The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-08
WESTPORT
Home from Mexico-The New Town Hall --SmeIts-Town Tax and Income West Long Lots School-Poor Salaries for Teachers,

Everything moves alohg as usual in this quiet town. The recent events to attract attention are the arrival home of Town Clerk Hyatt from a hur- almost froze to death. He was glad to get back into the genial atmos- phere of Westport. It is said that MT. Homer Beers came back with him.
 The new town hall slowly approach es completion and will probably be ready for the town officials by the 1st of April. It is good looking build ing, but by no means imposing. A two story house with a basement, it stands upon an elevation above the main street, not far from the present town offices. It has been built of field stone, laid up with black cement. The whole cost of the structure is something over S1S,000. It is thought to be reasonably fire proof but many residents of the town think it is too small. Especially is this the case with the room set apart for the town clerk In the, base ment. there are cells for those who break the law, but it is presumed they will for a long time remain empty in such well ordered town. It is stated that smelt fishing was suspended on inauguration day. This was not on ac- count of the ceremonies at Washing ton, or for any special admiration for the new President, but because the weather was not thoroughly enjoyable.
 Miss. Jennie Keen recently died in tOWh st NICliul O1 luOcICulOSlS, anu was buried from the church of the AsSump- ton.
 Miss Catherine Luck will soon resign her position in the choir of the Greens Farms church.
 MT. Irving Mills is home from Springfield, Mass.
 A week ago man named Tom White is said to have caught 125 pounds of smelt in the harbor of this town. This is not a fish story, but a sober fact. a erOf n has been suggested that the local fishermen form a smelt trust and run up the price of fish. Excellent idea.
 The selectmen are causing Riverside avenue to be repaired, when the snow permits.
 Mrs. Danniel B.. and Miss Ruth Bradley, have returned from a trip to Florida. They were at Jacksonville, Tampa, and St. Augustine The prices for a room at Palm Beach were very high and the accommodations cores pondingly poor. Everywhere one went tip was expected.
 MT. Samuel A. Purdy frequently visits Bridgeport on business.
 The tax list in town amounts to s4,- 196, ,346.
 Mr William Rider is home from
 The tax this year in town will be mills on a dollar.
 The great kick which had been ad- vertised about the closing of the West Long Lots school which was expected to materialiZe at the last town meeting did not prove to be much of a blow. since there was a technical blunder in calling the meeting, and nothing Of a legal nature could be done. A num- Der of short speeches were made, and some of the inhabitants of the West Long Lots district were afraid the value of real estate would decrease if the school was closed. It appears that there are all of 12 school children ;,, district md their rents do not want them to walk mile and a half to school. Supt. Wheatley informed the 75 or less gentlemen who were present, that the old district school system is being abolished. It is better to have one school with a suf- ficient number of teachers than it is to throw the work of a whole school upon one teacher In small school the tions daily. MT. Wheatley said the teachers of Westport get a mere pit tance and that all good teachers are drawn off to New York state where better salaries are paid.
 The remarkable statement has found its way into print that this town gets an income of s35,O0O year from liquor licenses; s33,OO0 from taxes; and S6,000 a year from the state for schools and bridges. This makes total of s74.00O If all this is true. then the town can certainly afford to take some of the money spent for liquors, and pay the teachers decent salaries
 Mrs William Taylor has recently entertained the Musical society, and Mrs. Robert Post the Current Events club
 It is announced to cottagers that the town owns Compo beach,
 MT Stanley B. Pillow is home from Boston where he attended a conven- ton of florists.
 It is thought there will be a grand celebration in April when the new Town hall is dedicated.
 Fred Bradley thinks of opening q crockery store.
 Deer have recently been seen in the RoSeVill district.
 Foley'S Kidney Remedy will cure any case of kidney or bladder trouble that is not beyond the reach of medicine.