USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1878/1879-1882/1883 > Part 12
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Amount carried forward. .$ 1,890 75
7a
52
AUDITORS' REPORT.
Amount brought forward $ 1,890 75 There is also a small sum due Nellie Walker for teaching in the Bacon district, but the term is not finished.
Eugene M. Chamberlain, care school house
5 00
Oscar P. Brown, care school house
5 00
Thos. Hayes, care school house
27 0S
Wm. Renny, care school house
1 00
Mrs. John Parker, care school house
10 00
J. Ryan, care school house
8 00
40 00
Geo. B. Corey, care school house. Cutting wood
30 00
Sundries 2 05
12S 13
Contingent schools.
Cummings & Conant
10 00
Duffy & Lewis 11 16
H. D. Edwards 2 36
Wm. C. Barnes
16 40
J. S. Gleason
21 13
J. T. Mckinstry
5 32
Jobn Flood
15 00
J. & W. Booth.
7 15
Contingent.
S. Dresser
15 00
Horace W. Bacon
25 00
L. W. Curtis 1 25
41 25
Fire department.
Hamilton Woolen Co., order outstanding
50 00
J. F. Parker.
8 00
A. H. Shepard 5 00
Geo. S. Stone.
5 50
Cummings & Conant
1 76
W. C. Barnes
1 23
High school. 71 49
F. M. Smith.
240 00
Mary E. Silverthorne
96 00
Wm. C. Barnes
7 8S
Geo. B. Corey
12 30
356 18
Amount carried forward
$ 2,576 32
SS 52
53
AUDITORS' REPORT.
Amount brought forward $ 2,576 32
Highways.
Wm. Edwards
6 16
Wm. Griffin 25 75
S. Dresser . 12 00
A. H. Shepard
6 00
Ellis & Cook.
4 10
Jos. Ouimette
2 50
F Parson. ..
2 00
Willis Morse
2 00
Hamilton Woolen Co
2 00
Geo. L. Clemence .
1 50
Cummings & Conant.
1 70
L. W. Curtis.
1 32
George Lyon
1 22
68 25
Police station.
Mutual Gas-light Co
90
T. Potter 11 00
11 90
Railing highways.
Hamilton Woolen Co.
5 13
Salaries.
Geo. H. Thayer, truant officer 12 50
J. M. Olney, truant officer 9 25
Rev. B. V. Stevenson, school committee 141 00
E. M. Phillips, school committee
112 50
Geo. M. Whitaker, school committee 77 25
Manning Leonard, auditor
16 50
369 00
Street lights.
J. T. Mckinstry 5 09
Sidewalk's.
T. W. Griffin, bill of IS79. 46 69
Amount carried for vard $ 3,082 38
54
AUDITORS' REPORT.
Amount brought forward. $ 3,082 38
Outside poor.
J. S. Gleason 124 00
W. E. Alden & Co 125 00
249 00
School apparatus.
Geo. M. Lovell 4 00
South street.
John Rowley, for land damages settled
60 00
Telephone fire alarm.
Telephoneexchange.
14 14
$ 3,409 52
This large amount of outstanding bills is increased by the common school account, the treasurer being unable to pay the orders from lack of funds, the cause of which is explained on pp. 115-6. There is to the credit of this account 2,402 40
Leaving as really outstanding $ 1,007 12
-
VALUATIONS.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN FOR 1880.
Value of real estate. .$2,045,874 00
Value of personal estate 1,002,645 00
Total real and personal.
$3,048,519 00
Gain on real estate over 1879 14,400 00
Gain on personal estate over 1879. 127,618 00
Total gain real and personal $ 142,058 00
Total tax, state, county and town 50,812 00
Rate of taxation per $1000 16 00
Total number of polls
1,328
Total number of horses assessed.
431
Total number of cows assessed.
417
Total number of sheep assessed.
179
Total number of dwelling houses assessed .
698
Total number of acres of land assessed.
12,299
VALUATION OF CENTRE WATCH DISTRICT.
Value of real estate $ 709,720 00
Value of personal estate. 296,534 00
Total real and personal
$1,006,254 00
Amount raised by taxation
. 700 00
Rate of tax per $1000. 70
CASH RECEIVED
BY THE SELECTMEN.
