AUDITORS'

REPORT

Of THE

FINANCIAL CONDITION

*

OP THE

TOWN OF NORTHFIELD, FOB THE TSAR ENDING

1,

1866.

MONTPBLIER: PRINTED AT TEH IREEMAN STB AM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1866.

•

AUDITORS' REPORT.

The Auditors of the town of Northfield, in pursuance of their duties as such, have examined all the accounts presented to them, and report for the year ending March 1, 1866, as follows:

SELECTMEN'S EEPORT. ORDERS ISSUED AND PAID ON CLAIMS HERETOFORE REPORTED AS OF 1864. To John Averill, for services I. W. Brown, " Interest on Surplus Oliver Averill, for services A. S. Williams, " D . W . Hadley, " Wm. 0. Woodbury, Lister Moses Robinson, " J.O.Gallup, " J. P. Davis, Trustee and Auditor Hosea Clark, State Agent Jones and Wright, for plank Geo. 0. Mayo, stone and timber S. W. Latham, for plank B. W. Culver, for timber Samuel Keith, services rendered Clifton Claggett, " " A. S. Williams, sundries George Nichols, for services as Auditor

$55 40 107 50 280 99 10 00 2687 4550 19 38 3000 1687 8 50 25 00 14 13 12 00 2 87 7 60 13 75 600 12 74 5 50 $700 60

ORDERS ISSUED AS OF 1864—OUTSTANDING. To Edwin Porter, for services

$11 00

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

ORDERS ISSUED AND PAID UPON EXPENSES OF THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1866. To John A. Tyler, for building bridge E. F. Upham, for services H. Carpenter, use of Hall, Home Guards John A. Tyler, for building bridge Nelson Hassam, " ' " O. B. Clark, for plank S. Steele, for labor on highway David Denny, for plank W. H. H. Claflin, for building bridge A. G. Strong, iron for bridge Willard Dunsmoor, land damage Zebedee Briggs, for plank

$30 00 20 00 20 00 50 00 2600 15 17 4 00 11 80 400 00 159 78 30 00 5 14

BOUNTY ACCOUNT. Amount due as per last year's Report .$3,886 To which should be added, not reported. ;last year, due to Putnam 50 Paid Murphy and Kent, by vote of town 400 Paid Luff and Harding 600 Add for discrepancies in computing interest 1

75 00 00 00 "~

Amount of orders issued on account of bounties..

$4,938 63 4,238 63

Balance due on account of bounties, being the claim of Henry Baloh, and is referred to the town for its consideration ....,,,.,.,

$700 00

$771 89 ORDERS ISSUED—OUTSTANDING.

To James Gould, error in Taxes 1864 A. B. Houston, damage to wagon. John A. Tyler, for stone and timber Smith and Heath, timber and plank Less—by cash paid as per Treasurer's report ' -

MONEY LOANED ON ACCOUNT OF BOUNTIES.

$15 41 4 50 3 50 $574 02 93 00

481 02 $504 43

CLAIMS ALLOWED, BUT NO ORDERS GIVEN.

B. A. Webster, bridge timber $37 89 Samuel Andrews, plank 7 07 A. J. Averill, " 2540 Henry Averill, " 5 19 S. H. Nye, work cutting stone , 15 00 Samuel Harwood, timber and plank 6 80 Wallace Felch, " " 6 52 D. T. Averill, plank 10 64 J. R. Langdon, 3 kegs nails and spikes 24 27 S. M. Walton, general index book 17 50 C. A. Edgerton, recording births, marriages, deaths, and three indexes to record book 16 50 E. P. Walton, printing 1000 reports 38 67 M. Simons, postage and blank book 11 10 Hiram Atkins, advertising reward in Briggs' case, and printing bills for same 4 00 J. Winch, stationery and expenses as Lister and Agent 1 50 W. H. H. Claflin, work on bridge 200 00 J. H. Orcutt, freight on iron 4 91 " " 106 pounds nails 8 57 Fisk and Johnson, Counsel fees in Williamstown tax matter, and State prosecution 13 20 I. W. Brown, for services and errors in taxes 38 50 Nelson Tyler, work on bridge 9 00 $502 23

