1879-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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treasury; if but p2,0oo is assessed for the contingent grant, and the Selectmen allowed to draw, if necessary, from 'any unappropriated money ; these four items will reduce the amount nearly $6,000 less than last year, and this reduction would lower the rates of taxation to about $12 per $ I,000. There is a note for $5,000 due June to, r88r, at 5 1-2 per cent.; possibly this note might be taken up by paying thc1 difference in the rates of interest be- tween 4 and 5 I-2 per cent., which would cost $150. There remains an unexpended balance of many of the smaller grants ; it would, however, be unwise to re- duce these appropriations, as there is an even chance of their being overdrawn the coming year. We ven- ture these few suggestions, that some better plan may be conceived. TOWN BUILDINGS. The town buildings have received necessary care, and such repairs as were needed were made. Proba- bly not much of an outlay will be required on any of them except the Town Hall building ; this building has proved quite an expensive affair the past year; a se- vere shower of hail broke glass in the windows which it cost about $50 to repair; the paint on the outside and around the windows came off so badly as to re- quire new painting ; the furnaces failing to heat suffi- ciently, new cold air boxes were furnished to assist in the better working of them ; the slating, as usual, has caused considerable expense, and it would, perhaps, be economy in the end to new slate the entire roof, in- stead of patching every year—the poor workmanship, and still poorer quality of slate, gives every high wind a chance to scatter slates broadcast. Notice was re- ceived from the State authorities ordering the main en- trance doors to swing outwardly ; this alteration neces- sitated the putting in of inside doors, swinging both ways, to check the current of air which the changing of the outer doors had caused. The expenses of the building the past year, for fuel, gas, services of jani- tor, and repairs, were $1,051.67. STATE AID. The Legislature of 1878 passed an act for the pay- ment of State Aid in certain cases not previously pro- vided for. The Selectmen were authorized under this act to pay such soldiers or seamen, who were not re- ceiving aid, or were not receiving a pension, or were not entitled to a home at the Soldiers' National Home. The inference drawn by many who were in the ser- vice during the last war, was that any one who was out of employment might receive assistance under this act but the law contemplated payment only to those who were sick or in needy circumstances. The Selectmen were required to furnish a correct and sworn state- ment of the facts, and amount paid to each individual, to the Board of State Charities every three months. As we did not consider the condition of the applicants as coming within the requirements of the law, we were compelled to decline to furnish the aid desired. It would have been in accordance with our wishes, and we would most cheerfully have granted assistance if