Milton Businesses in 1877

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 27, 2018

The Milton excerpts from the New England Business Directory, 1877.

NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

Arranged Alphabetically by Business and Towns. When the Post-Office differs from the Town, it is given immediately after the name, and preceding the Town.

Blacksmiths (See also Carriage Smiths). Duntley Hazen & Son, Milton; Osgood, Ebenezer, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Rines, Nathaniel, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Rines, Samuel F., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Boot and Shoe Dealers (See also Boot and Shoe Manufacturers). Grant, Solomon, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Box Makers (See also Paper Box Makers). Hayes, Charles H. (shoe), Milton.

Butchers (See also Provision Dealers). Hayes, John, Milton.

Carpenters and Builders (See also Ship Carpenters). Mathes, Joseph, Milton; Swasey, George A., Milton; Simes, Edward S., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Titcomb, J.F., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Carriage and Sleigh Manufacturers (See also Wheelwrights). Brackett, John, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Chair Manufacturers (See also Furniture Manufacturers). Young, Isaac C. & Son, W. Milton [P.O.], Milton.

Clergymen.  Noyes,  E.P. (B.), South Acton [P.O.], Milton Mills, N.H.; Clark, Samuel W. (C.T.), Milton; Owens, E. (F.B.), Milton; Crowley, James (M.), Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; McLean, A.S. (F.B.), Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Scott, D.B. (C.T.), Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Goodwin, Daniel B. (C.B.), West Milton [P.O.], Milton.

Country Stores. Where is kept a general assortment of dry goods, groceries, agricultural implements, & c. Those who deal in but one kind of goods will be found under their appropriate headings. (See also Grocers). Gilmore, Geo. A., Milton; Hart, John F., Milton; Fox, Asa & Son, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Fox, Asa A., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Morrill, J.B. & Son, Milton Mills [P.O.], Simes, John U., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Dry Goods (See also Country Stores; also Fancy Goods). Knox, Ida S. Mrs., Milton.

Flour and Grain Dealers (See also Produce Dealers). Corkery, Daniel, Milton.

Grist Mills (See also Flouring Mills). Hayes, Luther, South Milton [P.O.], Milton.

Harness Makers (See also Trunks, Valises, & c.). Sanborn, A. & Son, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton Mills.

Hotels. Tri-Mountain House, James R. Horne, Milton; Central House, Ira Miller, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Lumber Dealers (See also Saw Mills). Hayes, Luther, South Milton [P.O.], Milton; Scates & Lyman, South Milton [P.O.], Milton.

Masons (See also Plasterers). Rines, Joseph G., Union [P.O], Milton.

Milliners (See also Dress Makers; See also Millinery Goods). Roberts, Clara M. Mrs., Milton; Farnham, Wm. P. Mrs., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Painters, House, Sign, and Ornamental (See also Painters, Carriage). Hodgdon, George F., Milton; Mathes, Robert, Milton; Came, George W., Milton Mills [P.O], Milton.

Physician. Peavey, George W., Milton; Buck, Jeremiah C., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Gross, C.W., Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Saw Mills (See also Planing Mills; also Shingle Mills). Hayes, Charles H., Milton; Hayes, Luther, South Milton [P.O.], Milton; Plumer, C.A. & G.L., Union [P.O], Milton.

Shingle Mills (See also Saw Mills). Hayes, Luther, South Milton [P.O.], Milton; Plumer, Chas. A. & Geo. L., Union [P.O], Milton.

Stables. Horne, James R., Milton; Miller, Ira, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Teachers (See also Academies, in index). Bickford, J.P. (Classical Inst.), Milton.

Wheelwrights. Sanborn, James, West Milton [P.O.], Milton; Brackett, John, Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

Woolen Goods Manufs. (See also Hosiery; also Manufacturing Companies). Brierley, Edward & Co. (flannels, table-covers, & c.), Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Townsend & Co. (piano and table-covers). Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton; Waumbec Manuf. Co. (flannels), Milton Mills [P.O.], Milton.

A fair number of Acton, ME, businesses were using Milton Mills Post-Office addresses. They have not been included.

Claremont, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Great Falls (Somersworth), Hanover, Laconia, Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth all had gas-light companies. Milton and Rochester did not. They would have used candles and oil lamps.

LYNN. The News in Brief. Luther Hayes, one of the Fish Commissioners of Milton, N.H., was in town yesterday and took fifty white perch from Flax Pond home with him to stock a pond at Milton. The fish were caught by John Marion during the past three days (Boston Globe, August 24, 1878).

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1876; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1880.

References:

Sampson, Davenport & Co. (1877). New England Business Directory, 1877. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=-981AQAAMAAJ

Milton Tax Increases on Social Security

We received the following information as a comment from a Social Security recipient and pass it along, as is, for your consideration.

John S. Frum

The Town of Milton’s tax rate has been increasing steadily for over 10 years now at about 5% per year. Has your income increased that amount? One part of the population that definitely has not seen increases anywhere near that is the town’s senior citizens that are on Social Security.