For Licenses. 1
J. F. Parker, first class liquor license.
$125 00
Warren Armes, first class do. 125 00
J. W. Robinson, fourth class do
75 00
G. H. Hartwell, fourth class do 75 00
B. W. Paton, fourth class do. 75 00
Geo. C. Shepard & Co., fourth class do 75 00
Geo. W. Faulkner, second class do. 50 00
Wm. E. Horton, second class do 50 00
Murray's circus license 15 00
E. G. Guy, auctioneer, 2 licenses 4 00
L. N. Holden, do. 2 00
H. G. Amidon, do 2 00
Street sales.
50
S. Dresser, 13 hall shows
26 00
Sidewalk Assessments.
John Marcy on Marcy street. 291 49
Liberty Litchfield, on Marcy street. 119 16
Otis N. Upham, Main street. 73 25 N. Y. & N. E. R. R. Co., Mechanics street 49 41
Geo. W. Corey, Chapin street 26 27
Judson McIntire, River street 30 00
Miscellaneous.
Cattle sold. 135 00
Sturbridge, for labor on Westville bridge · 11 50
Sturbridge, cement, etc.
17 95
AUDITORS'E REPORT. 57
BY THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
and paid to the the Treasurer for the year ending Feb. 28, 1881.
1880.
April 20. Of G. F. Northrup, for bones sold. $0 80
Of M. M. Marble, 72 lbs. veal. 5 04
May 18. Of Selectmen, hay for highways. 14 60
July 5. Of Selectmen, hay for highways ...
19 25
7. Of Cummings & Conant,¿hay for highways
20 37
Oct. 27. Of G. Northrup, 46 bushels potatoes sold Of Calvin A. Paige, 10 bushels potatoes. 5 00
23 00
28. Of town of Brimfield, aid for Samuel H. Bond. . 8 50
Dec. 11. Of A. F. Luther, 10 bushels potatoes 5 00
Of M. Dillaber, 8 bushels potatoes. 4 00
Of Cutter, 2 hens 1 25
Of Truesdale, turnips . 40
22. Of Cummings & Conant, keeping horse 17 50
1881.
Jan. 25. Of Town of Charlton, aid of John Reynolds . 194 00
Feb. 17. Of M. M. Marble, for hide. 4 32
28. Of M. M. Marble, for veal 8 00
Of Alex. Lataille, for railroad ticket 4 42
$335 45
S
MISCELLANEOUS.
BILLS DUE THE TOWN.
Town of Oakham for aid to Widow Samuel King. . $ 24 00
Town of Dudley, aid for Anthony Deon 17 88
Samuel C. Hartwell, for hay. 10 15
Geo. A. Dresser, cart body. 1 00
¥53 03
SIDEWALK ASSESSMENTS DUE.
Joseph Fellows. $ 29 56
Chas. Hyde & Co 95 27
*E. M. Phillips 93 03
$217 86
PROPERTY IN CARE OF HIGHWAY SURVEYOR.
I three-wheel road scraper, I ox cart, I drag, 2 plows, I Ox yoke, I hand scraper, I snow plow, 2 snow shovels, 3 iron bars, 3 hoes, tool box, 5 drills and steel wedge, 2 striking hammers, tamping iron and spoon, I stone hammer, 3 chains, 18 shovels, 6 picks, I powder can, 2 pails, 2 dippers, I axe, and 2 lanterns.
* Paid since March 1st.
TABULAR STATEMENT.
Accounts.
Appropriations
and receipts.
Expended.
Unexpended.
Outstanding.
Deficiency paid
and unpaid.
Appropriations
recommended
by Selectmen.
Bridges
$365 03
$308 13
$56 9
$11 50 40 25
25 68
$150 00 350 00
Cemetery improvement
672 88
658 31
14 57
Cemetery avenue.
150 00
123 00
27 00
Common schools
8,808 47
6,406 07
2,402 40
1,967 13
8,600 00
Contingent schools
650 00
775 18
88 52
125 18
1,000 00
Contingent account
734 25
700 90
33 35
41 25
7 90
500 00
Columbian road.
300 00
285 56
14 44
Cohasse street.
150 00
150 00
100 00
Debt, payment of.
100 00
67 00
33 00
50 00
Engine men .