Amount of money due individuals as of last year, $8,613 28 Amount not reported last year 210 00 " reported due Northfield Bank 3,301 33 " due Selectmen as of last year 449 46 Accrued interest on loans 272 57 Orders issued upon the Treasury

12,846 64 8,749 27

Balance due on loan account $4,097 37 Amount of money in hands of I. W. Brown, on account of bounties $159 00 Respectfully submitted, MARVIN SIMONS. ) J. H. ORCUTT, • J Selectmen. B. K. JONES, j We have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, and vouchers therefor, and hereby certify that the foregoing statement is correct.

NORTHFIELD, March 1, 1866.

GEORGE NICHOLS, ) SAMUEL KEITH, ' ^ Auditors. GEORGE H. CRANE, j

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

OVERSEER'S REPORT.

DIVISION OF SCHOOL MONEY.

TOWN OF NORTHFIELD, IN ACCOUNT WITH B. WEBSTER, for the support of the following persons from March 6, 1865, to March 5, 1866 : DEBIT. Widow Gorman and family , $133 16 Thomas Doyle 5 60 Widow Richardson 7 00 James Sprout 12 85 Susan Blood 2 00 Miss P. P. Patridge 79 07 Widow Hassett 121 21 M. O'Brian 46 77 Mrs. Fluff 28 15 Ruel Blake 27 67 Mrs. O'Neal 46 92 Harvey Benton 2 07 Michael Welch 70 72 Mrs. Keyser 70 29 James Judd and family 34 60 Mrs. Ooburn 35 24 Edward Bane 51 20 Mrs. Conway and family 37 11 Mrs. Dumas and family 90 57 Jerry Lyon 15 78 Mrs. Hiram Buzzell 62 70 Francis Yet tar 43 12 Harriet Slack 103 18 Johanna Donahue 8 00 Theresa Briggs 77 15 Mrs. Nathan Knapp, mother of Sam'lKnapp of Jackson, Mich. 65 00 Philander Brown 3 29 Prosper Allajdv.. 4 34 Ann Shipman 78 00 A. Duke and family 117 00 Arvilla Churchill 78 00 Mrs. McCarty , 4 10 For transient persons 3 75 For doctoring the poor 30 00 Interest on one hundred dollars 6 00 $1,601 61 CREDIT.

Amount of orders drawn

$1,387 00

Due Overseer $214 61 This day settled with B. Webster, Overseer of the Poor, and find due him as a bove stated, two hundred and fourteen dollars and sixty-one cents. GEO. NICHOLS, ) SAM'L. KEITH, \. GEO. H. CRANE, ) NORTHFIELD, Feb. 28, 1866.

No. District.

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Average Attendance

Amount Dratvn«

.... 17 11 .... 17 217 .... 17 5 24 19 .... 8 26 10 16 .... 55 12 16 8 9 16 15

. .

327 37 20 47 .... ,

50 58 27 38 36 08 30 28 36 08

23 03

60 73 7 72

4

.,..562

.

53 53 13 68

24 48 25 93 36 08

7 33

Berlin, District No. 12. , , .... .

$37 53 28 83

, ....

.161,087 30

We hereby certify the above to be a true division of school money in the Treasury of the town of Northfield, made on the last Friday of March, A. D. 1865, payable to the several District Treasurers. MARVIN SIMONS, ) J. H. OROUTT, d > Selectmen. E. K. JONES, )

LIQUOR AGENCY. The undersigned respectfully reports the whole amount of liquor sold fromMay 1,1865, to February 6, 1866 $1,350 02 Profits of the sale $19200 Salary, nine months $150 00 Paid for License 25 00 175 00

$17 00 L. MARTYN, Agent.

North/field

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

Town Reports, 1866.

SURPLUS FUND.

TREASURER'8 REPORT.

The Trustee of the Surplus Fund reports that the whole amount of the fund is $9,078 35 For which sum the Trustee holds a note against the town. The whole amount of interest for the year ending March 1, 1866, will be $534 12 B. K. JONES, Trustee. NORTHFISLD, February 28, 1866.