The average Social Security benefit (SSI) was $1,413.37 per month in June 2018. Yes, some get more, but many get less.  Often, that is a senior’s only source of income. From that, $134 is automatically deducted each month to pay for Medicare Part B insurance.  Now let’s look at SSI yearly increases. OOPS, what increases??  Seniors on SSI do not  get a cost of living increase every year. Over the past 10 years since 2009 there were 3 years when no increase was given, one year the increase was only 0.3%, four years showed  increases of just 1.5-2.0% The other 2 years were 2.8% and 3.6%. The greatest increase of 3.6%  was back in 2011. Think about Milton’s tax increases during those same years averaging 5% per year.

If you are employed and receive medical insurance from your employer, you might think seniors have quite the racket at $134/month. Believe me they don’t!!  Medicare does cover  most in-patient (overnight hospitalization) services at a 100% after a small deductible.  Out-patient services are a different story – only covered at 80%. Out-patient services include your doctor visits, lab work, X-rays, MRI’s and CT scans; day surgery procedures (many surgeries now are done in a Day Surgery Center that previously would have been done an in-patient setting); chemotherapy and much more.  Most services in this day and age are done as an out-patient. To cover that 20% you have to buy a Supplement Policy and they vary in price, but to get good coverage many are well over $200 a month. You also need to get a separate plan for prescription medications as Medicare does not cover them. So you buy a Part D plan and pay a co-pay for each prescription. Another cost that varies with each plan. Dental and eye exams are generally not covered on most plans. That $1,400 a month is dwindling fast.

Just imagine if you are single, a widow or widower, or even a couple, on SSI in Milton  and trying to  maintain your home and your health these past 10 years and being presented each year with a higher tax bill then the previous year. Each year you set aside a little more to cover this expense, but it seems it is never enough. So you control what you can … less home repairs, adjust your food budget, lower the heat and AC or use fans in summer. Some even limit medications. You control what you can. Like the Town, seniors have little control over insurance costs so they make major cuts elsewhere. The Town needs to do the same – make major cuts that will lower the tax rate by well more than 7.5% and continue to do it for many years. We all make sacrifices and can live with less if needed. If the Town of Milton does not lower the tax rate now, many seniors and younger residents will either lose their homes or move elsewhere. I know that many residents are hurting with such high taxes not just seniors. For the younger population, those under 65, this might help you to understand the situation from the perspective of  SSI  recipients.

Milton Businesses in 1876

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 25, 2018

The Milton excerpts from the New-Hampshire Register, Farmers’ Almanac, and Business Directory, for 1876.

MILTON, STRAFFORD – Pop., 1898. N.E. from C., 40; N.W. from Dover, 20. R.R.S. [Railroad Station] – Milton and South Milton, on Ports., Gt. Falls & Conway R.R. 

OFFICERS – Clerk, C.H. Looney; Treas., Geo. Lyman; Selectmen, Geo. Lyman, G.H. Plumer, John U. Simes; Supts., M.V.B. Cook, J.N. Lowell, Freeman H. Lowd. 

Postmaster – C.H. Looney; South, H.H. Wentworth; West, T.F. Canney. 

Justices [of the Peace] – Luther Hayes, C.H. Looney, E.W. Fox, State; Joseph Plumer, Joseph Mathes, Joseph Cook, George Lyman, G.W. Peavey, J.S. Hersey, J.N. Sims, B.B. Plummer, B.P. Roberts. 

Churches – Chris., D.B. Goodwin; Cong., J.N. Lowell; F. Bap., E. Tuttle. 

Exp. & Tel. Ag’t – Daniel Corkery. 

Hotels – Ben Franklin House, R. West; Tri-Mountain House, J.R. Horne. Livery Stable – Jas. R. Horne. 

Literary Institution – Milton Classical Institute, J.P. Bickford. 

Manufacturers – boots and shoes, South, H.H. Wentworth; lumber, Luther Hayes, Scates & Lyman; Lewis Plumer, p.o. ad., Union. 

Mechanics – blacksmiths, H. Duntly & Son; carpenters, Joseph Mathes, E.H. Hersom; painter, G.F. Hodgdon; wheelwrights, Joseph Mathes, Daniel Jenness. 

Merchants – Ira W. Jones, J. Hart, J.E. Abbott, Jas. R. Horne; fancy goods, Mrs. Ira L. Knox, Mrs. J.F. Hart; millinery, Mrs. C.M. Roberts.

Physician, G.W. Peavey.

[Milton] Mills – Postmaster & Ex. Ag’t – E.W. Fox.

Churches – Cong., D.B. Scott, C.F. Page; F. Bap., A.S. McLean; Meth., James Crowley. 

Hotel & Livery Stable – Central House, Ira Miller. 

Manufacturers – carriages and wheelwright, John Brackett; flannels, Waumbeck Manuf’g Co.; felt cloth, piano and table covers, Edward Brierly & Son; table and piano covers, Townsend & Co., John Meikle. 

Mechanics – blacksmiths, Ebenezer Osgood, Nathaniel Rines, S.F. Rines; carpenters, J.F. Titcomb, E.S. Simes; harness makers, A.A. Fox & Son; harness makers, A. Sanborn & Son; mason, J.G. Rines; painter, G.W. Came.

