USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Chester > Annual report of the town of Chester, Vermont for the year ending 1883 > Part 1
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GEN
GC 974.302 C42AR, 1883
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01840 8929
THE THIRTIETH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF CHESTER,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEB. 16, 1883.
AUDITORS:
P. H. ROBBINS, WM. ROUNDS, HUGH HENRY.
LUDLOW : WARNER & HYDE, JOB PRINTERS. 1883.
THE THIRTIETH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF CHESTER,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEB. 16, 1883.
AUDITORS: II. H. ROBBINS, WM. ROUNDS, HUGH HENRY.
LUDLOW : WARNER & HYDE, JOB PRINTERS. 1883.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
The Auditors of the Town of Chester, have examined the accounts and vouchers of the Treasurer, Selectmen, Over- seer of the Poor and Cemetery Commissioners, and submit the following report :
TREASURER'S REPORT.
Your Treasurer's account shows that there was on
hand at last annual settlement, Feb. 16, 1882,.$3,603.30 Received of W. P. Dodge, Collector, 42.73
For rent of lease land,. 55.85
Of Highway Surveyors,. 837.55
L. M. Carpenter, Liquor Agent, 200.02
O. E. Heald, Liquor Agent, 300.00
State Treasurer, division of savings bank tax, 360.11
Of Selectmen for old timber, plank, and bolts sold,. 23.97
Of L. Adams for use of reports, 5.00
Of A. S. Adams for sales from farm, .... 766.90 For taxes collected by Treasurer, list 1882, 5,300.02 Of Town of Cavendish in settlement of Green case, . 75.00
Of circus company, 10.00
For dog licenses after paying damages and com. 30.80
For use of screws,
6.50
$11,617.75
That he has paid District Treasurers on
18 orders drawn by Selectmen, ..... $1,110.60 Paid interest on orders given prior to last
settlement, 102.50
Costs in Stephen Wyman case, ..
.
12.07
Orders drawn since last settlement,. . 3,655.03
4
And endorsed on orders given prior to last settlement,. · 1,100.00 State Treasurer State tax, . 1,313.62 Overseer's orders, 1,356.90
Cash on hand,. 2,967.03
$11,617.75 The following will show to whom and for what purpose your Selectmen drew the 148 orders the current year, viz :
BREAKING ROADS.
No. 7
3 Geo. F. Davis, $ 1.80
4 Nelson Snell,. 10.75
5 Albert Williams, 7.93
6 F. O. Clark,. 2.88
1 John Hall, . 2.00
22
Benj. H. Marshall,
1.00
23 C. M. Wilson, . 2.00
24 John D. Clark, . 2.00
113 F. E. Robinson,. 5.12
$35.48
BRIDGES AND REPAIRS TO BRIDGES.
9 Johnson & Hinds, plank,. .$257.77
16 A. L. Stoodley, work on bridge, 3.15
19 Samuel H. Piper, 11,211 feet plank, 108.50
21 Johnson & Hinds, plank,. 2.04
29 J. H. Harris, timber soap stone mill bridge, .. 425.54
31 26
Central Vt. R. R., freight on lumber,. 24.00
C. H. Sanders, plank,. 71.06
John McGrath, slating, 133.25
32 33 Johnson & Hinds, plank and lumber, 37.18
34 36
J. K. Fletcher, labor, 25.50
R. B. Duncklee, teaming, 34.00
39 Joel L. Marble, labor, . 30.60
40 Geo. W. Sheldon, teaming, 4.70
41 Susan A. Hosmer, boarding, . 8.50
42 Wm. Miller, bridge stringers, 15.00
44 G. A. Leland, work, . 38.75
38
J. C. Jones, bolts, 1.30
5
Robbins & Marsh, bolts and nails, $27.41