TOWN or NOBTHFIELD IN ACCOUNT WITH OLIVER AyERiLL, Treasurer. DEBIT.

To paid Selectmen's orders Interest on same

$14,561 30 3 09

To paid Overseer's orders of 1862 Interest on same To paid Overseer's orders as of 1863 Interest on same To paid Overseer's orders

$50 10 128 8 1,357

00 50 72 67 00

$14,564 39

1,554 89 $16,119 28

CREDIT.

By balance of cash in Treasury, March 6, 1865. .$9,859 03 Received Surplus Money 4,395 16 By George Robinson's receipt, May 29, 1865 4,284 58 By cash of I. W. Brown 205 40

SCHEDULE OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE TOWN, FOB SEETICES RENDERED BY CERTAIN TOWN OFFICERS. Due Oliver Averill as Treasurer Marvin Simons as Selectman, 29 days J. H. Orcutt as Selectman, 14 days E. K. Jones as Selectman and Trustee Joel Winch as Lister and Agent, 50^ days W. H. Loomis as Lister, 32 days J. C. Gallup as Lister, 42J days Benoni Webster as Overseer, 48-J days Hosea Clark as State Agent George Nighols as Auditor Samuel Keith as Auditor George H. Crane as Auditor

$10 36 17 12 63 40 53 60 25 3 4 4

00 25 50 62 13 00 12 62 00 00 00 00

$329 24 We have examined the above claims, and herewith respectfully submit them for the action of the town. GEORGE NICHOLS, ) SAMUEL KEITH, } Auditors. GEORGE H. CRANE, J

-18,744 17 $2,624 89

Balance in Treasury, Feb. 28, 1866.

$115 38

Ministerial money in Treasury SCHOOL FUND.

Balance in Treasury, March 6, 1865 Amount paid in last year Paid School Districts last year Balance in Treasury February 28, 1866

$32 88 1,077 66 £1,110 54 1,087 30

$23 24

We have examined the accounts of the Treasurer and find the above statement correct. GEORGE NICHOLS, ) SAMUEL KEITH, > Auditors. GEORtfE H. CRANE, J NORTHFIKLD, February 28, 1866.

10

Northfield Town Reports, 1866. AGGREGATE. LIABILITIES.

Due Isaac L. Stevens, as of 1860 Wm. Benson, as of 1863 Wm. M. Smith,as of 1863 Edwin Porter, as of 1863....."... Marvin Simons, as of 1863 Edwin Porter, as of 1864

$37 1 30 5 46 11

Overseer's order to Dr. Keith James Gould A. B. Houston , John A. Tyler Smith & Heath, balance Overseer , Claims allowed, but no orders drawn School fund, interest on trust fund Claims reported as due sundry officers Individuals on account of money loaned On account of bounties

00 00 00 65 20 00

>...

REPORT $130 30 15 4 3 481 214 502 499 329 4,097 700

85 00 41 50 50 02 61 23 31 24 37 00

$7,008 04 ASSETS. Balance of Cash in Treasury Due from I. W. Brown From L. Martyn,

,

$2,624 89 150 00 17 00 2,791 89

Total indebtedness of the town

$4,216 15

The Auditors herewith present the above as a true statement of the financial condition of the town, according to the accounts presented to them for that purpose. GEOKGE NICHOLS, ) SAMUEL KEITH, \. GEORGE H. CRANE, ) NORTHFIELD, March 1, 1866.

or •THE

SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS,

At the close of another school year it is well for us to review what has been done during the year, that we may know whether we have made any improvement, and learn how our schools may be improved. There have been schools in every school district in town a part of the year. In two districts the schools have been more than seven months long ; in fourteen, six ; in one, five ; in'two, four ; and in two, only three. In these last the schools were united, so that the scholars of each district had their six months school. In 6ne district there have been three schools, and in another two a part of the year. Forty-three different teachers have been employed. Eight hundred and twenty-seven scholars have been reported as attending these schools during the Winter. The expense of the schools has been a little greater than that of previous years. In some districts teachers have been better paid, which is progress in the right direction. For if any class of people deserve to be well paid, it is earnest, faithful, good teachers. Unless their wages are increased, such teachers cannot be retained. They will go where they will be better rewarded. I have visited each of the schools at least twice during the year. In these visits I have endeavored to make myself acquainted with the condition of the schools ; commended teachers and scholars in what seemed worthy of praise, and suggested improvements as I thought they could be made. I have invariably found the teachers working to have good schools, and ready to follow any suggestions which were made. If all the schools have not been just what the patrons desired or expected ; if their children have not made the improvement they think should have been made, let them not blame the teachers till they are