Merchants – Asa Fox & Son, A.A. Fox & Co., J.U. Simes, J.B. Merrill & Son; boots and shoes, S. Grant; fancy goods, Mrs. W.P. Farnham; provision, C.S. Lowd. 

Physicians – J.C. Buck, C.W. Gross, M.K. Cowell.

The Boston Globe newspaper of 1876 contained the following news of fires in Milton Mills and Milton Three-Corners during this year:

New England by Mail. Milton Mills, N.H. – The store of Augustus Fox at Milton Mills, was destroyed by fire Tuesday might. Loss $6,000; insured in the Home, New York, for $4300. The second story was occupied by the Odd Fellows, who lost everything (Boston Globe, March 9, 1876).

NOTES. Milton, N.H. – Yesterday morning a house at Milton Three-Corners, formerly occupied by George B. Wentworth, was burned. Loss $6000 (Boston Globe, September 15, 1876).

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1875; next in the sequence: Milton Businesses in 1877.

References:

Claremont Manufacturing Company. (1876). New-Hampshire Register, Farmers’ Almanac, and Business Directory, for 1876. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=VvEWAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA173

Puzzle #9: How Did They Get There?

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 23, 2018

Five pieces of coal, a carrot and a scarf are lying on a hill near a remote house. Nobody put them on the lawn, but there is a perfectly logical reason why they should be there. What is it?

[Answer to Puzzle #9 to follow in the next Puzzle]

Solution to Puzzle #8: Something About Mary

Puzzle #8 was a “trick” question, the sort my grandfather liked to tell.

Mary’s mum had four children: April, May, June, and Mary herself, of course. The answer was in the title.

Milton Businesses in 1874

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 23, 2018

Note that no principal is specified for the Milton Classical Institute.

MILTON, STRAFFORD. Роp. 1598. N.E. from C., 40. R.R.S. [Railroad Stations], Мilton, and South Milton on Ports., Gt. Falls & Conway R.R.

OFFICERS – Clerk, Joseph Mathis; Treas., George Lyman; Selectmen, George Lyman, G.H. Plumer, Т.H. Roberts; Supts., J.U. Simes, H. Wentworth, J.F. Joy.

Postmasters. – C.H. Looney; South, H.H. Wentworth; West, F. Canney.

Justices [of the Peace]. – Luther Hayes, C.H. Looney, State; E.W. Fox, Joseph Plumer, Joseph Mathes, Joseph Cook, George Lyman, G.W. Peavey, S. Hersey, G.W. Tasker, M.V.B. Cook, C.A. Sawyer. J.Е. Twombly.

Churches. – Chris., D.B. Goodwin; Cong., F. Haley; F. Bap., J.F. Joy. 

Exp. & Tel. Agent – F.А. Crocker. 

Hotel – Franklin House, A. Kidder. 

Livery Stable – W.H. Jones.

Literary Institution – Milton Classical Institute, ___ ___, prin.

Manufacturers – boots and shoes, South, H.H. Wentworth; lumber, Luther Hayes, Scates & Lyman; Lewis Plumer, p.о. ad. ,Union. 

Mechanics – blacksmiths, H. Duntley & Son; carpenters Joseph Mathes, E.H. Hersom; mason, Daniel Foss; painter, G.F. Hodgdon; wheelwrights, Joseph Matthes, Daniel Jenness. 

Merchants – Looney & Avery, Gilmore & Whitehouse, J. Hart; fancy goods, Mrs. Ira L. Knox; millinery, Mrs. C.M. Roberts. 

Physicians – G.W. Peavey, Frank Haley.

Mills. – Postmaster – E.W. Fox.

Churches – Cong., D.B. Scott, C.F. Page; F. Bap., J.S. Potter; Meth., I.J. Tibbets.

Hotel & Livery Stable – Central House, Ira Miller. 

Manufacturers – carriages, John Brackett; flannels, Waumbeck Manuf’g. Co.; flannels, felt cloth, piano and table covers, Edward Brierly & Son; table covers, H.H. Townsend; table and piano covers, John Meikle. 

Mechanics – blacksmiths, Ebenezer Osgood, Nathaniel Rines, S.F. Rines; carpenters, J.F. Titcomb, E.S. Simes, A.B. Shaw; dyer and table cover printer, John Meikle; engraver, H.W. Dewhurst; mason, J.G. Rines; painter, G.W. Came. 

Merchants – F.H. Chesley, A.A. Fox & Co., J.U. Simes; fancy goods, Mrs. W.P. Farnham; groceries, Geo. Olney; millinery, H.A. Farnham; provision, S.A. Felch. 

Physicians – J.C. Buck, R. Buck.

NH State Representatives for Milton were Jos. Plumer and Elbridge Fox, and for Middletown, i.e., Middleton, was Charles W. Davis. The District 5 State Senator was Edwin Wallace of Rochester.

Ezra H. Twombly, of Milton, held the office of Strafford County Register and Sealer; and Luther Hayes, of Milton, was one of nine Strafford County Deputy Sheriffs.

