In  1877  the  appropriation  for  current  expenses  was  $40,000  and  68,000  for
highways,  an  almost  triple  increase  in  the  former  in  twelve  years.  The
appropriation  for  paupers  was  84, .500.
At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  March  17,  1879,  the  office  of  overseer  of
the  poor  was  separated  from  that  of  selectmen  and  assessors,  and  one  only
chosen.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  April  7th  of  that  year,  it  was  voted
"  to  instruct  the  selectmen  to  have  the  Old  Powder  House  repaired  at  an
expense  not  to  exceed  sixty  dollars,  and  that  the  old  shingles  be  placed
inside  the  building."  This  year  the  town  voted  to  use  the  entire  Agricultural
Building  at  a  rental  of  $1,000.
May  19.  1881.  "  Voted  to  subscribe  to  the  Providence  Telephone  Com-
pany, and  place  an  instrument  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office."

An  Act  relative  to  the  rights  of  women  to  vote  for  school  committees  was
approved  b}^  the  State  Legislature  on  April  9,  1881.  Four  ladies  in  this  town
qualified  and  voted  as  soon  as  possible.  They  were  Mrs.  Lowell  Brown,  Dr.
Laura  V.  G.  Mackie,  Mrs.  Wm.  Thurber,  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Holman.
The  results  of  this  Act  of  our  Legislature,  for  good  or  ill.  have  not  as  yet
been  manifested  to  any  great  degree.  We  do  not  speak  with  regard  to  the
motives  governing  the  women  themselves.  Thus  far  we  believe  it  to  be  quite
true  that  every  woman  who  has  qualified  to  vote  in  Attleborough  has  done
so  intelligently  and  conscientiously,  but  it  is  not  yet  time  to  look  for  the
effects  of  so  recent  a  cause.  The  coming  generation  must  pass  judgment
upon  this  great  political  change  of  the  nineteenth  century.
