The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-02-22

G34. 1000. The Brattleboro library
now stands first among those OF the
state which have not received large
endowments from individuals aud its
success has been derived directly from
the liberal aud general interest of the
town itself. The total number OF
books issued during the past year is
LAS, slight increase over 1908. A
large number of valuable and import
ant works have been purchased dur
ing the past year from the Grout fund.
School Directors Report.
The town school directors report
that / legal schools have been main
tanned besides two terms in district No,
10. They state, however, that 1t is
quite possible that the new law relat
ing to legal schools will cause the clos
ing of one or more of the smaller
schools, They ask the consideration OF
the voters ON the question of locating
a new schoolhouae in the vicinity of
the old brick yard, During the past
year the directors received from Brat
tleboro academy $lO5.6l more than last
year. The shrinkage in receipts from
regular sources, however, has greatly
curtailed the amount of the school
funds. The portion received from the
state school tax was Si32.i9 less than
the previous year; from the town tax
S346.25 less and from the interest ON
the United States deposit money
$l42.2l less, making total decrease
from these sources of S92O.95. The
United States money has heretofore
yielded $77569 annually, but since this
fund has been recalled, nothing will be
received from this source hereafter.
The directors call attention TO the fact
that the new law setting apart $780,
600 for rebates to be paid for towns
that pay for transportation of pupils
and the law providing for rebates for
tuition paid for higher education bases
the condition of such rebates on 500
school tax. They, therefore, believe it
wise to take advantage of the benefits
offered by these laws and recommend
a town school tax Of 500.
Report of Superintendent of Schools.
Rev. l.. NJ. Keneston, superintendent
of town schools, reports that the past
year has been very successful and that
the schools in Centerville and West
Brattleboro have made marked prog
ress, which is doubtless due In con
siderable part to a growing spirit of
studying recesses among the adult pop
ulation and of teachers and young peo'
pie when not in school, Truancy, he
SAYS, has been locally epidemic in
three schools, but wholly unknown in
others. The trouble in nearly all these
cases seems to be>with the parents.
Health Officers Report.
DR.. Henry Tucker, health officer,
states that the town has had one of
the most extensive epidemics of whoop-
ing cough in its history the past year
The first case was reported March 30,
1906, and up to Feb, of this year l76
cases had been reported. DR.. Tucker
says that the failure of the quarantine
precautions was due in a large measure
to the failure of families to recognize
the disease in its early stages, also to
the unfortunate idea prevalent among
many parents that whooping cough is
a malady that every child must have
sooner or later. During the past year
the town has seen a material gain in
sanitation but there is still work to be
done along this line. What was said
last year in regard to the sanitary con
ditions of the town house is still true
In closing DR.. Tucker says that should
the Brattleboro dam materialize the
growth of Bratteboro is inevitable and
the question of proper water supply
and proper sewage will become more
and more important.