Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-03
Annual Report Of tho Town of
Rutland.

aitairs. After abiding to the unfrequen-
oy of fires in our midst, and saying they
had paid S52S24 to aid in the detection
, Of the incendiaries, the cause of 80 many
disastrous oonfagrations to our town and
village, the Selectmen go on to say: The
bounty of $500 voted to each veteran
volunteer, payable in installments, expired
the LIST of December, 1859; the orders
have all been drawn, and the
most of them paid. The drain
which has been on the treasury for that
purpose for the last five years will NO
longer exist. The expense for the year
past for roads and bridges was compare
lively light until the heavy rain in Octo-
Der, which increased the expense nearly
or quite 81 200. Numerous petitions have
been presented to the selectmen for alter
ing or laying out new roads. None have
been laid where the damages were thought
unreasonable, and damages have been
awarded only in two cases, East street,
$500; and the extension of Pearl street,
$500.
The time for building the road and
bridge laid by court committee, leading
from South street across the creek, near s..
M. DORIS, expires in October next. AS
no money was raised for that purpose, the
Selectmen have taken no measures to
build the road or bridge, as the estimated
expense is $4,000. Some action will be
necessary before the time expires.
According to vote recently taken by
the town, that all pay or salaries claimed
by town officers should, before their allow
ance, be acted upon in town meeting, in
pursuance of that vote, the selectmen have
refused to give orders for any claims pre-
scented in that class. There are quite an
amount of claims in that class that will,
in all probability, be presented to the
meeting for consideration.
AS there is quite an amount of outstand-
ing bonds against the town that are past
due, and others coming due the present
year, we would call the attention of the
town to the propriety of issuing new
bonds, instead of raising a tax sufficient
to retire them the present year. We re-
commend to the town to place at the dis
posal of its officers funds sufficient to meet
its current wants, rather than to compel
them, as in years past, to resort to temper
airy loans, subject to high rates Of interest.
The total amount of orders drawn by
the Selectmen for the year ending Febru-
airy 10Th, 1870, was as follows:
For highways, bridges, etc, $3,957.67
miscellaneous purposes, 5,596.65
money borrowed, 6,O56.4O
/" soldiers bounties, $4,000
Total, $23,710.72
From the report of the Town Liquor
Agent, Mr.. B. w. Marshall, it we'll be
seen that the agency has not been a source
of profit to the Town during the year;
but if it has not, our people have the
knowledge that its affairs have been prop
erly administered and that the liquor is
never permitted to go to wrong quarter,
and we believe could, they have Ia
voice in the matter, would almost unani-
mously vote for the continuation of Mr..
Marshall in the office. The report con-
densed is as follows:
Total sales for year, $95715
Cash ON hand at last report, 1859
Total, 1878 "a
Expenses past year, looo'9e
Cash balance, $66.S6
The stock on hand as capital last year
was $590,14, and the stock now on hand,
including cash balance is $547,33, show
ing a loss OF $42,81, and this notwith-
standing that Mr.. Marshall voluntarily re-
duced his salary as agent from the $500
bargained for, to $3.50.
Mr. Marshall concludes his report: sit
will be seen that there is loss the past
year of $42.81. know of but one way to
remedy the matter, and that is, find an
agent who will do the business for less
salary and sell more. l cannot consci-
entiously sell for only those purposes
which come within the law. l would find
it more easy to do the business by selling
a larger quantity"
From the report of the Overseer of the
Poor it appears that the amount drawn
by him from the Treasury, on orders and
in cash was $4,090.03. and the amount re-
ceived for sales from town farm $426.97,
making total of $4,51700. All of this
has been expended in the care of the poor
under his charge. Eleven persons have
been buried at town expense during the
year The town farm was quite produc-
tive the past year, and besides the sales,
there is now on hand good supply OF
grain, hay, vegetables, provisions, gro
oeries, farming utensils, stock, furniture,
&c.
The Town Treasurer's report shows his
total receipts for the year, including
1928 "a on hand at last settlement and
$4,S553S borrowed, to be $50, 1923, and
his disbursements $29,S60, leaving
balance in his hands at date of report of
$30G3S.
The amount of school money the Treas
urer has received from all sources is 3d.
S2S. ~, and the amount disbursed 3d.
706.43, leaving a balance on hand OF
S122 30. There is due the school fund
on list of 1869, in Collectors hands 3d.
1880; and from other sources 1887, A.
BY the Auditors report we find the liza
bilities of the town to be now 500, 047.4S
The amount of this due the present year is
$47,95929 The estimated expenses for
the current year are $4,000, making a
total of $61 ,95920 The available assets
of the town are $S,01465, which would
leave the sum Of S53,94466 to be raised
the present year, requiring tax Of 100
cents on the dollar. This seeming too
burdensome, the auditors, and we think
judiciously, recommend tax of so cents
ON the dollar instead, and the issuing of