The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-13
Barre's Approx ation for
Month of \ ember
Is $ 800
RECENT F .S.DEMIC
WAsS5HIEF CAUSE
City Is Facing Serious Prob
lem of What to Do for
It's Dependents

1t will take $500 to pull the city
charity department through the current
month. -Four years ago the monthly ac-
count seldom ran beyond $500 and within
recent months the sums of $1,000 or ST.
200 have sufficed; but conditions have
changed materially in the past six weeks,
and now it is doubtful whether $500
will be enough to finance the department
during the winter months. Much, of the
increased cost of maintenance is due to
the poverty created by the influenza
plague, which ragged in the late days of
September and in October. Bereft of
their sole breadwinners, many families
must now resort to the charity depart
ment for the essentials of living, and the
new problems presented by the rapidly
shifting conditions can be solved only by
the constant appropriation of money.
The board of aldermen at its regular
meeting last evening probed deeply into
the question of charity finances No inn
mediate remedy is at hand, but the char
ity committee is investigating the pos
sibilities Of providing new and more ade-
quate quarters for the poor and INDECENT,
and in this direction chances for re.
trenchments not now possible are dis
cerned. When 0eerseer William McDon-
aid presented his request for 81, 500 APP
preparation, the aldermen did not ques-
tion its propriety. On the contrary, Al
derman Alexander, who is chairman of
the charity committee, assured his col
leagues that the current expenses for the
month probably will exceed $500. The
money was appropriated at once.
In submitting his report for the last
fiscal month, Mr.. Mcdonald referred 10
an account of S2l3.44 for rents. Cash
allowances came TO $22l.5 and the fuel
bill, which is growing larger as cold
weather approaches, was $S0.75. Foot
wear cost the city $54.65 and clothing
purchased for the needy ones came to
$3.50. Food always constitutes the
largest item, and last month the sum of
S4S397 was spent for provisions. Minor
expenditures were made for lights and
medicine, furniture and office furnishings.
Closely following the official report of
the overseer came the monthly report Of
Dr. 0. G. Stickney, secretary of the local
board Of health. Its contents have a sig
nifieant bearing on the increased cost of
there were / l.lS0 cases of contagious dis
ease, all Of which were influenza or pneu-
monia. Deaths aggregated l79, of which
l60 were due TO influenza or pneumonia.
Other deaths were due to the following
causes tuberculosis, influenza hemer-
rhage, cerebral hemorrhage, Influenza and
cerebral henorrhage, atrophy, pulmonary
tuberculosis, indigestion, diabetis and
heart trouble. There was only one case
of pulmonary tuberculosis. There were
l42 interments in Hope and Elmwood
cemeteries and 40 in the Catholic ceme-
tery, three being children prematurely
born A week ago the health officers re-
port for September recorded some 400
cases Of influenza and pneumonia and
several deaths.
On the brighter side of the ledger 25
births in October were recorded. Males
continue to hold the balance of power, Ia
of their persuasion figuring in the re-
turns.
Abutters of upper Brook street sent in
remainder that strip of sidewalk which
they asked to have repaired had remained
in neglect 1t was stated that the re-
quest originally made its appearance in
the council chamber a year ago. The
signers said they were willing to walk in
the road during the summer months, but
preferred sidewalk travel in the fall, win
ter and spring. The report of the wiring
inspector for october, referring to % mi
nor permits granted was read and ac-
cepted Mayor Glysson called attention
to rumored irregularity in the inter
ment Of body in local cemetery. The
matter was discussed at some length, but
no action was taken.