The Portland daily press., 1890-03-10
M AIN e TOW MS.
exIco.

At the town meeting here Monday we had
quite battle. although In the main il was
orderly, and but little temper shown. 1t was
our first meeting In the new town hall.
Ephraim Richards, the oldest voter In town,
was allowed to cast the first vote. He was
quite pleased with the courtesy shown him.
Benjamin Storer next voted and then John
Griffith, they being the next oldest voters in
town. We found the hall ample in size, and
that meeting could be conducted In much
better way than In a seven-by-nine school
house. Being In the village, horses could be
stabbed, not hitched in the snow through the
hours of an inclement day to stumps and
fences. We had one Of the fullest, most
complete and best printed reports we ever
had and we have had them printed every
year since 1870. Our valuation in 1870. real
and personal estate, was SS1, $50; rate Of tax
49, cents, number of scholars 173. 1t cost
S9SS.47 to pay the bills of the town that year.
February 18th. 1871 the indebtedness Of the
town was $l5,33739. above apparent re-
sources S10,069.78 Our collectors were be-
hind on their bills S3,0l6.59. February 22d.
1890. the total Indebtedness OF the town was
S2,6S5.20. apparent resources S2.0l381, debt
less resources $671 81, an increase OF dept
Our total Valuation for 1889 was $S7, 73o,
rate of tax Is mills, number of scholars III,
ffty-t less than In 1870. TO pay the bills
of the town 1t cost $685.. 46 or $65O.0l less
binary expenses In both years named. We
have built bridge since last March costing
with approaches, S90S.S3. and have put 800
into the erection Of the building. the base
ment story Of which is our town hall.
Any on interested can learn something
from the foregoing Of what small towns
have done since 1855. The great blunder
was In not paying the bills as they accrued
during the war.
In 1880 our valuation was almost S114,OO0,
town S6.505.78, resources S2,517.6O, debt
above resources nearly $4,000.
The entire Indebtedness of the town at the
close Of the rebellion was but a small amount
There is now due from collectors 81, 34o.25.
being S1.67634 less than due from same
source In 1870.
Corham.
THE SCHOOL TEXT BOOK LAW.
To the Editor OF the Press.
| Referring to the law compelling the towns
to furnish free text books, the school CON-
mittee In their report to the town say:
According to the provisions Of this law the
the proper care and preservation Of the text
books entrusted to him, and not to the district
n g I Il, Ss1g
agent is so disposed, even If the teacher has al
wed the text books entrusted to his care by the
the close OF the term, thus bringing loss upon
the town. This state Of affairs can only be
6 bs e r ~
hiring officers. 1854
This would give the impression that the
teachers are personally responsible for any
injury or loss to the text books. and would
al 81 rnan nS I. -.
district agents, who might, 'if SO disposed"
approve the bills OF the teachers, thus en-
abling the teachers to get their pay through
their own dishonesty and that Of the agents.
The law referred to is found in the Revised
| Statutes, chap. II, sec. 10, and reads:
| stroys or unnecessarily Injuries any school book
or appliance, furnished such pupil at the expense
Of SAID town. MS parent or guardian shall be noti-
| the satisfaction of such committee within rea-
sonable time, they shall report the case to the as
the Delinquent parent or guardian the value i Of
the book or appliance SO lost, destroyed or in
taxes.
In examining the law it is impossible to
find even the mention Of the word "teach-
ers." Instead Of making the teachers In any
way responsible for the books, the loss or
damage Is TO be made good by the parent or
Impossible therefore to find in the law any
support whatever for the statements of the
committee, to say nothing Of the manifest
nnjustness and Righteousness Of the sup
position that the teacher should make good
any injury the scholar might inllct on his
text book. TEACHER.
Norway.
Ed Mckay, while riding toward West
Paris, turned from the path In passing
team, when the sleigh slowed into the ditch
The horse became frightened. overturned
the sleigh and ran no one knows whittier
The horse came home alone without sleigh
or harness, and Mckay came on the train.
The shoe factory is doing a rushing basi-
ness. more than has ever been known at any
previous time. The new superintendent,
Mr.. Gum, has gained the entire confidence
and good will of the help, showing himself
the right man In the right place.
The Norway Tannery Company, owing to
the dizziness of the leather market, discharg-
ed large number of hands recently. The
company have large amount of stock on
hand ready for the market, for which there
is no demand.
Frank Marston, the son Of B. w. Marston,
while at work for B. +. Spinney & Co.,
moulding soles, caught his finger in the 10 a.
chine, and had it SO badly crushed as to re-
Quire amputati0n.
The temperance movement has been or
ganized with the following officers: Presi-
dent, G. +. " hitman; vice president, John
T. Devine; secretary and treasurer. e. F.
Smith.
The G. A. R. ball at the opera house last
week was social success. The Post cleared
over $50, which will be equally divided be-
tween the post and relief corps.
About IA inches OF solid snow fell from
| Sunday to Wednesday, followed by cool
weather, making good shedding and revival