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13
<br />TRAMPS.
<br />The vexed question which was asked one year ago,
<br />"what shall be done with the tramps" still remains un-
<br />answered; there are probably very few subjects at pre-
<br />sent, in which the community is more particu:.arly in-
<br />terested, than this; the frequency of the many lawless
<br />and murderous acts committed by this class of persons
<br />imperatively demands that some speedy measures be
<br />adopted to arrest and abate this dangerous nuisance.
<br />The number who have visited this town from Feb.
<br />1st, 1877, to Feb. 1st, 1878, has been 1,876of this
<br />number 1,847, have been, while here, under tl-eimme-
<br />diate supervision of Mr. Eli Simonds, janitor of the
<br />town hall, who it seems by his bill of fare "crackers"
<br />(which has been reduced the past year from crackers
<br />and salt fish to crackers alone) desires to simply "keep
<br />soul and body together" rather than to immortalize his
<br />name as a public caterer. An agreement made with
<br />Mr. Simonds in 1876, to take charge of the tramps at
<br />15 cents each, not expiring until the first of April,
<br />made the cost of 482 tramps in the month of Feb. and
<br />March for food and care $95.07, from April last to Feb.
<br />1st, 1878 for food at the Town Hall station has been
<br />$47.6g.
<br />Fifteen of the above number, one woman a nd child
<br />and thirteen men have been kept at the lock up at
<br />East Lexington at a cost of $2, fourteen females have
<br />been at the Alms House at a cost of about $6.
<br />The whole expense for the year 7877, has been
<br />$151.36, at an average cost of about eight cents each.
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<br />As the increase in number the past year, was over
<br />1,200 from the previous year, it is an open question,
<br />which would be the more preferable, to procure the
<br />services of a less popular janitor, or make another re-
<br />duction in the bill of fare, in order to check this unde-
<br />sirable increase.
<br />POLICE.
<br />During the past year no unanticipated event or dis-
<br />turbance has occurred to call for extra police service,
<br />although we have by solicitation, appointed as a precau-
<br />tionary measure and to be in readiness to meet any
<br />emergency, three police officers, without compensation,
<br />except when services were rendered, but happily their
<br />services were not required.
<br />The few arrests made during the year, is an evidence
<br />that quietness and good order has generally prevailed.
<br />Some few lawless acts were reported, which induced us
<br />to offer a reward ; as no repetition of those acts occur-
<br />red, it is hoped that the offer of a reward had a salutary
<br />effect.
<br />Complaints have been made against a custom that
<br />has been practised by some of the young persons, who
<br />have congregated in groups on the sidewalks in the
<br />evenings, and at times rude language and actions, to
<br />passers by, was heard and observed. If such persons
<br />would meet in a less public place, the citizens would
<br />be gratified.
<br />The whole number of arrests during the year was
<br />fifteen, 2 for drunkenness, 3 for drunkenness and
<br />assault, 4 for keeping unlicensed dogs, 3 for stealing,
<br />1 for assault, 1 for vagrancy, 1 for disorderly conduct.
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