Tabular Statement, by Towns, of Votes for Governor in 1872 and ’73; Population in 1870; Average Valuation in 1872; and Apportionment on each $1000 of State Tax.

Milton, 222 [Votes for Straw], 131 [Votes for Weston], 10 [Votes for Cooper & scattering]; 205 [Votes for Straw], 78 [Votes for Weston], 5 [Votes for Blackmer & scattering]; 1598 [Population]; $441,955 [Valuation] 2.881 [per $1,000 State Tax Rate].

Former NH State Senator Ezekiel A. Straw (1817-1884), of Manchester, won election as NH Governor in 1872 and 1873. He was a Republican. Governor Straw did not run for a third term and was succeeded as governor by Manchester Mayor James A. Weston, whom he had twice defeated.

A Milton advertisement aimed at the emerging Summer “rusticator” market:

Summer Resorts and Hotels. In New Hampshire. BOARD – A few Summer boarders can find a pleasant home in a private family, convenient to churches, railroad, telegraph and Post Office. In a quiet and healthy little village situated between mountain and pond. For particulars address Box 30, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, August 7, 1874).

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1873; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1875

References:

Claremont Manufacturing Company. (1874). New Hampshire Register, Farmer’s Almanac and Business Directory, for 1874. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=4y40AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA159

Wikipedia. (2018, September 16). Ezekiel A. Straw. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel_A._Straw

Wikipedia. (2018, September 16). James A. Weston. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_A._Weston

Milton Businesses in 1871

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 21, 2018

Extracted below is the Milton entry from the The New Hampshire Register and Farmer’s Almanac, for 1871.

Milton, STRAFFORD – Clerk, Joseph Mathes; Treas., Thomas H. Roberts; Selectmen, Charles Hayes, David Walingford, jr., Thomas H. Roberts; Supts., James W. Applebee, Frank Haley; Postmasters, Ezra H. Twombly; – Elbridge W. Fox, Mills; – John C. Plumer, South; – Thomas Canney, West; Physicians, Stephen Drew, Geo. W. Peavey; – J.C. Buck, R. Buck, Mills; Churches, F. Bap., Ezra Tuttle; Cong., Frank Haley; Cong., Caleb Page; F. Bap., D. Waterman; Meth., Ira J. Tibbets, Mills; Literary Institution, Milton Classical Institute; Merchants, Geo. M. Sayward, John E. Twombly, Mark H. Hart; Mrs. Clara M. Roberts, millinery; – Wm. C. Watson, boots and shoes; Asa Fox & Son, Asa A. Fox & Co., Bray U. Simes, John U. Simes; Geo V. Olney, groceries; Mrs. H.A. Farnham, Miss Augusta Berry, millinery; S. Lowd, provisions, Mills. Manufacturers – James Bennett, George B. Wentworth, boots and shoes; – Hiram V. Wentworth, Luther Hayes, Lewis Plumer, G.W. Wentworth; – William P. Tuttle, South, lumber; – Waumbeck Manuf’g Co., flannels, Edward Brierley, flannels, felt cloths, piano and table covers; John Meikle, dyer and table-cover painter, Mills.

Hotel, Central House, Ira Miller, Mills.

Livery Stable – Wm H. Huntress.

R.R.S. [Railroad Stations] – Milton and South Milton. Stage from Milton Mills to Union Village to connect with every train.

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1869-70; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1873

References:

Claremont Manufacturing Company. (1871). The New Hampshire Register and Farmer’s Almanac, for 1871. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=AwEXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA130

Milton Businesses in 1869-70

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 19, 2018

The New-Hampshire Register and Political Manual for the Year 1870 directory entries for Milton in 1870. The compiler gathered his information from data available in 1869.

MILTON, (Originally part of Rochester) incorporated June 11, 1802. Population – 1820, 1232; 1850, 1619; 1860, 1862.

Рostmasters – Еzra Н. Twombly; Mills, Elbridge W. Fox; West, ______ Kenney; South, H.V. Wentworth. Selectmen – Еlbridgе W. Fox, Charles Hayes, Henry B. Scates. Town-clerk, Geo. W. Tasker. Clergymen – James Doldt, Caleb F. Page (Mills), Cong. Physicians – Stephen Drew, George W. Peavey, Charles E. Swasey (Mills). School Com. – James Doldt, M.V.B. Cook, James W. Applebee. Justices – Charles Jones, Luther Hayes, State; Elbridge W. Fox, Joseph Plumer, Ebenezer Wentworth, Charles A. Cloutman, Asa Jewett, Joseph Cook, Robert Маthes, Ira C. Varney, George Lyman, George Peavey, Маrtin V.B. Cook, John T. Hersey, George W. Tasker, Edward W. Fox, Ezra H. Twombly, Thomas H. Roberts, John U. Simes, Larkin A. Craig. 

Mеrchants – John E. Twombly, Joseph Sayward, Mark H. Hart (Milton), Asa Fox & Son, Bray U. Simes, John U. Simes, Benjamin F. Hubbard (Mills), variety. Manufacturers – Milton Mills Manufacturing Co., George H. Jones, E.R. Mudge & Co., flannels; Edward Brierly & Co., flannels and table covers; Hiram V. Wentworth, boots and shoes; Luther Hayes, shooks [i.e., barrel staves]. Hotels – Milton, by William Н. Huntress, Central, by Ira Miller (Mills).

