Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-04-29

Annual statement OF lnaNCeS anu nc
ports Of officers-Tax Rate Of as Cents
is Recommended for Coming Year.
Comics of the annual statement of the
finances of the village of Brattleboro to-
gether with the reports of the various
officers, have been distributed among the
voters this week. The officers reports
are interesting and well worth reading
and considering. A note in the part re-
latng to the fire department says that
the teams of the department have earn
ed in cash during the year about $l4O
and in addition have done work for the
village which would have cost $50 more II
other teams had been hired to do this
work Such being the case, the net eX-
pense of the department is actually $500
less than appears in the report The
bailffs' report is as follows:
Police.
The latter part of May, 1909, George
Wilson was appointed chief Of police.
We commend his work since assuming
his duties and recommend his reappont-
ment.
Last fall in response to a petition sign
ed by large proportion of the business
men of Brattleboro, an additional man
was put on the street for night duty,
and the results have been entirely salts
factory a man was employed for special
work later. and the results accomplished
t'h'''N'N''''A
Several subsequent convictions in the To-
cal municipal court were due to the ef-
forts of this special officer.
Fire Department
In accordance with the votes of the
village, the fire department has been sup
piled with the following:
one pair of horses and equipment, for
s625; making it possible to have one pair
of horses constantly at the steamer
house.
A three-circuit fire alarm system has
been installed, at the recommendation
Of Superintendent Brockington and the
last board of bailiffs, at total expense
Of $11S1.S6, and this brings our fire alarm
system thoroughly up to date.
Superintendent Brockington's services
have been of great value to the village.
lie is untirinE i'm his efforts to keep his
department in efficient working condition.
Five hundred feet of high grade hose
have been purchased, as voted, anu thir-
tN rubber coats, which were much need
ed, have been furnished the department.
We recommend the purchase of one
thousand feet more of hose the coming
year. This amount will be necessary on
account of the increased water pressure
which good deal Of the hose now in
use, and which has been in use for some
time, will not stand.
A contract has been made with the
Brattleboro Water Works company for
the installa tion of fiftythree additional
hy1rants making the total number in the
village one hundred. Ten of these have
already been installed and the remainder
will be in operation very soon. We be-
lieve that with the additional MIGRANTS
and the increased water pressure which
the village will have, one, or possibly
two, OF the steamers could be sold and
a hose company located on Prospect hill.
We also recommend that the Esteyville
chemical engine be dispensed with and
that a hose company be organized to
take it's place soon as the requisite
hydrants and water pressure are avail
able.
An arrangement has been installed in
the steamer house which automatically
turns on the electric lights when a bell
alarm comes in This was at no expense
to the village and, in addition, saves the
cost of having the electric lights in the
fire station burn all night as was for
merly the case.
We do not need to speak of the work OF
Chief Sanders. His efficiency and his
efforts to keep the fire department in
good working condition are well known to
YOU all.
Street Lighting.
In few cases are lights have been
discontinued and incandescent lights IN
stalled in their places, thereby giving a
better distribution of light, as under our
change one are for approximately five
incandescents. There has been a gooo
deal of complaint that street lights have
not burned regularly and the bailins are
informed that nobody stays at the ell
ectric light station after midnight; thus
il is impossible for the police to notify
the station after midnight in case stree
lights are out of commission, as is ire
quently the case. The lighting company
always makes deductions for lights re-
hut In Ot1r
that is not the object to be accomplished
We vote money to pay for lights and /
would seem preferable to have sucn al
could be depended upon, or in case o
trouble have some one to remedy 1t.
Mr.. Alton d. Adams of worcester
Mass, an expert on such matters ha
recently investigated lighting conditions
in Bratteboro and made certain recon-
mendations in connection herewith. Hi
report will be published for the intorma
ton of the voters The lighting contrac
now in force expires in August or TN
year. In conformity with its reduction
in rates to private consumers, the Twi
State Gas and Electric company is givin
the village a reduction for municlpa
lighting of ten per cent on arcs ana elgh
per cent on incandescents from the con
tract price now in force, taking effec
January l, 1910, and makes the folowfT
offer for a new contract:
An-night arcs, present rate, 500 pc
year; proposed rate $40 per year.
Midnight ares, present rate, S75 pc
year; proposed, $3.50 per year.
All-night incandescents, 4O-candle pow
err, present rate, S24 per year; propose
rate, S17 per year.
Midnight incandescents 40-candle pow
er, present rate, ST per year, propose
rate SIS per year.
Mr.. Adams recommends the installa
ton of 290 S0-cande power incandesceI
lamps to replace the present system, an