USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Rutland > Annual report, City of Rutland, Vermont, 1917 > Part 15
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Respectfully,
J. J. HICKEY, Overseer of Poor.
Report of Health Officer
To the President and Members of the Board of Health,
Rutland, Vermont.
Gentlemen :-- I have the honor to present herewith the re- port of the transactions of the Health Department for the year ending December 31st, 1918.
MILK
Samples of milk from the different distributors were taken and sent to the State Laboratory for examination twice during the year; once in June and again in December.
Out of forty-nine samples sent, seventeen complied with all the requirements while the others were either low in fats and solids or contained visible dirt.
WATER
Daily Tap Samples sent to the State Laboratory for exami- nation were reported upon as follows:
Total number B. Coli
B. Coli
Samples collected Present Absent
January. No record for January. Assumed duties of Office Feb. 2nd.
February
18
0
18 Days
March
25
0
25 Days
April
22
0
22 Days
May
23
8 Days
15 Days
June
23
11 Days
12 Days
July
26
3 Days
23 Days
August
26
8 Days
18 Days
September
20
12 Days
8 Days
October
24
14 Days
10 Days
November
21
8 Days
13 Days
December
26
12 Days
5 Days
No report received as yet for last half of December.
Three special inspections of the territory bordering the main streams which supply the City Reservoir were made dur-
105
CITY OF RUTLAND
ing the year. On one of these trips I was accompanied by the late Dr. Charles S. Caverly, then President of the State Board of Health, and on one of them by Dr. C. F. Dalton, Secretary of the State Board of Health and Prof. J. W. Votey, Engineer of the State Board of Health.
Several samples of water were taken from different places and examination of same showed only one instance in which there was evidence of sewage bacteria.
I was summoned to view six bodies during the year, and after careful examination issued certificates as follows:
Accidental-Struck by train
2
Natural causes due to age
1
Probably Valvular Disease of Heart
1
Acute Indigestion
1
Burned to Death
1
INTERMENTS
Evergreen Cemetery
77
Evergreen Vault. .
37
Calvary Cemetery
77
Calvary Vault.
21
Old West Street Cemetery
1
House of Correction Cemetery
1
St. Joseph's Cemetery
10
St. Joseph's Vault.
8
Shipped for burial.
100
Brought to Rutland.
36
One grave to another.
8
On premises .
1
DEATH STATISTICS, 1918
SEX
Jan. Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Male.
10|11 15|21 11
415
6 15|26 12|12 158
Female
811
8 4 13
8
9
4
81921 7120
Total.
18 22 23 25 24 12 24 10 23
45 33 19 278
Still born and Premature Birth.
23022100200 2 14
106
ANNUAL REPORT
AGE
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Under 1 year.
1- 5 years
0
0
1
5
0
007
0
2
2
3
0
15
5-10 years
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
4
10-15 years
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
3
15-20 years
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
2 2
3
2
15
20-30 years
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
0 11
4
1
27
40-50 years
5
1
2
0
0
0
3
1
3
7 2
1
25
50-60 years
0
3
2
3
2
1
3
0
1
0
1 3
19
60-70 years
5
0
1
4
2
2
8
1
3
7
3 2 38
70-80 years
2
5
7
1
2
4
3
4
2 010
3
43
80-90 years
2
2
3
2
4
1
2
1
2
0
1
2 22
Over 90 years.
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
Total.
18 22 23 25 24 12 24 10 23 45 33 19 278
NATIVITY
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Rutland.
5
9
4 710
0
1
410 4 4 65
United States.
1210
8 1510
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Canada.
0
0
3
1
1
0
1
0
1
1
0
9
Ireland
0
2
4
1
2
3 1
1
2
3
1
1 2
22
Poland
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
1
Italy.
0
1
3
1
1
1
3
0
5
7
2
1
25
Sweden.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Wales.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Unknown.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Total.
18 22 23 25 24 12 24 10 23 45 33 19 278
4
2
29
30-40 years
0
1
1
4
1
2
0
0
3
11
4
0
2 36
5
-
England.
0 0
0
612
8 11 24 24 11 151
-
107
CITY OF RUTLAND
DEATHS BY WARDS
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Ward
1 ..
2
0
3
1
2
4
0
0
0
3
3
1 19
Ward
2.
0
0
1
0
1
0
4
1
1
2
1
1
12
Ward
3 ..
2
1
1
2
0
0
0
1
1
2
1
1
12
Ward
4 ..
