Smyrna times., 1918-05-01
PROTESTS GASOLINE TANK
Delegation From w. c. T. U. Oppose
Tank so Near Fountain - Town
Council Orders it's Removal

Tank so Near Fountain - Town
Council Orders it's Removal
Smyrna Town Council met in regu-
lar session Friday evening and again
in adjourned session last evening to
consider several matters Of import
ance. Miss Annie W. Sutton, Mrs.
William A. FAIRIES and Mrs. R. E.
Cantwell representing the Smyrna
Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, appeared before Council last
evening to enter their protest on be-
half of the White Ribboners against
the allowing of the Hearn Oil Com
pany's gasoline pump and tank to
remain in front of Samuel A. Fort
ner's store at the Four Corners in so |
close proximity to the W. C. T. U. |
Fountain. Last Thursday while all |
but two of the members OF Town
Council were taking in the hig Lib
eTty Loan celebration at Dover, re-
presentatives of the Hearn Oil Com
pany sunk the big tank and located
the pump. So quickly was it done
that few realized what it all meant
until the job was completed. Miss
Annie Sutton was the spokesman for
the committee of ladies at the meet
ing last night and in few words told
the interest the w. c. T. u. women
had in the fountain, how it was or
iginally installed by a popular sub
scription to the amount of a hundred
dollars or more and how later it was
replaced by Town Council in its pres
ent form and location. Her organi-
zation, she said, felt the fountain was
serving its usefulness, was blessing
to man and beast, and that the plac-
ing of a gasoline tank right beside it
was defeating the very object to be
obtained in that scary horses would
not go up to drink while cars were
chugging in front of the tank taking
] on gasoline. They also felt the loca-
! tion of the tank an obstruction to
traffic at that corner.
Council Votes to Have Tank Removed
, After the w. C. T. U. delegation
@ had retired Council took up the ques-
tion, expressing to Councilman
Fortner, one of their own members,
y their regret that family difference"
B. had to come among them. Mr.. Fort
/. ner explained his connection with the
!, affair and disclsimed any undetermined
: business of the tank being installed
:. at time when most of Council was
!, out of town. He said that he, per.
n sonally, did not know it was to have
10 been put in at the time it was and wa!
% surprised when he returned to Smyrn'
lie that evening to see the work done
Is The installation of the tank and pump
h he said, was a matter between th
n Hearn Oil Company and the heirs o
st David ]. Cummins, owners of tn
le property, who not only gave thei
IN consent but located just where tn
m tank was to be placed After dis
k cussion Councilman Fl. B. Grieve
ts moved that the Hearn Oil Compan
be notified to remove the tank an
pump from the property of the Davi
J. Cummins heirs, tenure of SamuC
as A. Fortner. The motion was promptl
mt seconded by Councilman John E. Wi
n son. The question was called an
or there were FIVE votes in favor of tt
ms motion and two against. The ay'
ID. were: H. B. Grieves, John E. Wi
y; Keith and President Lewis M. Pric'
art The nays were Thomas Jefferson al
y, Samuel A. Fortner.
y Smyrna Opera House Rental DiscussC
Since the Finance Committe
Charles B. Swain chairman, recon
= mended in their financial budget I
increase in revenues in various d
ION partments of the town, including
n hundred or hundred and fifty perce
ool raise in Opera House rental. there b
IN been more or less debate on the su
III. ject Of what the manager of t
oDo Smyrna Opera House should pa
a+v Recently Chairman Fortner of t
ses Opera House Committee received
zoo offer from Mr.. SwaFtz, manager
is the Temple Theater of Dover, to p
an double the rent now being receiv
ard for the Smyrna Opera House. II
oit- offer some members feel, as duty
on their constituents, too good to tn
in down, others feel that money &C
of sideration was not everything
9 in consider. since Mr.. McManus was sho
lar ing and keeping up a high standf
of of pictures and was building up f
Mr. reputation Friday evening N
,arv McManus appeared before Council
10 explained his position in the matt
had After avering that whatever repu
49, A. Cno,,~no Onaro H0uap