USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Bedford > Annual report of the selectmen and other town officers of the town of Bedford, New Hampshire of town affairs and school affairs : for the year ending 1913 > Part 6
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Feb. 1.
Paid J. B. Gamache, labor on highway 9.98
Paid George H. Wiggin, labor on highway 36.70
$2,167.47
SNOW BILLS.
1914. Paid:
Mar. 12. George P. Farr, breaking roads. $116.10
15
Mar. 12. Fred S. Sargent, breaking roads and money paid out
$74.68
John Seitz, breaking roads. 5.00
William Chesbro, breaking roads ... 7.27
W. S. Manning, breaking roads.
11.13
Harrison Campbell, breaking roads and boney paid out 26.80
Lyman M. Kinson, breaking roads and money paid out 48.05
John B. Gamache, breaking roads. . 21.10
William W. Dickey, breaking roads .. 9.10
George H. Hardy, breaking roads .. .
8.30
John H. Parkhurst, breaking roads .. Omer Pepin, breaking roads
25.00
Mar. 17. William Currie, breaking roads.
72.00
25 Iru M. Waite, breaking roads.
21.05
Percy A. Scott, breaking roads.
8.60
Emerson Campbell, shoveling snow .. 3.15 Louis A. Faucher, breaking roads. .. 15.00
1.00
Apr.
14. Louis Welch, shoveling snow. Julius H. Putnam, breaking roads. . 2.55
June
1. John F. Young, breaking roads .. ..
3.85
37.80 John M. Hodgman, breaking roads. . B. W. Nichols, breaking roads ..... 17.90
July 1. George H. Wiggin, breaking roads. .
10.50
565.93
MAINTENANCE OF STATE HIGHWAY ON RIVER ROAD.
1914. Paid:
June 15. New England Contracting Co. the amount raised by the town $1,500.00
State disbursements
$5,739.12
Balance in state treasury $183.20
Balance in town treasury .02
14.00
16
MAINTENANCE OF STATE HIGHWAY ON PLAINS.
1914. Paid:
Oct. 22. George A. Woods, maintenance
money
$300.00
By state
340.63
$640.63
For work
week ending
Oct. 17 $311.01
For work
week
ending
Oct. 24 321.24
Engineer and inspector .. 7.38
639.63
Balance in state treasury $1.00
BUILDING STATE AID ROAD, 1914.
(George A. Woods, foreman.)
Paid:
Sept. 25. George A. Woods, labor on state aid road
$600.00
Oct. 1. George A. Woods, labor on state aid road 600.00
Oct. 13. George A. Woods, labor on state aid road 250.00
Oct. 30. George A. Woods, labor on state aid road 100.00
Nov. 4. George A. Woods, labor on state aid road 200.00
Nov. 6. John C. Bickford, rent of land. . . 4.00 Fred 'S. Sargent, 67 loads of clay ... 6.70 Gordon Woodbury, 1000 loads gravel at 8 cents 80.00
Manchester Water-Works for water .. 12.80
By town
$1,853.50
By state 387.44
$2,240.94
17
---
Received from the state.
$200.00
Received from G. A. Woods 19.13
$219.13
Total cost
$2,021.81
WORK ON STATE AID ROAD.
(Itemized Statement.)
(Week ending September 26, 1914.)
F. Carroll and team, 1 1-9 days @ $4.50. $5.00
E. L. Connor and team, 4 days @ $4.50. 18.00
W. A. Gault and team, 5 days @ $4.50. 22.50
W. E. Chesbro and team, 5 days @ $4.50. 22.50
A. P. Fosher and team, 4 51/2-9 days @ $4.50 .. 20.75
W. B. French and team, 4 days @ $4.50. 18.00
Charles Grant and team, 4 days @ $4.50 18.00
Charles Busiell and team, 4 days @ $4.50 18.00
John Quaide and team, 3 days @ $4.50 13.50
Will Currie and team, 3 days @ $4.50. 13.50
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 4 days @ $3.00 12.00 Italians 148.67
Geo. A. Woods, 6 days' expenses 42.50
$372.92
(Week ending October 3, 1914.)