2,240 00
2,240 00
79 05
71 49
800 00
Hamilton street wall
700 00
694 19
5 81
356 18
1,550 00
Highways
3,655 42
2,920 82
734 60
68 25
2,500 00
Insurance.
110 27
91 20
19 07
191 08
1,600 00
Police station
215 25
200 25
15 00
11 90
175 00
Public library
1,827 46
1,775 31
52 15
Dog fund
Printing
807 28
277 52
29 76
350 00
Railing highways
120 80
43 20
77 60
5 13
Salaries ...
1,638 82
1,347 74
291 08
369 00
77 92
1,850 00
School apparatus.
50 62
27 84
22 78
4 00
Sidewalks
496 00
287 64
212 36
46 69
200 00
do Marcy street ..
410 65
391 57
19 08
do
No. Main street.
84 03
57 68
26 35
do River street
59 91
59 91
State aid .
512 31
256 00
256 31
Street lights
1,441 07
1,388 99
52 08
5 09
1.450 00
Sayles street
12 84
7 00
5 84
South street .
502 47
161 25
841 22
60 00
Support of poor
2,280 48
1,765 44
515 04
1,500 00
Taxes, abatement of.
50 00
40 07
9 93
14 14
4 21
..
Outside poor
5,461 88
5,440 13
21 75
249 00
227 25
3,500 00
Decoration day.
1,400 00
Fire department
938 87
859 52
High school
2,233 72
1,743 08
490 64
200 00
Interest.
2,100 00
2,291 08
1,400 00
and
School Committee
507 02
507 02
1,000 00
Telephone
8,500 00
REMARKS AND RECOMMEN- DATIONS.
The outstanding bill of William Griffin for work on Crane street, in 1879, came before the Auditors at their last meeting in February. As we had no knowledge of the correctness of the bill, and as it was not properly approved, the Auditors did not feel at liberty to give it their endorsement.
In Treasurer's report of receipts the item "State Treasurer," dog fund, should read County Treasurer.
The account "Cemetery avenue," on page 15, detailed state- ment of receipts and expenditures, is the same as "Everett street entrance" in the Treasurer's report. The Treasurer's account of "Dresser street to cemetery" is the same as "Cohasse street" on page 16.
The Auditors recommend that all orders on the Town Treas- urer for payment of town bills be drawn payable "to order." This will /secure the endorsement of the payee upon the order and show at a glance to whom the money was paid.
The Auditors also recommend that the printing account either be abolished and all printing charged to the contingent accounts of the several boards, or that printing for all departments be charged to the printing account.
Respectfully submitted.
MANNING LEONARD, J. S. GLEASON, A. W. MARTIN,
Auditors.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
OF THE
Town of Southbridge.
1
(61)
一
REPORT.
The overseers have drawn 266 orders, amounting to $1765 for the alms-house poor and $5443 for the outside poor. There are two outstanding bills to be added to the outside account, of $249, making the total account of outside poor, $5692. We have paid last year's bills reported outstanding to the amount of $685, and other last year's outstanding bills not reported, increasing the amount to over $1200. We have paid for other towns, which has or will be paid back to the town, $292, which should be deducted together with $1200 paid of last year's bills, to show the amount $4200 paid for the town the present year. The cost for the support of the insane at the hospital is charged to the outside account, and over $700 has been paid this year. In addition $281 has been paid for paupers in other towns chargeable to the town,
which reduces the amount paid out in the town to $3219. This amount ought, and in our opinion should be largely reduced the coming year, on account of the additional alms-house accommodation which has not been avail- able the past year, and will require the immediate attention of the incoming board. Two families in other towns are now chargeable to the town, who have but recently been on expense with only a small amount paid to this time, but will be increas- ing, and will require early attention from the incoming board. Since the last annual meeting of the town, the alms-house has been enlarged and now has ample and good accommodations
64
OTERSEERS OF THE POOR'S REPORT.
for the wants of the town. The management of the farm and alms-house by Mr. Geo. F. Northup and wife has been to the satisfaction and approval of the overseers, who have secured their services for another year. There are no outstanding bills known to the board except at Worcester hospital, which are paid quarterly, payable April I, and will be about $ 130.
We recommend $ 1500 for the support of the alms-house poor and $3500 for the outside poor for the ensuing year.
