Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-05

winch have now amounted to $1,000
For Lake View cemetery we have trust
fund amounting to $685., and an accumula
ton OF $500. These funds are carefully in
vested and great care should be used to the
end that they never be impaired
The income of the Elmwood cemetery
fund was 81. 26, being an increase of
s155 Oh over last year; that of Lake View
$3.50. 81, an increase of 1920 6S
ESTIMATES FOR THIS YEAR
The estimate submitted by Mayor Hasel-
ton January /, for the present year. showed
the assets of the city to amount to $40, $50. o.
60. The following items, however, will not
be- available to apply on this years expendi
ture, and are largely, it is to be feared, val
ueless;
UnCollectable taxes, estimated. .. $4,000
Assessment certificates not due ....., l7l759
UncolIeCted water rates from depart
nVHVS'''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''. o'lloV
sG,O275
Deducting this from the above amount
leaves the available assets at the beginning
of the present fiscal year, Sl3, 1862 03. or
| the uncollectable taxes about 5000 are due
from the Rutland railroad, which they dis
pute.
The Liabilities as shown in Mayor Hasel-
should be added tho amount to be paid for
the road roller, which we will undoubtedly
| keep, 81, 600, making the total Liabilities
| $lS, 226 o.
This shows an excess of liabilities over
available assets OF $4S64 81 How this de-
| felt is to be met must be determined by you
| There is, however, but one way ultimately
| for public debts to be paid and that is by
| taxation.
TAXATION
There is but one opinion I take it, among
| taxpayers about the desirabilty Of II low
| rate of taxation. 1t is desirable in itself
| and desirable in its secondary effects As
| has been said, moderate sum of money
will be more carefully used and will rs u
rule accomplish more pro rata, therefore we
| should keep within strictly economical linz
| its. AS an inducement to prospective resi-
dents and business interests to locate here, u
| low rate is of great Importance Ii will /
am sure, be your earnest aim to keep the
rate as low as is consistent with the best in
terests of the city. 1t is, however, unfortu-
nate that at this time we must not only pro
vide for the requirements of the present
| year, but also make good the deficiency from
| last year.
The figures given above show a deficiency
| of $4364.32, in place of estimated not assets
| of SS763. OG, on Jan. |, 1894, making n sum
| OF TS621. % to be provided for by taxation
| i'll addition to the estimates made by Mayor
| Haselton January |. And this is not all
for we tlnd in the estimated receipts for
| 1894 is included the sum OF $3l 10 from
water rates to be paid by the other depart
ments to the water department. but in tho
| estimate for current expenses no provision is
| made for the money necessary to DO raised
| by the other departments wheIewith to paw
the water department. This, therefore,
| makes the estimated receipts 50 10 too large
| which increases by that amount the sum TO
| be raised, making total increase over
| Mayor Haselton's estimate of Sill, 731. 80.
For the regular expenses of the city | have
| no doubt that tho tax of 100 cents on the
grand list will be sufficient if careful and
| economical methods are pursued
SANITARY.
The sanitary condition of the city is of the
greatest Importance from every point of
view. Persons of intelligence are thorough
ly alive to these questions in these days and
the first inquiries made regarding a pro
| posed place of residence are for the facts
| about the water supply, the sewerage also
the record for healthfuness Many resi-
| dents fail to understand the value of strict
| sanitary regulations and often by wilful
| neglect of or Resistance to such regulations
| harm themselves and the rest of the COM
munity. Burlington is very favorably stu
ated for effective sanitation and il should be
our aim to fully avail ourselves of wise aud
| practicable methods for the prevention of
disease and promotion of health. If our
reputation has suffered in the past. let us
make sure that it does not in the future
| The most important points TO be gained are
an amply supply of pure water, a thorough
system of sewerage, and an efficient admin
lstration OF sanitary regulations.
| WATER
AS the result of the agitation carried on
for several years it was last year decided to
extend the intake of the water works such a
distance into the lake AS would certainly
prevent any possibility OF contamination OF
the water supply of The city by the sewer
age. am glad to report that the contract
or of this work, Nj. j. &. Falcon, is max
ing good progress, having already com
pleted the iushore work. lie is ready to be
gin the submarine work as soon Us the pipe
| arrives and that will come forward on the
first boats coming up after the opening of
navigation. The superintendent of the
water works expects TO obtain water at a
point beyond the breakwater by the lirst Of
June. The contract calls for tine completion
of the work by October |, but the contract
or expects to complete it by August l.
consider it a matter for congratulation
that there will hereafter be no question
about the purity Of our water supply, and
look for decided improvement OF the
healthfulness of our city.
The water department now turns into the
city treasury considerable sum each year
1t is for you to consider whether this fact is
a sufficient reason for n further revision OF
water rates. This amount, howeve r, will
after this year be reduced TO quite an extent
by the interest to be paid on the bonds for
the extension of the intake.
1t has been the policy of the department
to encourage the use of meters, and it is
recommended that this policy be continued,
as this greatly tends to overcome needless
waste. In the matter of the amount which
has by vote of your board been charged to