12

Northfield

Town Reports,

1866.

sure they have done all they could to have good schools. For each parent is in a measure responsible for the school in his or her district. Bach has duties to porform to the teacher and scholars. If these are neglected the school will not be what it might or ought to be. This suggests the inquiry, whether parents have shown that interest in the schools which they should. Judging from the Registers we concluded they have not. They may have felt a deep interest, and, doubtless, have hoped their children would improve. But they have not given any expression of that interest. Their children have been allowed to get a large number of absent and tardy marks. In some districts not a scholar is reported without any marks. In others only two or three, and in none more than eight or ten. In the Report for the year ending March, 1865, eleven thousand one hundred and ninety-six tardy marks were reported. This may seem to some a small matter, but it is not. It shows that there is something wrong somewhere. Doubtless many, perhaps most, of these marks have been the result of Now there are times when it may be necessary for a scholar to be absent or tardy ; such are excusable. But is it necessary for a scholar to be tardy invariably, through the whole term ? A tardy mark should be the exception not the rule. During the session of school, the scholar should be taught that that is his business ; that he should be at the school-house ready for work at nine o'clock in the morning, and not thirty, or ten, or even five minutes past nine. He should be led to feel that it is important for him to be on hand at the precise time, and the parents should be sufficiently interested to help him to be so. If a scholar feels that it makes no difference if he is only a litth tardy, he will gradually lose his interest in school and make little progress. Parents should take it upon themselves to see that their children are at school punctually at its commencement. The failure to do this, which is often the result of mere thoughtlessness, does much to injure a school. It is bad for the scholars as well as the teacher. As you would be prompt in meeting your engagements,, and would have others prompt in fulfilling their engagements with you, if you would have profitable schools, see that your children are prompt in meeting their appointment at the school-house. Again, parents have not visited the schools. Some report the visits of two or three, possibly five or six, but more none, not even the prudential committee. Now parents, when they provide schools for their children, ought to be sufficiently interested to go and see for themselves whether they have a good school, or are throwing their money away. If they condemn a school before having examined it, they wrong not only the teacher but the scholars.

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

13

When one turns a fine sheep or a valuable colt away to pasture, he goes frequently to see how it thrives. If it is not doing well he inquires into the cause, and is not satisfied till he has removed it. Will a good farmer send his hired man off to do some work which it requires weeks to accomplish and never go to examine for himself how it is progressing ? By as much as children are more valuable than sheep or oolts, by as much as the teacher's work is more important than any manual labor can be, by so much the more are parents in duty bound to examine the schools for themselves and see what is done there. Many excuse themselves from performing this duty on the ground that they cannot afford the time. Some because they cannot do any good by so doing. " I should make a fine appearance visiting the school," they say. To such I would say, " Take time and try it." Your very presence in the school-room will encourage both teacher and scholar. Examine carefully into the interests of the school. See for yourselves whether your children are improving. Do so frequently, that you will not frighten the scholars by your presence, and I am sure you will be convinced that you can do some good, and that you will be well repaid for all the time you fancy you lose, by th^improvement of your schools. Teachers at best occupy a difficult and trying position, and need sympathy and support. They, as well as the scholars, like to receive attention, and they learn very quickly whether parents are interested in their work or not. I say again, if you would have good schools, you must manifest an interet in them. -Impress upon the minds of your children the fact that during the time of school, their work is at the school-house, and they must attend to it faithfully. Strive in one way or another, to make them enthusiastically engaged in their studies. It may be said it is the duty of teachers. True, it is, but it is no less the duty of parents. Indeed, teachers can do but little, comparatively, unless they have the hearty co-operation of parents. While nothing will encourage teachers so much as an assurance of this,—nothing will dishearten them so much as to see parents indifferent, or opposing rather than helping them. You may have the best teacher that ever entered a school-house, and yet have a poor, or at best an indifferent school, unless you yourselves are personally interested, and manifest that interest. On the other hand, you may have a poor teacher, and yet have a very good school, if you help him, as parents who are really interested in a schsol can help a teacher. It is time that some of the school-houses in town received attention from the people. The idea that any place, no matter how poor, if it can only be made comfortable, is good enough for a school, is entirely wrong. For if a good house is not essential to a good school, it is very important.

