Smyrna times., 1918-09-18
(TDNOMIZE ON STREET
LIGHTING TO SAVE FUEL
,,pcED THAT NO ADDITIONAL
LIGHTS BE PUTIN DURING WAR
Reouests for Lights on Market and
Frazier Streets Turned Down
Trimming Trees Helps Light

Trimming Trees Helps Light
At a meeting of Smyrna TOwI
Council Friday evning, with Presi.
dent L. NJ. Price, Secretary Harry B
Creyes. Thomas jefferson, Charles B
Swain. W. F. Keith and John E. VIII
son present, the matter of better
Tcbted streets received considerable
attention. The subject was brought
I'D by the report of Mr.. Swain and his
committee on the matter of moving
the light on Market street midway of
the square between Commerce and Mt.
Vernon streets. Mr.. Swain said what
was really needed was two lights. Mr..
Price spoke up that Robert Boyd and
others were asking for an additional
light on Frazier street. This brought
forth objections from Mr.. Grieves,
chairman Of the Light and Water
Committee, in the interest of econ
Omy. He pointed to the fact every
effort was being made to save coal.
to ecOnOmize and save to the utmost
in these war times. Every light in
stalled meant more current, and in
cdentally more fuel. What was
needed, he declared, was a systematic
tree trimming, not only on Market
street, but all over town. He took
members Of the Board out in front of
the Opera House and showed them
how shade trees with low hung bran
ches were shutting off the street
lights, making here and there dark
places. Trim the trees, he said, and
the light would difuse properly.
Members of Council Are Convinced.
Most Of the members of Council
were convinced that Mr.. Grieves was
right, that there seemed no necessity
OF putting extra load on the plant
when with little attention to shade
trees Cnot topping out or slashing)
would remedy the complaint. There
was shown a veneration for shade
trees and their added beauty to a COM
munlty, but 1t was explained the un-
der branches could be trimmed with
out hurting or marring their beauty
and at the same time allow light to
HHuse. 1t was brought out that
once the precedent was set to allow
extra street lights in some quarters.
property owners living on another
street, with an equally just claim.
might demand lights also. AS it is
soon time for trees to shed their
ieaves' 1t IS hardly probable Council
Will take up the matter of tree trim
ming until next spring.
market Street Needs Wider Pavement
Along with the request for better
lights on Market street came the ex.
pressed need for a wider pavement.
especially on the east side of said
street which was a thoroughfare for
many to Asbury NJ. E. Church. WbiIe
council took no decided action. the
Upinioh prevailed that since the street
d "lde' the town could well afford to
give give TWO or three feet to width of the
pavement and have a good cement
sue"alk !, along the whole stretch. In
'liS event it might be necessary to
'O"uelnn the two or three trees and
4,se 'he setting out of new shade trees
! r'Ong that side of the street from
oUilnerce y, to Mt. Vernon. Several
n; l:-'i street matters came up in/tbe
=, IuSSioh' one of which was the un-
oH''y weeds that are allowed to
=. ~" up on some sidewalks and even
T r;n 'He cutters. Property owners
~, =" PROBABLY be notified and street I
lapef'isor I B. w. Turner notified of
nj ~ "eeoS and grass in the cutters
- ~ III 'ne streets which come under ]
we interest Urged for Light Plant.
,ta,..s 10 was decided that more personal 7
L.l,$ s' on the part of Councilman
+TTll ", De taken in Smyrna's Light
"d'er Plant and not leave all +bo
'g : .l to be done by the committee. p
rasos s instance of Councilman ]. E. i
,o d. d. council will hereafter visit :
! ba5', p"er Station more frequently in
seds ana on the ground, discuss
the town. ~ '"e gOod :,