Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-04-06

| department was upon the new hose
house provided in Ward five for the
accommodation of the Howard Hose COM
| pauy. Such nccomm odations as that com
pany will now have it has long needed aud
deserved, and the company and property
owners in the south part of the city are to
be felctated upon the erection of this build
ing. Battery Park has not as yet received
the attention which it deserves. With its
size, its outlook and its associations, 1t i.
an inheritance highly to be priced but our
generation has given little evidence that it
is appreciated.
THE POLICE.
1t has come about that our city is and for
some time has been free from high crimes to
an extraordinary degree. Our citizens have
a justifiable sense of practical security
against burglaries, robberies and larcen cies
| Efforts at improvement in the police force
should Mt no time be reiugushed, but 9TH
ing is gained by ignoring the merits and
services of efficient, faithful, and, withal,
poorly paid officers. The present system OF
appointing large number of special police
men for local purposes at the request aud on
the recommendation of those interested in
such appointments, affords occasional oppor-
| tunities for comment and criticism which are
uni just to the regular and paid policemen Of
the city, but the system caunot at present
well be abandoned, as it results in a great
saving of expense to the city.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
The present poor farm is in a locality in
which the price of real estate, on account
OF great natural advantages, Is somswha t
high. A question has therefore been raised
as to whether the city has not in this farm
an unnecessarily large investment and it
has been suggested that the city might
withdraw some portion OF its capital SO in
vested and at the same time provide better
accommodate ions for its poor, by selling the
present poor farm and purchasing another
Ia a different locality. Such steps should
not be taken without elaboration and a
careful estimate OF present and prospective
values, but the suggestion deserves oonsid-
GRAFTON. If pest house is to be regarded
as necessary adjunct of poor farm then
the question OF tue location Of such farm ac-
quires additional emphasis.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Our facilities for sounding fire alarms and
for extnguishing fires are on the whole
good, and the enrolment in our fire com
pauies is to a high degree creditable to the
city. The prevention OF fires is Il matter
which has never received adequate stteu-
ton, and reflections upon the careessness of
the community in this regard have been
suggested to many minds by the recent fire
which put in peril some of the most valu-
able and centrally located property in thu
city. The office of fire warden is clearly of
great Importance. The wardens should be
selected with care, and should on their part
consent to bestow some time upon their OIL
cial duties and to exercise considerable vigil
lence in their discharge.
THE FREE LIBRARY.
The use made of the library is now so
great that the efficient librarian, without
pay for extra time, actually keeps it opsn,
on an average hour or two day more
than the regulations of the trustees require.
The Library hall is INCIDENTALLY 100 small to
accommodate the present collection of
books, and the matter of increased library
room must be treated as practical rather
than as a sentimental question. The site OF
the present building is more desirable if the
usefulness OF the library is to be looked at,
than any other which has been suggested,
and IL is thing of no small consequence
that the city already owns it, The extern
sion of the building, under the sup.r vision
of competent architect, westward
to the west line OF the City hall,
would afford book facilities for year,
to come, would greatly beautify
the adjacent park and as compared with
the purchase of new site and the erection
of new building, would involve a light
expenditure. 1t may not bs too early to
secure plans and estimates from compe ten
architects in order that such immediate work
as is done to meet present necessities may
not be inconsistent with an ultimate desi an.
Some conference between the trustees of the
library and the proper committee of the
Board of Aldermen looking to enlarged use
fitness on the part OF the library nigh
well be had.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
, The interest which is at present generally
felt in affairs under the control Of the sShoo
} department relates to a considerable exten
} to the completion of the new school build
ing begun last year. This building when
done must be furnished, aud for furniture
the board of school commissioners ask G
special appropriation.
The report of the superintsndent o.
schools and the reports therein embodied
are of statistical value and show that Bur.
lington is taking no back steps in the mat
ter of public education. law of the las
session Of the Legislature requires the ap-
pointmsnt of two truant officers and TIA,
law must, of course, be complied with, bu
it is doubtful II two officers can deal will
truancy more effectually and satisfaotoril,
l than it has been dealt with by the sin e /
truant officer appointed year ago under
the law then in force.
MISCELLANEOUS SUGGESTIONS.
An ordinance OF the city provides tina
e every person who, within tho limits of tn
/, city, uses any weight or measure to ssosr
tain the length, weight or quantity OF an,
article sold by him shall have such weig b
s or measure sealed by the sealer of weig BIT
9 and measures appointed by the City Couu
1 Gil. SO many articles are sold by person
, transiently in the city whose degree OF re
t sponsbility is in many cases unknown, tina
9 there should be secured to purchasers tn
: protection which the ordinance referred t
r was designed to give them. The office O
= seaier of weights and measures. may advised
r ly be bestowed upon some one who IL pre-
: pared to exact compliance with the props
9 commercial regulations of the city tho
a come within tue purview of his office.
: Until a comparatively recent time matter
h of Importance, to whatever department O