Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-03-01


For the last six years, the annual dis
bursement for school purposes in this cit.
has been as follows: In 1872, S22 400
1873, $40, $40; 1874, Se2, 900; 1877, SCI 300
1876, 2O,5O2; 1877, SO. 767-or a yearl.
average OF SCI. 100. Daring the time in
Dictated the average daily attendance ha
run as follows: In 1872, $50; 1873, 69S
1874, rs; 1873, $50 (the smallpox
year''l 1876. 76s; 1877, sos.
During the year 1877 some 500 was re
ceived for the tuition of nonresident pupils
"A sum which the superintendent think
may be raised to one thousand dollar, or
about five per cent Of the entire cost of oui
public schools. The present liability OF
the department is S3,0O0-S 800 on the
Ada ms and Pomeroy school buildings, and
an equal amount for last summers improve
ments on the High School building. The
estimated expenses for the present year
are $4,000 less than for last year.
To the other leading points in Superin-
tendent Ayers report We have already
referred.
Our school system and management are
things of which We may justly be proud /;
and never. we believe, have our educational
facilities and appliances been in 50 favor
able a condition as at present. Such com
missioners as President Buckham. the Rev.
Mr.. Ware, Mr. Lawrence and Mr.. Wheeler
1.-THE first and third Of whom have beon
connected with the Board ever since its
organization, nearly ten years ago. could
hardly be improved upon Mr.. Alger is the
most hard-working and efficient superin-
tendent we have ever had and the teachers,
for character. scholarship. and executive
ability are everything that could be desired.
THE FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY.
The number OF volumes contained in this
library is ll,l64-s gain Of 400 over last
year: and in 1877, 1859 borrowers took
out for home use 3S. ASS volumes. the largest
daily issue being $40. In 1876 the borrow
ers numbered 2.9ls and the books taken
IS, 44S. The cause of this remarkable dis
crepancy (that is, that while in 1876 each
borrower read IL lilo books, in 1877 each
read only IO4) is due, it is claimed, to
falling of in the demand for hction-a de-
cline, in turn, due to the facts that no new
novels practically are added to the Ii
brary that many Of the noyel-writers whose
works, statistics prove, are the most popu-
lar in America are entirely unrepressnted.
and that complete and exhaustive cata-
logue renders easily accessible the more
substantial treasures OF the library. As
the case in every library of the kind, BY far
the greatest demand IL for fction-about 10
per cent Next comes history, per cent;
travels, 4per cent; biography and poetry,
3 each; while that popular branch oil
literature whica the librarian calls all
other" claims IL per cent Since 1873 the
demand for fiction has declined some 10 per
cent, history has about held Its own and
travel has declined from 6.5 per cen. to 1.
HEALTH OFFICERS REPORT.
According to the mortality report, there
were 246 deaths in this city last year. OF
the causes, diphtheria leads with 100; con-
comes next. with 81; unknown,
a.; apoplexy and cholera infan tum. ii
each: diseases Of the brain and nervous sys-
tenn, 9; and OF all other diseases the great
est number is only 6. Two persons died
violent death-both being drowned. The
most fatal month was November. which saw
So deaths, % Of which were from diphthe-
ria. Next came October, 81, Is Of them
from diphtheria July. %; September. %
August. % and December. 20. The mar
,iagos numbered 50, and the births 2S3.
An intelligent comparison of these figures
With those of former years is impossible.
,wing to the almost incredible inadequacy
If some former reports; bat We give the
igures as far as they go. 10 1870 there
we're l69 deaths Us Of consumption, and
'eVenfy reported a. unknown; in 1871, li6
80 Of consumption); in 1872. l57; in 1873
here was a notably yalueless report in
IL OF consumption, and ~ of diphtheria).
)ur vital statistics are very incomplete and
q every way inadequate; and it is to be
hoped that the day is not far distant when
he necessary legislation may be had to rem
Ter them what they should be. The Health
officer refers to the terrible sorrow and SUI
ering brought upon US last year by that
lreadiul scourge, diphtheria and mentions
he remarkable fact that neither in the
lone for Destitute Children nor the Catho-
ic Orphan Asylum has single case Of
liphtheria occurred The report closes with
. reference to the bsleful habit Of keeping
pigs. and a suggestion for the appointment
of meat inspector-thc suggestion arising
rom the fac. that during the year several
were issued against people for
selling unwholesome meat.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.