Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-04-20
BRATTLEB0R0 LOCAL NEWS
THE BAILIFFS RECOMMEND TAX OF 40 CENTS
Reports from the Several Departments Of the Village Government
Inventory Fire Department Shows Property to the Value Of
$43, 346-.2I Arrests During the Year

The annual village reports have been
printed ready for distribution. The
bailiffs make their annual report under
the following headings;
Police.
In compliance with the instructions Of
the voters at the lasu annual meeting the
services of the day officer have been dis
pensed with, and a thorough reorganiza-
tion of the department made under the
able and efficient management of William
l.. Warren and the cooperation of all the
officers. This branch of the village SER
vice has been most satisfactory and we
would heartily recommend to our sue
cessors that Mr. Warren be retained in
this important office.
Fire Department.
The horses owned by the village, your
board found, were employed at too great
a distance from the steamer house to
render efficient service, therefore, the
section of the village extending from the
Wells fountain to the Universalist church
on Canal street, and Mr.. Gilmans stables
on Elliot street, including portions of
Grove, High, Green and Flat streets was
selected as the territory in which che
horses might be engaged. On notifying
the road commissioner he Informed the
board if that was the limit that he could
not employ the village team. If they
there would be no work for them to do.
The result was that the team has been
kept in the steamer house at an extra
expense of about $500, thus reducing the
revenue that amount. This is Offset by
the fact that several telephone calls have
brought out the chemical engine and ex-
tinguished what might have been serious
fires. These still alarms would have been
general alarms If Mr.. Horton had not been
on duty in day time.
In pursuance of the instructions OF the
annual meeting the Estey steamer was
purchased at a cost of $4,000; 1t was ac-
cepted by your board after a thorough
trial At one of the monthly inspections
an unfortunate accident occurred. The
engine was considerably broken and the
engineer, F. D. Weld, was seriously hurt.
The engine was sent to the factory and
repaired at an expense of over $780, The
steamer house has been repaired by heavy
rocks where the walls had begun to
spread and bill of $685. paid for repairing
the hook and ladder house, that came
over from the year before.
Sewers.
New. sewers have been laid on Fuller
place and Southern avenue and general
repairs have been made. By order of the
health officer that portion of the Flat
street sewer running through the cellar
of Mrs. William Moran's house has been
replaced with S-inch iron pipe. The ex-
pense, including the flushing in the spring
and fall was $4,000
Street Lighting.
At the beginning of the year there was
no contract with the Brattleboro Gas
Light company for street lighting. The
price paid was SIS per year for the rs
candlepower incandescent midnigh, sS5
for the 1000 candlepower midnight and
$40 of the all night 1900 candlepower
lamps for 300 nights each year. Your
board sought information by correspond
ing with several villages correspond
ing in population with Brattleboro. The
result was not satisfactory. Alton D.
Adams of Worcester, Mass, an electrical
expert, was engaged at an expense of $40,
and a contract entered into for a term
of five years, including several important
changes on lines recommended by Mr..
Adams. The most important is that the
lights burn every night in the year at a
cost of $3.50 for the midnight incandes-
cent, SIS for the midnight 2000-candle-
power, and $50 for the 1900 candlepower
all night; the total cost per year being
within $21 of what Mr.. Adams recon-
mended as a fair price. This reduction
in price, with the additional 65 nights
service, your board considered to be fair,
both to the gas light company and the viii
lage; several incandescent lamps have
been added and an arc light. The arc
light on Elliot street near Daniel Brosna-
mans ana the one Ine
hill on Canal street have been replaced
with 25-candle- power incandescent lamps
The change is a marked improvement,
giving a more equal distribution of the
light. 1t is recommended that like
changes be made on other streets. The
lighting service can be greatly improved
by a judicious trimming of trees on most
of the streets.
Finances.
The finances of the village are in good
condition. The village debt of SIS, 900
$4,000 for the purchase of the Estey
steamer and $1,000 for the use of the water
board, borrowed this year, is not a heavy
one; 5000 was appropriated for the use OF
the water committee at the annual meet
ing. This was exceeded by the employ
ment of an extra engineer to complete the
committees report, the printing OF the
same and analysis of water samples.
$170.42
There is cash on hand, $5276O
Due on sewer assessments, 275 90
Due from Mr.. Gordon, collector, 391 9S
$11945S
Deduct from this amount attachments
and Mr.. Gordon's salary $4,000 and the
balance is a resource for the coming year.
Estimates for the Coming Year.
Fire department, $1,000. 90
Lighting streets, 100000
Sewers, 400 90
Police 6nn m