POOR FARM REPORT 1884-1885 PART 1
To
the Taxpayers of Rutland:
In
presenting to you this report I ask at your hands a careful scrutiny
of the same by every individual interested.
The
amount expended is large, as it must necessarily be, the number
requiring relief having largely increased. It is wholly unnecessary
for me to try and explain the cause of this increase in number as
it is well known to every citizen. I ask a comparison of the cost
the past year with previous years, of those who have been supported
by the town for some years.
No
one deserving aid has suffered, as each family or person has been
visited often enough to know the exact situation.
The
plan of giving orders each month to individuals is pernicious in
the extreme, and should be avoided as much as possible. It is a
great convenience to the overseer to meet the persons asking aid
once each month and give an order on some store, that being the
last he knows of it until he takes up the same and draws an order
on the Treasurer for its payment. I adopted the plan of having all
items written upon the backs of the orders given for goods still
that does not quite meet the requirements. The Overseer should purchase
the goods and know they are delivered to the parties for whom they
are intended.
The
recipients of the orders expect each month, an increase in allowance
and endeavor in every way imaginable to obtain the same. The other
method would wholly do away with that matter. Another important
reason or discarding the order system is the fact that in numerous
instances they are sold to unscrupulous parties, who profit and
subsist on the town, while those whom the order was intended to
benefit have to suffer.
With
the advice and consent of your selectmen I have caused to be made
some greatly needed repairs in the house and the horse barn and
now have a place to house the farming tools, etc. The main house
should be shingled and slated the present season, as the roof leaks
badly and the horse barn should be painted. A wood shed is very
much needed, as the one now in use is wholly inadequate. It is but
15 X 20 feet. I submitted a plan for a shed last fall to you Selectmen,
which, if it had been built at a cost of not exceeding $1,500, would
have saved in the year $3,000 besides the male portion of the inmates
could then be separated from the females, which is at present an
impossibility.
Whoever
is your overseer, or whoever lives on the farm as superintendent
should never be allowed to take furniture, tools, or other things
belonging to them on to the place, except wearing apparel. Last
spring the main part of the house was emptied of everything in the
line of furniture, beds, and bedding, and household goods except
the cooking range and one old sewing machine, and all farming tools,
such as hoes, forks, shovels, chains, bags, or other of any value
were carried away and claimed by the parties taking them, and no
one could dispute the claim. The farming tools left on the place
were utterly worthless, as can be seen at the present day. The town
should own everything on the place and in the house.
Not
expecting an appointment as your overseer, I make these suggestions
for the benefit of all concerned.
I
have had the brush cut and cleared off from the meadow and from
the fences; a ditch cut through below the house from the south to
the north line, hoping it might improve the meadow, which was very
wet.
The
north line fence between Mr. Cannon and the town has been a source
of grievance for some years, and at the intimation of Mr. Cannon
I had the fence viewers called out and the fence divided. The west
side of the highway requires but about twelve rods of wall to be
laid to have that line fence of the town all stone walls. From the
east bank of the creek east, to Mr. Cannon's east line, will require
considerable new fence, as that is the part set off to the town
to maintain.
With
the advice and consent of your selectmen, the horse that was left
on the farm I exchanged for a span and a good team is now there.
I
have received from all sources $320.45 and have accounted and produced
vouchers to your auditors for the same.
I
should be credited with $86.50 more, as that amount is due the town
as follows:
>From
S. Hayward, for keeping Hulett girl $75.00
>From
N. Fuller for pasturing $8.50
>From
T. Phalen, for pasturing $8.00
Making
total receipts, including what is due as above stated $406.95
I
have kept a detailed account with each individual aided and have
vouchers for the same.
I
believe every bill I have contracted the past year has been settled
to date.
Very
respectfully submitted,
WM.
B. THRALL, Overseer of the Poor
Rutland,
Vt. Feb.., 14, 1885
Separate
message with names
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