The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21
TOWN AFFAIRS.
Overseer Of the Poor's Report.

We publish herewith, at the especial re-
quest of the overseer Of the poor, in ad-
vance of its publication by the town, his
annual report, DIFFERING such comments as
we may have to make until another day ::
In the management of the farm and pro-
viding for the outside poor, the overseer
holds himself responsible to the taxpayers
of Rutland for everything over which he
had any control.
He does not hold himself accountable
for the suspension of many Of the various
enterprises of the town, by which hundreds
of laborers, whose families are dependant
on their daily toll for their daily bread, are
thrown out of employment, and as a last
resort call upon the overseer not only for
food, but raiment and shelter from the vi
cissitudes of the Indictment season. Neither
has he held himself accountable for the
large number who have been committed to
the Jail for various offenses, whose families,
as will be seen by reference to the outside
poor, have without an exception fallen on
the town for support. Neither is he &C.
countable for the horde of tramps that have
swarmed into the town the pact season.
The overseer has no alternative bul o feed
and shelter them, nor can he have until the
state provides some means for their dis
posal. There have been lodged and fed
from the 10Th of March to the 18th of
February, ono hundred and eighty-three
| tramps at the town farm and two hundred
and eighty.seven at the Jail and other
places in Rutland, at an expense of $269.75.
Assuming the expense at the farm to be in
| proportion, II would amount to $137.75,
or whole amount $406, which is an item OF
mn ANAL al In halnnO 70
| the aggregate, and one that former over
seers, except the last, knew nothing about.
here is another item worthy of notice
which will be seen in reference to the out
| side poor, and that is the large number of
women and children deserted by their
| natural providers and protectors, and one
that lie worthy the attention of the moralist.
While there are the really deserving
poor, that we are bound both by law and
humanity 10 provide for, there is no doubt
but that many have taken advantage of the
times to indulge their idle, thriftless ma
| lures and be supported at public expense.
In the management of the farm the over
seer has had for his aim and object perman-
| ent improvements, by which its proudc-
tivenees might be increased, rather than for
| fancy, although as II Is on q great public
| thoroughfare he might have been pardoned
| for giving rail or post an extra coat Of
whitewash and yet, he has done nothing
more than any thrifty, enterprising far
mer, Of any pride and self-reSpect would
| do for himself.
The farm was, when the town purchased
| 1t, in very dilapidated condition and re-
| quired great amount of labor in building
new and repairing old fences, clearing mead
ows of stone, ETC., etc., before the spring
crops could be put In.
Farmers who make any money adopt two
| methods to do it-one skins his farm of
everything available and puts the pro-
ceeds at usurious int rest, thereby increasing
his bank stock but impoverishing his farm,
! and has a demoralizing influence on the
community in which he lives another gets
his reward by identifying and increasing
the productiveness of his farm and the
number and quality Of his stock, thereby