The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-20


expenditure probably somewhere vicinity Of $4,000
Notwithstanding the increase in expenditures above noted
for which the department not responsible directly the
water department has cleared the of $35Sl76 after
meeting all charges for interest and expense during the
and retiring the $4,000 worth Of bonds maturing during the
The work Of this department has been well cared for
usual by the Superintendent and Water Committee and
they deserve credit for their labors
Fire Department
The past year has been very favorable to the City
in far the loss from fire is concerned the losses IN the
aggregate amounting to about $1,000 for the year very
good record for City Of our size The efficiency Of our Fire
Department in large measure responsible for this remark
able showing; they being always the spot before fire
has chance to get any Roadway
We would advise that great should be taken in
maintaining the efficiency of the department at Its present
high standard consider it to be OF the City most
valuable assets In opinion it has been the main factor
in reducing insurance rates and believe that the com
bined to the citizens in reduced insurance rates will
nearly equal the annual cost of heepartment The officials
Of efficiency which has been maintained during the year.
Poor Department
The cost Of supporting the poor in the City during the
exceeded that Of last year by almost thousand dol
lars but this is wholly accounted for by the increase in
expenditures during the winter and early spring and the
suffering following the stoppage of work during the months
Of March and April The expenditures Of the first six months
Of the being almost double that of the remaining six
months.
The expenditures Of the past months have been reduced
past years. and speaks well for the independent and eup
porting spirit Of citizens and the great exercised by
the in the work coming under his supervision.
Police Department.
The work department during the last year has been
very light compared with previous years. the total number OF
being 299 compared with sol the previous And
few of the that made for otfenses OF
nature which speaks well for awabldng
munty We believe that the interest displayed by young
people in good healthy recreation during the
abundance Of and entertainments at their
disposal during the winter have done great deal towards
realizing the gratifying moral conditions existing within the
The officials of this department have done their duty in
very efficient during the year
Finances
The citizens during past year have had the benefit of
largely reduced and from the remarks that have
come to u.s. it have been fully appreciated.
Our income from taxation almost $l 900 less than the
previous year yet we expended money
sewers water department and also for the support
Of poor than we did the year previous yet have
to raise our sinking $4237370 $57 24394
of $l48702 and finish the with cash balance
Of $120890 against balance OF $40ll the previous
year This believe, leaves the City better position
financially this years business than it has been
any like period in the past In again referring t. the
sinking fund find that the interest accng on to July
st when $4,000 of bonds become due will bring
the total OF the fund up 500 228l lacking $152T7I9
of meeting the full issue above referred to, when due
sinking fund Of so this year would raise enough
money fully meet this balance in all probabily but if
tax IF 80 cents set aside for sinking fund purposes i
would leave good nucleus again build upon and believe
that this should be done The regular sinking fund tax of
ID in the succeeding would take Of the $4,000
reundng bonds due 1911 and the accmulaons OF the fund
by 1914 when $500 Of rendng bonds become due would
about $4,000 1t will thus be that City
debt which years ago assuming proportions which
To minimum
The citizens to be congratulated that they have set
themselves resouely to policy Of reducing this debt To
minimum and will receive the full benefits accrung
from this policy In should be able to
have another substantial decrease rate and still
keep up the standard of efficiency and progress
schools street fire. water and other departments that have
maintained in the past.
We would recommend to the City Council contnu-
of the conservative yet progressive policies which
have last years Board believing that the best results
derived from the We would recommend continue
Of the public band concerts which much enjoy
ent large numbers citizens during the past
and lay out piece Of land suitable part Of the City
the to be used public recreation grounds under
suitable restrictions We believe that portion Of the City
Farm property could he laid out ait comparatively small
expense and used for this purpose With the large number
Of young people within City the need Of such place
becoming more manifest every year.
We would also recommend the building of suitable side
walks large number of that poorly
vided for this respect at present. and would the
abuttng land cooperate with the City this
matter BY procuring curbng for their property that the
work may be carried out in permanent manner.
We would also recommend that great be exercised
carrying through the proposed improvements involving the
change of the bed at Prospect Street and the laying out
of highway at the of the Main Street blocks from
Prospect Street northery Few, if any, will question the
fact that the changes proposed carried out would be
great benefit to the City, and decision should be arrived
by those interested in having the Improvement carried
through early in the year. that the work is to be DONE
plenty of time may be given to make the necessary prepare