35 47 Lawson Bailey, oak lumber,. 12.06 52 Q. D. Gowing, labor, .. 32.00 53 N. F. Hall, labor and teaming, 3.00 54 Johnson & Hinds, boards,. 5.50 56 R. F. Gowing, labor, . 31.00 58 Geo. Strong, teaming, 1.00 59 W. J. Powers, labor, . 24.50 49 L. C. Cummings, labor, 3.25 61 G. E. Lee, labor, . 4.00 62 W. C. Williams, labor, 36.00 60 H. M. Church, stringers (fractional) 10.00 63 R. W. Carpenter, labor, 18.12 64 Joel L. Marble, labor, 18.00 70 C. M. Wilson, labor, . 17.00 71 Thos. E. Lonergon, labor, . 12.00 72 E. A. Marsh, labor and team, 15.50 73 Barney Guild, labor, . 12.00 74 Daniel French, Jr., labor, 19.00 75 N. F. Hall, labor and team, 65.00 76 J. J. Miner, boarding, 10.00
762 Tyler L. Earl, labor, . 21.00
E. M. Carlisle, (fractional,) labor, 7.00
68 65 Loring Atwood, sawing, etc., . 9.50
E. D. Atwood, labor,. 7.00
77 79 E. A. Marsh, labor, .. 10.00 85 Loring Atwood, lumber, etc., 5.00 86 John P. Wiley, labor, 1.50 87 L. C. Cummings, labor,. 1.00 90 J. D. Powers, plank,. 5.64 93 W. D. Skinner, labor and team, 16.00 94 Daniel French, Jr., labor, 7.00 95 Barney Guild, labor, .. 6.00 96 Chas. W. Wiggins, labor and team, 9.00
D. C. Woodburn, labor and team, 9.00
97 98 99
E. Sabin, boarding, 9.00
R. C. Sherwin, labor, 1.50
82 John D. Clark, labor and team, 27.00
100
A. A. Putnam, labor, 30.50
83 N. A. Town, labor, .. $6.00
78 Henry W. Brewer, labor and team, 12.00
104 R. B. Duneklee, teaming,. 9.00
106 Joseph Piper, 2d, labor, 3.75
107 John P. Wood, labor, 9.50
109 Martin Church, labor, . 3.00
114 Benj. H. Marshall, labor,
46 Willard Bailey, plank, ..
7.25
115 Chas. O. Sargeant, labor and team,
17.50
122 E. C. Hutchinson, labor, .
1.50
124 Ira II. Adams, (fractional,) .
2.50
117 Robbins & Marsh, nails, etc., 6.42
129 Geo. H. Hilton, stone, 4.00
132 C. L. Hinds, labor, (fractional,) 7.50
134 J. C. Scribner, plank, .. 14.50
125
O. W. Fletcher, nails and shingles,
3.85
$1,891.09
HIGHWAYS.
7
T. J. Shurtliff, labor, . . $10.67
11 John P. Wiley, labor, 6.00
13 Albert Myres, labor,. 1.50
10 F. E. Robinson, labor, 14.62
20 Ozias King, labor,. 4.10
14 Henry Howe, labor, 7.50
15 Lemuel H. Davis, labor, 3.75
14.05
28 J. A. Beard, 5.52
50
Alonzo Carrier,
1.50
60 H. M. Church, for plow, (fractional,)
8.00
12 C. C. Black, labor, 4.50
67 J. A. Beard, labor, . 7.06
80 E. S. Dodge, labor,. 4.50
81
Thos. Lonergon, labor,
4.50
88 J. A. Beard, labor, 14.50
89 N. F. Hall, labor, . 14.50
102 Church & Deane, watering trough, 5.00
103 Daniel Davis, 3d, surveying, 2.50
105
T. B. Davis labor,
14.00
27 S. E. Kingsbury,
3.00
7
James Sullivan, labor, . $1.50
108 111 R. W. Carpenter, labor, 2.25
123 Sylvester Burke, labor,. 3.25
O. Stoddard, labor,. 8.25
112 126 W. E. Chittenden, labor,. 8.75
147 Atwood Sargeant, labor, . 2.12
$174.39
EXPENSES INCURRED FOR INSANE POOR.
66 Dr. J. Draper, .$390.00
124 I. H. Adams, going to Brattleboro with Ruth Thompson, (fractional,) 3.10
132
C. L. Hinds, expenses in Green case, (fractional,) 1.75
$394.85
DAMAGES ON HIGHWAY.
45 M. V. B. Morse, $50.00
136 W. H. Johnson, 3.45
$53.45
LAND DAMAGES.
51 Thos. J. Fullam, winter road, $3.00
128 Pardon Field, land damage, 6.00
$9.00
ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS.
43 F. W. Marsh, paid costs in Cavendish case, .. $15.40
116 C. O. Locke, fees in Cavendish case,. . 6.20
135 F. W. Marsh, paid Spafford, use of house to take depositions, 1.00
13] W. E. Johnson, 21.00
130 Luther Adams, 64.87
$108.47
LIQUORS.
