Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-17
AN EXTRAORDINARY CITY.
Humboldt, Kan, and How II Avoids
Paying Bonds.


Humboldt, Kan. has loo inhabitants.
Under Kansas laws ii is a city OF the
third class. 1t is growing slowly, and the
people are contented and prosperous. lis
form Of government. however. Is more
remarkable than that of any other city
on the face OF the earth. 1t has not had
a leeally-quallned officer Of any descrip-
ton In eighteen years. Various men
MANAGE its affairs. not because they nave
any right TO do so. but because the olher
Inhabitants consent
In April. 1870. railroad was projected
10 run through Humboldt The villagers
voted bonds to the amount OF slI0'vo IN
aid Of this road. Six years later they
issued s-J.O1O Of bonds in aid of another
road The bonds were sold 10 eastern
Investors The railroads were never
built. The lines were graded but no more
work was ever done. The people OF Hum
boldt refused 10 pay interest on the
bonds. Tie city was sued and judgments
were secured. Then every city official
resigned When the court officers came TO
serve official orders connected with the
judgments for unpaid interest they found
no one who. even in tho most humble
capacity. represented the city OF Hum
bolIt. There was no mayor. no attorney,
10 treasurer. no coulcilmeu, not even a
constable. The government OF the city
was dissolved into thin air The situa-
ton has remained the same ever since.
Elections az. held in Humboldt every
year-yery lively elections, too-and
full set OF city officers ia chosen annu-
ally. But no one ever takes the oath OF
Office No one ever becomes "qualihed'
TO act as an officer Of the city dis
patch from Humboldt to the GlObe-DeEO-
crat says:
Every spring the old administration has
gone out and the now one has come In
only It hasn't II comes 10 tho threshold
but does not enter Il does not Qualify.
The Council Is merely a committee or
citizens. and the Mayor Is rs Chairman.
Ordinances are passed. and people obey
them hy common cons nj, not because
they have 10. The Mayor cannot handle
any public money. but an assessment Is
made. and the citizens put il mp VOlCn-
tarliy There is no red-tape, and every
one knows what the money Is FOR. and
what is done with H. II Is straight
business administration. I'm which the town
is merely large family without any nom
sense or factonal fights. All recognize
the situation. and stand by 1t. The city
Marshal IS only fiat lie can scare small
boys and run drunken men outside the
power 70 arrest anybody. All obey him.
because Il ls the only way 10 have order
ami "A good town. When he IS also Con-
stable Of Humboldt township. he can
make arrests, but not as city Marshal.
The city Clerk issues licenses. but they
are clearly fiat. and the elections are
managed by men who serve by the COM
mon consent Of the citizens. The city
records would have 10 weight in any
court. and there IS and has been for
nearly two decades d clearly fiat govern
mCnt.
The present Mayor-the man who was
elected. but has never qualihed-is W.
r. McElrov, editor Of the towns paper.
He has lived there thirty years, and
published a paper ~ nty nine years. He
thinks that when the town gets out OF
its present hole the man who mentions
bonds for any purpose viii be tarred and
feathercd ana hanged. Every few months
q court officer tries TO find the towns
funds in some bank Of the county, but
without success. In two years more the
bonds will be outlawed by the statute
of limitations. and then the town will
have an inaugural ball. when its first real
officers in twenty years take their places.
This Is. indeed. IL curious condition OF
an lIrs-mCre Creiitablc, perhaps, to the
ingenuity and mutual confidence Of the
people than indicative Of that nice sense
of obligation which induces a man 10 pay
for a dead horse. But IL H. to be said IN
behalf of the people Of Humboldt that
they have been ready 20 settle the account
against them on the basis Of - cents
on the doilar-Which. they maintain,
was all the bondh0lGers actually paid