Expenditures from September 1, 1864, to September 1, 1865, being total amount of State Orders issued,

Less received from Henry Loomis,

$16,607 22 22 64

$17,584 58

Number of families aided, 416.

Number of persons aided, 1,832.

EXPENSES.

For amount paid for postage stamps,

$34 50

For amount paid Tuttle, Gay & Co., bill for books and blanks,
For amount paid D. L. Milliken for blanks,

19 00

6 00

For amount paid for express and stationery,

4 85

For amount paid Chas. H. Ross for keeping books and accounts one year,

200 00

For amount paid for traveling expenses,

For amount paid Tuttle, Gay & Co.'s bill paid by Auditor,

6 75

29 00

$300 10

REPORT OF THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS.

[Referred to on Page 53 of the Journal.]

To his Excellency, Paul Dillingham, Governor of Vermont:

SIR-In accordance with an act of the Legislature relative to the duties of the Sergeantat-Arms, approved November 19th, 1856, I would respectfully present the following report: On entering upon my duties as Sergeant-at-Arms, I found in the office of Secretary of State an invoice made by my predecessor in office, of the State property in and about the State House at the expiration of his term, which invoice, upon a careful comparison with the articles enumerated, I found to be substantially correct, and have appended to this report a true copy of said invoice. I would further state that when called upon to prepare the State House for the Extra Session in March last, it was discovered that some defect existed in the steam pipes, resulting from the action of the frost, and the condition in which they were left at the close of the last Annual Session, and considerable expense was incurred in repairing

the same.

Upon examination I also found that the paint on and in the House was becoming old and rusty, and on the dome was peeling off to such an extent that the water, in many places, was leaking through the joints of the copper; and, in my opinion, the good of the House required that it should be repainted (no painting having been done about the House since it was first painted.) I have accordingly repainted the dome, with such other painting as I considered necessary for the proper preservation of the building. I have also painted the fence around the grounds, and have whitened the Senate Chamber, which was injured by the escape of gas during the last Annual Session, and such other portions of the building as required it, to keep the same in good condition.

My expenditures further have been for shoveling snow, washing and cleaning the house, taking care of the grounds, purchase of stationery, fuel, &c., together with the expenses of the Extra Session of the Legislature, and the meeting of Presidential Electors, including the entire expense in my department from the first day of December, 1864, to the commencment of the present session, all which is embraced in my account hereto attached.

I would also desire to call your attention to the matter of supplying the State House and Legislature with a suitable supply of water. It requires four or five hogsheads of water for heating purposes, in addition to supply for drinking and other purposes. This now has to be drawn from the river at considerable expense and great inconvenience. This is, however, of small account when compared to the security and safety of the House and State property. The destruction of the old State House might have been avoided by a small outlay in a reservoir in rear of the House. When the fire was first discovered, it was found that no water could reach the fire, hence the destruction of the building. In this connection, I would call your attention to the fact that the State now has a fine stream of excellent water running on to the Hospital grounds, at an elevation equal to that of the dome of the State House, the distance is less than three quarters of a mile, and that the cost of bringing a sufficient supply of water from those grounds, including tank, hydrant, hose, and the entire fixtures for carrying water into the house and engine house, would not exceed $2000, and I am of the opinion that it might be accomplished at a much less cost.

It would seem that the State has suffered enough already by the loss of the old House, without risking one quarter of a million of dollars in the new when it can now be made secure at so small an outlay. It may be said the State may yet need the water at the hospital grounds should they be converted to other uses. In reply I would say that I was the

agent under General Davis in building the hospital and bringing the water upon the grounds. I have watched it closely, and have no hesitation in saying that not one half of the water will ever be required to supply that ground, thus leaving a large surplus for other purposes.

INVOICE OF PROPERTY.

Copy of invoice of property in and about the State House, taken November 30,1864, and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, December 1st, 1864, by G. B. Dodge, Sergeant

at-Arms.