55
H. A. Blanchard & Co., liquors, .$141.04
69 91 92
Central Vt. R. R., freight, 3.26
H. A. Blanchard & Co., liquors, 108.54
H. A. Blanchard & Co., liquors, . 4.62
8
101 £ H. A. Blanchard & Co., liquors,. $15.00
127 H. R. Barney, freight and express, 3.60
121 H. A. Blanchard & Co., liquors, 15.00
$291.06
MISCELLANEOUS.
17
Tuttle & Co., printing reports and blank books, $36.15
25 M. McIntyre, jack screws, . 24.00
37 Pardon Field, labor in cemetery, 4.00
18 W. M. Bent, highway books, .. 2.75
48 Miss Hemenway, Vol. 4, Vt. History,. 2.00
68 E. M. Carlisle, care Town Hall, (fractional,). ... 2.00
84 D. S. Dutton, work in cemetery, 1881,. 2.50
110 Tuttle & Co., blank books,. 10.50
144 Chas. Robbins, recording, expenses; etc.,, 17.80
145 Chas. Robbins, paid District Clerks, 8.25
$109.95
SERVICES OF TOWN OFFICERS.
2 Mrs.H. H. Gowing, Superintendent of Schools, $86.30
8 L. M. Carpenter, Liquor Agent, 25.00
30 L. M. Carpenter, Liquor Agent, . 16.67
57 R. F. Gowing, Auditor,. 3.00
119 F. W. Marsh, Town Agent, services and
expenses in Mead and Green pauper cases,. . 17. 15
120 N. A. Smith, Auditor, 3.00
118 P. H. Robbins, Auditor,
2.25
133 O. E. Heald, Liquor Agent, 50.00
138 I. H. Adams, Selectman, 53.87
137
C. L. Hinds, Selectman, . 56.30
139 N. F. Hall, Selectman, 28.00
142 Martin Guild, Lister, 50.00
141 J. R. Richardson, Lister, . 62.00
140 R. P. Pollard, Lister and expenses 77.25
143 Charles Robbins, Treasurer,! .. 30.00
146 Charles Robbins, collecting taxes, 26.50
$587.29
9
RECAPITULATION.
Breaking roads, .. $ 35.48
Bridges and repairs to bridges, 1,891.09
Highways, . 174.39
Expenses incurred for insane poor, 394.85
Damages on highway, 53.45
Land damages, 9.00
Attorneys' fees and costs, 108.47
Liquors, .
291.06
Miscellaneous, . 109.95
Services of Town officers,
587.29
$3,655.03
SELECTMEN SETTLEMENT WITH W. P. DODGE, CONSTABLE, FEBRUARY 10, 1883.
DR.
To note given up, .
$81.45 --- $81.45
CR.
By cash, .
$24.98
Abatements, 17.66
Note,. 38.81- -$81.45
SETTLEMENT WITH W. P. DODGE, CONSTABLE, BY CHAS. ROBBINS, FEB. 10, 1883.
DR.
To note given up,.
47.34 -- $47.34
CR.
By abatements,
$
2.99
Cash,.
17.75
Note,. . 26.60 -- $47.34
SELECTMEN SETTLEMENT WITH CHAS. ROBBINS AS COLLECTOR.
DR.
To Town tax, list 1882,.
.$3,253.83
State school tax, list 1882,.
1,171.58
State tax, list 1882,.
1,356.03
Town order,.
26.50-$5,807.94
10
CR ..
By taxes delivered W. P. Dodge, as per
receipt, .
$ 313.68
Four per cent discount on Town and
State school taxes, . ..
167.74
Collection fees on $5,300.02,
26.50
Cash paid into treasury,
5,300.02-$5,807.94
SELECTMEN SETTLEMENT WITH L. M. CARPEN- TER, LIQUOR AGENT, JULY 1, 1882.
DR.
To liquors on hand, Feb. 2, 1882,
.$527.81
Casks, measures, etc., on hand,.
29.75
Salary,
41.67
Profit,
3.26 --- $602.49
CR.
Liquors on hand, .
$379.22
Casks, measures, etc.,
23.25
Paid Treasurer,.
200.02 -- $602.49
SELECTMEN SETTLEMENT WITH O. E. HEALD, LIQUOR AGENT, FEB. 6, 1883.
DR.
