The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-01
SOME SIDE LIGHTS
ON OUR ANNUAL
TOWN REPORT
Summary Of Our Public Bust
ness During Past Year
TWO NEW IRON BRIDGES
Economical Administration Of School
Town Poor and Road Departments
Our Assets and Liabilities

The annual reports of the officers of
the town of Bennington for the year
ending February l. 1909, have been
published and may be obtained at the
Banner Office or at Perry & Reese
mans, the printers. The report this
year contains SO pages of reading mat
ter besides the warning for the town
meeting next Tuesday. Copies will
be distributed in Library hall on town
meeting day.
Among the items of interest not al
ready published, contained in the
pamphlet, the report shows that the
selectmen have purchased two sub
stantial iron bridges to replace wood
en- ones that were unfit for use. One
was erected near the town farm and
the other at the place known as the
Lyons bridge. The total amount ex-
pended under the head of bridges and
approaches in tn edirection Of the sell
ectmen was approximately $S,173.13.
The cost of fighting forest fires in Oc-
tober was over 500.
The report of the board of school
directors states that the year was be-
gun with fund of S770.S4 and that at
the close of the year there is on hand
$48059 Several of the school build
ings will have to be repaired and
painted during the coming year. The
total amount expended for town
schools was $70S547 The superin-
tendent's report shows that many new
text books have been purchased. The
average attendance in the schools for
. the year 1908 was better than during
the previous year.
During the year II very serious sur
gical operations were performed in
either Albany or Troy hospital on
poor people at the expense of the
town. The total cost per patient in
such cases is but Sc per week Over
seer George r. Mathers recommends
this course as practical and impera-
tive in many cases. The total amount
paid out for the support of the poor
was $3,0644T.
The total amount of orders drawn
by Houghton Rice. road commissioner
in district No. |, was 81 1868. j. B.
Parsons as commissioner of the dis
trict No. 2 paved out $113.34 during
February and March. In the remain
der OF the year John Scully commits
sioner of this district. drew orders
amounting to $l972.77
According to the license commits
sioners' statistics the number of
names posted during the past year
Is 1923, of which number 1909 were res
idents. There is at present 1873
names of persons to whom the sale
of intoxicating drinks is prohibited.
The auditors report shows the liza
bilities of the town on January Slst.
to be as follows:
Four per cent bonded debt $1O0,333 30
Selectmen's interest bear
ing order, and accrued
interest, $3.50 "
Selectmen's orders out
standing, 1856 A
Selectmens orders out
standing, acct. License
commissioners, 10 W
Treasurer's checks. births
and deaths. q
Due Treasurer, overdraft
on General Fund 6,643 7t
Past due coupons, refund
ing bonds, 80 VI
Total $120,110 A.
The total is decrease of $6,274.3i
SINCE the corresponding date in 1908
The assets are:s
Balance school fund, Sll u
Balance dog fund, $3.50 OI
Balance general fund,
Uneollected taxes, $50 II
Uncollected warrant fees q 81
Cash in treasurers hands
past due coupons, 80 "
Cash due from John Scully
road commissioner, mon
ey advanced with interest
from June g. 1908, 800, l02 81
Due from Asher Harrington 3 81
Due from est. Hiram DEMO, 20 2
Due from + & NJ Stratton, 81
Total 1909 s6,9lS 8
Total 1908 SIl0S |
Showing an Increase of $Isa b
Net debt of town Jan. 81,
1909, @,4lS b
1903, $ll3,lSB 94-SllS,bto b
"$5,47S 6S
Apparent decrease OF debt
during current year, S5,4IS b
The estimated expenditures for tn
year 1909-l0 are as follows'
Selectmen's orders out
standing, TfOl 4
Interest on Cemetery fund, 6O 3
-Four per cent coupons, 1000 0
State tax of cents on the
dollar based on list of 1908
for support of schools,
per sections 75S-764 V. s.
due June 10, 1909, 4,133 y
State tax of cents on the
dollar based on list of
1908, for support of high
ways, per sections 34S4-
3442 and amendments, due
June 10, 90, 2,5S3
County tax of cents on the
dollar on list of 1909
based on list of '0S, per
act No. 224, laws of 1908 2,O66 >
Amount in general fund to
be divided, ii
Total S20,598
Increase over 1908 OF, SS522
The selectmen have drawn order
during the year for;