14

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

The influence of a neat, pleasant school-room upon both teacher ami scholars is great. The feeling and conduct of all is determined, in a great measure, by their surroundings. Those who are constantly in a low, dingy room, where there is nothing inviting, will not be as happy, their minds will not be as quick and active, their whole carriage will not be as hightoned, they will not accomplish as much, as those who are in a pleasant room, with everything attractive. Even a child would not act in his mother's parlor as he would in his father's barn. His instinctive sense of propriety teaches him that what might be allowed in the barn would be entirely out of place in the parlor. His surroundings have an influence, unconscious It may be, upon his conduct. So will it be with scholars at school. Give them a pleasant and inviting room—such a one as is worthy of the work to be done in it—and their deportment will be better ; they will be the more easily governed ; they will be the happier, and consequently learn more. In short, you will have vastly better schools. Now of the twenty-three school-houses in town, there are only seven which can be called good, five may be called possibly passable, while eleven are decidedly poor. These ought to be thoroughly repaired, or taken down and new ones built, and that immediately. The interests of education in town demand this of the people. In this connection it should be noticed that the schools in No. 4 are too large for the school-rooms, or to be profitable. It is too much to ask one teacher to try to manage so many and teach at the same time. Provisions should be made for another school in the district. It is also a question worthy of consideration, whether there are not too many school districts. Would not the interests of common schools be promoted by uniting some of the smaller, contiguous districts, or re-districting the whole town ? "Would you not be able, by so doing, to build better houses, and have better and longer schools ? I know the difficulties in the way of such a union. Private interests interfere, questions in regard to the location of the new house, and the like. But ought not such interests to be waived on account of the greater good to the greater number ? It is a matter which should receive the careful attention of all friends of common schools. But whatever may be done in building, do not build cheap houses. Let not the question be, " At how little expense can we furnish a house that will answer ?" But inquire, " What kind of a school-house ought we to have ? " Be thorough in the work, as you would be in building a barn for your cattle or dwelling-house for yourselves. Build such a house as will be an ornament to your district, and to which you can proudly point the stranger as the place where your children are edu-

Northfield Town Reports, 1866.

15

oated. The first cost may be more, but it will pay in the end. Not perhaps in dollars and cents, but in that which is of far more importance— in better schools, in its influence upon the character of the scholars. In order to make the common schools what they should be, a permanent school of a higher grade is needed. One where the teachers shall be thoroughly trained for their work, and which shall be to them a model in their schools. There is a good school now in the Academy, and we are told that perhaps there will be a new school, of the grade desired, soon established in town. If we should be disappointed in this, something should be done immediately to place the Academy on a more permanent foundation, or better yet, to provide a school of the same grade, which shall be/ree to all the children in town of a certain age and the requisite qualifications. This is not the place to discuss in detail the objections to, or the reasons for, such a school. I will only add, that its influence would be felt for good throughout the town. It would raise the standard of the common schools. It would serve as an educator of all the people. We are in great need of the influences of such a school. The subject is worthy of the careful consideration of all. In closing this necessarily hastily prepared report, I would urge you again, as you seek your individual wealth and prosperty, the highest interests of the town, and, more than all, the welfare of your children—manifest a deeper interest in your schools. Cheerfully give them the money3 time and attention which their vast importance demands. WM. S. HAZEN, Superintendent of Schools. NOKTHFIELD, March 1, 1866.