Liquors on hand, July 1, 1883,
$379.22
Casks, measures, etc., on hand,
23.25
Liquors purchased by Selectmen,
284.20
Freight,
3.60
Salary,.
50.00
Profit,
4.80-$745.07
CR.
Liquors on hand,. $414.82
Casks, measures, etc.,. 30.25
Paid Treasurer, . .
300.00 --- $745.07
CEMETERY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Cash on hand at last settlement, $77.70
Of C. O. Persons for lot, 9.00
Of H. K. White for lot,
21.00
Of J. N. Morse for lot,. 23.40
For interest,
4.00 --- $135.10
To paid E. M. Carlisle, $23.25
Johnson & Hinds, 18.07 L. T. Park,. 8.25 P. Looney, 13.00
Cash on hand, .
72.53 --- $135.10
SELECTMEN IN ACCOUNT WITH CAMPBELL FUND.
Paid for assistance to the following named persons, viz :
H. C. Plimpton, . $18.36
Linda Pratt, . 7.52
B. B. Farnsworth,
92.90
Flora A. Pond,
5.00
Alma Hoard, 10.00
John Tufts, . 82.69
Mrs. Sherman,
1.80
Martin McIntyre,
37.14
D. H. Maxfield,.
26.58
Elizabeth Hosmer,. 20.85 ·
J. S. Olney,
6.50
Varion Balch,
8.00
Scales family, 10.00
Mrs. Balch,
6.00
Luther Stoodley, .
7.25
Geo. W. Sheldon, 8.22
Cash on hand, .
4.86 -- $353.67
Cash on hand, Feb. 16, 1882, $153.67
Interest on bond, .
200.00 --- $353.67
OVERSEER'S REPORT.
Your Overseer of the Poor has paid for the support of the poor the current year, with money drawn from the treasury as follows, viz :
STORE BILLS.
W. W. Richardson, $12.26 C. H. Sanders, . 51.88
Geo. S. Robbins, .
44.14
12
E. B. Lee, .. $25.70 O. W. Fletcher, 45.04
$179.02
PHYSICIANS AND MEDICINE.
F. W. Pierce, medicine, $14.35
W. N. Bryant,. 30.00
T. G. Whiting, 5.00
$49.35
LABOR ON FARM.
E. A. Marsh, $ 25.00
Chas. Gear, . 11.70
Eli Lizway, 3.00
Geo. F. Davis,.
5.00
John W. Holmes, 9.00
C. A. Read,
229.17
Frank,.
66.00
3.00
Abram Dodge,
Emma E. Barr,
2.50
$354.37
TAXES AND INSURANCE.
Hugh Henry, insurance, $ 9.10
Chas. Robbins, taxes, 13.60
E. S. Dodge, taxes,.
4.70
$27.40
PAID FOR SUPPORT OF POOR OFF THE FARM.
To Arvin J. Bigelow, $ 3.13
Geo. Strong, 11.50
Geo. Strong, 2.00
A. E. Staples,
4.84
S. S. Bennett, . 39.00
G. L. Hoard, . 19.00
Geo. W. Sheldon,
35.67
A. L. Johnson, . 65.00
D. H. Maxfield, 10.00
Adams & Park,.
15.90
N. O. Johnson, 14.05
13
John Revel, . $11.90
L. G Whiting, Administrator, 15.84
W. H. Spofford, 7.00
C. H. Sanders, tramps, 4.80
W. W. Richardson,
6.24
Mrs. Wyman, . 1.75
Denman Hulett, 54.15
David Wyman, . 52.00
J. H. Adams, 13.80
O. W. Fletcher, 4.50
A. S. Adams, . 12.70
Mary E. Bemis, 3.00
$407.77
MISCELLANEOUS BILLS.
To H. F. Wiggens, . .$115.00
Alonzo Perry,. 115.00
Adams & Park,. 11.62
Geo. S. Robbins, .60
P. H. Robbins, 3.98
A. E. Staples,
7.50
Carlton & Stowell,
3.50
H. F. Guild,. 15.25
Miller & Hadley,. 10.61
H. B. Booth, 2.35
A. E. Staples, 4.20
L. F. Wood, 7.04
Robbins & Marsh, 5.94
Leverett Benson,. 8.12
F. H. Moore, 6.00
C. A. Reed, 20.58
N. O. Johnson, 4.50
$341.79
FUNERAL EXPENSES.