Elsewhere in the directory, we find the value of Milton’s land and farm stock, as of April 1868, and its votes in recent elections.

Value of Lands in New-Hampshire, and Number & Value of Farm Stock, per Inventory, April, 1868.

Milton, [Lands. Value.] $276,478, [Horses, etc. No.] 188, [Horses, etc. Value.] $12,386, [Cows, Oxen, etc. No.] 897, [Cows, Oxen, etc. Value] $30,245, [Sheep. No.] 786, [Sheep. Value.] $1,758. 

TABULAR STATEMENT BY TOWNS of Distance from Concord, of Vote for Railroad Commissioner, 1869; Population of 1860; Ratable Polls; Valuation of 1868; and proportion on $1000 of State Tax.

40 [Miles from Concord], Milton, 255 [Votes for Quarles], 90 [Votes for Donahue], 1,862 [Population], 388 [Rateable Polls], $511,028 [Valuation], $3.43 [per $1,000 State Tax rate].

Vote for Governor, March, 1869, March, 1868, and for President, Nov. 1868.

Milton, 250 [Stearns], 95 [Bedell], [0, Scattering]; 262 [Harriman], 124 [Sinclair]; 226 [Grant], 78 [Seymour].

NH Secretary of State Walter Harriman (1817-1884), of Concord, won election as NH Governor in 1867 and 1868. Former NH State Senator Onslow Stearns (1810-1878), of Concord, won election as NH Governor in 1869 and 1870. They were both Republicans. Governor Stearns was succeeded as governor by Manchester Mayor James A. Weston. (Weston’s election over Republican opponent James Pike was close enough that the final result was decided in the state legislature).

Under the Strafford County entry, Hayes, Luther, Milton (South), was Strafford County Sheriff.

For State Senate District No. 6, Milton voted for Republican Ezra Gould, 262 votes [70.6%], over Democrat Edwin Pease, 109 votes [29.4%], in 1868. Pease received 4,400 votes [51.6%] in the overall district vote, while Gould received 4,059 votes [47.6%], and “scattering” received 76 votes [0.9%]. The result was reported as “Pease’s majority.”

For State Senate District No. 6, Milton voted for Republican Ezra Gould, 254 votes [73.0%], over Democrat Edwin Pease, 94 votes [27.0%], in 1869. Gould received 3,754 votes [49.7%] in the overall district vote, while Pease received 3,744 votes [49.5%], and “scattering” received 61 votes [0.8%]. The result was reported as “no choice.”

Under the Government of New-Hampshire entry, CHARLES JONES, Milton, held the District No. 2 seat on the five-seat Governor’s Council in 1870, under Governor Onslow Stearns, of Concord. By virtue of his seat on the Governor’s Council, Jones also held an ex-officio seat on the State Board of Education.

Republicans George Lyman and Samuel G. Chamberlain held Milton’s two seats in the NH House of Representatives. Middleton had its own representative, Democrat Franklin Colbath.

(Note: Today, the Milton and Middleton share a single district with two representatives, versus the two towns having independently two and one representatives, respectively, for a total of three representatives. Increases in population have occurred since then, and have occurred in greater proportions elsewhere than in Milton and Middleton, thus occasioning reduced representation compared with that of the past. (See The Mathematical Limits of Representation).

The New England Farmer reported on the agricultural fair held at Great Falls, i.e., Somersworth, in September 1869, during which Hiram V. Wentworth was selected as a board member:

AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. Strafford County, N.H. Fair at Great Falls, Sept. 14-16. The Journal says that the entries of Stock, Fruit, Vegetables, implements, manufactures, &c., were large and attractive. In the procession were town teams of eleven yoke of oxen each from Barrington, Somersworth, Rollinsford, and the County Farm; and ten yoke from Dover, drawing huge carriages, tastefully ornamented, and filled with singing children and other happy people. The Journal does not give the premiums awarded, but remarks that the exhibition is ahead of all previous one, and all are perfectly satisfied. The receipts are about $5000, which will place the Society on good footing pecuniarily.

On Wednesday morning the following board of Directors was chosen – M.C. Burleigh, S.C. Chick, Great Falls; Noah Tebbetts, Joseph Nutter, Rochester; H.V. Wentworth, Milton; W.R. Garvin, Rollinsford; C.R. Meserve, Madbury; Wm. F. Jones, Durham; E. Bartlett, Lee; C.W. Davis, Farmington; A.G. Orne, Middleton; G.S. Gilman, New Durham; R.B. Peavey, Strafford; Elisha Locke, Barrington (New England Farmer, September 25, 1869).

