New Britain herald., 1930-10-24
GAS STATIONS NOT ALL UGLY

II Is Il COlliitlOIl llllSldNt, WE llllb N 10 regard all gasoline filling sta tions as examples of uglincss; and another error is that they invariably injure the appearance of neigh borhood rather than improving it.
 This may be partly true, but it surely is not always the case. There arc plenty of gasoline sta tions that offer a more attractive appearance than did the property which previously existed at the sites. if any. And many of them are well lighted at night adding to the checrfulness of the neighborhood, bringing light where formerly there was darkness.
 This is not saying, obviously, that there are not some points about the average gasoline station that is i'm perfect. But gasoline stations are more apt to be criticized for a lack of perfection than almost any other species of trade mart.
 Citizens invariably do not want 'hem to cncroach upon residence districts; and no doubt they are justified in their opposition. But such stations in recognized trade areas arc not subject to the same objections. The men who put them up frequently turn what was a ramshacklc business site into a spot that looks better than what was there before.
 All of which, be it understood, is no attempt to Whitewash gasoline stations of their bad points; nor is it an attempt to indicate there are not an ample sufficiency in some sections or in some blocks. That there arc too many along some thoroug can scarcely be de- nied. three and four to some blocks not being necessary in the public in tercst.
 The attempt to restrict their num- Der according to population or num- Der of cars served, however, may not work; and if such a law were passed it probably would be found unconstitutional. There is no at tempt made to regulate the number of grocery stores in block. or the number of shoe repairing shops or dry cleaning establishments or bar Der shops, so long as these comply with the zoning regulations other wise. How can there be a legal at tempt to circumscribe the number of gasoline stations within a city? If men are willing 10 enter the trade and take their chances it is their hard luck if they guessed wrong; which is the same rule ap- plying to persons going into other lines of Trade.
 of the modern age, They are found everywhere because automobiles  are everywhere. They may not be intrinsically beautiful but they can be made fairly attractive; and as matter of fact, the more modern such stations are the more attrac- tive their appearance. They provide rest rooms and wash rooms for the general public as well as for those riding on tires; at least, We have never heard of such a place refus- ing it's accommodation to the wayfarer not happening to be pur- chasing oil or gasoline. In some sec lions of Ill cities they are the only institutions giving such service.
 We merely mention these matters 10 straighten out public thinking on the gasoline station issue, if such il may be called. It is possible to ma lign them too much; and often tha. has been done by persons who make use of them rather frequently. We would be in what can be described as a terrible fix" without convent cnt gasoline stations; and that be- ing the unalterable fact. it is best to be fair when discussing them.