Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-03-02

The towns liabilities are q, 1855; as
sets, S2,977.77; net Indebtedness, s6l9.lS,
The debt last year WAS e ,330.95.
The auditors have made the following
support Of poor, 1850.
Bridges, 0O0
Current expenses, 300.
State school tax, lofO u
" highwav tax. l070.l4
4" tax, 2l3l.
s6770.2s
The auditors estimate that there should
be raised 1851. A tax of 40c. on the dol
lar, which will raise $780, will accomplish
this. This will wipe out the small in
debtedness and meet the expenses for the
coming year. The tax last year was 45c.
The grand list OF 1898 was S2i ,402.S4.
The cost OF the town schools the past
year was 1886 As, including all expenses.
Last year it was s470S.63.
The only lawsuit against the town
year ago, the Darling pauper case, has
been settled out OF court. and no cases are
now pending to which the town is party.
Last year the Indebtedness OF the school
account to the town treasury was s624b2.
This year it Is only 1922 p. Last year
there were school orders outstanding
amounting to s941.70; this year they are
1924. so.
The report OF the trustees of the public
library shows that one year ago the libra
~ contained 7S7 volumes. Since obtained
by purchase, 151; by gift, SO; from Ladies
Library association, 1906 making total
number at present 2544 volumes.
Included in the books purchased are ~
volumes OF Chambers Encyclopedia, 1898
edition. The trustees very cordially rec
Jgnize the gift from the Ladies Library
ssociation.
During the past wear sol different per-
sons have taken 1862 books from the libra.
~ rooms of which 1875 were taken by PEG
ole at the Center, besides what were taken
from the branch library at the Centeri 81
persons have taken 1872 books from the
branch at East Randolph, making the to-
tai number of patrons during the year
592, taking out s 065 books.
An inventory of the books OF the library
was taken in December last. Every book
was accounted for. Only one look had
been seriously damaged or destroyed ano
that had been paid for.
The library was open for the circulation
OF books Nov. IA, 1895, two years and three
months ago. since which time II, 2S7 books
have been taken out.
The State Library commissioners report
for 1898 shows that during the four years
the commission has been established free
Libraries have been started under the state
aid act in 20 towns. or these the Ran
dolph public library has bad more rapid
growth in books, and good books too,
and more liberal patronage than any
other.
This is really wonderful showing. The
beneficeut influence OF these II 900 books
read in this community cannot be over
estimated.
A new catalogue is absolutely necessary.
The financial statement of the library
showed s70.62 on hand year ago and
appropriations from village and town and
cash received from catalogues and hnes
amounting TO s2is 9S,making IN al $3.50 20
Expenditures were 1907. of which slbI 70
went for books, leaving balance on hand
OF $50 36.
The school report OF Superintendent
Partridge is worthy of careful perusal.
He has spent 81 days in making visits to
the district schools under his charge. tie
saws that some schools and some scholars
have done better work than he has before
known them to and some have not done
so well as they might. He believes the
free text book system is proving its
worth. The town ought to appropriate
something for modern appliances for
schools each year. The number OF pupils
enrolled in the town district aside from
those living in other towns and those
whose tuition is paid at the Graded
school is 246, or 10 more than last year.
Inere is some Improvement III atbshu
ance, but still much is left to be desired.
In hardness, especially, the showing Is
astonishing. There were 66s marks
against 1874 last year and 221 the wear be
fore. One pupil was tardy II times IN q
ten weeks term. The number of visitors
to school has more than doubled In two
years. Better terms for district scholars
in our Graded school are demanded. The
report closes with a paragraph dealing
zach dictrfpt GpparatplV and giving
the names OF scholars neither absent nor
tardy.
There are no special features in the
warning. Town meeting is next week
Tuesday. There will be no "long ballot,
but the good old-fashioned way OF elect
ing officers will prevail.
gntl.- I,aolg ~ paxf naga1