Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-03-02


large purchase of timber land in Sher-
burne, having bought a tract of some 400
acres.
76srn FYadnces.-The Auditors have
made up their report, for the year past, by
which i, will nc seen the financial condition
of the town is much improved. The over
seer of the poor, Mr.. Washington Reyes,
and the town agent, no doubt fully merit
the favorable manner in which they are
spoken Of We copy the remarks Of the
Auditors, below:
ave beg leave to congratulate the town
on the improved condition of their financial
affairs. We find that the Indebtedness Of
the town has been reduced from SG58 90
last year, to 1928 90 at the present settle
ment, and recommend tax of fifteen per
cent. on the dollar of the grand list, to be
raised at the next annual meeting as being
fully sufficient to meet the estimated liabili-
ties of the town for the ensuing year. slow
taxation" is condition of things dcvoutly
to be wished. 1t invites in settlers with
capital and gives fresh impulse to bust
ness. 1t is reasonable to hope that many
of our nonresident lands, renovated by
long and Successive pasturnge, will be re-
settled by sturdy farmers, induced hither
by our reviving prospects, to seek pleasant
and rural homes, and many of these fertile
valleys and rugged hillsides with their cool
ing springs and free mountain air, may
once more abound with fields of waving
grain, and once more echo the joys of the
harvest home where only now roam the
flocks and herds Of strangers.
We are not unmindful of the claims to
commentator of our very efficient Town
Agent, for 1858, in settling off and dis
missing an army Of useless attorneys, re-
tanned, and putting an end to disgusting liti-
cation that wasted our means and eat out
our substance. Legal proceedings should
be the very last resort in the settlement Of
town difficulties. The overseer of the
poor, for the two last years, for the able
manner in which he has discharged his du-
ties, also comes in for due share of hon
orable mention in this report. When we
reflect that the aged and infrm poor are
we'll provided for, well warmed, fed, and
comfortably clothed it has tendency to
dspel that chilling dread that comes over
the mind in the contemplation Of the fact
that we are all, each and every one of us,
liable to become torn dependents. We re-
peat that however opulent our circumstan-
ces may be to day, through the contingent
ces of fire and flood, or unsound and untor-
tunate speculaions, combined with long
and continued sickness, we are all liable to
become torn dependents. Therefore, you
can Judge how much better il is that the
poor are to be benefited physically, and the
tax payers morally, by ample appropria-
tlons made for their comfort rather than
that they should suffer, and the funds of the
town go to fee "avaricous" counsellors at
law. Speculations from the town funds,
either in exhorbitant charges for services
where they are not circumscribed by law,
or in damages for ipsufiiciency of highways,
&C., should everywhere, and in every place,
meet with an unqualified rebuke, though a
fair compensation in all such cases should
be rendered, yet it should be borne in mind,
that every dollar SO paid, is made up, in
part, at least, of the hard earned dimes Of
those whose circumstances compel them to
labor for their subsistence"