The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-27
THE FARMER: JANUARY 27, 1910

SuFrOuHulngS DeInS SuCn as to reHOeF Ia storehouse there extremely liable to get on fire.
 Then everything stored there would have to be carted from the railroad freight station or boat at considerable expense. I believe that a city store house ought to be located on the line of the railroad, if possible, or better still, to be accessible both by rail and water.
 The City Yard on Housatonic ave- nue, which is but little used, seems to me to be the ideal location for such i a purpose. The railway is at it's gate; the navigable river in it's rear. and the city is obliged to keep there now a Storekeeper, an addition to whose duties would not be particularly oner- ous and could be well performed by him. There may be, and doubtless are, other departmen ents of the city that could make profitable use of the house if erected there. We can afford to look into this matter further with profit.
 I do not recommend the appropria- ton requested by the commissioners for the purchase of new motor car for the chief.
 It seems to me that the present car ! is sufficient for all ordinary uses. The necessity for a speedier and more powerful car appears to me not to be i of such pressing importance as to m crit consideration, especially at this time, when unusual demands are made on the money of the taxpayers demands which must be met. The postponement of the purchase for a year at least will not. in my judg- m ent, tend to impair the efficiency either of the department or of its ac- tive and jealous chief. New Schools. I recommend that the proceeds of the usual one mill tax on the grand list be appropriated for new schools. In my judgment, the time is close at hand when we can safely reduce with out dertiment to the schools, the amount appropriated for new build ings and at the same time adequately provide all needed accommodations for all our school children. We already have a seat for every child in attendance at our schools and could dispense altogether with the DOT table school buildings and the rental school rooms, if al our schol facilities could be fully utilized, but of course that is an impossibility. In several district there are vacant school rooms and sittings Other schools are congested and 1t is not always practicable to have children from the latter attend the former ScnOolS. 1eel SdtlSlleu, alter CoH- sultation with our school author ities, that everything reasonable is being done by them in adjusting and readjusting- the district lines as cir cumstancea require from time to time, so as to secure the best results and prevent overcrowding in the congested places. With $84, ,850.0 co at their dis posal during the next year for new school additions, and the money judic- iously expended. as I believe it will be, where most needed, in the con- gested districts. I feel confident that we will not deem it necessary to levy full one mill tax for new schools next year. If we find that new build ings are then required, I say provide them; but no mere sentimental mo- tives should be allowed to prevail in voting money not needed for such schools Unless the increase next year is more than normal in school at tendance a reduction of at least a quarter of a mill can be safely made for the fiscal year 1911-1912 Care of Poor. I approve and grant the entire re- ouisitions of the Board of Charities, as I believe the sums asked for will be fully required
 trust the commissioners will be able to conduct the department under their charge in such manner that there will be no deficit at the close of next fiscal year.
 Conditions now are such that every able-bodied man can secure employ ment, and if they so continue, as we confidently hope they will, for one full year, the expenses of the Board of Charities can be kept within the appropriations provided; and this board will, for the first time in many years, be able to live within it's in come without neglecting in any way the important interests committed to it's charge.
 Election Expenses.
 There is a deficiency in this account of about $500. which must be pro- vided for A saving can be made in the conduct of elections. by substitut- ing for the stores and other places now used for voting purposes, portable 'vot- ing booths. specially designed for use where voting machines are in vogue.
 There will be a decided advantage in the use of such booths.
 At present it is not always prac- ticable to get voting places in the most convenient locations, and it is hard, sometimes, to get them at all.
 The city is obliged now to pay for such voting places a full months rent, besides the expense of fitting them up each year for use.
 The portable booths can be placed just where most convenient for use; when once fitted up they will not need refitting each year.
 This original cost would be consid- erable but the city would gain in the end financially and otherwise by their use.
 Tax Rate.
 I recommend the following tax rate:
 Tn the First District, seven, two- tenths mills.
 In Second district, eight, eight-tenths mills.
 This makes the total tax rate for both districts sixteen Q6) mills on each dollar of the grand list.
 This rate is two-tenths mills more than the rate of last year.
 The reasons for such increases are fully stated in this report.
 Following are the Appropriations recommended by me in the First Dis- trict:
 Advertising, printing and
 stationery, 5 1000 co Ambulance and emergency, 7015 co Apportionment, board of 200 co Assessors salaries, etc., 10,282 co Bonds, betterment, 2,000 co Bonds, improvement, 10000 co Bonds, Municipal, 10000 % Bonds, reissue, 5000 co Bonds. voting machines, 1900 co Bridges, Superintendent of, 51O % Building Commissioners. 5000 % Building Laws. revision of, 3,491 25 City Attorney, expenses un-
 der ordinance, 500 co