The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-11-05

reports the credit of being one of the
best in company of management and
in realization of the idea of Home.
1t is your due to know that personally
they have given us even stronger en-
dorsement than they have thought it
wise to incorporate in a report Gov
ering other Homes. While each
member of the board has used his
best endeavor to REACH this result,
yet we are all aware that the credit
and success of the institution has de-
pended more upon the capability, in
| terest, and zeal of the Superintendent
and Matron than upon our efforts.
! The skill, judgment and speedy ac-
ton with which Col. Harmon met the
unexpected condemnation and pro-
hibition of using the boilers then in
the Home, occurring in special men,
on. Col. Harmon and his wife are
exactly the people who can and do
fulfil to the utmost the duties of
their positions.
AS the appropriations have always
been expressed as a sum not ex-
ceeding Ca specified amount" We
feel no hesitancy in suggesting an
amount that shall be sufficient to
cover any now unforeseen expense,
| assuring = that in the future as in
the past We shall use only so much
as is absolutely needed leaving the
balance untouched in the treasury
During the present biennial period of
the last appropriation expiring De-
cember 81, 1922 our insurance has
been largely increased in amount and
placed by the State
In January last at the very begin
ming of the most severe of all the
cold spells" of the winter, the In
spector condemned the main boiler
used for heating the Home and pro-
hibited its further use and ordered
many repairs and changes in the 9th
er smaller ones. In removing the
old boiler Il was necessary to take
out one of the supports under the
main dormitory by which removal we
found that the supports to that build
ing were insufficient and their con-
tinued use dangerous. We, therefore
had them removed and placed iron
pillars in their places. The expense
of new boiler, repair of boilers, and
the putting in of new pillars cost in
round numbers $4,000, an expense dis
agreeable to us and one we did not
forsee before its happening.
The increased cost of every supply
that enters into the maintenance of
the Home and the fact that we can no
longer retain any part of the pen
sions of inmates has much increased
our expenditures and decreased our
revenue. June 30, 1912 there were
on the rolls SO, of these ~ were pres
ent and "a absent on furlough, etc.
The membership has not yet dimin-
ished and there is no prospect that it
will fall off for several years to come,
The cost per capita (Which is ascer-
tanned by division of the total expen-
ditures including every expense of
the Farm, Home, Hospital, every eX-
pense of maintaining the Home by
the average number present., for the
year ending June 80, 1912 was 1868,
of this amount the United States paid
800, so that the cost to the State
has been only $169 for each inmate
For the year ending June 80, 1911, the
| average cost per capita was $246.23.
The number of inmates admitted
since the organization of the Home
up to July /, 1912, has been 73l.
Number of deaths during the year, 8.
Total number of deaths to June 30,
1912, 262. We deem it the exercise
of prudence and good judgment to
| ask at your hands an appropriation
not to exceed $4,000 for the years
1913 and 1914, assuring you again
that OF the amount appropriated, we
shall draw from the treasury only
such part as is absolutely needed.
The expenditures for the two years
ending June go, 1912, appear fully in
schedules hereto attached. We deem
il best that the state should know alb
solutely how their money has been
used and attach 20 this report sche-
dulles of each and every bill paid,
thus giving you full opportunity to
judge as to our economical conduct
of the trust you have confided to our
keeping.
All bills are made out in duplicate.
certified to be correct by the Super
| intendent, and examined and approx
ed by one member each of the Board
of Auditors and Finance Committee.
Trustees Goulding and Henry have
done this work each month during
the past two years. The original
bill after being thus certified to and
approved is forwarded to the Treas
urer for payment; the duplicate re-
tanned at the Home A complete
itemized copy of every bill is entered
upon book kept at the Home. The
book is always ready for the inspec-
! ton of any citizen of the State who
may visit the Home and desires to
look it over. A committee of two of
the board of Trustees, who shall be
other than the President, Secretary
and Treasurer" visit the Home dur
ing each quarter, make written report
OF its condition to the President and
make such suggestions as TO its con-
duct or needed repairs as may appear
10 them TO be necessary or useful
We again thank the newspapers of
the State for the free copies of their
publications sent to the Home. As
the inmates come from every section
OF the State. their local papers are
very welcome to them being like let.
tiers from their homes. detailing the
events transpiring in the communi-
ties from which they come. The G.
A. r., W. r. G. and other kindred or
! CARNATIONS, charitable associations,
and individuals. have in thetwo years
past as before, been generous in
their remmbrances. for which on be-
half OF the inmates We extend our
sincere thanks. A list OF such gifts
and donations is attached to this re-
port We also incorporate such tables