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1868; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1871

References:

Jenks, George E. (1869). The New-Hampshire Register and Political Manual for the Year 1870. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=K0A4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA100

Wikipedia. (2018, October 18). Onslow Stearns. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onslow_Stearns

Wikipedia. (2018, October 9). Ulysses S. Grant. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_S._Grant

Wikipedia. (2018, October 18). United States Presidential Election, 1868. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1868

Wikipedia. (2018, August 24). Walter Harriman (Governor). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Harriman_(governor)

Milton in 1857

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 18, 2018

Edwin A. Charlton’s 1857 description of Milton, “as it is”:

Milton, Strafford county. Bounded north-west by Middleton and Wakefield, east by Salmon Falls River, which separates it from Lebanon, Maine, and south-west by Farmington and New Durham. Area, 25,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles  north-east, from Dover, 20, north-west. Salmon Falls River washes its whole eastern border for a distance of 13 miles. A branch of this river passes through its northern extremity. Milton Pond lies at the foot of Teneriffe Mountain – a bold and rocky elevation, which extends along its eastern section. The soil is generally good, the surface somewhat broken, and affords excellent pasturage. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in farming.

Milton Mills – John Townsend, proprietor; capital, $50,000; manufacture flannels; have 18 looms and 1200 spindles. Amount manufactured per annum, $90,000. Do. [Ditto] stock used per annum, 120,000 pounds wool. Number of operatives, 35. 

This town was formerly a part of Rochester, from which it was taken and incorporated June 11, 1802. There are two meeting houses – one Congregational, and one Christian.

Population, 1629. Number of polls, 406. Inventory, $414,982. Value of lands, $236,265. Do. [Ditto] mills and factories, $8500. Do. stock in trade, $10,730. Money at interest, &c, $12,939. Number of sheep, 708. Do. neat stock [cattle], 1264. Do. horses, 189.

Charlton’s nineteenth-century orthography is interesting. He retains some features from the eighteenth century. Numbers in the single thousands do not employ commas. That is reserved only for numbers in the tens of thousands or larger. The traditional abbreviation “do.” is used for “ditto,” which is itself a sort of Latin abbreviation for “as has been said before.” The plural of operators, as in machine operators, is “operatives.” Neat stock would be oxen or heifers.

Previous in sequence: Milton in 1849; next in sequence: Milton in 1859

References:

Charlton, Edwin Azro. (1857). New Hampshire As It Is. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=vnIUAAAAYAAJ

Milton and Mathematical Progression

By S.D. Plissken | October 18, 2018

At last Monday’s Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) Meeting, a silent alarm was triggered. Did you see the flashing red lights behind the dais? During that meeting, the proposed budget totals departed from the actual 2.1% rate of inflation to their usual unsustainable doubling of that, at 3.8%. That is not news. But then, they proceeded from there to an insane near-quadrupling of inflation, at 7.5%. Warning! Collision Alert!

In so doing, the proposed budget increases changed upwards from an Arithmetic Progression into the beginning steps of a Geometric Progression.

Arithmetic Progression

Arithmetic Progression occurs when a number, such as taxes, increases over time at a constant rate. Milton’s tax rate has been following such an arithmetic progression for a very long time. A problem has emerged recently by which the slope of that increase line has been increased. Since that happened, the tax rate has increased by about 5% per year, which has been approximately double the rate of inflation. The function of this would be y = nx, where n = 5 and x = the sequence number of the year. It would chart to the right as a steadily increasing straight line.

A problem arises when wages, i.e., the ability to pay, do not rise either at or above the same rate. A chart of the two lines together would show a gap emerging between them. That gap increases in size as the chart extends out rightwards over time. Each year, the increase amount comes more and more out of the taxpayer’s disposable income, i.e., their “capital.” At each step, the tax burden becomes less sustainable, but in a steady way.

This is bad. This increasing gap will drive you out of your home at sometime in the future. Exactly when will depend upon the rate of increase (the slope) of your particular pay envelope. But, unless your pay rate line is running above the tax increase line, you may run your finger out along the chart from left to right and find the date when you will be driven out.

Geometric Progression

Geometric Progression occurs when a number, such as taxes, increases over time not at a steady rate, but at an increasing rate.

Milton progressed to this type of increase last Monday night. Inflation ran at 2.1% last year. That is where our increase should be, below would be even better. Milton’s Town government budget increases at the end of the prior meeting, by which time they had added up the first two tranches of proposed departmental budgets, were projected to be a 3.8% increase. That is to say, they were on their usual straight line of arithmetic progression, at an unsustainable double the rate of inflation.

But, the addition of those final departmental budgets, as well as receipt of the increases in insurance and retirement rates changed the rate of increase radically. The new rate being discussed was suddenly a 7.5% increase. This begins to be a Geometric Progression, specifically y = 2^x, or 2 raised to the power of x, and the resulting y is successively = 2, 4, 8, etc., times the rate of inflation. (Sorry, this software doesn’t do superscripts). It would chart as a curved line, rather than straight, and curving upward.

The difference between an Arithmetic Progression and a Geometric Progression has to do with the rate of increase. An Arithmetic Progression increases constantly, but at a steady rate, while a Geometric Progression also increases constantly, but at a constantly increasing rate. You are getting into trouble faster.

Will Robinson’s robot should have been shouting “Danger! Danger!” in the background. If you run your finger out along the gap on this new chart, you will find that the gap is getting wider much, much faster. Your home exodus happens much further to the left, i.e., much, much sooner.

