Town Expenses, Gloucester c. 1800s

“

The Selectmen present the following estimate of the probable expenses of their department(s)(for) the current (year) exclusive of grants made at the annual March meeting.

	Dollars
Compensation1 for land take in Front and other streets	1500
Services of the Selectmen and Assessors	550
Commissions to Collectors of Taxes	500
Abatement2 of Taxes	425
Due & Will be required to purchase school books	300
Interest due on Thomas Perkins note to 24th instant3	76
Do4. Due & 10 percent of Principal of H. Perkins note to 15 Nov	224
Extra Bills of Surveyors5 of highways and clearing roads of snow	400
Assessors services taking the State valuation6	150
Building sea wall near Burying place at Sandy Bay	100
School Committee services visiting schools	100
Services of Committee & Surveys on Goose Cove	100
Printing Town Reports, Tax bills and advertising	35
Ordinary repairs on the several Engines7	25
Police Officers’ salary $25, Committee on Town Affairs $12	37
Mrs Baker, privilege of passing through pasture	25
Zachariah Stevens, do the mill dam	10
Use of Hall for Town Meetings $15	25
Warning Meetings8, Ringing bells, & powder	60
	4640
Deduct monies in the Treasury not appropriated	-200
Sum wanted	$4440

An engine house 2 stories, 15 feet by 19, is asked for in lieu⁹ of one near Phelps corner, probable cash $250.

A reservoir under the place where Henry Smith’s shop stood, is requested to be made, probably 20 ft. long, 10 ft wide, 6 deep; estimated cost $320.
Sundry¹⁰ necessary articles are asked for Engines No. 1, 2, 3, &4 per statements herewith, estimated cost $125.

All of which is respectfully submitted by William Ferson, Selectman

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1 Compensation = payment for
2 Abatement = reduction
3 Instant = as of today
4 Do = ”ditto” the same as the above
5 Surveyors = people who measure land
6 State valuation = figuring out property values for the State taxes
7 Engines = fire engines
8 Warning meetings = posting the agenda for the town meetings
9 In lieu = in exchange for
10 Sundry = various