To E. M. Carlisle, $ 8.50
Rev. A. R. Wilson, 9.00
Chas. Walker, 26.25
Oscar Miller, .
6.00
$49.75
14
Overseer has received from sales of stock, produce, etc., from farm the current year as follows, viz :
J. R. Richardson, pair oxen, . .$125.00
Keyes, for hay, ... 2.80
Samuel Abbott, for cow, .. 30.00
J. R. Richardson, four young cattle, 100.00
Gear, for board, . 1.13
Veal, . .87
C. B. Chase, timber, 94.00
Adams & Park, oats, 15.04
Veal, . 1.07
Alonzo Drury, young creature, 20.00
I. H. Adams, butter,
55.93
J. R. Richardson, two three year olds, 60.00
E. A. Marsh, hay,.
I. H. Adams, poultry, 10.00
26.46
Oscar Farrer, turkey, 2.37
For butter, . 43.60
Samuel Abbott, hay,
6.50
Samuel Abbott, veal,.
.50
Carlton & Stowell, poultry and hides,
12.25
F. W. Marsh, for milk, 16.46
Leonard, beef,. 7.81
Wm. Ranney, butter, . 16.25
Samuel Abbott, for turkeys, 4.50
Abram Dodge, hay,. 4.05
Put Peabody, hay,. 8.25
A. E. Staples, apples, 13.76
Albee, hay and vinegar,. 2.65
Goods returned to W. W. Richardson,
.75
Goods returned to Johnson & Pollard, 2.00
Johnson & Pollard, poultry and eggs, 2.87
Adams & Park, oats,. 3.74
E. B. Lee, eggs, . 1.91
Geo. S. Robbins, butter, beans, eggs, etc.,. 38.67
C. H. Sanders, eggs, 1.67
O. W. Fletcher, butter and eggs, 22.09
C. A. Read, produce sold,. 11.95
$766.90
15
RECAPITULATION.
Store bills, $179.02
Physicians and medicine, 49.35
Labor on farm, . 354.37
Taxes and insurance, 27.40
Support of poor off farm, 407.77
Miscellaneous bills, . 341.79
Funeral expenses, . 49.75
Overseer's services, .
44.45
Postage and stationery,.
3.00
$1,456.90
Received from Campbell fund, $100.00 Three orders on Town treasurer, 590.00
Sales from farm,. 766.90-$1,456.90
INVENTORY OF TOWN FARM, STOCK, PRODUCE, TOOLS, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, ETC., As per appraisal, January 20, 1883, now on file in Town Clerk's Office.
Farm, ..
.$1,000.00
Stock, .
$663.00
Produce, .
619.50
Farming tools,
347.25
Miscellaneous,
116.50
Dairy tools, .
15.00
Household Furniture,
194.50-$1,855.75
$5,855.75
SUMMARY: COST OF SUPPORT OF POOR,
Appraisal of farm, 1882,
.$4,000.00
Appraisal of personal property,. 2,081.58-$6,081.58
Decrease of appraisal,. .$ 225.83 Overseer has paid for support of poor, including his services and expenses drawn from the treasury and from Campbell fund, · $1,456.90
Interest on appraisal of 1882, 364.89
$1,821.79
Amount of produce sold from farm, 766.90
$1,054.89
16
Actual amount expended in excess of receipts,.
calling the interest on last year's appraisal an expense, . $1,054.89
Decrease of 1882 appraisal,. 225.83
$1,280.72 This year's expense more than last, .. $88.77
There are now four paupers on the farm and have aver- aged 52 besides the tramps. There are now supported, wholly or in part, twenty off the farm ; six are wholly dependent. Have helped twenty not included in the above.
SUMMARY, SHOWING THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN.
LIABILITIES.
Twenty-seven orders given prior to last settlement, $3,836.20 Interest on above orders, . 302.71
School money to be drawn from the treasury March, 1883, 1,119.10
$5,258.01
ASSETS.
Five jack screws, $ 25.00
Plank, timber, bolts, etc., . 337.00
Two notes against Wm. P. Dodge, subject to abatements, 65.41
Lock-up, (estimated on price offered,) 150.00
Forty shares Steam Mill stock, (par value,) . 2,000.00 Personal property on Town farm, (appraisers valuation,) 2,081.58
Liquors, casks, measures, etc., 445.07
Cash in Town treasury, 2,935.68
Gravel banks,. 50.00
$8,089.74
NOMINAL ASSETS.