0
4
1
1
4
2
4
1
1
1
2
1
22
Ward
5.
7
9
3
5
7
3
4
3 13
17 12
8
91
Ward 7.
1
3
2
6
3
1
1
0
2
6 3
1
29
Ward 8.
1
0
4
1
2
0
0
0
0
0 1
0
9
Ward 9.
1
3
2
3
1
2
4
0
0
3
2
1 22
Ward 10.
0
0
2
0
3
0
1
2
3
0
3
2
16
Ward 11 ..
2
1
2
4
1
0
2
1
1
4
2
2
22
Total.
18 22 23 25 24 12 24 10 23 45 33 19 278
TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Chicken Pox.
14
3
AO
2
0
4
2
0
7
14 3|
om
57
Whooping Cough.
6
6 44
44
26
17
7
2
2
0
0
0 154
Scarlet Fever.
2
2
0
1
3
2
2
2
6
3
0
0
23
Measles
1
0
6
8
3
7
4
0
0
0
0
0
29
Pellagra.
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Mumps.
0
3
1
2
3
0
1
0
1
1
3
0
15
German Measles.
0
5
9 49
74 24
4
0
0
3
1
0
169
Small Pox. .
0
0
6
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
Typhoid Fever
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
1
2
0
0
0
Diphtheria.
0
0
0
0
000
1
1
0
2
0
4
Influenza.
0
0
0
0
000
0 34 710 77 78
S99
Total.
24 19 68 106 112 55 22
6 53 731 86 86 136S
6. .
2
1
2
2
0
0
4
1
1
7 3
1 24
Ward
.
108
ANNUAL REPORT
MORTUARY REPORT, 1918
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Meningitis Simple
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
Premature Birth ..
2
3
0
8
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
2
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
2
0
9
Arterio Sclerosis.
2
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
8
Accidental Fall (Quarry)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Organic Heart Disease.
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
5
Pneumonia ..
2
1
1
8
0
1
0
0
030
0
4
47
Tuberculosis Meningitis
1
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Senility
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Diabetes Mellitus.
1
1 0
0
0 0
0
0
1
0
0
3
Pellagra.
1 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Congenital Defect of Heart.
0
2 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Heart Disease, Valvular
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
7
Hemorrhagic Pupura.
0
1
0
0
0
0
0 2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Fracture at Base of Brain.
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Patulous Foramen Ovale.
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Brights Disease of Kidneys.
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Prolapsed Cord & Delayed Delivery.
0 0 2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Chronic Interstitial Nephritis.
0
0 1
2 0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0
Fracture of Skull
0 0
2
0
1
0
0
0 0
Uremia ..
0 0 2
0 0 1 0
0 0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Chronic Endocarditis.
0 0 1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Broncho Pneumonia.
0 0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
1 7
1
Mitral Insufficiency
0 0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0 0
0
0
1 1
Adhesive Pericarditis.
0 0
0
1
0
1
2
0
3
0
1
0
1
0
Acute Dilatation of Heart.
0 0
0
0
1
0 0 0
0 0 1
0
0 0
0 0
1 0
1 0 1 0 0
Secondary Anemia.
0 0
0
0
1
0
0
Still Born ..
0 0
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
0 0
0 0 1
0 0
3
Carcinoma of Liver
0
0 0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
.
0
2
0
0
0
0
Burns
0
1 0
0
0 0
0
0
Delusional Insanity
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1 1 1 2
1 2 3 1 4 2 2
1 3 6
Puerperal Septicaemia.
0 0
1
1 4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Intestinal Ulcer-Perforation.
0 0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Scarlet Fever.
0 0
0
1
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
Apoplexy
0 0
Gastritis ..
0 0 0
0
1 1
Senile Debility
0
0 0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Hypostatic Pneumonia.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0 1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Cardiac Asthma-Chronic Nephritis.
0 0 1 0
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Whooping Cough
0 0
Nephritis-Pleuro Pneumonia
0 0 0 1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
4 2
Natural causes due to age.
0 0 1 0
0 0
1
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0
Killed by Train.
0 0
Railroad Accident
1
2
1
2
3
0
12
Angina Pectoris
2
0 0
0 0
0 0
1
0
0
0 0
0
0
2
Cerebral Hemmorrhage.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
1 4
Carcinoma of Breast. .
0
1
0
Tuberculosis.
