Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-21
THE TOWN REPORT
Will Be Ready for Distribution
Early Next Week.
Statements of the Town Omoers ana ne.
.omm.ndetIons for the Coming YEAR,

s,s,ements Of the Town Omcers and ne
Communications for the Coming heS''1
The selectmens report first reviews
brieAv The work OF rerlodeling the to"n
bn,,se and bpildinp a new vault. The to-
tal anount of money borrowed for the
town was SCI 600. Of which S2soj.o' "as
used in building and equippng the vault
The statutes Of the state containing ~
provision authorizing towns to bono lOI
expenditure for town houses, the mone!
was borrowed at five per cent after bonus
had been negotiated at four per cent, Win
a premium OF 1862. 1t is expected th4'
the next legislature will give towns the
right to issue bonds for the purpose lnli-
Gated. The action Of the selectmen IN re-
ference to the street railroad Il tod OIel-
IL. The selectmen find that "in several
particulars the railroad company mas uO'
fully complied with the terms OF our con
tract, but its neglect TO do so seems 20 u 70
have been excusable, as the road was not
completed and in operation until lale I'D
the summer, and there are many details
entering into the work Of getting into sue
cessful operation a new railway. As soon
as possible in the spring, the railroad com
pany should be required by the BOARD OF
selectmen to fully complete and equip Us
road in accordance with the terms o. the
contract referred to.
The cost 10 the town for regarding the
, hill near COY. Fuller's was 500.
II was found necessary TO replace the
bridge at West Brattleboro with a sub
stantial iron structure. The bridge was
bought early in the summer before iron al
/ vanced. and stands the town a. least sou
I less than the order could be duplicated ioI
/ to-day. The railroad paid One-third OF
/ the expense. The cost OF the bridge 10
/ the town was Sl5j3.1l. This, with the
repairs of other bridges. and the building
| Of three other small ones, replacing the log
abutments with substantial stone ones. has
made the item of bridge expenses far eX-
/ coed the estimates made for this year.
The widening OF BiIge and Washington
/ streets, and the laying Of drain on Birge
street has not been completed. although
/ the land damage has been paid and the
/ tile bought al an expense Of $3.50. within
+ SIS Of the estimated cost OF the work by
/ the board OF last year Il should be com
/ pleted as early as possible in the spring.
/ a petition has been presented 10 the
! board requesting the widening and regrad-
ing of Maple street. and an article in the
warrant brings this matter before the
voters Il is understood that this street
has never been officially surveyed. and
( there is no record with the town clerk Of
such a street. \ record Is required in
view of contemplated extension Of the
electric railroad into Esteyville, which
changes will necessitate some expenditures
by way of land damage, and one-haf the
expense Of regarding the street.
There has been transferred from the
general account 10 that CT the commissioner
SS6l.2S in excess OF the amount sppropri-
ated for highway purposes. The work de-
volving upon the commissioner has been
especially severe, owing TO the construction
of the street railroad.
The year just passed has been an ex-
traOrdinary one in the history Of the town,
so far as the labor deTolving upon its Off
GERS is concerned, and in relation to town
expenses. The town owes one temporary
loan 10 the Vermont National bank OF
| 500. The outstanding debts of the town
for its current running expenses are esti-
mated at $50, which, with a balance in
the town treasury OF Sl6e II. leaves a de-
felt of less than 500.
1t should be remembered that the board
has bought two teams for the use of the
town al an expense of nearly $1,000. Over
$500 has been expended for the bridge al
West Brattleboro, both large items for
which no estimates were made or appro-
priations provided. The very small net in,
come from the town house, together with
other items of smaller amount have all
tended 10 make this one Of the most ex
pensive years in the history OF the town.
While the floating Indebtedness of tn,
town has increased by about 500. the as
sets Of the town have correspondence in
creased, and if today the town should wist
TO dispose of the teams bought last year. il
could do so, so that it would not only win,
out the increased floating Indebtedness o.
the year, but leave a margin to its credit.
The following are the estimated expense.
and resources of the town for the comm.
year: