Annual reports on the Town of Hartford issued

1. The report on the almshouses cited “labor troubles” as the reason for slower than anticipated sales of building lots, which included:

• More residents at work in the wood yard;
• Longer than anticipated work on the sewer line; and
• The demolition of the old buildings.

These other projects prevented work on the “necessary grading” that would precede the sale of building lots.

2. The other reports issued today addressed the hospital, the wood yard, a listing of the previous year’s expenses, the town treasurer’s estimated budget for the next year, the amount in the sinking fund, the North and Zion Hill cemeteries, and the town physician.

1. This report gives insight into the work that had been done on the old town farm since last year’s adjourned town meeting.
2. The report also didn’t include any accounting of number of building lots sold.

The numbers for the town’s expenditures and revenues are mostly illegible.

Last year’s adjourned town meeting, which included annual reports, was held on October 26, 1885.

The total town debt for the year was reported as nearly $2,000,000.

Annual reports for Town of Hartford for the upcoming year will be submitted on October 24, 1887.

1. The Courant described the reports as having been issued in a “pamphlet.”
2. The main building of the new almshouse was being constructed by Sylvester Bissell (masonry) and Watrous H. Bliss (carpentry).
3. The new main building was 327’ long by 40’ wide, had a central section that was three stories tall but otherwise had two stories with a basement.

“Last year the expenses at the old almshouse alone were nearly $400 more than the expenses of the two combined have been this year.”

Fred C. Walker was employed at the new almshouse at this point.

1. “The expenditures on the hospital account during the past year have been considerably in excess of former years, the total reaching $30,316.89, as against $22,807.13 last year. Of this sum $20,552.02 was paid for the care of the insane and the imbecile.  The board says: ‘The question of caring for our own insane is one which, we believe, should receive the serious attention of the town in the near future.’”
2. “This year nearly all the wood was sawed by the inmates of the almshouse, and the net profits amount to $2,384.44.”

Unattributed.  “Town officers reports,” Hartford Daily Courant, October 23, 1885, page 1.