hope was expressed
that the officers would see that the
ordinance was enforced without il
being necessary for Council to take
any more action in the matter.
Street Sprinkler Likely to be Put On
Owing to the fact that several
have reiustated their pave-washes,
prefering the many uses and advan
tages of this to submitting to an in
crease of taxes, Council will proba
bly, accede to the great public de.
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.