St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-02-10

TWO CaucuSeS on holiday ay.-Flenty vi
Local Politics and Lots of Fun Ahead
The Town and School Reports Ready
for Inspection.
The republican town committee set the
political ball rolling by calling caucus
at the Town Hall, Friday, Feb. IL, at
2 O'Clock to nominate officers to be
chosen at the coming March meeting.
This is a legal holiday this year, but
that makes no difference and the day
will be celebrated by having two cau-
cuses at the same time, though not at
the same place. Some of the voters do
not like to participate in republican
caucus and as will be seen by our
advertising columns, have called another
caucus in the Stanley Opera House at
the same time. Up to the hour of going
to press we have not heard OF any more
caucuses, but there will be something
doing" this year in local politics if the
pace already established is kept up.
Of course the principal fight is likely to
come over the board of selectmen,
though it is not safe to predict what
other office will be under fire. The CAL
EDoNIAN understands that Mr.. Sargent
wishes to retire from the board this
year, that Mr.. Ladd is candidate for
re election and that the friends of Mr..
Gilman are urging him to remain upon
the board. Charles Weeks of Riverside
Farm is also candidate for selectman.
w. H. H. Robe is again candidate for
overseer of poor, and present indications
are that there will be no more opposi-
ton than there has been since his first
election. The two school directors,
whose terms expire this year, are can
didates for reelection.
Pursuant to vote passed at the last
March meeting both the town and
school reports have been printed and
will be distributed by mail to the voters
before the caucus. Both are mighty
interesting reading as will be seen by
our summaries.
The total amount paid out by the road
commissioner in 1908 is $6386. 6.8S; the
credit items amounted to $3217 81,
leaving the net cost of highways $685.
94
The report gives the following COM
parative statement of the overseer OF the
poor for the past five years, the amount
expended in 1908 being less than in 1905,
and only S78454 more than in 1907,
Notwithstanding the hard times
\ Net expense including Overseer's salary
in 1904, $6111 90; in 1905. $723049;
in 1906, $6614.35; in 1907, $629913;
in 1908, $7O8367
The selectmen's town farm expense ac-
count amounted to $349.23 in 1908 and
the credits for pasturing and sale of hay,
hogs and horses were $552.77. In 1907
the expense was 1881. .43, and the credits
$397.16. They paid out $6075.51 on
highways and bridges in 1908, and
$26OS.35 in 1907. Orders drawn for
abatement of taxes amounted to $2489.-
81 damage by dogs, $152.
The expense of the board of health was
$533.14 in 1908, and 1881 .35 in 1907.
There have been reported during the
!, year 43 cases of typhoid fever; six Of
tnumps; 16 of diphtheria; three OF erysip-
!, elias; 119 of whooping cough; two of
German measles; and 55 sanitary inspec-
tions have been made.
: The total orders drawn by the select
men including support of poor, town
farm, highways and bridges, rolling ETC.,
special orders, orders for abatement and
4 per discount town tax, damage by
dogs, expense board of health. general
orders and town officers salaries and
expenses, amount to STA, ,557.67 in
: 1908, and $51 ,528.22 in 1907. The
past year, however, the expense of in
dexing the records and purchasing
library bureau office fittings has largely
increased the towns expense.
The town tax for the year 1908 was
$67, ,577.17 and of this $59, ,59S.9S was
collected by the town treasurer under
special vote, leaving 81, ,978.29 unpaid.
The first report from Superintendent
Corwin F. Palmer, to be found in the
school report, affords very interesting
facts for parents and all interested in the
schools. Miss Edith NJ Nichols gives
her ninth years report as supervisor OF
drawing, and says the work done in her
department the past year is the most
satisfactory of any since she began her
duties here. Principal G. P. Howland
brings some important facts to the
notice of parents concerning admission
to the Academy of students from st.
Johnsbury. and the selection of studies
by students after their admission.
During the year the 9Th grade in
Summerville has been transferred to
Paddock Village, to relieve the crowded
condition in Summerville. At the request
of the citizens of st. Johnsbury Center
an additional schoolroom has been
opened in the lower story of Green
Mountain Grange Hall, where IA pupils
of the eighth and ninth grades attend.
The Stark school was reopened at the
beginning of the fall term and the
Spaulding school was discontinued; an
additional room has been opened at East
St. Johnsbury. The total expense of
maintaining the schools in 1908 was
$50 1898 and in $1907, $32. .624.25.
The republican town committee have