The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-01

ICity Gouhcll iuli CuitlVl VI bAo WI
tract.
Streets.
According to the old established sys-
tenn, that any kind eff street was good
enough for citizen to walk on until
we had money enough to build them, that
theory must have got an awful shock
during 1910. As an example, the last
three years previous to 1910 there were
built 5,243 lineal feet OF permanent
street In 1910 there were built Ash
lineal feet of permanent street, which
tends to show that we are going III the
right direction.
As to sidewalks, we believe that it will
be necessary for the street committee
to interview abutters and try and con-
vince them that it would not only be to
their advantage to have sidewalks estab-
lished on their property, but to the adj
vantage of the citizens. During the past
five years, there have been only l5l6
lineal feet OF permanent sidewalk laid;
of that, $3.50 lineal feet of permanent
sidewalk have been laid during 1910. We
believe that it is the duty of the city TO
have as many permanent sidewalks as
! possible and we also believe that it is
not what would be termed public prop
erty as to the method to have such ac-
complished, and in our opinion it should
| be the duty of your street committee
to make suggestions to the abutters on
| certain streets to have sidewalks, and
we believe that we can have them, for
there is nothing which adds to the at
! Effectiveness of city or the convenience
to the public as good sidewalks.
Water.
The construction and the completion
of the Orange brook reservoir has dis
placed all uneasiness az to the question
of water for consumption in our city.
II has also placed as in position that
the city can state what terms the water
shall be sold for, that viii no doubt
be another great business proposition
that will have to be credited to the eoun-
Gil of 1910, not so much the amount OF
water under the control of the city, but
their right to charge a certain price for
a certain purpose; that is something
that the city Of Barre could not do
until 1910, all through litigation your
council have settled that matter for all
time and, while the water department
shows good substantial balance MT the
presen time, il certainly will continue
to show that it is one OF the best invest
ments the city has ever made.
Fire Department.
This department has been run during
the present year under efficient manage
ment, which has given satisfaction not
only to the council but to the city In
general In looking over the report of
the chief Of that department, it will be
readily seen that, while it costs money
to keep up such a department, it is OF
considerable benefit to our business in /
dustries, not only in protection in case Of
fire, but in reducing the rates OF fire
insurance, and that money spent to still /
advance that department to still better /
efficiency is money well expended.
While believe that il should be the /
duty of the fire committee to make rec 4
concentrations in regard to the advance
ment or improvement of this depart
ment, cannot refrain from stating that,
in my opinion, the men in that depart.
ment should be allowed greater number
of hours OF leisure. To accomplish that,
il would be necessary to add another per-
manent man to the force; OF course,
that means considerable outlay, but +
believe it would pay, not only in Civ
ing less hours on duty to the present
force, but added efficiency TO that force
and better protection to our city in time
of need.
A new station should be built in the
north end of the city al very early date
80 Aats faw I'M.
proved fire apparatus than at present.
The building of such station should
be commenced at once. When we con-
slider that the present station is also
the polling booth for ward five, 1t GER
tainly is a disgrace TO any community
that calls for the voters of ward to
have to cast their votes, il not in a man.
ger, in close proximity TO same.
Poor Department.
The expenses of this department have
gone over the appropriation. That this
Is any fault of the management of the
department, / don't believe that anyone
win say so. The poor we have always
with us. and it is our duty to see that
they are attended to, and while we may
.hink that the money used for that pur- ,
pose is large, If we take the amount !
81 people benefited by same and the
lime that the benefit was allowed and :
ind out how much every one received, !
We might think different; we certainly !
would if we weSe directly interested /,
The fact that our poor department is run !
m so small an appropriation is credita-
BE to the different fraternal and labor !
of our city. While attend !,
ng to their members, they are also help /
ng out the city in regard to the manage !
nent Of the poor Hundreds of dollars !;
IRE distributed by the different orders to !
heir members in need every month. If 5
his good work was stopped by any ]
means, the expenses Of the poor depart I
nent would be increase proportionately !
20 we have good reason to encourage !
and nnionsm in our midst :,
Police. a
"The policeman's lot is not happy
me-" Such being the case, it is our 6
uty to try and make improvements in
anne. The police committee during the
resent wear have worked along these