E. L. Connor and team, 4 days @ $4.50 $18.00
W. A. Gault and team, 6 days @ $4.50. 27.00
W. E. Chesboro and team, 4 days @ $4.50 18.00
A. P. Fosher and team, 6 days @ $4.50. 27.00
W. B. French and team, 5 5-6 days @ $4.50 ... 26.25
Charles Grant and team, 6 days @ $4.50. 27.00
Charles Busiell and team, 4 days @ $4.50 18.00
John Quaide and team, 3 days @ $4.50 13.50
Two Bedford
18
Will Currie and team, 4 days @ $4.50 $18.00
C. J. Colburn and team, 4 days @ $4.50. 18.00
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 6 days @ $3.00 18.00
A. E. Porter and team, 2 days @ $4.50 9.00
Moore & Preston, coal 13.50
Italians
144.33
Geo. A. Woods, time and expenses 41.30
$436.88
(Week ending October 10, 1914.)
E. L. Connor and team, 5 days @ $4.50. $22.50
W. A. Gault and team, 6 days @ $4.50. 27.00
A. P. Fosher and team, 5 5-9 days @ $4.50 25.00
W. B. French and team, 6 days @ $4.50 27.00
Charles Grant and team, 6 days @ $4.50 .. 27.00
Charles Busiell and team, 4 4-9 days @ $4.50 .. 20.00
John Quaide and team, 6 days @ $4.50
27.00
Will Currie and team, 6 days @ $4.50.
27.00
E. A. Porter and team, 4 4-9 days @ $4.50.
20.00
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 6 days @ $3.00.
18.00
Benj. J. Mack, coal. 13.63
Italians
143.88
Geo. A. Woods, time and expenses 45.55
$443.56
(Week ending October 24, 1914.)
W. A. Gault and team, 2 days @ $4.50. $9.00
A. P. Fosher and team, 2 days @ $4.50. 9.00
W. B. French and team, 2 days @ $4.50 9.00
Charles Grant and team, 2 days @ $4.50. 9.00
Charles Busiell and team, 1 5-9 days @ $4.50 .. 7.00
John Quaide and team, 2 days @ $4.50 9.00
Will Currie and team, 1 day @ $4.50. 4.50
E. A. Porter and team, 2 days @ $4.50 9.00
C. J. Colburn and team, 2 days @ $4.50 9.00
19
George Boynton and team, 2 days @ $4.50. $9.00
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 2 days @ $3.00. 6.00
W. B. French, 90 loads stone. 9.00
Mrs. F. R. French, 52 loads stone 5.20
Italians 41.00
George A. Woods, foreman, time and expenses. . 20.58
$165.28
(Week ending October 31, 1914.)
W. A. Gault and team
2
days
A. P. Fosher and team. 2 days
Charles Grant and team 2 days
E. A. Porter and team 2 days
John Quaide and team 31 days
W. B. French and team. 2
days
F. E. Manning and team 1 day
G. H. Wiggin and team 2 days
F. A. French and team. 1
day
H. Peaslee and team. 2 days
W. E. Burleigh and team 2 days
Fred. Holbrook and team.
1 day
George Shepard and team
1% day 1 day
E. R. French and team.
Perham Parker and team 1 day
Will Currie and team 2 days
E. L. Connor and team . 2 days
Charles Busiell and team 2 days
J. W. Hill and team 1 day
Italians $123.00
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 6 days @ $3.00 18.00
Manchester Water Works 13.30
Oil bills 5.55
B. J. Mack, coal 8.63
George A. Woods, time and expenses 39.74
$208.22
20
(Week ending November 7, 1914.)
W. S. Manning and team. 1
day
George Spencer and team 2 days
Kinson and team 2 days
F. D. George and team 1
day
George Gookin and team 1
day
F. R. Estabrook and team 1
day
George A. Woods and team 1
day
Quincy Barnard and team 1 day
John Parkhurst and team 1 day
Irving French and team 1/2 day
John Quaide and team.