In other words the town owes, $5,258.01
And has nominal assets, 8,089.74
Excess of nominal assets,. .$2,831.73
17
In the above $5,258.01 Town debt is included $1,119.10 school money ; to meet which the fund is in the Treasurer's hands, leaving $3,836.20, interest bearing obligations, and $302.71 interest ; making in all $4,138.91 for the Town to meet. If deemed advisable to wipe out this debt at once, the Town should decide whether they will sell the Steam Power Co. stock for what it will sell for, apply what cash can be spared from the treasury, or vote a tax sufficient to pay the whole indebtedness, and retain their Steam Mill stock and cash in hands of Treasurer.
Town debt last year, · $6,363.00
Town debt this year,. . 5,258.01
Decrease of debt, $1,104.00
We have been unable to agree in a cash valuation of the Steam Power stock, and leave that to be determined by future sales.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
P. H. ROBBINS, WM. ROUNDS, AUDITORS.
HUGH HENRY,
COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
To the Town of Chester : -
Your Committee appointed at your last annual Town Meeting to take into consideration the subject of schools, and report at your next annual Town Meeting what measures the Town ought to adopt, if any, for the better accommodation and facilities for education, and especially to report whether the Town ought to adopt the town system or establish a central school, beg leave to submit for your con- sideration the following as their report:
Your committee have held three public meetings during the present winter and invited a full discussion of the subject we had under consideration, and was favored with able and thorough discussion at each meeting. We have given careful
18
thought, bringing to our aid statistics and the organization by geographical limits of the several school districts in town, and find that many changes ought to be made, in order to have efficiency; - many districts are deficient in the number of scholars for a school of interest or profit, and would be benefited by being enlarged in territory.
As it regards the adoption of the town system, by the abolishment of the several districts, at the present time your committee do not recommend, but do recommend the district system and the establishing of a central high school for the advanced pupils of the several districts in town.
We further recommend the following action by the Town in relation to District No. 12, called the Fisher dist- rict : That the lands lying in said district owned by the following named persons,-T. A. Edwards, M. H. Brewer, Washington Adams, Amelia Paine, Lyman Fisher, E. M. Carlisle, Oscar Heald, Maria Sherwin, N. F. Hall, Mary A. Smith, Ira H. Adams,-be set to District No. 3. The lands lying in said District No. 12 owned by the following named persons,-Willard M. Howard, Adams & Stearns,-be set to District No. 2. The lands lying in said District No. 12 owned by the following named persons,-F. Church, D. W. Dunn, H. C. Plympton,-be set to District No. 5, and the lands lying in said District No. 12 owned by the following named persons,-Riley Phillips, William Chandler, Rodney G. Britton,-be set to District No. 13. The lands lying and being in District No. 19, called the Wyman district, owned by the following named persons,-Moses March, Herman Guild and Lewis Hill, F. O. Clark, Geo. Morrison, Samuel Alford's estate, and William H. Johnson,-be set to District No. 16. The lands lying and being in said District No. 19 owned by the following named persons,-Leland & Davis, Walter M. Walker, Olney Bates' estate, Lydia Adams, T. W. Heald, E. P. Kingsbury, J. C. Balch, Almira Rugg, J. E. Green, B. Farnsworth's estate, Geo. A. Brown, and J. R. Richardson,-be set to District No. 4. The lands lying and being in District No. 20 owned by the following named per- sons,-Mrs. A. Blaisdell, Ella N. Pierce, Moses Dow, Zenas Marshall, Mrs. Oliver Ellis' estate, R. F. Fisher and Robbins
19
& Marsh, the carriage shop and dwelling house and lands thereunto belonging, occupied by Myron D. Batchelder and owned by N. O. Johnson, the dwelling house lately occupied by L. A. Bolles and the land thereunto belonging now owned by J. R. Richardson, and the lands of H. A. Gould, Phebe Carpenter's estate, and Colman Sanders, now occupied by C. H. Sanders, Chester Steam Power Company, and the Rutland Railroad Company,-be set to District No. 3. The lands owned and occupied as the Congregational parsonage, lately set off from District No. 6 to District No. 20, be set back to said District No. 6.
Your committee are of the opinion that upon a careful examination of the several districts in town a further geo- graphical altering of the limits of the districts would be found desirable, and to this end we recommend the appointment of a committee at your next annual Town Meeting to consider the same and report to the Town.
