The liabilities and obligations of the old town, village and school district assumed by the city upon its organization, in March 1895, amounted to $138,222.57, divided as follows: town, $60,647.94; village, $70,574.63; school district, $2,000.

       The indebtedness assumed in 1895 has been very materially reduced, the liabilities being decreased $16,083.92 in 1901. The new items of indebtedness incurred since 1895 consist mainly of bridge bonds, $32,000; school building bonds, $30,000, and street improvement bonds, $15,000 -- making a total of $77,000.

       In addition to the building record noted above, there have been expended in construction of public buildings since 1891, $1,225,000. Among these buildings, all of which are exempt from taxation, are the Heaton Hospital, the Wood Art Gallery, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, the Washington County jail and a new school building.

       The streets, sidewalks and bridges compare very favorably with similar works in much larger cities. All of the main approaches to the city, as well as the principal business and residential streets are macadamized. There are 3 1/2 miles of permanent roads with paved and graded gutters and sewer connections. These roads are substantially built and have a covering of either crushed stone, stone chips or river gravel brought to grade.

       The method of laying macadamized road ways in Montpelier is as follows: First, a section of street is prepared by excavating the depth desired, not less than 18 inches, and in some places to a depth of two feet. There is then laid the coarsest stone, (known as No. 4) to a depth of 8 inches, followed with a layer of No. 3 stone, (a grade finer) which is put on to a depth of 8 inches. Next comes a layer of No. 2 stone, (a fine grade) to a depth of 6 inches, or to bring the street up to grade. The last layer is a covering of the finest stone that comes from the crusher, but this is only used to pack and hold the different grades. Each layer of stone is packed firmly into place by the use of a steam roller, before the next layer is allowed to be placed. The road is filled a little above the height required, as after a thorough wetting down, and rolling with the heavy steam roller, it settles from two to three inches. The street department is equipped with a stone crusher, a steam roller, a road machine, a snow roller, work wagons and carts and a stable of nine large gray horses. The street department has been in charge of Clark B. ROBERTS since 1895, under whose supervision all of the repairs and new work on the roads, sidewalks and sewers have been done.

       Montpelier possesses a superior system of water works which furnishes an abundant supply of water for power and domestic purposes and affords ample protection from fire.

       The source of supply, Berlin Pond, or Mirror Lake, is located about four and a half miles southeast of the city and drains some 7,000 acres of land, besides being fed by numerous springs. It has a capacity of 222,000,000 gallons. Its altitude above State street, Montpelier, is 444 feet. The reservoir is located one and a half miles down stream at the head of Benjamin's Falls and contains 230 acres. It is 363 feet above State street. The pressure to the square inch is 175 pounds.
 

       The city has provided for public purposes four watering troughs, five gates for flushing sewers and seven stand pipes for street sprinkling. There are 82 hydrants and 165 gates connected with the system.

       The total cost of the water works system from 1884 to 1902, has been $172,850.55, and the receipts $184,407.00, leaving a handsome margin of profit. The income from water rents in 1901 exceeded the expenses by about $12,000. The water bonds outstanding amount to $10,000. The sinking fund contains $3,707.93. The yearly gross income from water rents since 1884 is shown by the following receipts: 1885, $1,683.95; 1886, $3,798.25; 1887, $4,549.21; 1888, $8,573.59; 1889, $9,522.34; 1890, $9,788.50; 1891, $10,446.32; 1892, $12,105.42; 1893, $13,163.06; 1894, $12,038.10; 1895, $13,183.69; 1896, $11,400.61; 1897, $11,522.26; 1898, $14,043.55; 1899, $15,280.14; 1900, $15,961,16; 1901, $17,326.85; total, $184,407.00.
 

To be continued.
 

Transcribed by Karima, 2002