The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-04-03
WITHOUT CITY GOVERNMENT
A Kansas Town That Has No Mayor, Al
N1,,-

derincn Nor Taxes.
The town Of humboldt, Kas, is
forcing itself into fame as a town
that won't be blutfed or buncoed.
Humboldt has a population Of l,7OO,
and is Il city Of the third class under
the laws Of Kansas. In April, 1870,
it was voted by the taxpayers Of the
town to issue bonds to the amount Of
$l75, 600 in aid Of projected railroad
and in 1876 S25. 0Oo more was voted
in aid Of another railroad. The bonds
were disposed Of in eastern markets,
but it seems the railroads were never
finished. The roadbcd5 were graded
but nothing further WAS done. \
correspondent OF a ST. Louis paper
tells how the people refused to pay
interest on the bonds. Suits were
brought against the city of Humboldt
and when they had run their colirsc
through the courts judgments were
issued against the city But when
the court officials attempted to serve
the official orders connected with the
judgments for unpaid interest no one
could be found who represented the
city in the most humble capacity, for
every city official had resigned, mayor,
treasurer, attorney, counci'non
street commissioner, ,constables, pound
master-cvcry body connected in the
slightest degree in an official capacitv
with the city had become a private
citizen. The streets were there, the
buildings we're there, the people were
there, but the government was no.
where.
This condition Of things has con-
tinucd for eighteen years. Elections
are held annually, but the officer,
elected never take the oath of Office
or otherwise qualify to act in an Off
ciul capacity. by common consent
those who receive the most votes 60
ahead and ':run the town" At the
same time they are only private citi
zcns. No collection or tax is made,
but whenever it is necessary to fix up
a street, employ a watchnan, make
any Improvements or pay cat any
money the citizens chip in what they
think is necessary. There is no red
tape, and everyone knows what the
money is for and what is done with
it. II a drunken man makes himself
Il nuisance the citizen who by com
mon consent acts Us policeman
catches the offender by the coat collar
and runs him out Of town.
In two years more the bonds will
be outlawcd by the statute Of limi.
tatons, and then humboldt propose:
to elect and swear in mayor with ;
big inaugural ball and other forms, Gt
celebration. 1t is said to the credit
CT Humboldt tltat the people have
offered to settle the account against
them on the basis Of 25 cents on the
dollar. They say this is fair, as thi
sum is all the bondholdcrs actuali,
paid for the bonds. Any ether set
tlemcnt has been cvadcd, and whc'
court officers appear every fc" month
and try to discover town funds o
officials they meet with no success
Standard.
w. +. Foster, the weather nror@aot
predicts 4 severe storm wave to eros,
the continent between Marc', &c al'
4 lTil 3. Summer heat will preyai
for a fc" days prior to the passage O
Yhc storm wave, and after it vii
come Il drop in temperature Wlic'
viii send frosts far into the south
This cold wave will keep the temper
aturc below normal for about d week
+ \ great deal Of rain will fail in Il!
south. but not so rAuch in the Horll
Two other stu:n waves will follow j
close Succession, striking this scctio
: about the Sth, to be followed b.
, warm wave about lie ninth