The average number of inmates of the almshouse has been eighteen. The following is the list of those there Feb. 28, 1882:
Obediah Sabin,
aged 84
John Clark,
-
aged 71
Charles Congdon,
aged 34
Richard Dwyer,
- aged 24
Calista Rich, -
aged 74
Margaret O'Brien,
aged 65
Thomas Powers.
, aged 64
Ellen Powers,
-
aged 61
Bridget Foley,
aged 60
Lucy Harding,
- aged 50
Mathias Ryan,
aged 81
Catherine Tynon, -
- aged 65
Daniel Ryan, -
aged 58
John Roan,
- aged 50
Ann Ryan,
aged 56
Mary Baker,
aged 80
Esther Sedgwick, aged 85
Michael Craney, - - aged 27
-
The inmates of the Worcester hospitals from this town are Lydia Fiske, Catherine Tynan and Daniel Smith,
The following accounts are due the town : Town of Oakham, $24.00; town of Dudley, $17.88; S. C. Hartwell, hay, $10.15 ; George A. Dresser, cart body, $1.00.
C. A. PAIGE, SYLVESTER DRESSER, JACOB BOOTH:
65
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR'S REPORT.
ABSTRACT OF INVENTORY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AT FARM.
Class 1. Live stock .. $661 00
2. Hay, grain, etc. 268 45
3. Carts, wagons, farming tools, etc. 248 00
4. Household furniture 195 76
5. Beds and bedding 150 00
6. Family supplies 242 74
Total appraisal 1,765 95
Gain from 1880 $390 82
C. A. PAIGE, S. DRESSER, JACOB BOOTH, DAN'J, WHITFORD,
Appraisers.
February 28, 1881.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE .
FIRE ENGINEERS
OF THE
Town of Southbridge.
(67)
REPORT.
Some changes in the fire department made during the past year render it proper for the engineers to present a special report.
The board regarded it to be in the interest of economy, in view of the prospect of additional facilities for the extinguish- ment of fires in the Centre Village, not to organize companies for the Hand Engines and to rely upon the Steamers for the permanent fire force. This made some changes necessary. The Hand Engine companies claimed a considerable part of the furniture, pictures and property in the firemen's halls and removed and sold it, making it necessary to purchase new car- pets and some other articles, at an expense of about $ 1000. The Hook & Ladder companies and Steamer men who owned some of the property used in their departments, by vote turned over to the Fire Department all such articles, being property of considerable value ; so that in future there will be no clashing of claims to any of the property connected with the Fire Depart- ment.
The auditors' report for the year ending March 1, 1880, shows that the sum of $900 was paid out to the Tiger and Melvill engine companies for service of men the year previous, and it was also voted at our last annual meeting to pay for the last year a like sum. In addition to this these companies incurred some expenses which would upon the average amount to not less than $100. By dispensing with these therefore that has been saved from the necessary appropriations for this year. The provisions
70
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
of the statutes in regard to organizing the Fire Department give to this board authority to appoint such number of men as it shall deem expedient, which authority was used as stated. It is apparent that the Hand Engines are not sufficiently modern or valuable for fire service in connection with the present fire apparatus to justify their maintenance longer, and that it would be wise to substitute for them something more easily moved, attended with less expense to maintain and more efficient in service. This the improved fire apparatus has supplied in the mounted fire extinguishers, and if the town should wish to add to its forces anything for quick work, the Board recommend that the hand engines be sold and one fire extinguisher be purchased and located at the Globe.
The Board regard the telephone of service to the department, and recommend that it be continued as a means of efficiency and promptness in case of fires, and of saving expense at times. But it should be left in the discretion of the Board fully, so that it may be adapted each year to such a make-up of the companies as there may be organized, and the expense taken from the fire contingent appropriation. The cost of it will be annually about $75-upon the average.
By the action of the directors of the Water Supply Co., all hydrants now established, and all that may be put in until fur- ther action in regard to that subject, are placed at the service of the fire department in cases of fire and for the trial of engines, free of charge to the town. The Board has procured the neces- sary coupling to connect the engines with the hydrants, and wrenches also, so that in case of emergency the means of water supply may be regarded as ample in the Centre watch district, at least, and readily obtained. We can only express the hope that the desire of the officers of the Water Supply company to extend their pipe down High street and establish hydrants thereon, may be realized and that part of our town also put in as favorable a position as the Centre Village.
