The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-15
NO TOWN Is LIKE IT.
Wisconsin Has "A Place Inbabitcd
Only by TrampsA Novel System
Of Government.

Only by Tramps-A Novel System
Of Governments
The tramps Of the United States
cave established Il town Of their own.
IL Is not on any map, nor do assessors,
mail carriers, or other officials ever
visit it, Still it exists, for Trampville,
Wis, has population OF not less
than 500 souls. 1t is no eXaggcration
to ca 1T 4 ioating population.
f!ltccn years ago, says the New York
Journal, syndicate OF English capital
lists founded Il town which they called
CicvcdOn, at the juncturc Of the river
l5ru and Lake Superior This is in
tho hcart OF the pine woods district OF
W lsconsln, where winter rules good
portion OF the year, but where sum
mer Is more than delightful while it
lasts.
When the town was first built Il long
turnpike road was constructed at the
expense Of the syndicate. This was
thc town ; main and only street Of inn
portancc. Along It's sides were built
the cottages in which those who wish
cd TO become residents were to live.
roomy stores that it was hoped would
be ullcd with goods and largely patron
lied, and a hotel that really deserved
8
Where the tramp now holds sway
there used to be from 900 to 900 bona
Iide residents, people VINO had gone to
Cievcdpn because IT was represented to
them that here really would be a
Mecca for all those who wished to say
farewell TO poverty and place them
selves on intimate terms with riches
The turnpike street is still thoro, and
the buildings also remain. But OF the
old time residents not one is left.
Trampvilic has heretofore been with
out Il municipal government for the
tramp and law and order have never
been remarkably goOG friends. There
has been great change, however.
For two years the matter of 0rganiZa-
tiOn has been discussed by the new
cOmcrs and the oid-timcrs with great
Hest. At last IA plan has been hit upon
which the hobo leaders believe will
solve the problem over whici they
have pOndercd. 1t is unquestiOnably
the most noucl system suggested, and
IL remains TO be seen whether it Will
prove the most effective.
Some Of the leaders vent up to Su-
pcriOr, the nearest town, the other
day and had the following notice
printed in large type, copies Of which
were posted all about the place:
" TO all residents OF this town:
Take notice that on the 10th day
OF July, 1897, there will be an election
held AT the hotel at S o'clock in the
evening for the purpose OF clecting a
mayor OF the city, treasurer, Il clerk
ana three trustees, in accordance with
Il resolution adopted by meeting Of
citizens held March 9Th last. The on-
GERS SO elected shall hold their Offices
aS long as they remain in the city, but
in the event Of their departure from
the city, TO be more than twenty-fOur
hours it shall be their duty to resign
and appoint successors.
/" Ii shall be the duty Of the mayor
to preside at all meetings Of the cit-
XnuS TO enforce the laws made by the
board OF trustees, to do all in his power
to pI otcct the rights of all citizens in
all respects and to encourage in every
way the growth Of the town.
1t shall be the duty OF the clerk to
make and preserve the records Of
meetings, ard the trustees will be re-
quircd 10 retain the custody Of all prop
erty in the city, and make the laws for
the peoples government.
CoMMITTEE"
The seeming delay in such move
mcnt is explained by the fact that up
to last winter the tramp was only an oc-
casiunal visitor. At the latter time
| weary w apBicS anu MS DfcInren De-
| gan TO enter Trampville in small bands,
and by Christmas time there were 300
residents, all without visible means of
| suppOrt, but all comfortable in quar-
| tcrS OF their own selection, with plenty
Of wood to burn from the surrounding
/ forest.
/ Just now the big frame building that
was once used as the city hotel Is the
| principe gathering place OF the citi-
zens In its lobby is a great old-fash-
toned fire place, and this section of the
h0stclry serves the purposes Of kitchen,
smoking room, dining room ar d sleep
ing room. Every night when the
weather is at all chilly, giant logs blaze
briskly in the furnace Of brick and
pine, and the smoke rolls from the big
chimney until it looks as il IL manufac-
tory was getting up steam. Around
the blazing fire the tramps huddle in
large numbers.
Since the town first became the rem
devious for the tramps there has not
been ii single complaint OF anything in
the nature OF Outlawry. TO be sure, it
is in the heart OF the pine woods, but
the sturdy settler has Invaded even
that lone region OF Wisconsin. The
sheriff OF Douglass county says that he
has never had any request to subdue
or discipline the trnmps, and until
then they will continue to make merry
in their Gwr way. Perhaps Trampville
may become the nucleus of new
sociological experiment.