Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-02
The City Reports.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The reports of city officers, for the year
1876. just printed, open with the Report Of
Chief Foster, of the Fire Department.
There were but four actual fires in the year 3,
occasioning loss of $3.50. Not build
ing, with the exception of small store
house, was burned down or seriously
injured. The apparatus is in good order
except the linen hose which is giving out
rapidly. The old underground hydrants
are unsatisfactory, and different ones with
| connections above ground are recommend
ed, when new ones are to be put in. Gen.
Foster thinks We have hose companies
enough, and that the only addition to the
apparatus required is a chemical extin-
guisher for use in stores where the danger
of damage to goods from water is great in
case of fire. He thanks Mrs. Ward and
Mrs. Dodge for their efforts in providing
coffee and refreshments for the fremen, and
trusts that the temperate and orderly con-
duct of the fremen will in part repay
them.
THE HEALTH OFFICER,
DR.. Chss. p. Thayer, reports but q single
case OF small-p in the year. Though this
occurred in a crowded tenement. prompt and
wise precautions prevented tho spread OF
the disease. The keeping of swine within
the city limits, is nuisance, and an orii-
nance prohibiting it is recommended. The
Doctor considers the lake water superior to
the river. and thinks the improvement of
the present source of supply should 0ccu-
py our chief attention. The vital statistics
recorded show 20 marriages in 1876, against
l06 in lS75-a falling off of full third;
2S3 births, against 81 in 1875 and l4S
deaths. against l44 the year previous. In
1876, there were IL death from consump
ton, against IL in 1875; % children. under
wear of age, died of infantile diseases in
1876, against 26 in 1875. In 1876 there were
10 deaths from diphtheria, whilH in 1875
there were none reported. In 1875 there
were deaths from old age, and in 1876
there were 7. one of whom, Louis V, A.
Henry. reached 1909, "undoubfedLy disprov-
ing the statement often made, that all
cases of reported centenarians are false
THE sTEET DEPARTMENT.
The total amount expended in this de-
partment last year appears to have been
$50, I'll 50: OF this amount S2,2si was ex-
pended by Mr.. Gao. W. Beckwith, who vas
Superintendent till April 25th, and the re-
mainder by VIM. Z)ttman. Superintendent.
or this large amount, more than half-or
Sll ,5lS.4l-was spent in constructing sew
ers. The Citv Parks got about $500. The
rest was absorbed in repairs of the streets
and general expenses of the department.
The department has SI35 cash in hand, and
a balance of SSis.l7 to its credit with the
City Treasurer.
THE POLICE.
The Police made 6l2 arrests during the
year ls76-an increase of 60 over 1915. OF
these 2S3 were for into1ication. and l43 for |
selling liquor. OF the so odd arrests for
assaults and breaches of the peace, proba- |
bly, five-sixths are due to strong drink |
making about fve-sixths of the crime and |
which is chargeable to rum. The |
station house gave shelter to $50 persons |
during the year. There are eight regularly |
paid policemen and 81 special police or |
at the iepots. wharves and lum-
Der yards. who receive no stated pay. Two
pstrolmen are on duty at night. Chief Drew
saws:
While the police department have not
been able to suppress all crime. yet when
our citizens compare the expense of our
police department with that of other small |
cities, it must be conceded that ours is an
efficient one. With a population of IA 1877.
~ shown by the last census, the expense
Of our police department for 1875 was
50 SO. against that Of the city of Portland
for the same year, with population of 2O,-
BOO, whose police cost S27 ,96l.SO Salem,
Mass, with % 900 population, paid police
expenses of S33 ,965.2l. while the expense
Of the police department Of Lawrence,
Mass with a population of $1,000, was
S35, sl6.O2.
The total expense of the police depart
nent for the past year was 81 ,265 81, which
q reduction from the expense Of the year
1875, Of S3O4.5O.
TIE CITY POJR.