1/2 day
W. B. French and team.
1/2 day
F. Crowell, 110 loads gravel.
Italians $42.24
J. P. Goodrich, roller man, 4 days @ $3.00 12.00
A. P. Fosher and team, 2 days @ $4.50
9.00
John Quaide and team, 1/2 day @ $4.50 2.25
George A. Woods, time and expenses. 25.26
Gordon Woodbury, 1000 loads gravel. 80.00
Fred S. Sargent, 67 loads clay. 6.70
Rent of land for Italians' camp
4.00
Manchester Water-Works
12.80
Town Hopkinton, roller, 25 days @ $7.00
175.00
$369.25
ACCOUNT OF FIRE WARDEN.
1914.
May 1. Paid George H. Hardy, fighting fire .. $18.12
June 1. Paid George H. Hardy, fighting fire. . 26.80
Oct. 1. Paid George H. Hardy, fighting fire .. 81.15
Nov. 2. Paid George H. Hardy, fighting fire .. 125.20
$251.27
21
PUBLIC LIBRARY EXPENSES.
1914.
July 1. Paid Wm. B. French, library money. . $90.36
Feb. 1. Paid William B. French, interest on
Chandler fund. 24.50
$114.86
PAINTING TOWN HALL.
1914.
July 1. Paid John Seitz, Jr., painting hall. . $100.00
Aug. 1. Paid John Seitz, Jr., painting hall. . 50.00
6. Paid John Seitz, Jr., painting hall. . 50.00
$200.00
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
1914.
Mar. 12. Paid Manchester T. L. & P. Co. for maintaining lights from February 1 to March 1, 1914. $22.34
April 14. Paid for lights from March 1 to April 1, 1914 .. 22.34
June 13. Paid for lights from April 1 to May 1. 1914 .. 22.34
10. Paid for lights from June 1 to July 1, 1914 .. 22.34
Aug.
1. Paid for lights from July 1 to August 1, 1914 .. 22.34
Sept. 1. Paid for lights from August 1 to Sep- tember 1, 1914. 22.34
Oct. 1. Paid for lights from September 1 to October 1, 1914. 22.34
Nov. 2. Paid for lights from October 1 to No- vember 1, 1914. 22.34
Dec. 8. Paid for lights from November 1 to December 1, 1914 22.34
22
1915.
Jan. 1. Paid for lights from December 1 to January 1, 1915. $22.34
Feb. 1. Paid for lights from January 1 to February 1, 1915. 22.34
$245.74 Received from Mrs. N. E. Vincent for maintaining four lights 66.31
$179.43
CEMETERY EXPENSES.
1914.
May 5. Paid Charles P. Woodbury, interest on Burseil, Moore, Damon, Townsend and one half Patten funds for 1913
$22.21
Sept 1. Paid Charles P. Woodbury, appropria- tion for new cemetery 75.00
. Paid Frances E. Woodbury, interest on Barr, Clark, Osgood funds and one half Patten fund. 32.74
Nov. 2. Paid Harry W. Peaslee, labor in Joppa cemetery 15.43
Feb. 15. Paid Charles P. Woodbury, interest on Burseil, Moore, Damon, Townsend and one half Patten funds for 1914 22.21
$167.59
PERSONS AIDED BY THE COUNTY.
1914.