This is very bad and getting worse. It is the difference between you driving towards a collision with another car and you driving towards another car that is also driving towards you.

Exponential Progression

Exponential Progression is where the exponent, or power, in the equation is the variable. It would be ever so much worse than Geometric Progression. We probably need not dwell on its mechanics. Essentially, this is where both you and the car driving towards you are both stomping on the gas. And have nitrous turbo boosters or something. Think Venezuela or Zimbabwe, but with snow and no zoo animals to eat. We are on track to be New Detroit, but not yet on the track to be Nueva Venezuela. Not yet.

Is the End Near?

That depends. The breaking point is certainly approaching much more quickly now. Usually, when you arrive at this point, the more rational politicians have long since been blathering about “bending the cost curve.” That is to say, bending it back down to where it should have been all along – back below the rate of inflation.

If you wish to change the course of an ocean liner, or a Town government, the best way is to begin turning very far in advance. (Trucks often have signs that warn the vehicles behind them of their Wide Turns). Town governments have very large turning radii. To turn closer to an obstacle requires a much more exaggerated, even alarming, degree of turn and the application of much greater motive power. Delayed too long, it becomes impossible to turn enough. You hit the iceberg.

To bend the cost curve, the BOS would have to reduce their costs, by a lot. There is no other way. We are far past wide, gentle turns back to reality.

Yes, the various BOS administrations of the past decade or more – all those that approved increases that were double inflation rates – have completely failed us. They should have turned back on the right course long ago – and certainly turned back hard when the recession took hold. But the taxpayers are to blame also for not overriding the Town government. Adult supervision is required.

The last administration might have endorsed the Deliberative Session motion for a 10% cut instead of fighting it. Had they done so, what we face now might be less painful. Instead, they staged a sort of dog-and-pony-show to keep the game going, just a bit longer. It is now apparent that we needed that 10% cut, desperately, in order to turn the ship more smoothly.

Even this current administration wasted the first half of their tenure voting unanimously for every shiny thing. By-Laws, CIP Plans, GIS systems with ongoing annual fees, memberships, lawyers, websites with ongoing annual fees, hiring, more hiring, even COLA.

COLA? Wake up: few in the private sector have experienced COLA for a generation, maybe two. Social Security recipients maybe, but for that they use a special “Chained” CPI that intentionally understates inflation. Their COLA increases, if any, are largely paid over for their Medicare increases, which do not use “Chained” CPI.

This late in the game, the necessary course change will be a jarring lurch. But this runs completely counter to what politicians deeply desire and believe, which is that handing out stuff is beneficial. And organizing the world around them. The French economist Frederic Bastiat famously explained that

The State is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.

Margaret Thatcher put her finger on the problem of this great fiction: eventually you run out of other people’s money.

Will the BOS grit their teeth and turn the wheel hard over? There is reason to doubt it. They might instead use the $1.4 million taken last year – the taxation without representation – to kick the can down the road just a little further. That particular trick might buy as much as two years, longer perhaps if they made changes. But then we would be right back here again when the stolen money ran out, still on the wrong course.

We shall see.

As I write this, I am informed that Ms. Lynette McDougall has called for a brainstorming session at Dunkin’ Donuts, Saturday, at 9:00 AM. She is seeking constructive suggestions, rather than generalized whining. (Not her words).

References:

Wikipedia. (2018, September 5). Arithmetic Progression. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arithmetic_progression

Wikipedia. (2018, October 14). Geometric Progression. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_progression

Wikipedia. (2018, October 13). Exponential Growth. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_growth

And Eat Out Their Substance

By S.D. Plissken | October 17, 2018

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

Oh, excuse me, I was just rereading something. What were we talking about? Oh, yes, last Monday’s Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) Meeting.

The BOS tidied up a bit first. They retracted a prior invalid parking ordinance, authorized crossing guards for Halloween events, added (on a trial basis) an additional concluding Public Comment time, authorized acceptance of Highway Grant money (with its attendant strings), and unsealed minutes from Non-Public Meetings held on July 10, 2018, and September 24, 2018. Well, they unsealed them for Chief Krauss alone.

Therein hangs a tale apparently, but not one about which we will know much more, at least not for now. The July 10 meeting was not posted. It must have been a secret Non-Public Meeting, sort of like a double Non-Public Meeting. The September 24 meeting began as a Public meeting, but adjourned to consider a 91A:3 II (c) matter. That would be something that concerns “Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person.” The BOS surfaced again in order to adjourn again to consider a 91A:3 II (j) matter: “91-A:3 II (j). Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure.” Finally, they went again into a third Non-Public session under 91A:3 II (c), the one that might adversely affect reputations.

Previously, Ms. Bristol supposed that all this folderol had something to do with abatements. But now, due to this unsealing of the minutes, but for Chief Krauss alone, we know it had to do with the Police. Chairman Thibeault said that

These are being unsealed to be released to the Police Chief because of Police personnel file matters and its not for public release. This is to be compliant with State statutes.

So, something happened, back in the July time-frame, that “would likely affect adversely” reputations, and something that involves also confidential, commercial, or financial information. Did something happen that we need to know about?

