Norwich bulletin., 1917-09-22

of selectmen recommend this year a l tax of 4 3-4 mills as against mills
 was hoped for by the board and could
 have been made if it were not for .cer- 1 tain taxes over which the board has l no control and which the town must l pay. The report on the activities of
 the year and the list of estimated ex- penses and receipts follows
 | The following is brief report of
 the business of the town of Norwich 1 for the fiscal year just ending, togeth- CT with a statement of the receipts | and expenses of the town and certain recommendations as to taxes, etc, to | be acted upon at the coming annual town meeting. -
 Highways fn Good Condition. A considerable amount of work has been done upon the highways and it is believed that they are now in as good condition as they have been at any previous period In addition to | the routine work of repair, perma- nent repairs have been executed on
 the Salem turnpike. the mafadam on l the road from the city line to Backus Corner has been partly renewed and placed in good condition. The bridges of the town have been kept in repair and a new bridge at the foot of Sher- man street has been built and opened for travel. the expense being paid out of the regular appropriation for the bridges of the town.
 At tho AImshouse.
 MT. and Mrs Chapman have contin-
 ued in charge of the almshouse and
 have performed their duties in the
 same efficient and careful manner as
 in the past. The inmates have en- joyed good health in the majority, of cases and, it is believed. are well satisfied with the condition as can be fairly expected. Their work on the farm and in cutting and splitting the wood which is distributed as fuel to by your board. This delivery of stove wood from the almshouse has resulted in very considerable decrease in the expenditure for coal and fuel for the poor of the town. The coal from the al1nshouse was purchased some time since for the coming season. az a ma terially lower figure than the price at present.
 Chelsea Parade Walks Rebuilt.
 Two of the walks through Chelsea Parade have been rebuilt and, in your boards opinion. very decided inn provement has been made at the Bean Hill Green by regarding and the dis continuance of the highways and the {, paths which have formerly crossed it. 1 This work IS still underway, but will | and will. it is believed. be the means 1 Of transforming this hitherto neglect l ed spot into a small but attractive | park which will add to the beauty of 1 our town.
 Outside Poor Department.
 Considering the high costs of all 1 necessities of life which has existed 1 during the past year, we are glad 60 | be able to state that the expenses for the outside poor department Have not l increased, but are less than for the previous years, while those for the insane and neglected 'children's de- p2rtments have been kept within thb appropriations, while in all cases of genuine need relief has been prompt Iy and willingly given.
 Town Debt Decreased.
 We desire> to call to the taxpayers attention the fact that the town debt has been decreased during the past being, we are informed. the largest actual reduction of any year for the past twenty years or more and. of to this the town has on hand. at pres | =nt. balance of s2S,1 2.61 as com pared with a balance last year of s10.661-04 and two years ago of s., T. the town has been paid up to Septem- Der 18th of this year, while long standing and disputed claims of con- siderable amount between our town London, some items of which were welve mere years old. have been 'at1Sfa ctOr1ly adjusted. that this balance represents money in hand for Ise Of the town for the coming year.
 Recommend 4 3-4 Mill Tax. 1;
 Owing principally to the above facfa lnd to the fact that a large amount of pack taxes has been collected your ,oard is able (this year to recommend
 tax of 3-4 mills, as against mills ast year. A much larger reduction : vas hoped for and could have been l cade if it were not for certain taxes 'ver which your board has no control md which the town must pay: the tate tax of s36.000, and a special ounty tax. laid this year. of about 18,000. These two payments alone l mount to more than 3 mills on our aX list.
 School Committee Estimates.
 The estimates of the school com t nittee call for a tax of six and one IF af mills this year to pay the ex- e enses of the schools. This is an in f rease on their part Of 2 mill, which tc increase is caused, mainly. if not en- f rely, by proposed 10 per cent. in rease of salaries. This with the r mount asked for by the selectmen, 1tll make a total tax rate for the I oming year, if approved by the town f II 1-4 mills on the dollar. Several l l. etitions for other appropriations are n lso requested by voters of the town f nd these petitions if approved by f irO