0 0 1
0
0
0 0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
1
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0 0
2 0
0
Chronic Bronchitis & Influenza.
0 0
0
0
1 9 1 3 3 1 6
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
.
Pleuro Pneumonia.
00
OOH0
Oct.
0
109
CITY OF RUTLAND
MORTUARY REPORT, 1918-Continued.
1918
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Malnutrition.
Pernicious Anemia.
0
000
0000 0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Rickets. .
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Hemorrhagic Measles
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Arterio Sclerosis & Heart Disease.
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Tetanus.
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Mitral Regurgitation.
0 0
0
0
0
1
0
1 0
0
0
0
0
2
Thyrio Toxicosis.
0 0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0
1
Cholera Infantum
0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2 4 1
Typhoid Fever
0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
0
1 1
Gangrene of Foot.
0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0 0
1 1 1
Arterio Sclerosis-Chronic Brights Disease. 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0 0 0
0 0
0 0
Stoppage of Bowels
0 0
0
0
0
0
0 0
1
0
0
0 0 0
0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1
Delayed Labor.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Prostitis & Cystitis
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0 0 0
0 1 0
0
Cancer of Uterus.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
Placenta Praevia.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Tuberculosis of Lungs & Bowels 0
0 0 0 0
0
0
0
2 1
0 0 1
0 0 0
Acute Nephritis.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0 0
0
1
0
0
Enlarged Prostate-Cystitis.
0 0 0 0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0 0
1
0 0
0
Influenza.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
Acute Indigestion.
0 0 0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
1
1
0
1
0
1
0 1
0
Cancer of Face.
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
1
1
2
Lobar Pneumonia.
0 0
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
4 0
4 1
Chronic Myocarditis
0 0 0 000000001
2
Accidental Poisoning
0
Sciatic Rheumatism.
0
0
0
0
1
0
Chronic Nephritis.
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0 0000
0 0000 0
0 0001
0 0000
000
0
1
Emphysema-Effect of attempt at suicide from shooting
0 0
0 0
0
1
0
0 0
0 0
2
Acute Cystitis ..
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Cancer of Bladder
0 0 0 0
0
0
0
0
0
Arthritis.
0 0 0 0
0
0
0
1 0
0
0
0
1
Uremic Convulsions of Mother.
0
0
0
0
0
0 0
1 1
General Paralysis.
0 0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0 0 0 0 0
0
1
Atrophy of Liver-Surgical Shock ..
0
0 0
0
0
0
0
3
Septicaemia ..
0 0
0
Myocarditis.
0 0 0
Pseudoleukaemia .
0 0 0
Ataxic Paraplegia.
.
Appendicitis.
0 0 0 0
0 0 0
0
0
0
0
Influenza-Convulsions.
0 0 0
0
0
0
Gangrene of Leg & Heart Disease.
0 0
0
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0
0
1
0
Burned to Death.
0
0
0
0
0 0
0
0
Accidental-Bullet Wound
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0 0 2 0 0
0 0
1 1 2 1 2 2
4
Gastro Intestinal Catarrh ..
0
1 1 1 6 2
0
0
1 1
0
0
0
1 0
0 1
0 1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cancer of Stomach
0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1
0
0
0 0
4
1 HO
1
Cardiac Asthma
0 0
0
0 0
110
ANNUAL REPORT
MORTUARY REPORT, 1918-Concluded.
1918
Jan. Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Pulmonary Influenza.
2
Brights Disease.
0
Abscess o Lung.
0
0
0
0
000
000
000
000
000
0
1
1
Papelloma of Uterus.
0 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Choleocystitis-Chronic.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
00
0
0
0
1 - 1
Total.
18 22 23 25 24 12 24 10 23 45 33 19 278
MISCELLANEOUS
Plumbing Inspections. 10
Fumigations. 29
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. RUSTEDT, M. D.,
Health Officer.
2
2
2
0
Report of Rutland Hospital
Statement of the number of patients cared for at the Rut- land Hospital for the year 1918, and the total expense to the hospital, as shown by report filed with the City Council.
