Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-15
AUDITORS SUBMIT REPORT
Departments Generally Have
Kept within Appropriations.
summary shows Where the Money
Went during the Yenr-street De-
pnrtment housekeeping Gets
the Usual Scoring.

Mayor Roberts has received from the
the report Of the citys finances for the
year ending December 81. 1911. The de-
partments generally are shown in the re-
port to have kept within their appropria-
lions and the expenses Of the city have
been kept down. The books of the
trcasurcr's department arc shown by the
auditors to be in good order and the
report says of the water department.
This department during the year made
profit of sl7lfS55, out of which II ex-
pended on bettermcnts sS.27l.9i and trans
ferred to the sinking fund s2457.29 leaving
net surplus earnings for the year of
81, 1875. We would mention that the
books as usual have been neatly and
accurately kept"
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
In the report considerable space is given
to tho electric light department. The cash
receipts and payments were found to be
In good order During the year the de-
partmcnt made not profit before pro-
viding for depreciation of sG.N5l3 as
against si,5So.S7 in 1910.
The reports caIls attention to the fact
that the Burlington Light e. Power com
pany, ana New England Telephone &
Telegraph Co. have claims of about 1890
against the city. \ communication from
Or. w. = Vincent. chairman OF the
electric light commissioners. calls the
auditors attention to the fact that an
ordinance provides that the top gain II
every pole erected In the city shall he
reserved for the use of the city. The
auditors suggest that the earnings Of
the department he not disturbed until
the legality Of this ordinance is decided
The department has charged for
depreciation A.7i362 being three per cent.
upon the capital investment which leaves
net profit for the year of Sl.32lSl, as
Stunning that the claims above alluded
to are invalid. The total reserve for de-
probation now amounts to $SS s45.4l, which
is equivalent to nearly twenty-five per
cent. OF the cost Of the entire plant.
the auditors refer to some extent TO
the matter Of depreciation in connection
with the plant. and reiteratc that 1t will
be TO the city's advantage To obtain the
opinion Of an expert engineer UNI
trammeled by local conditions
STREET DEPARTMENT.
In regard to the street department the
auditors say: We regret to say that
the books of this department have not
been written up since January, 1911, and
the statement which we attach hereto has
been compiled from data obtained from
the treasurer's department."
PAUPER DEPARTMENT.
I'VE compared all payments with
and found the same to he in
order. and as far as possible verified the
receipts. On December 81. 1911, $3.50 be-
ing the balance of the cash receipts, had
not been turned over to the city treasurer
at this date, although it was Subsequent
~ deposited. The treasurer's statement,
therefore, will not agree with the depart
ment by this amount"
SCHOOL, CEMETERIES. AND CITY
CLERKS DEPARTMENTS.
All payments from these departments
We're compared with vouchers and found
to be in order, and the receipts as far as
possible verified"
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.