Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-02-27
The Town Report.

! town of Randolph was distributed to the
voters Monday, preparatory to the annual
town meeting March 3rd.
1t contains forty-two pages and gives in
clear, concise manner the whole business
OF the town for the past year. Italso con-
tains the report Of the superintendent Of
schools.
| The net Indebtedness of the town is
81, 29S, against 81 ,52901 last year. The ex-
penditures of the highway department
have amounted to S2,92S.S3, and there is
money in the treasury of that department.,
over the orders outstanding,to the amount
OF $155.45, and highway taxes to the sum
of 1885, uncollected. Both sums are
available on the highway expenses OF the
| coming year.
The school directors have expended for
books, under the free text book law, which
first became operative this year, and for
necessary expenses in connection there
with, S721. otherwise the school ex-
penses have been just about the same as
year ago.
Between thirty-five and forty per cent of
the sales OF liquor have been to residents
of adjoining towns; while the net profit ON
liquor sold has been less than two and one
half per cent.
The auditors have made report to the
state treasurer, in accordance, with the
law, but there is no liability for any pay
ment to the state, as the net profits were
seven and one-half per cent less than the
penalty limit.
The expense OF bridges and the repairs
on the same, especially In the west part OF
the town, Is more than double what it was
last year, largely on account Of the unus-
ually high water in the spring and fall
The current expenses this year have been
1851 less than last year, SO that the total
onnuuf avpopdad nv tho colont MGR, this
year is smaller than the amount year ago.
The town agent reports that the suit Of
the town OF Randolph vs.. the town OF
Roxbury, the Elijah Darling pauper case,
reported last year as pending, ID still un-
settled. The case was ready for trial, on
the part of this town, at the December |
term of the Orange county court but was
put over until the June term Of court at |
the request and at the expense OF the town |
ing in which Randolph is interested.
The support of the poor cost 81 1851 IL, |
which is little less than the year before
The report OF the tax collector is given |
fully in relation to the unpaid taxes on |
the different tax bills, and shows rather |
more than the usual amount OF unpaid |
taxes, owing to the particularly hard times |
in which to collect.
The treasurer's report, on pages rs, ~
and %, shows in full detail, with dates,
all receipts and disbursements for all pur-
poses during the year. On pages % and |
20 will be found the towns part OF the
and on page 30 the town school
part, and on the following page the high
way account-all of which are separated
and made distinct according to law, and
each shows the financial situation of the
respective departments OF the towns af-
fairs.
The estimates for 1895, to be provided for
by taxation, are as follows:
Expense of the poor, $4,000
Repairs on bridges, 10000
Current expenses, 10000
State school tax Of Sc. on grand list, !, O37. 90
State highway" " 1887 90
One-third OF state tax of &c., $1,000
County tax Of 1c. on grand list, 2O7.00
Net ind 'btness Feb. 20, '96, 1,29S07
Making 1t necessary to raise, S7,209.07
The grand list Of 1895, on which the state
school and highway tax will be raised, is
nc, 752.2S. A tax of thirty-five cents on
IDLY raise 1920, but il further sums are
,oted at the coming meeting, a larger tax
will have to be raised.
The town superintendent of schools, the
Rev. c. F. Partridge OF the Center, reports
hat thirteen schools have been main
aimed for three terms of eight, ten and
welve weeks, and SO far as possible the
anne teachers have been retained for the
ntire year. Repeated visits to all of the
chools have proved teachers and pupils, as {
whole, faithful to their duties. The faults
# the teachers have been largely in the I
inc of lax discipline; and on the part Of
he scholars, lack Of punctuality.
The total enrolment of scholars is 242,
pupils from Bethel and Tun- 9
ridge but not including those from the
own district enrolled outside of the thir- 9
cen schools. The number enrolled is
much larger than for several years, and it
) considered likely that this increase may +
e due in part to the free text book sys- T
EN-. The superintendent thinks that an t
observer will be compelled 9
0 admit the free text book law has worked
cry satisfactorily in this town.
In the absence from the state of Mr.. j.
:. Mead, one of the auditors, and on ac-
cunt of the inability of Mr.. E. s. Hall to o
i've any time to the auditing OF the ac- n
cunts, Hon. VIM. H. Dubois has alone I
TENDED to the making up of the report
no small undertaking and has succeed
d in presenting the towns affairs to the
ublic in a comprehensive manner.
(Other locals on next page.)