Total number of patients for the year
99
Total number of days service
1613
Total number of weeks service
230
Daily average number of patients 4.42
Total expense of patients $4,242 23
Board and care $3,603 21
Operating room
165 00
Medicines and supplies
220 79
X-ray service
100 00
Laboratory service
153 00
$4,242 00
Weekly average expense per patient $15 64
Number of patients remaining in hospital under treatment Jan- uary 1, 1919
2
Report of Inspector of Buildings
To the Honorable City Council:
In accordance with the requirements of the City ordinance I respectfully submit my report as Inspector of Buildings for the period beginning January 1, ending December 31, 1918:
Houses built
4
Garages built
19
Barns built and repaired
8
Poultry houses built
13
Piazzas built and repaired
13
Sheds built and repaired
11
Shops and additions built
4
Coal sheds built and repaired
3
Cement additions
1
Hog houses repaired
1
Sleeping porch
1
Roofs changed
1
Foundries rebuilt
1
Windows changed
1
Shoe shops built
2
Houses repaired and additions
8
Car shops built
2
Respectfully,
FRANK CONNIFF, Inspector of Buildings.
Report of City Weigher
To the Honorable City Council:
I respectfully submit the following statement of weighing done on the City scale during the year 1918:
Paid the City Treasurer for 2,283 weights $228 30
114 15 Weigher's fees
Net $114 15
Number of loads of coal, etc., weighed for the school build- ings, City and Memorial halls, free of charge, 509, making the total number of weights, 2,792.
Respectfully submitted,
H. B. WHITTIER, City Weigher.
(8)
Librarian's Report
To the Officers and Members of the Rutland Free Library Asso- ciation :
The thirty-third annual report is herewith respectfully sub- mitted :
Number of volumes in the library Feb. 1, 1918
22,472
Increase by purchase 415
Increase by gift 81
Increase by binding periodicals 47
Volumes added from Renting List 121 664
.
23,136
Number of volumes worn-out and withdrawn
90
23,046
Number of volumes withdrawn for new editions, etc.
23
23,023
Number of volumes lost and withdrawn
9
Number of volumes in the Library Feb. 1, 1919
23,014
Number of volumes rebound in 1918 142
Number of volumes worn-out and replaced, 1918 100
Number of volumes lost and replaced
6
Circulation of books for 1918
66,895
Circulation of pictures for 1918 2,307
Total circulation of books and pictures 69,202.
Circulation of foreign books 398
Circulation of volumes of music 232
Number of new cards issued during 1918 689
Number of new cards issued to children 1918 275
115
CITY OF RUTLAND
Number of books drawn on teachers' and subscrip- tion cards, 1918 13,404
Number of books drawn by children during 1918 .. 16,175
Number of works of fiction drawn by children, 1918 10,137
Number of works of non-fiction drawn by children 1918 6,038
Number of books repaired at Library, 1918
1,147
Number of days the Library has been open
277
Largest daily delivery, Feb. 23
745
Smallest daily delivery, Sept. 5
79
Average daily delivery
242
Amount received from fines, 1918
$247.03
Amount received from Association fees
90.00
Amount received from subscriptions
10.25
Total
$347.28
Number of periodicals subscribed for during 1918 .. 60
Number of periodicals received by gift 41
101
LUCY D. CHENEY, Librarian.
Library Treasurer's Report
I herewith 'submit my annual report from Feb. 1918 to Feb. 1919, to the Officers and Members of the Rutland Free Library Association.
RECEIPTS
Balance from 1917-18.
$1,067 08
Appropriation from City
$3,000 00
Appropriation from Rutland town.
100 00
Fines, subscriptions, etc
257 28
Association fees.
90 00
Tabard Inn Account.
173 81
Int. transferred from Trust Funds.
45 36
Int. transferred from special funds
188 55
Int. on Baxter Bank account
10 18
Gifts from Clubs.
20 00
Gift for War Scrap Book material.
1 25
Sale of Dictionary.
12 00
$3,898 43
Total.
$4,965 51
DISBURSEMENTS
Books and Periodicals
$1,014 57
Binding.
270 75
Salaries
1,970 41
Lighting
108 92
Fuel.
276 16
Telephone.
31 80
Supplies and Furnishings
95 74
Extra janitor service
53 80
Printing and postage .
90 13
117
CITY OF RUTLAND
Mrs. Bragg for story hour.
24 00
Expenses of Miss Cheney to A. L. A.
14 50
Incidentals.
29 42
$3,980 20
Cash on hand .
985 31
TRUST FUNDS
Theo. L. Smith fund.
$1,000 00
Int. to Jan. 1919
78 84
Harris Fund.
600 00
Int. to Jan. 1919 24 24
Seaver Fund.
300 00
Int. to Feb. 1919.
