New Britain herald., 1916-02-11
PlainV7ue News LEADERS DINE AND
 TALK THINGS OVER Business Mems Directors Discuss
 Many Town Improvements ANNUAL BANQUET IN APRIL

At East Main Street Crossing, Swat
 ting The Fly And National Prepar-
 cdncss Topics Of Conversation.
 While unwilling to commit them selves as a collective body to any par | 'ticular program, the board of direct i ors of the Business and Improvement | associa ton at their February meeting | held last evening at the New Britain l club voted to write the senators and ! representatives in Congress from Con l necticut that they are in favor of the 1 adoption imme ediately of some scheme l for national preparedness. Several 1 of the memb bers have already joined
 an association which has for it's object the enlarging of the army and navy
 and at last nights session all agreed i that something should be done. to strengthen the countrys defenses, that 1 Uncle Sam might be prepared for any 1 eventuality.
 The action by the board was taken in response to letters that are ! being sent to business mems associa- tions all over the country inviting them to join in the movement to make the | United States ready to protect itself from a possible foreign invasion. Many matters were considered at the session. The meeting followed a dinner served by the club steward
 Plans for the annual banquet were considered and the directors voted to have the affair some time in April, the l appointment of committees to be left with the president, F. T. Wheeler. The selection of the exact date will Ivy hn of men who will be invited to speak.
 The street lighting, particularly as it relates to Whiting street, was also gone into. The directors principal objection to the service now given by the Connecticut company concerns the practice of turning off the lights at midnight. They would like to get an all night service and will make an CT fort in this direction. Members of the board do not feel that the town would have an open -and-shut case should an appeal be taken to the utili- ties commission as that body might decide that the court ordered the company to install lights to minimize the danger from the cars rather than to illuminate the highway for other purposes. The matter has been taken up with the trolley officials and the directors propose to continue their agitation for something better than the town is now receiving.
 President Wheeler said today that the directors have not ceased their efforts to get better protection for the public on the East Main street cross ing. There has been an improvement since the matter was first taken up with the railroad officials but condi- tions nevertheless are anything but satisfactory. There have been several narrow escapes at the crossing recent ly proving that the danger continues grave. Promises regarding the slow ing down of freight trains as they approach the crossing and the issuing of certain orders to brakemen have not been lived up to of late and Mr. Wheeler and his associates intend to again remind the company of the hazard to autoists and teamsters at this point. They feel that conditions will not be right until gates are in stalled but as such an improvement l may not be realized for long time they hope to get other changes that l will help minimize the danger in the l meantime.
 The conditions of sidewalks in 1 some parts of the town was discussed. l
 
 rain some of the streets resemble a 1 sea of mud and walking is anything | but pleasant The directors were ad- 1 vised that the Trumbull Electric com | pany is willing to give cinders to all | property owners who will use them 1 on their sidewalks. Carriage will be 1 the only expense that applicants will | have to bear. It is expected that ] many will take advantage of this offer as there is plenty of room for inn provement in front of dozens of l homes.
 President Wheeler was authorized 1 to appoint two mem bers to serve with Secretary F. l.. Benzon on a commit tee to arrange for a "swat the f1y' campaign in Plainville next summer. The association will work in CO., operation with the national society for the extermination of the fly. War will be declared on the pest early in the spring and the toWnspeople will be asked to enlist in the army.
 Committees reported that the asso- ciation's club rooms in the Odd Eel lows block have been redecorated and now present a very pleasing ap- pearance The directors believe that the. club rooms afford the men of the town a good place to gather for an evenings social pleasure and Presi- dent Wheeler suggested today that the members. and other residents as well, call at least to inspect them. +
 Many other ma tiers were brought UT at the meeting but plans concern ing them, the directors state, have not developed sufficiently to make any l announcements concerning them.
 Woman Goes to Jail.
 Mrs Alice Gum was taken to the