Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-02-28

OF soldiers monument ought not
longer to be a reproach to our patriot
ism and intelligence. The example
set by our Scotch citizens ought to be
followed. We possess fac; material,
we ought to find the means. The cul-
tivation Of the memory Of a worthy
past is guaranty of letter future.
PUBLIC BuILDISGs.
The city hall and two school build
ings have been erected during the
last two years. These Buildings with
their furnishings and sizes have cost
over 800, 000 This suSnis Sl2, 600
greater then the entire tax receipts
for the past year. TO met this large
expenditure there has been no special
tax. except one of twenty five cents
On dollor of the grand, list for one
year. This special tax Fielded $4,000
in round numbers. There was S15, 900
Of insurance received on The old town
hall. This left balance of $67, 900
to be provided from other sources, that
there should be an inc ease in our
general indebtedness was inevitable
without an increase of the tax rate.
The city voted to bOrrow money for
the two school houses except the
SO, 600 special tax. Since the two
school houses cost over 826, 900, it
! left to be borrowed for his purpose
LATTER deducting the Ss, 600 special
tax, SIS, 600, which WIS necessarily
added to our indebtedness. All these
buildings are paid for, except about
81, 100 for seats and Gnd small
balance to Mason & Co. The various
items Of expenditures on the city hall
will be found in the IT ,ort of the
property committee.
The hall part of the b, ilding rents
for 81, $50, the post Office rooms for
81, 900, the liquor room Or $3.50, the
grand army room $25 ole Office for
1852, making a total Of 3,417. The
rentals from other real 9State brings
the sum up to 1896. One of the
smallest rentals, according to accom-
mOdationS, is the post office rooms.
When the council fixed tie rental at
81, 600 per year, it had assurances that
81, 900 to 81, 200 would be sufficient to
put the rooms in SHAPE fl.N,tse. Aside
from expenses incurred in adapting
| the building itself to the purpose,
we have paid out $2,015. We have
to keep the fixtures and furniture in
repair and furnish heat and lights,
and do the ianitor work about the
rooms. This Will cost about $3.50 per
year, and the insurance about $25.
The depreciation cannot be figured at
less than s per cent. on Sl6O year.
The rental for five years will be $5,-
900, subject to the following reduc-
tionS:--
Insurance, five years, 10
Heat, lights and janitor'S
five years $50
| Eight per cent. reduction 5 years, 800
Furniture and fixtures years, 2,0l5
Simple interest on $2,O15 at
per cent, 400
$1,000
Taking the $1,000 from $1,000, or of
rental it leaves 1910. If we take
the depreciation of $500, from $2O15,
the cost of the fixtures we shall have
$1215 on hand at the end of the term.
But the property could not be sold
for this amount according with an ex-
perience with second hand post office
furniture. But assuming that it
could be, it will be seen that the city
will not be net, but about S400 per
year for the rooms rented to the post
office. While l favored the renting
of the rooms to the post office, expert
ence proves it to have been mistake.
The treatment that the city receives
from the post Office department is ex-
acting and needlessly burdensomc.
When the present lease expires it
ought to be renewed. The United
States is able to support the post office,
and the city ought not to carry the
burden that any contract we can Sc
cure with the post Office department
entails.
Before it was completed there was
a disposition to criticise the city coun-
Gil for the plan of the city hall. But
the voters themselves selected the
plan and designated the architect.
The council, therefore, was not the
Just recipient of the criticism. The
building is now beyond criticism. 1t
is a fine structure, as good as the re-
sources of the city would warrant, and
an answer to it's critics. The city
business is well accommodated and an
income secured to meet repairs and
care.
Continued on second page.