Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-03-06

on, or any part thereof, and reinvest the
money received therefor In another and
less expensive place for the mainte-
nance of the poor"-the question that,
like the poor, is always with the voters
on town meeting day-what shall be
done with the poor farm-was brought
up. Judge Sade presented these reso-
lutions:
Resolred, That the incoming board of Sc.
lectmcn are hereby authorized to sell and
convey the coming year the town farm, or
any part thereof including all or any part of
the personal property thereon, as they may
deem best.
2. That, If the entire farm is sold in ac.
cordance with the foregoing resolution, said
select tmen are authorized to make proper
provision for the support of the poor that
may be kept at said farm rt the time of said
sale for the remainder OF the year.
Mr.. Slade spoke at length IN favor of
selling the farm. 1t was, he said, be-
coming every year more apparent that
the farm is burden. He figured out
that two horses and nine cows had eaten
up about 20 tons of hay within year.
The average cost per week of boarding the
paupers on the farm, from 1884 to 1891,
inclusive, had been S3.66. Farming by
the town was expensive business. The
cost of the farm, containing about 80
acres, was something near $4,000. Mr.
Tupper did not believe in selling the
property at the present low prices of
real estate it would not bring over
$4,000. 1t should be rented and the rent
applied to boarding the poor at the farm
or elsewhere. Mr.. Slade was opposed to
renting. After fur ther remarks by
Messrs. Comstock and Slade, the reso-
lutions were passed as presented. c..
f. Pinney was appointed agent to exc
tI,., Il q, 81,
the farm.
The article relative to the tax coming
up, Mr.. Slade explained that 5000 had
been paid during the year on the town
hall debt, leaving balance unpaid of
SlS,500. He moved, and it was voted,
that the selectmen assess such percent
age on the polls and rateable estate as
would raise $1,000 and enough more to
cover half the State tax of Is per cent,
the State school and the county taxes.
The election of officers was then at
tended to. 1t was decided to have three
selectmen, E.. j. Matthews was reflect
ed to first place, receiving l7G votes out
of total of Dos, II of the rest being for
Judge Slade and 10 scattering. p. f.
Chapman, G.. w. Earl and f. A. Bond
acted as tellers through the voting. G..
II. Balm was chosen second selcctman by
acclamation. For third member of the
board three ballots were taken. The
first resulted: Whole number, 243
necessary to "A choice, 122; F. A. Farr
had ~; Smith X. Seeley, 81; Allan Il.
Foote, so: E. G.. Piper. 81; scattering, 2
The second stood: Whole number
21G; necessary to a choice, l39; 5. n
Seeley had l3l A. X. Foote, So F. A.
Farr, So, f. G. Piper, 2l; scattering, l.
On the third Mr.. Seeley was elected, the
ballot standing: Whole number, 300
necessary to IA choice, LAG; S. k Seeley
had 1872; A. II. Foote, so; F. A. Farr
Is.
c. f. Pinney, the treasurer; NJ. A.
Munroe, first constable; Bert G.. Peck,
second constable; Philo 5. Severance,
L. ID. Twitchell and p. b. Cloyes, last
years listers; Judge Slade and Mr.
Beckwith, auditors; c. f. Pinney, trus-
tee of public money; Il. Kidder, inspect
or of leather; Il. NJ. Chapman, inspector
of wood, lumber and shingles, and W.
ii. Bliss, Esq, town agent, were all re-
elected without opposition, and the con-
stables were given jurisdiction of the
State Tor serving process. For oyer
seer of the poor there were two candi-
dates, j. b. Benedict, the incumbent, and
w III. vi. tusuilldu. llt DdIlOl SIOWpu
a total of 223 votes, l3l of which were
for Mr.. Cushman and 92 for Mr.. Bene-
diet, so the tirst-named was declared ell
ected. The remaining officers chosen
were: Superintendent of schools, Prof.
T. E. Boyce; fence-viewers, Albert d.
Austin, c. p. Ladgworthv and DIR. w.
II. Kingsley; town grand Jurors, Jas.
Nj. Slade, II. G. Royce and w. w. Tur-
ner; pound-keeper, o. A. Bicknell grand
jurors, A. r. FoOte, Albert Chapman,
p. S. Severance; petit jurors, E. X. Sew
erance, c. II. Balm, Jas. Vallette, f.. C.
Severance, c. ID. Earl.
Albert Chapman moved, and it was
voted, that the selectmen be instructed
to look over the town clock, and then.
if they found it worn out and unfit for
further service, that they deposit it in
the Sheldon museum and buy another
for the tower of the Congregational
church.
States Attorney Bliss called the at
tention of the new board of seectmen
and the constable to their duties under
the dog law and gave notice that the law
would be enforced this year. The in
come from dog licenses last year was
but 500. 40, while there are in town at a
estimate not less than 9iG
dogs.
The selectmen were directed, after a
protracted and somewhat acrimonious
debate, to draw an order for Sll.20 to
reimburse Mrs. NJ. A. Munroe for ex-
penditures on behalf of a pauper,
Mr.. Upper moved that the selectmen
be instructed, if they found it practical,
to rent the town farm and make con-
tract with the lessee to care for the poor
on the farm, provided he would do it as
reasonably as others, such renting to be
subject TO the right of the selectmen to
sell, if they deem it best. j. b. Bene-
dict, Judge Slade, j. II. New and Mr..
Comstock discussed the motion, which
was carried.
j. b. Benedict reported on bill refer
red to him for investigation at the last
town meeting. 1t was that of Mrs. John
Spencer, for the care of an infant child
of NJ. V. b. Bronson, which she kept
for 32 weeks in 1888 or 81. She took
Bronson's note for $l60 for the bill, but
had lost the note. Bronson's family sub
sequently came on the town. Mr.. Ben
edict reported the facts, and added that,
while Mrs. SDencer was deserving of