Mar. 17. Paid Perham Parker for supplies fur- nished John McIntire for Feb., 1914 $6.00
April 14. Paid Perham Parker for supplies fur- nished John McIntire for March, 1914 6.00
23
May 1. Paid Perham Parker for supplies fur- nished John McIntire for April, 1914 . $6.00 Paid Frances E. Scott for board for four Fosher children from April 13 to May 1, 1914 18.09
June 1. Paid Perham Parker for supplies fur- nished John McIntire for May, 1914 Paid Dr. Joseph Taylor for medical attendance for Fosher children and atendance for Emerson Campbell .. 2.50
6.00
5. Paid Frances E. Scott, for board of four Fosher children from May 1 to June 1, 1914. 24.00
July 1. Paid Austen J. Kearns, for goods fur- nished Emerson Campbell. 12.00
10. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for four Fosher children from June 1 to June 29, 1914. 24.00
Aug. 1. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from June 29 to July 27, 1914. 19.50
Paid Fred A. French for goods fur- nished Artemy Sharkey, $43.93; Albert Desrosiers, $3.93 47.86
Paid Perham Parker for goods fur- nished John McIntire for months of June and July, 1914. 12.00
Sept. 25. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from July 27 to August 24. 18.00
Oct. 1. Paid Perham Parker for goods fur- nished John McIntire for months of August and September, 1914. 12.00
Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from August 24 to September 28, 1914. 30.00
24
Oct. 16. Paid F. A. French, goods furnished Artemy Sharkey .. $21.14
Nov. 2. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from September 28 to October 26, 1914 24.00
Paid Lamoureaux Bros. for goods fur- nished Chesborough family .. 3.00
Paid Dr. Joseph Taylor, medical at- tendance for Mrs. Joseph Currier .. 14.00
23. Paid Mrs. Ernest Russell for board and care of Mrs. Joseph Currier .... 14.00
Dec. 1. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from October 26 to November 23, 1914. 24.00
8. Paid Perham Parker for goods fur- nished John McIntire for months of October and November, 1914. 12.00
1915.
Jan. 1. Paid Lamoureux Bros. for goods fur- nished Chesborough family. .. 10.00 Paid B. J. Mack for wood and coal furnished Chesborough family ..... 8.38 Paid Fred A. French, goods furnished Artemy Sharkey. 32.69
5. Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from November 23 to December 28, 1914. 30.00
Feb.
1. Paid Lamoureux Bros. for goods fur- nished Chesborough family . 10.00
13. Paid Perham Parker for goods fur- nished John McIntire for month of December, 1914 6.00
Paid Perham Parker for goods fur- nished John McIntire for month of January, 1915 .. 6.00
Paid Frances E. Scott for board for Fosher children from December 28, 1914, to February 1, 1915. 30.00
25
Feb. 15. Paid Lamoureux Bros., for goods fur- nished Chesborough family. $4.00
Paid B. J. Mack, coal for Chesborough family 4.38
Paid Fred A. French, supplies for Joseph Currier 9.03
Received from the county.
$513.48
450.07
Balance due from county. $63.41
PERSONS AIDED BY THE TOWN.
1914. Paid.
Nov. 2. Dr. Joseph Taylor, medical attend- ance for Clara Welch $10.00
1915.
Jan. 1. Frank R. Estabrook, aid to transients 1.50
Feb. 13. Perham Parker, aid to transients ... 6.85
$18.35
SETTLEMENT OF ORREN GRAVES ESTATE.
1914. Paid:
May 1. Dr. G. H. Greeley, for medical attend- ance 35.00
July 1. Nashua Hospital association for board for Orren Graves, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 1913 2.15
Aug.
6. F. L. Wallace, for burial of Orren
Graves
28.00
$70.15
Received from sale of personal prop- erty . $4.20
Total expense to town 25.95
26
TAX COLLECTOR'S ABATEMENTS, 1914.
Joseph P. Caldwell, soldier's exemption $14.50
Frances E. Woodbury, library building 10.15
George F. Barnard, discount on taxes. 171.74
ABATEMENTS FOR 1913.
Perry A. Eaton, paid in Weare
$1.42
Harold O. Webber, poll
1.42
Charles E. Gross, poll
1.42
Harry S. Rowell, poll
1.42
R. L. Nichols, poll
1.42
Wayland Walch, paid in conn.
1.42
Frank L. Beals, poll
1.42
George Welch
4.97
$211.33
ASSESSMENTS.
State tax
$2,200.00
County tax
1,291.17
Town charges
1,500.00
State highway maintenance
1,500.00
Clock on church
15.00
New cemetery
75.00
Electric lights
200.00
Painting town hall
200.00
State aid road
1,549.00
Public library
90.36
Highway tax
2,584.31
School money:
Raised by law
$2,062.50
Extra school money
1,650.00
Tuition
450.00
Books and flags
235.00
$4,397.50
38.20
Percentage
$15,641.04
Polls, number 326, taxes, $652.00.