From there, they proceeded to the main event, the conclusion of the second round of departmental budget presentations and moving on to the third and final round of budget presentations.

When last seen, the BOS had accepted departmental budget presentations that would move us already above the Federal inflation rate of 2.1% to a CIP plan recommendation of “no more that 3%.” That 3% would itself exact 43% above inflation. But, as they say, “hold my beer.” That was just the recommendation, the actual Cloud-Cuckoo-Land amount “as it stands” was 3.8%, which would exact 81% above inflation (where 100% would be a doubling).

According to the Federal government, your household costs went up 2.1%. Few will have had their incomes rise so much. The Town budget was projected by the Planning board to rise 3.8%. The difference between 3.8% and 2.1% is 1.7%. Assuming you actually got a 2.1% raise, which most did not, it would go entirely to the Town government. They also want an additional 1.7% from whatever you had before the 2.1% raise that you did not get.

Queue up Selectman Lucier:

Selectman Lucier: One thing, I just … can I make a comment before? – you know, we just got, as we sat down here tonight, just got handed insurance adjustments, for health insurance for next year.

Administrator Thibodeau: That’s one of the presentations that we do tonight.

Lucier: Yeah, well. In that … but that ties into everything in the budgets. We’re looking at 236 in $600,000 increase over this year, just in health insurance. You know, that changes a whole bunch of things going on in Andy’s head as far as everything else that we’ve already done. You know, how much, how much can people swallow? I mean this is – we’re already looking at almost a 7.5% increase in, you know, this year’s budget, so …

Vice-chairwoman Hutchings: And the rate of inflation is 3%. We told them that a 3.8%, I think is what was discussed. Is that correct, or am I?

Well no, Vice-chairwoman Hutchings, 2.1% was the actual inflation rate, and the 3% was the Planning Board’s ruinous recommendation to continue spending way above inflation. The 3.8% figure was the completely absurd place, the Cloud-Cuckoo-Land if you will, in which we found ourselves when actual departmental budgets proposals are totaled.

Thibodeau: 3.7. 

Hutchings: 3.7%. So … I mean, that’s …

Thibodeau: We just don’t have any control over insurance. All that insurance, and retirement. That’s something … those are the costs we don’t control.

Lucier: I know we don’t have any control over it, but it’s just ….

Hutchings: Out of control.

Lucier: I mean, … I can’t … I don’t know. I’m almost, I leaning almost to say … cap … level fund it and then …. I don’t know …

Thibeault: If you level fund it, I think your insurance is still going to … that’s not really going to solve our issue.

Lucier: Oh, I understand that. But we have some serious issues here. You know, I personally have no problem with the welfare. I mean … I … I’m kind of backtracking, I don’t think we should do any new employees. In the light of things that … I don’t know.

Thibeault: So do we want to table Item 6 discussion and move on to the departments that haven’t presented yet?

The light begins to dawn on Selectman Lucier. Perhaps Vice-chairwoman Hutchings, but she had to go home sick. [Get well soon]. They lack control over insurance rates and retirement expenses. It will come to them when they have time to think about it. Hint: Personnel expenses are your largest cost. The only thing that you do control is the number of employees and their status as either part or full-time employees. That is the only variable with which you can work.

When you are in a hole, you should stop digging. So, hiring is completely out of the question. And capping was due back during the “Great Recession.” When everyone else was seeking new employment, pulling in their belts, and having trouble making ends meet, the Town government just kept right on spending. Do you remember all the foreclosure signs? The Town government barely missed a beat. They took a bit of a check step, just one year with a slower rate of increase, but that was all. Then it was right back to business as usual.

Selectman Lucier, we are way past capping. That was so 2009. And you can forget about hiring. The BOS needs to be cutting, and not little shavings or a little final sanding, but great big whacks. You have said that we are not Wakefield with its ten lakes. Right. It follows that we cannot afford what they can. We should have a tax rate like they do, if not lower. Keep cutting until you get there.

A concerned citizen, Ms. Lynette McDougall, rose to offer some advice during the new secondary Public Comment.

Lynette McDougall. As a taxpayer, I’m kind of appalled at these numbers I’m seeing, you guys. It seems like to me we’re in a management overload or something. We need to do some cutting, somewhere – training people, cross-training people, things of that sort. [Editor’s note: so that you have some coverage after cuts, presumably]. Maybe get somebody professional to show us how to do this, because this is taxpayer’s money going out. I agree with you, if you present this to the taxpayers. I’m surprised they’re aren’t people out there screaming. I’m kind of sad they aren’t. I know you guys are doing the best you can, but we’ve got to have better than this. We’re a small town, this is small, and these expenditures are not small. And I know that’s not your fault, but you should maybe think about having somebody professional, that knows how to do these things, come in and cut some things, because we need to save the people that are here. I’m sorry, that’s all.

Good for you, Ms. McDougall. Brava!

References:

Independence Hall Association. (2018). Declaration of Independence. Retrieved from www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/

Town of Milton. (2018, October 15). BOS Meeting, October 15, 2018. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C1AS4syCJU&feature=youtu.be&t=1071