12 12
$2,015 20
Int. transferred to General Account
45 36
Total
$1,969 84
SPECIAL FUNDS
Calendar Fund
Amount Feb. 1918
$1,330 12
Int. to Feb. 1919
52 42
$1,382 54
Int. transferred to Gen. Acct.
38 55
Amt. of Fund Feb. 1919
$1,343 99
Cramton-Cutts Legacy.
$10,000 00
Increase to date. 1,965 83
Amt. of Fund Feb. 1919
$11,965 83
ELLEN B. CRAMTON, Treasurer.
I have examined the above accounts and find them correct as stated.
CORNELIA CHILDS PERKINS, Auditor.
$4,965 51
Report of the President of the Board of School Commissioners
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the Citizens of Rutland:
For the second time I have the honor to tender you my report as President of the Board of School Commissioners. Conditions today are, happily, very different from those of a year ago. Our Country is at peace and this peace is a victorious one. Our soldiers are returning, and I hope the unusual con- ditions caused by the war will readjust themselves as speedily as possible. Our Schools have reason to be justly proud of the part they have taken in the so-called war enterprises. The sub- scriptions for Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps and Red Cross and United War Work made by the pupils of the public schools of Rutland, have shown that the boys and girls have been willing and glad to help in the cause of patriotism. Another $100 Liberty Bond has been placed in the hands of the School Board, in this instance to be devoted to the Polish Re- lief Fund. The Parent-Teacher Associations have been very active in garment work, and during the summer the High School has been used as a center for those interested in war work, including members of the Junior Red Cross. A knitting machine was installed and a course in first aid was conducted by Dr. Hodsdon. Miss Aitken, Matron of the Rutland City Hospital, also gave a course of lectures and demonstrations in domestic nursing. These courses were well attended and dis- tinctly successful. Over $200 was turned over for this work from the proceeds of the Senior Play and the Baseball Fair.
FINANCE
I am pleased to state that the school finances are in ad- mirable condition. This year our assets exceed our liabilities by $8,014.84 as against $2,483.74 in 1918, and the Board com- mences the present year with an unexpended balance of
119
CITY OF RUTLAND
$3,810.84. We have asked for an appropriation for 1919, of 55 cents on the dollar on the Grand List. The citizens of Rutland, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen have been most consider- ate of the School Board during the past two years and the extra 5 cents voted us has gone far toward saving the schools from an embarrassing financial situation.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Our school buildings are in fair condition considering the rigid economy in regard to repairs that has been exercised dur- ing the past year. The usual two per cent. for upkeep of school buildings has during the past year been cut in half. This had to be done in order to keep faith with the taxpayers. I do not think that the school plant has suffered materially and, with our finances in satisfactory condition, quite a good deal of repairing can very properly be done during the coming year. The School Board saw fit, at the commencement of the fall term, to close temporarily the School street and Gilrain Avenue buildings, thereby saving about $3,000 in fuel, teacher and janitor service and supplies. The teachers were assigned to other buildings and the pupils re-distributed. So far, this change has caused little complaint and unless there should be a very pronounced demand for re-opening these buildings, this action may be made permanent.
THE SCHOOLS
In spite of unsettled conditions due to the war and to the closing order made necessary by the epidemic of influenza in October our schools have maintained a high degree of ex- cellence. When I hear the complaints from other towns and cities in the state, because of the difficulty encountered in ob- taining teachers, I consider that Rutland has been particularly fortunate in having so few changes in the grade teaching force and in the High School faculty. The number of men teaching in our High School is especially gratifying to me and the system and harmony that now maintains among our High School teachers has made it possible for the School Board to
120
ANNUAL REPORT
comply with the request of the State Superintendent of Edu- cation, that Mr. Abbott be permitted to devote a portion of his time to the supervision of the Secondary Schools throughout the State. The State gains the services of an excellent teacher and organizer, while Rutland still retains his general over- sight in High School affairs. The chief innovation in the curriculum of the High School for this year is the introduction of part time vocational work. Rutland is the third municipality in Vermont to avail itself of the provisions of the so-called Smith-Hughes Bill, and twenty-two boys are taking the course, which, aside from shop work, includes courses in History, English and Mechanical Drawing. So far the reports upon this course have been of a most encouraging nature. The department of Manual Training was reopened with the begin- ning of the winter term and is now being conducted for the benefit of the boys of the eighth and ninth grades. The Social and Athletic sides of school life have been properly emphasized and encouraged during the past year. The High School dances have been well patronized and the Senior Play was a great success from a dramatic as well as from a financial standpoint. In athletics the High School has been distinctly successful in each of the four major sports. That the educational, social and athletic advantages of our schools are recognized and sought after by the youth of the adjoining towns is, in my judgment, amply evidenced by the fact that in spite of unusual conditions, the sum of $3,332.50 was received for tuition during the past year. This very considerable sum represents tuitions from pupils in nineteen towns in Rutland, Addison, Windsor, Ben- nington and Windham Counties.
