Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-02-18


---TOwn Agency Did business OF
over S1O.OOO---ItecOmme ndatIons.
The annual town officers report will be
ready for distribution Saturday. The Sc
lectmen state that they have endeavored
In expanding the money intrusted TO them,
TO use it in a conservative and careful
manner, rejecting all propositions where
money was to be expended unless they be-
lieved the public good demanded it, The
obligations of the town have all been met
when they became due; there is ne def
cheney to report. With the amount now
due on the tax list of 1897, and which is
collectable, the town will have balance
to its credit of about 500 with which to
begin the new year. During the year the
Liabilities of the town have been decreased
something over $1,000.
1t has been found necessary to expend
the income of the town house upon neces-
sary repairs and improvements, which
were more in the line of its completion,
and also included large item for insur-
ance. The town house is insured for $25,-
600, for which the sum of 1925 is paid In
premiums, and this amount with what has
been paid for insurng the contents makes
the Item of insurance foot up to nearly
$3.50. In the matter of better ventilation
of the Auditorium, which was recommend.
ed in our report last year, the board would
say that after carefully investigating the
matter they became satisfied that no COM
plete system of better ventilation could be
added, which would be satisfactory to the
taxpayers, without the expenditure of be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000, and we did not feel
justified in mourning that expense.
The board have followed, during the
past year, the rule adopted by them two or
three years ago, of making all repairs or
new work upon bridges of permanent and
durable nature. Four new bridges have
been constructed, with heavy abutments
and retaining walls, with posts and rails
of iron and with iron stringeIs, making
practically iron bridges. Most of the
bridges in town are in excellent condition,
all of them having been painted within
the last two years, and there is but one
that will need rebuilding during the CON-
ing year. The expense for the past year
! has been but a little over 500 in excess of
the estimate, and in our opinion the sum
of $1,000 for bridge work is liberal esti-
mate for the coming year
No new streets have been laid, but the
widening and regarding of Maple street,
under order of the court, was, in the mat
ter of expense, practically equivalent to
| its reconstruction. This work has been
done in very satisfactory manner, but in
order to get rid of the surface water, which
has always accumulated upon this street,
we found it necessary to regrade a portion
of Cherry, Cottage and Pleasant streets,
which added to the expense. The expense
upon this street exceeded the estimates
but at the same time was only what was
necessary, and furnished labor to many
men who were in need of work. The eX
pense of the Maple street work was S262T.
The seectmen also make statement il
regard to the seven electric lights on West
ern avenue, the expense of which has beer
borne by the town. They hope some ar
rangement for a cheaper service may be
made for these lights next summer, il
connection with the village authorities
upon the expiration of the present contrac
which the village has with the G isligh
company. An explanation Is made in re
gard to the expenses Of the road commits
sioner, exceeding the appropriation by 1918.
~. The statement is made that the tax col
lector is unable to make his settlement will
the town, $1,000 being due him, of which
is estimated that $1,000 can be collected
The tax collector has been faithful an,
vigilant, but the failure to collect Is due t,
hard times and lack of employment.
The town has no floating Indebtedness
and so far as possible all its current liabi
tiles have been paid. A tax of 80 cents Of
dollar on the grand list would defray tn
expenses of the town for the coming year
and leave a small balance to its credit, a
shown by the estimate. If per cent is l
be voted for stone roads, the tax should b
80 per cent. In the opinion of the select
men it would be better policy for the tow
to assess a tax of 30 cents on the dollar G
: the grand list, which is the same as raise
last year, as the extra sum will cover an
, possible contingency which may arise, an
if not used will constitute balance in tn
, treasury at the close of the year, which
not at all undesirable, and saves intere:
on temporary loans. The selectmen woul
therefore recommend a tax of 80 cents o
the dollar of the grand list
! The grand list is S4S, 93S Is; 30 cents o
= the grand list will raise S14, 6Sl. 43;
y cents on the grand list will raise SIT, l2S
: 50. The school directors recommend raj
ing a tax of 80 cents on the dollar upo
the grand list of the town school distri
y for school purposes.
= The following are the estimated e'
: penses and resources of the town for IL
I; coming year: