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good prospect of a productive yield. A single case of this
<br />kind shows what can be done on large sections of these
<br />meadows, which are now perfectly unproductive.
<br />The sum expended upon the meadows the hist season, in-
<br />cluding the amounts allowed for damages to certain par-
<br />ties, amounts to three. hundred and sixty-nine dollars and
<br />twenty-five cents. The' sum assessed is by the vote of the
<br />town, made payable all at one time; that is, on January ,1,
<br />1$75, or in three annual instalments, ou January 1, 1875,
<br />1876, and 1877, at the option of the tax -payer. Sonic par-
<br />ties have already. -‘paid their tax, and measures will he imme-
<br />diately adopted to collect the rest. The town will have paid
<br />Air the culverts, and allowed in. interest ou the sUm advanced
<br />to meet the cost of the drainage, at least one-third of the
<br />whole sum; so when it is said that this drainage should be
<br />regarded as a sanitary measure, the answer is, that this has
<br />been regarded as one element, and paid fur .by the town
<br />accordingly.
<br />•In regard to the fiscal affairs of the town, we will state
<br />that we have settled wish Mr. Dauaon, the Collector and
<br />Treasurer, from tinge to tint, and have kept a careful watch
<br />over the Treasury, and if we embody the different settle-
<br />ments, the account for the year will stand thus : That he
<br />has received during the past year, sixty-three thousand five
<br />hundred and ninety-two dollars and ninety-five cents, and
<br />has paid out sixty-three thousand two hundred and eighty
<br />dollars ai;d fifty cents. Leaving in the treasury on the first
<br />-oaf February only three hundred and twelve dollars and fifty
<br />cents. Thus it will be seen that we commence the fiscal
<br />year with a balance touch smaller than usual. " This arises
<br />'from a doubtful policy adopted by the town, and from causes
<br />accidental or unt'orseen. Lust year we had a liberal bal-
<br />ance on hand at the close of the year; and some persons
<br />seemed to take it for granted, that this balance would meet
<br />all coutiugencies, and Bence heavy drafts were made upon
<br />it, so that the treasurer was under the necessity of having
<br />recourse to loans as early as the first of April. And he has .
<br />been under the necessity of borrowing to the amount of
<br />$12,500. Another cause of producing this result is the
<br />doubtful policy of avoiding taxation, and straining up -the
<br />valuation for the purpose of keeping down the rate of taxa-
<br />tion, so as to invite emigration to the town. -This policy is -
<br />of a very doubtful tendency. Inr the.first place., it is, sure,t5
<br />increase our State and County tuxes. ' It also Operates-unt
<br />equally and discriminates' against the agricultural interest ".
<br />which is depressed more than any other.
<br />There are several other causes whish have operated to
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<br />deplete the Treasury. I3y a standing vote of the town, the.
<br />Selectmen have been authorized for years to purchase gravel-
<br />pits for the repairs of the highways. We had an opporr.
<br />tuuity which we deemed favorable, and we Obtained one of
<br />N. and J. Q. A. Chandler, at cost of $250. The County
<br />Commissioners were called upon to widen and straighten
<br />'%\'ultham street, throughout its whole length. 'We con-
<br />sidered it our duty to examine the premises in advance of
<br />the Commissioners, and see for ourselves what was required
<br />on that street.; and we found what we anticipated, that the
<br />road location was sufficiently wide," and that the removing
<br />of brush and trees, which had been permitted to grew, and
<br />the stones which had been deposited, all withiuqhe limits of
<br />the road location, and the widening of the trod -way in some
<br />places, would meet the public demand; and in wideiain the
<br />road bed, we could cut down' some abrupt rises, and thug".
<br />make the -ro;id as good as:is. required. ' 1% of presentedqur P„
<br />dews to the .Comnaissioners;, who- a a= view;: aoineide,
<br />with us ; and on the assurance that the town 'would make r.
<br />these repairs, they agreed to suspend further action in the
<br />case, We have expended beyond the highwaylabor $ t811
<br />and have nearly completed the job; and have. saved to the
<br />town, as we believe, more than twice that sum. '
<br />We also became satisfied that the increase, of disorder;'
<br />mischief and depredations, required a lock-up in the easterly
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