CONCLUSION
The deliberations of the Board during the past year have been most harmonious. The year has been a successful one and the Commissioners, Superintendent and Teachers have my most heartfelt thanks. And I am certain that their work has been fully appreciated by the citizens of Rutland. I regret the enforced absence of Mrs. Cramton from our meetings, and I
·
121
CITY OF RUTLAND
extend my own and the Board's best wishes to Commissioner McCarthy in his work over-seas.
In conclusion I cannot refrain from reminding all con- nected with our public schools that we have an important role assigned us in connection with the social and economic read- justment that must, of necessity, follow the world conflict from which this country has but just emerged. Youths are returning to college and the boys to school who although young in years are old in experience. Our Country sent these young men to France to defend America and to make the world safe for peace. Many have felt the torture of hostile steel, many have suffered from disease, all have fought the great battle of liberty just as truly as did the heroes of the Revolution and the Civil War. Many have made the supreme sacrifice and never will return. But with them all, living or dead, we have made a solemn compact, a compact to do justice to them and to our- selves, to preserve to them the ideals and institutions for which they suffered, free from the taint of anarchy and lawlessness. God forbid that we should jeopardize all they have fought for by using the world's agonies for experiments in sociology or education. From the great beyond comes the warning of the dead :
"If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep."
And our public schools will play a large part in keeping or breaking that faith.
Respectfully,
HARVEY R. KINGSLEY, President of the Board of School Commissioners.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the Board of School Commissioners and City Council of the City of Rutland:
In accordance with the regulations of your Honorable Board, and the requirements of the City Charter, I herewith present my thirteenth annual report of the schools of this city.
The statistical tables and other data formerly published as a basis of comparison, also the reports of the Principal of the High School and of the heads of the special departments, have been prepared as usual but by special direction of the Board will not be published in the city reports. The plan adopted last year seemed to be satisfactory to the patrons of the schools and resulted in greatly reducing the expense of printing.
The school enrollment, membership and attendance during the natural school year ending June 30th last were slightly smaller than during the preceding year altho a high percentage of attend- ance was maintained. The enrollment and membership for the present school year shows an increase over that of last year and this increase will doubtless be augmented as the economic con- ditions of our country become normal. The attendance for the present school year has been seriously affected by the recent epidemic but to an extent no greater than generally thruout the state and country. On October first all the schools of the city were closed by order of the city and state health officials and remained closed for five and four-fifths weeks, seven days of which have been made up by Saturday sessions and by short- ening the Christmas vacation. At the date of writing this re- port the membership and the attendance in the schools have be- come normal.
12₴
CITY OF RUTLAND
CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS
During the summer vacation it became apparent that unless retrenchments were made somewhere in school expenses or un- less the school receipts exceeded the estimates, the School Board would not be able to meet, without a deficit on December thirty- first, the advances already voted in salaries, the increased cost of fuel, text books and supplies, and the expense in making the usual repairs incident to keeping up the school plant. The School Board, seeing no possibility of increased school receipts, decided to restrict the purchase of school supplies, to limit repairs and to close the Gilrain Avenue and School Street Schools and assign the pupils of those schools to other buildings. The closing of these two buildings might be regarded as a "war measure" to reduce expenses; yet for several years past there have arisen serious doubts as to the advisability of continuing these schools. The Gilrain Avenue School is a rented one room building and the School Street Building is by far the poorest school structure in the city, considerably out of repair and defective in heating and ventilation. The decision of the Board to close these two build- ings has aroused very little opposition and will result in a net saving to the city during a full school year of nearly $3,500 over the amount expended upon those schools two years ago. In view of the fact that these schools are located in sections of the city which largely patronize private schools, that the buildings are not in good repair, that the per capita cost of conducting up-to-date schools in either building would be high and that the pupils naturally attending those schools can be accommodated in other buildings with slight added expense, the wisdom of reopen- ing either of these buildings for school purposes may be justly questioned.
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