27
ORDERS DRAWN.
Town officer's salaries
$849.10
Incidentals
948.33
Highway expenses
2,167.47
Snow bills
565.93
Maintenance of state highway
1,500.00
Maintenance of state aid road
300.00
Building state aid road, 1914
1,853.50
Fire bills
251.27
Library
114.86
Electric lights
245.74
Cemetery expenses
167.59
Painting town hall
200.00
County charges
513.48
Persons aided by the town
88.50
Abatements
211.33
$9,977.10
VALUATION.
Improved and unimproved land and build-
ings
$875,770.00
Horses, 431
48,150.00
Oxen, 8
805.00
Cows, 817
37,755.00
Other neat stock, 77
2,765.00
Sheep, 4
17.00
Hogs, 29
377.00
Fowls, 5408
4,027.40
Vehicles and automobiles, 163.
12,795.00
Portable mills, 15
4,585.00
Wood, lumber, etc., not stock in trade.
41,360.00
Stock in National Banks in this state.
1,100.00
Money on hand
2,420.89
Stock in trade.
1,800.00
$1,033,727.29
28
Amount exempted to soldiers $6,650.00
All of which is respectfully submitted, FRANK E. MANNING, FRANK R. ESTABROOK, PERHAM PARKER, Selectmen of Bedford.
We hereby certify that we have examined the fore- going account and find the same correctly cast and prop- erly vouched.
1
WILLIAM MELENDY, WILLIAM B. FRENCH, Auditors.
REPORT OF TREASURER.
(Year ending February 15, 1915.)
Received of treasurer February 15, 1914 ....
$249.47
Received of George F. Barnard, collector :
Due on tax 1913
2,155.57
Interest and not on list 69.16
Tax, 1914 12,852.45
Received of Fred A. French :
Dog licenses
157.00
Histories
3.50
Use of scales 19.35
Received of Horace E. Webber (loan)
1,500.00
Received of selectmen :
Due from county
450.07
Highway department
219.13
Vincent money
66.31
Due from Estate of Orrin Graves
44.20
Advertising
15.00
Received of M. J. Driscoll, clerk of court:
Due on fine
15.00
Received of Charles P. Woodbury :
Cemetery lots.
88.00
Received of George F. Barnard :
Rent of hall
80.00
Received of state :
Insurance tax
12.00
Railroad tax
632.13
Savings Bank tax
2,147.77
Literary Fund
153.12
Proportion of School Fund
283.34
29
30
Received of Amoskeag Savings Bank :
Interest on Chandler Fund
$24.56
Damon Fund 8.19
Osgood Fund 4.09
Sarah H. Clark Fund
4.09
Parkhurst Fund
2.05
Clarke Fund
12.28
Bursiel Fund
4.09
Shepard Fund 8.19
Patten Fund
8.16
Barr Fund
12.28
Moore Fund
4.09
Walker Fund
4.09
Townsend Fund
.
2.05
$21,310.78
CR.
Paid orders drawn current year ending Feb.
15, 1915 $9,977.10
State tax 2,200.00
County tax 1,291.17
Mary E. Manning, treasurer school board. . . 5,051.96
H. E. Webber (note) 1,500.00
Amoskeag National Bank, on note
1,000.00
$21,020.23
ASSETS.
Due from collector (1914)
$2,577.33
Cash on hand 290.55
4
$2,867.88
31
LIABILITIES.
Amoskeag National Bank note.
$4,000.00
Town officers' salaries (estimated) 700.00
Dog money 157.00
$4,857.00
Balance against town
$1.989.12
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ERVIN R. FRENCH.
Treasurer.
We hereby certify that we have examined the foregoing account and find it correct.
WILLIAM MELENDY, WILLIAM B. FRENCH, Auditors.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF NEW CEMETERY.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury. $0.95
Appropriation of town.
75.00
Interest on Trust fund, 1913
22.21
Interest on Trust fund, 1914.
22.21
Interest on Swett fund.
6.14
$126.51
EXPENDITURES.
Paid for labor, Eugene Campbell $4.50
for labor, William Young
.87
for labor, Charles P. Woodbury
96.87
H. E. Walker for dressing
2.90
repairs on lawn mowers 1.70
for sharpening tools.
.25
for one shovel
.65
Balance in treasury 18.77
$126.51
LOTS IN CEMETERY.
Sold W. S. Manning, four lots
$56.00
Ernest Jenkins, one lot.
13.00
Bessie Russel, one lot. 10.00
Received balance due on Clinton Adams lot.
9.00
$88.00
LOUIS GAULT, CHARLES P. WOODBURY, EDWARD P. FRENCH,
Trustees.
32
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33
We hereby certify that we have examined the foregoing report and find it correct.
WILLIAM MELENDY, WM. B. FRENCH, Auditors.
Three Bedford
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES.
(February 15, 1915.)
During the past year it has been necessary to have many of the books rebound, especially those of the juvenile department. About 300 books have been repaired, 125 at Temple & Far- rington's in Manchester, and 175 have been mended by the librarian.
Total number of books :
In the library February 15, 1915 2,333
Added during past year 94
From town appropriation. 27
From Mrs. and Miss Woodbury 21
From Mrs. Stella Hadden Alexander, Wellesley, Mass. 2
From E. Chadbourne, Manchester, N. H 30
From Fred Watson, Manchester, N. H. 1
From James W. Hill, Manchester, N. H. 1
From A. F. King. 2
Magazines have been donated during the year by Willis B. Kendall, Manchester, N. H., and Miss Elizabeth Mattison of New York.
Total circulation for the year
2,208
Total circulation per month. 184
The books given by Mr. Chadbourne are Memorial Ad- dresses which have been given in the Senate and House of Representatives on the lives and character of some of our former presidents and statesmen, including Gen. Franklin Pierce, Hon. John C. Calhoun and Gen. Lew Wallace.
WM. B. FRENCH,
GEORGE H. WIGGIN,
ALLEN F. KING,
Trustees.
34
35
TREASURER'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
1914.
Balance
$31.66
From town
90.36
Chandler fund.
24.50
$146.52
EXPENDITURES.
1915.
June 26. W. P. Goodman
$31.56
Aug. 18. Minnie King. 39.00
Oct. 2. Temple & Farrington
22.32
1915.
Jan. 19. W. P. Goodman
3.51
Feb. 1. G. H. Wiggin
13.00
18. Minnie King.
36.50
$145.89
Balance on hand. .63
W. B. FRENCH, Treasurer.
We hereby certify that we have examined the foregoing report and find it correct.
WILLIAM MELENDY, Auditor.
REPORT OF SCHOOL BOARD.
(Year ending February 15, 1915.)
The annual district meeting was held March 6, 1914, in the town house. Mr. William Melendy was elected mod- erator, Mr. Edmund B. Hull clerk, and Miss Mary E. Manning treasurer for the ensuing year.
Miss Susie E. Burseil was elected a member of the school board for three years. She declined to serve, and Mr. Chester C. Rausch was elected to fill the vacancy till the next annual meeting. The board organized as follows : Mr. Arthur W. Davis, chairman; Mrs. Bertha E. French, purchasing agent; Mr. Chester C. Rausch, clerk. For the distribution of supplies, and for supervision, schools three, four, five and eleven were assigned to Mr. Davis, schools two, six and nine to Mrs. French, and schools, one, seven, eight and ten to Mr. Rausch.
At the beginning of the spring term there were but five pupils in number six school belonging in that district. Children in number seven district that were attending num- ber one school made too many to be handled there to advan- tage. Number seven school was opened, number six trans- ported to number seven and the congestion in number one relieved. It was necessary to open number six for the fall term to accommodate an increase in the number of children in that district and because they could not be transported cheaply. It has since remained open and for the first time since 1909 all the schools have been open -at the same time.
It was necessary to close several of the schools during parts of terms on account of contagious diseases, but this
36
37
time, and all time lost for other causes, has been made up so far as it was practicable to do so. The experiment of adding a week to the spring vacation, carrying the term further into June to avoid the period of rain and mud, was tried and approved.
There is a considerable increase in the number of chil- dren kept out of school to work, interfering with the carrying out of the law which requires regular attend- ance at school and the progress of the pupil. It seems necessary to mention again the extreme lack of cooperation by parents in securing punctual and regular attendance. Aside from the fact that there is a moral and intellectual value to such acts, teaching the child habits of precision and affording uninterrupted study, there is a direct money value to the taxpayer, because it is the attendance which largely determines whether or not the town is entitled to state aid. A town having a large number of children in school a large number of days has a high average attend- ance. If this reaches a predetermined point the state remits a portion of the state tax, the amount being regu- lated by the value of all assessiable property and the total tax rate per thousand on that valuation. The amount may run to several hundred dollars for a town with conditions as they are in Bedford. We failed by a very small margin to secure state aid last year.
The board finds it increasingly difficult to secure teachers able to conduct well a large ungraded school. Teachers with a Normal school training, or with several years of experience, will not come for less than twelve dollars a week. The cost of board has risen steadily and more at- tractive positions are available in larger towns and the cities. All of these things tend to keep the better teachers out of our reach. If our attendance is raised so that we ยท secure state aid we are paid two dollars a week for every teacher who is a Normal school graduate (of any state) or who holds a state certificate (a possible $792 for Bed- ford). The cost of supplies and fuel has increased and
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many of the buildings, being old and in poor condition, re- quire a never increasing outlay for minor repairs. All these things tend to increase the amount of school money called for.
An opportunity was embraced in August for forming a supervisory district consisting of the towns of Hopkinton, Weare and Bedford. Mr. Fred S. Libbey was chosen to begin his duties as superintendent with the fall term, at a salary of $1700. One half of this sum is paid by the state from its general education fund and each of the three towns pays one-third of the remainder, or $283.33 each. This is the only expense to the town save for a small item for stationery and messages. The superintendent pays his own transportation and other expenses and divides his time equally among the three towns, following no stated pro- gram, but distributing it wherever and for as long a time as conditions indicate is necessary.
The board feels that the results now making themselves felt in the more thorough and systematic work of the teachers and the very evident improvement in the dis- cipline and work of the scholars, because of better grading and methods of teaching, indicate a real help to the chil- dren. The advantages of uniformity and systematic ad- vance in a child's studies cannot be too strongly emphasized. The nature of these things will be made clear in the report of the superintendent.
At the close of the fiscal year there remained fourteen weeks more of school. In that time the results of the preliminary work of supervision will have been made more evident and so have prepared the way for still better work next year. We urge that patience be exercised and that another year under supervision be tried that the same bene- ficial results be obtained here that have eventually obtained in other towns where supervision has been given a fair trial and allowance made for such mistakes as ordinarily occur in any new work.
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To avoid interference during a term by the introduction of a small child, unused to the ways of a school, and the hindrance that the necessary attention places upon the work of a teacher, the board voted to admit no child till after its sixth birthday and only at the beginning of the fall and spring terms.
During the year schools seven and eight have been painted outside and school nine thoroughly renovated inside. On schools eight, ten, five and four there is much to be done in the underpinning, and the southwest corner of number four and the south side of number two must be rebuilt. Schools one, two, four, five, six and eight need thorough renovating inside. The general condition of more than half the school- houses is bad and there is need for considerable necessary repair work in the very near future.
Your board feels that some steps should be taken to pro- vide one school where grades seven and eight in a room by themselves, can have better training than they get when mingled with many lower grades. The experiment should be tried at once, in a small way, to determine the simplest and least expensive manner of conducting such a school and providing it with suitable quarters. The need for send- ing so many children to Manchester can be mostly elimi- nated if we furnish in our own town the instruction such children are entitled to have.
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