Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-02-07
TOWN REPORT is6,-2.
Figures from First Printed Reps n
Wary Much from Those az To-Day,

'"fsS' 'Sff fNoat "
II. ), Booth has in his possession PAM
phiet a considerable local value, being
The first printed report OF the town OF
Randolph with an account Of the expendi-
lures from Feb, ID, 1861, 10 Feb, ID, ls6a.
Ihis report Was published agreeably TO
resolution passed at the March meeting
IN 1905 which resolved, THAT the select
men and auditors audit all accounts pre-
ylous to the 18th OF FEBRUARY next and
that the seleelmen be instruct 10 make
out a list OF the towns expenditures for,
and the taxes paid during, the ensuing
year, and 10 have 800 copies printed ready
Tor distribution one week before the next
March NEE ingi said list 10 contain such
OF the items as the seleetmen aud auditors
may think advisable, providing the ex-
pense shall not exceed si0.n
Accordingly, Walton's steam printing
establishment al Montpelier TUNED out a
four page pamphlet in pink paper covers
that gave the report OF the seleetmen-
George w, Dillingham;, lockwood Holden
aud Nj, j, Lamson; the orders drawn
since the March meeting OF lS6l, aud the
report OF the audnors-L, ID, Herrick, j.
h. Parish aud Sidney Howard. The sum
total OF the expenditures in the report
figured sllAai, and no mention is made
OF the school or highway accounts, which
In those days were not included in the
ftSAAal luNh ca ltuetHs nut even win the
school aud highway accounts added, the
~, lS2 % OF disbursements in 1905 would
indicate that we have advanced a long
ways from the simple life OF ls6l-2.
Among the first items IN the old report
is : rs each to Daniel Eaton and William
Thayer for ringing the bell, which used TO
sound at . o'clock in tue morning, at
noontide aud again for 9 at night; then
hFhN "A -
peaceful sleep fell over the well-ordersa
community, The town was involved IN
litigation and paid Edmund Weston SIS
for fees in Woodstock and Braintree suits,
and Philandcr Perrin siS.2S for fees in
Woodstock and other suits. William
Shepard claimed 1850 for making six
guide boards, and George w. Mann had
bin of y for clearing snow of the bridge.
Ephraim 1bayer was oyerseer Of the poor
and expended S60l.i2 in caring for his
charges, who were then kept at the poor
house unless friends, with little aid
from the town, could give them shelter.
| This poor house, or the last one at any
rate, was located on the old road TO. the
Center and has long since been torn
down. Its site was about 80 rods nearer
this village than the house In which Frank
Sawyer now lives, and its maintenance
was given up In favor of the more econom-
| icsl plan yet followed ofhiring the towns
dependents boarded. poor farm was
chen cultivated for the support OF the I'M
| fortunates and in the overseer's report are
items regarding the sale OF cows. The
/ Elliott Cushman place was originally the
poor farm and for three years was carried
on by Deacon Lewis Fish, who assumed
charge OF it when he was first married,
The poor are more largely with us at
| present and required last year for their
support slSS3 %, raised not grudgingly by
the taxpayers Of Randolph, but with the
! good grace OF cheerful givers.
Town officers received Il day for their
services in 1872, a stipend that at the
present day has been raised TO $3.50.
/ Luther Holman, in addition to his work
as lister, received Il for making the mill
tia roll, and Lieut.. Mead was given 50 for
| procuring the assignments OF soldiers
wages to the use OF their families.
After this first printed report at the ex-
travagance OF 80, no more OF its kind were
seen for an interim OF 10 years. In 1876,
w. III. Dubois offered n resolution in town
meeting That the report OF expenditures
for the coming year be printed under the
direction OF the auditors, such report to
show for what purpose the money of the
town is used and cough copies be
\ printed so that every legal voter may
i have one; thai the report of the superin-
tendent of schools be included in said re-
port OF expenditures and the same distrib-
uted throughout the postoffices in town at
/ least four days previous to the next town
meeting; that sum not exceeding 30 be
hereby appropriated TO pay for said print
ing"
The resolution was adopted and, begin
ming with 1877, town report has been
printed every year, complete file OF
which from 1S77-19O6 is being bound in
three volumes for preservation IN the
Kim ball Public library. Written reports
| from IS69-1S77 with the exception of the
years '72-'75) were carefully kept by the
late Bailey Adams and are now in the
hands of his son, j. r. Adams.