We are satisfied that the statutes of our State are want- ing in many essential points. The Town Superintendent should have more power, more duties to perform, and more pay. The law governing text books is a folly; it should be a uniformity throughout the State, and the State should publish the books and furnish them to each town, covering the cost of publishing and transportation.
We are also of the opinion that the statute providing for the town system is deficient and objectionable in giving unlimited power to the directors. They have the power to establish the primary and graded schoolhouses in such local- ities as they see fit, and also to establish graded schools and provide for the instruction of scholars in the higher branches, contract with all teachers, and to control the building and maintenance of all the schoolhouses in town, and draw war- rants upon the Town treasury covering all such expenses.
We are of the opinion that the Town ought to have the privilege of locating the schoolhouses and making the appro- priations for the cost of building the same, and also to set some limit upon the directors' action and power by making an annual appropriation for the current expenses of schools.
20
We believe the Town Superintendent ought to have the power under the district system to classify the schools and direct the grade of books to be used by each scholar, and also have power personally to make complaint and cause prosecution to be instituted to carry into effect the statute for compulsory attendance of scholars.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEO. L. FLETCHER, ) F. W. MARSH, A. F. BALDWIN, GEO. S. ROBBINS, WILLARD BAILEY,
1 COMMITTEE.
Chester, Vt., February 20, 1883.
TOWN SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Another year has passed, and once more we present the customary report. There have been 43 terms of school taught by 29 different teachers. No male teachers have been employed. Some of the schools are not yet closed, but the prudential committees and teachers in those districts have furnished me the statistics given, the average for the last term being made up at the close of the eleventh week; and the district clerks having all kindly responded to the call made for the registers in the districts where the schools are closed, I am enabled to furnish the statistics found in the following report:
Whole number of weeks of school, 452; amount of pub- lic money, $727.96; amount of teachers' wages and board, $2,520.65; other expenses, including repairs, new furniture, fuel, etc., $712.10. [This does not include Dist. No. 13, as the schoolhouse is situated in Springfield, and the school is not under my supervision, and I have not yet received the register.]
DISTRICT No. 1 .- Prudential Committee, James Parker. Teacher, Irena Martin. Public money, $41.60.
Ist Term. 2d Term. 3d Term.
Length of school in wecks, 10 7 7
Number of pupils, 7 8 6
Average attendance, . 7
7.5 6
Visits by Prudential Committee, 1 0 0
Teacher's wages and board, . $37.50 $33.25 $33.25
Other expenses, including fuel and incidentals,
$11.84
This school was fortunate in having an experienced teacher for the three terms, and though its members were small, they were all interested, prompt in attendance, orderly and studious.
DISTRICT No. 2 .- Prudential Committee, F. H. Whit- comb. Teachers, Grace E. Lee, Ist term; Bertha Whitcomb. 2d term. Public money, $49.49.
1st Term. 2d Term. 11 13
Number of pupils,
9 10
Average attendance.
8.5 9.4
Visits by Prudential Committee, 1 $41.25 $65.00
1
Teacher's wages and board,
Other expenses,
$14.30
·
Length of school in weeks, .
22
Good order and a commendable degree of interest ís found here, but the numbers have been growing less for some time and the prospects for the next summer are not more than four pupils.
DISTRICT No. 3 .- Prudential Committee, I. P. Stevens. Teachers, Ella Rounds, Ist and 2d terms; K. H. Deane, 3d term. Public money, $114.85.
Ist Term. 2d Term. 3d Term.
Length of school in weeks, 10 10
12
Number of pupils, ... 41 44 29
Average attendance, . 38.8 40.7 28.3
Visits by Prudential Committee, 2 2 2
Teacher's wages and board, $75.00 $85.00 $96.00
Other expenses, including fuel, rent, new furniture, incidentals, $97.63
Primary Department .- Teacher, Eva L. McIntyre.
Length of school in weeks, 12
21
Number of pupils.
Average attendance, . 2014
Visits by Prudential Committee, 2
Teacher's wages and board, $50.00
At the close of the second term this school was divided, for the third term. The teachers employed in each depart- ment have been constant and faithful workers, and good progress has been made, but much more might have been accomplished in the higher department, had all the pupils been inclined to make the most of the advantages provided. In the primary school we find not only a zealous teacher, but pupils eager to be taught, and the results are very gratifying. No one visiting this school can fail to acknowledge the success of the experiment.
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