Value of property belonging to this department is appraised at $32,758 by this Board.
71
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
The apparatus belonging to the department, now in use, is in good working order.
ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT.
GEORGE A. DRESSER, Chief. AZEL THOMPSON, 1st Assistant. GEORGE W. WELLS, 2d Assistant. WILLIAM BOOTH, 3d Assistant and Clerk.
STEAMER NO. 1. H. C. CADY, Engineer. W. S. ROBINSON, Assistant. JOSEPH FALLOWS, Fireman. .
HOSE NO. 1. FRANKLIN CADY, Foreman. JAMES HARRIS, Assistant. J. W. ROBINSON, Clerk.
STEAMER NO. 2. CALVIN CLAFLIN, Engineer. PATRICK FLYNN, Fireman.
HOSE No. 2. W. C. LEWIS, Foreman. A. F. WEDGE, Assistant. JAMES WHELAN, Clerk.
HOOK AND LADDER NO. 1. MONROE REYNOLDS, Foreman. E. L. GAY, Assistant. GEORGE V. MOULTON, Clerk.
HOOK AND LADDER, No. 2. WILLIAM KELLY, Foreman. MICHAEL BREEN, Assistant. PATRICK MAHAR, Clerk. 1
72
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT.
FIRES.
In the town of Southbridge from April 1, 1880, to March 1, 1881:
May 10. A shed belonging to George Lamereaux. Cause not known. Department reported in good time, and fire confined to shed.
June 5. The department was called by an alarm of fire, which proved to be brush in the southerly part of the town.
June 13. In the tenement house belonging to S. C. Hartwell on Cen- tral street. Cause unknown. Damage slight.
'June 18. In wood shed in rear of Mrs. Levi Bartlett's house. Shed and contents total loss.
August 2. The department was called out for fire in G. A. Dresser's house, corner of Mill and River streets, but its services were not needed.
July 30. The department was called out for fire in the building near the bank. Services not needed.
Dec. 27. Residence Manning Leonard. Steamer No. 1 and both Hook and Ladder companies reported but not called upon. Cause de- fective chimney. Loss slight.
January 3. Also for fire in tenement house belonging to Hamilton Woolen Co., near cotton mill. Cause defective chimney.
Jan. 15. Residence A. W. Martin, corner High and South streets. Department called out but not needed. Cause defective flue. Loss about $20.
February 21, 9 P. M. Fire was discovered in the shed in the rear of Daniel Whitford's barn, and worked its way into his barn, and made a stubborn fight with the steamers before it was finally subdued. Loss some $1000.
FIRE ENGINEERS' REPORT. 73
We recommend the appropriation of $800 for the contingent expenses of this department, and regard that sum as amply sufficient to meet all necessary supplies for the year to come, including use of telephone.
Respectfully submitted,
AZEL THOMPSON, GEO. W. WELLS, WM. BOOTH,
Engineers.
10
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
Town of Southbridge.
(75)
REPORT.
The school committee take pleasure in announcing that the schools of the town are in healthy condition, and in some respects better than ever before.
GRADE. COURSE OF STUDY.
Since the introduction of oral teaching, by which the pupils are clearly explained the principles of a study before they can use a text book to advantage, and by which scholars in the lower classes have particular opportunities to learn much from hearing the talk to those above them, -- there has been a continual raising the grade of all the schools. So that now they are twelve months ahead of the course adopted only three years ago ; and when that was printed the committee congratulated the town on the fact that a compar. ison of the course of study with that of ten years before showed that the schools had been brought to a much higher grade. It is sometimes said that our course of study takes too long, and reference is made to the "good old times" when scholars got "through" the high school much younger than now. It should be remembered, however, that by this raising the grade of the schools the pupils are continually getting better advantages and more instruction, although one not familiar with the course might be misled by the names of the schools. Children in all of them are doing work that was once done in the grade above. Our primary scholars are thoroughly grounded in the four funda- mental rules of arithmetic-written and mental ; the intermediate
78
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT,
pupil becomes a master of the rules of grammar and common parsing,; the grammar school does much that was formerly left for the high school, while the graduate of the high school has as good an education as would formerly have required a course of two or three years in an academy after leaving the high school.
