The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-26

@etS - Our tSeiectmen Respectfully re-
port as follows
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
We have rebuilt the Deland bridge. So
called, at West Rutland. at an expense of
$500, the old bridge having become de-
cayed and unsafe
We have also expended $50 in repairing
a bridge in Whipple Hollow. We also re-
built the bridge near the depot at West Rut-
land, at an expense of about 1925. We are
building new bridge at Center Rutland,
across Otter creek, in place of the one
which was destroyed by fire in the latter
part of December. The old bridge was in
sured for $1,000. The expense Of the new
bridge does not come into our account this
year, it being not yet completed. Its cost
will probably exceed the insurance of the
old bridge by about $3.50.
We have built highways as follows: The
Gershom Cheney road east of Main street,
at an expense Of s2O3.O1. Also the new
road near Grove l.. Smiths, at West Rut-
land, at an expense of S175. We have eX-
pended IN repairing the road leading to
Clarendon, near the dwelling house for
merly owned by George l.. Mussey, S242.-
IS. We have made other small expendi-
lures on highways in different parts of the
town, which sufficiently appear in the ac-
count of orders drawn for highways and
bridges.
We have laid out no new roads during
the past year. The county court has laid
and established the road leading from the
north end of Church street, in the village
of Rutland, to Perkins Avenue, but the
same has not yet been built. A petition
has been presented to us for an extension
of Grant avenue TO Main street. Also a
a petition for the extension of Madison
street, west, across the railroad to River
street. Neither of these petitions have
been finally acted upon by us.
Your selectmen have acted upon the res
olution passed at the last annual meeting.
instructing them to inquire into the eX-
pense of tunnel under the railroad on
West street. and as to the amount of as
sisance tGat could he procured from the
railroad companies to aid in this project.
We find the expense of Il tunnel, including
Il branch tunnel into Forest street, would
not exceed 900, but we have been UNI
able 10 obtain any proposals or offers of
! help from the railroad companies. A pc
tition has been brought under the statute
for such a case, and the same is now pend
ing in the supreme court, and committee
appointed to inquire into the necessity of
remedy for said crossing, and to apportion
the expense between all parties interested,
and while this proceeding is pending there
is no occasion for further action by the
town, except in connection with said pc
tition.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE TOWN.
In pursuance of resolution of the last
annual meeting instructing US to settle with
Mr. and Mrs. ID. A. Ililliard for the sup
port of the Collette boy for the past eight
years, we have to report that we investga-
ted the matter and settled by paying $3.50
for the past, and all further support of said
boy during his minority.
The claim of Solomon Longey for a
bounty of $500, which he claimed ON ac-
in the army, we have settled as instructed
by resolution of the last annual meeting.
TOWN FARM.
Your selectmen desire TO call special at
tention to the town farm. The house
thereon Is very much out of repair, and we
are agreed that if this farm is kept by the
town, a new house should be built the en-
suing year; but we think it would be
better to sell this farm and purchase one
more accessible and convenient for the
! town.
REWARD.
The event which has, perhaps, caused
the most public excitement during the past
year in this community. was the murder
and robbery OF Mrs Ann Freeze, and the
burning of her house on Forest street, on
the 9th day of last June. Your seectmen
felt called upon, in view of the enormity of
this triple crime and of the apparent unan-
imous demand of the public, to offer a lib
eral reward for the arrest and conviction of
the murderer. They therefore offered, in
behalf of the town, a reward of SO 500,
which has now become due by the convic-
ton of John L. Phair as the murderer, but
the same has not been paid for the reason
that it is claimed by n large number of
persons, and they are not agreed as to the
amount due each one.
FINANCES.
We call attention to the report of the
auditors for detailed statement of the
town finances, from which it will be seen
that the debt of the town has been slightly
reduced during the year. The bonds due
from the town July 18th, 1874, to the
amount of $4,000, have not been paid for
the reason that we had no funds for this
purpose. 1t will be necessary to raise $685.
1921 to meet current expenses and liabil-
tiles past due and to become due within
the ensuing year. 1t will require tax OF
my CcntS Ou Tue uOlidr Oh tHe grand llSl
to pay current expenses and interest on the
bonded debt. The grand list under the
appraisal of 1874, is somewhat less than il
was the previous year. Measures must be
taken to provide funds to meet the bonded
debt now due and to fall due the coming
year, and If the town is not disposed to
raise tax for this purpose, we would
recommend that the selectmen be author.
lied to borrow 5000, payable in two
equal annual payments in A. ID. 1894 and
1895, giving town orders for the same
with coupons attached, the rate of interes,
not to exceed per cent. per annum, pay
able semi-annually. Appended will be
found the reports of the other town Off
GERS The preparation and issuing of these
reports have been delayed somewhat by
the serious sickness of some of the town
officers.
FRANKLIN BILLNGs,)