Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-09-05
IN A KINGDOM OF n,n
A Man Who IS an independent Na,,o.
Himself-No Taxes to p,v

N
Himself--No Taxes TO p3v
Dick Basset is about so ve,r. -,
wears full beard tinged with gror "
quiet and unassuming, well READ 80
intelligent He arrived in this citr
about fourteen years ago and tool ~
his residence 10 a deserted f.bfaE
cabin on the beach far from tba abo5ss
OF men. He built boat and most !,
his days were spent on the waters -
the bay with tishline In hand He vas
a mystery then is almost as much :.
mystery to-day, although. tbrongb
casual remarks and occasional obse-
vations he has dropped within N,
hearing OF friends some inkling of M.
career has become known.
Basset remained year in his fish
ing cabin on the beach, and then n.
took possession Of the little island
miles out II the bay, lying between
Marion lslana and the mainland %
near to either that a narrow strin NJ
water separates him from the larps
island on one side and the mainland
on the other. The island comprisa.
but single acre of land. and when he
took possession was covered with
heavy growth OF virgin forest trees
appearing from a distance like little
tuft OF green rising out Of the water
says the Chicago Tribune. He cleared
the land without assistance Leaving a
row OF large trees as a border 70 bis
plantation. He erected a cottage Of
boards, which he hewed out OF tia
trees he chopped down, and since then
he has lived alone on the island quiet,
ly, and to all Appearances haypv and
contented. He has planted fruit trees
and vines, and the land produces
enough vegetables and fruits to supply
his simple wants. In summer he fishes
on the bay, both with line and net and
realizes a substantial income from thu
sale OF the fish in this city and at the
summer resorts near by.
He is said TO have accumulated a
competency. but of his worldly affairs
Dick Basset is as reticent as OF his
early life. He has a good sized Co
house, which he fills every winter
takes several daily papers and maya
zines, has a well-selected library
mainly of travel and history, and mas
a queer collection of old pipes, chiefly
corncobs and briers.
He is an inveterate smoker but
rarely drinks and has never been
known to gamble. He frequently
spends the winter alone on the island
with an occasional hunting expedition
TO vary the mouotony, while some win.
ters he seeks employment In the lum.
Der camps. Many summer resorterp
have visited his island, both while he
was at home and when he was away.
The Indians never think Of passing in
their canoes without making a call
and yet his confidence has never been
betrayed If the visitors are hungry
they help .emselyes 70 the food spread
on the table, but a. near as he can calcu-
late Basset has never missed dollar
in money.
But there is a strange circumstance
in regard TO the island. 1t is so small
and insignificant that it has never
been surveyed and Bassett has not
been able to secure a legal title to Il
from the government. To his IN
quiries he has been informed from
Washington that such an island can
not be found on the charts and maps
and therefore has no legal existence
In consequence of this decision from
Washington the authorities OF Grand
Traverse county hold that Bassett Is
not a resident of the United States and
not citizen, and that he cannot vote.
Living within a stones throw of Mar
ion Island and the mainland, both on
the government charts, he is declared
an alien and disiranchised.
He accepts the decision with COM
mendablo philosophy finding consola-
ton in the fact that he is exempt from
all taxation, township, county and
state alike He does not own very
much, It is true but if he were worth
a million he would escape the assessor
Yet there are inconvenience in his
situation He is practically an indie
pendent monarch, al by himself and
can exercise all the privileges and
rights Of one OF Gods anorted.
He can declare war or treat for peace
can levy a tariff for revenue only or
for protection to his infant industry OF
raising potatoes and eggs, can possibly
coin his own money and enter into
offensive and defensive alliance with
other nations, lie is as much Of a
monarch as the king OF any OF the
Cannibal islands, and under the pres
ent Interpretation of The laws, could
eat few summer resorters or wander
ing missionaries without fear Of ths
United States or Michigan laws
NV EadvsA IaceS