Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-30
THE TRAMps' UTOPIA.
Wandering Willics Enjoying Life In
q Deserted Wisconsin Village.

Wandering Willics Enjoying Life In
Deserted Wisconsin Village.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Ten miles from Brule, Wis. is about the
oldest town in the country 1t has 300 In
habitants, every one Of them tramp. 1t
is village Of tramps. 1t is also something
of a Utopia. No one pays rent; no one
works; everybody loafs; all are fat, happy
and lazy. There may not be $40 In the
town. and there is no reason for the pos
session of money There is nothing to buy
and nothing to sell. Vulgar commerce new
er disturbs the peace of the community.
The houses are new, the streets are broad.
Nearby are the deep waters of Lake Su-
perior and ten miles inland Is the railroad
running between Ashland and Superior.
The railroad is handy when any member
Of the community decides upon taking a
little tour and the lake Is convenient be-
cause of the fish it furnishes. Within
radius Of half dozen miles are enough
farms to supply the village with pilfered
produce -;
These farmers and the few people who
know of the existence Of the place call it
Trampville. The railroad men who have
heard of 1t describe it as Hobohurst-by-the-
Lake. The residents however, adhere to
its official title, Clsyedon.
Back in 1880 syrdics$e of English cap
italists conceived thH ide4 that town could
be established at Tie mouth of the Boise
with the city of Superior and attract much
of the lake traffic. Where the Brule river
flows into Lake Superior the land was
cleared and town site mapped out. Me-
ployed with a lavish hand and houses and
buildings grew up almost in a night. Such
quantities of money wege poured into the
scheme that Clevedon soon attracted at
tention from the outside world, and nu
n.erous families came to- the place, bought
lots and put up homes.
In year Clevadon had a population Of
about 100 people, and seemed destined TO
become the great town the syndicate had
planned. A big huta was erected, streets
were laid cut and the well-built and bright
ly-painted cottages gave the place an air
OF busting prosperity.
But the tide of lake commerce refused
to sweep upon Clevedon. 1t kept on moving
toward Duluth and Superior, just as it had
before the advent of the new city. Then
the population began to fade away. Cot
tage after cottage was deserted, and the
next calamity was the collapse of the fund
behind the syndicate. Two or three times
the syndicate secured additional backing
ard made powerful efforts to revive in
terest in the place, but the energy and
money were wasted. Clevedon could not be
resuscitated.
BY 1890 it was as dead as any place
could be. Every one had left. The neat
little houses were empty, the big hotel took
on a ghostly look. Grass grew up in the
well-laid streets. 1t was as silent as the
pine 1CTeSlS SURROUNDING IL. NO one ever
went that way. 1t is many miles Off the
general line of travel. hidden in thick woods
on all sides except where it faces the
waters Of the lake.
Three years ago some Wandering Willie
discovered 1t. Perhaps, years ago, he was
one of those who had put his money and
faith In the prosperity of Clevedon At any
rate ether hoboes soon after began to pay
1t fleeing visits. Last fall a score met at
Clevedon. Some of them were not natural
or voluntary tramps. They were products
OF the hard times These saw the place
sized up the comfortable houses and the
big hotel. and determined to spend the win
ter there. When others came along they
were invited to join the permanent colony
and many did so.
The peculiar part of the whole thing ia
that many of the tramps have decided to
n axe Clevedon their regular home, and will
stay there during the summer. Some tur-
bulent spirits have evidently entered the
colony, as there have been rumors of inter-
ecine strife, and there is going to be a
regular election in the place on the 10th of
next month for the purpose of esta blishinr
a municipal board OF officers, Including q
mayor. treasurer, three trustees and a
c'erk This election will take place in the
hotel at o'clock In the evening should
any OF the elected officers remain away
from the town for more than twenty-four
hours his office will be forfeited and n sue
cessor will be Immediately chosen. All Of
those who spent the winter there will he
entitled to vote. The, trustees win havs
fuii charge CT the property of the town,
including the houses.