Although some system of classification and course of study is necessary, it is the aim of the committee to use the system for the benefit of the schools, rather than to run the schools for the purpose of upbuilding and perfecting a system. Consequently we have mingled some elasticity with it, so as to favor individual ability as much as we could without doing injustice to the mass. In pursuance with this policy we publicly advertised early in the year that whenever scholars were qualified to so advance they would be allowed to "jump" a class. At the conclusion of the long summer vacation about a dozen applied for examination for advanced standing. Nearly all had studied faithfully during the vacation and were fully prepared for promotion. Thus the course was made a year shorter for them. They have all taken a creditable stand in the higher classes. If the town votes for the new school house recommended below, we shall be enabled to rearrange the course of study so as to give each teacher fewer classes. This will tend to facilitate more rapid advancement.
CRITICISM VS. GRUMBLING.
We are pleased that the schools have gone on very smoothly during the past year so far as freedom from any injury through adverse criticism is concerned. The town has had walking matches, roller skating and bicycles but the modern mania for abusing the public schools has not reached our quiet valley. No local Richard Grant White has declared our institutions of learn- ing a failure; no educational agnostic has arisen in our midst to decry the work of the school room. That occasional criticisms have arisen we do not deny. It is impossible that an institution so large and including so many hundred different interests can be managed so as to suit every one. Our schools have some 1400 pupils, and no human classification can be devised which
79
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
will give just the exact amount of attention to each one of those 1400 peculiarities of taste, temper and disposition, which might seem desirable. We trust those who think they have a grievance will reflect upon this, imagine themselves for a few moments in the teacher's place, and then consider for few minutes more the committee's perplexities with all these 1400 interests demanding attention. After this if your grievance proves to be a real one, if you are sure it exists, visit the school, see its working and have a cordial, frank talk with the teacher. If trouble still continues a galling reality then go to the committee. We invite a full and free criticism of the schools by the parents or others well informed as to their workings. A plain talk may remove a misunderstanding or make you better satisfied by knowing and realizing how difficult it is to do impossibilities. But do not try to remedy the trouble by talking it over with your neighbors or by a ceaseless grum- bling in shop and store; do not think the evil will grow less by letting the children know that you think the teacher has made a mistake. If the teacher feels that she has your support and sympathy she will do much better work. Hon. John D. Phil- brick says that one essential means of progress in education is "judicious, honest, intelligent, disinterested criticism." But he also says that there is another kind of criticism "which has a tendency to produce an opposite effect. Its influence is obstructive and reactionary." Let us have as little as possible of the latter and as much as possible of the former. In order to secure this we hope that during the coming year the public will take more interest to find out by actual personal observation, rather than by heresay, just what our schools are doing. Some of our brightest and best schools have scarcely a visitor from one term to another, aside from the committee and personal friends of the teacher.
IRREGULARITY OF ATTENDANCE. WORK IN THE MILLS.
One of the greatest hindrances to perfect school work is irregularity of attendance. This evil could often be remedied
8c
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
if parents properly appreciated the merits and advantages of the schools. But unfortunately many of the youth of the place are compelled by adverse circumstances to work more or less in the factories. About one-half of our school children never go beyond the primary schools, and many of these are driven into school by the strong arm of the law. Hence their attendance is irregular while they are on the school rolls. They do not attend the primary schools to fit for the intermediate, but to get all the school education they will ever have. Consequently they ought to receive special attention from the best teachers, so that their few days in the school-room shall count as much as possible for them. With our graded and classified schools it is sometimes hard to find a place where these pupils will just fit. They must be put back or crowded too much ahead to conform to some existing class ; possibly the other members may be thus prevented from advancing as rapidly as they otherwise would. By the time they get rooted, as it were, in the class-get accustomed to the routine and begin to really learn-they have to go into the mill again. A special obligation rests upon us in relation to this class of pupils. We deeply sympathize with them in the neces- sarily enforced abridgement of school advantages, and would like to give them the very best for the short time they are in the school-room. Would it be well to try one or two ungraded schools, or what is best to be done? The committee do not at present feel prepared to answer their own question.
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