The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-17
NO TOWN Is LIKE IT.
Wisconsin Has II Place Inhabited
Only by TrampS-A Novel System
of GuVrrnlnCnt.

Only by Tramps-A Novel System
of Government.
The tramps OF tho United States
cave established II town Of their own.
1t L. not ON any map, nor do .sscss0rs
mail carriers, or other officials ever
visit it. Still it exists, for Trampvillc,
WIS.,, has u population Of not less
thnu 800 souls. IT is no cXaggcration
/" raIl it Il 'loatinG population.
Fifteen years ago, SAYS the Now York
I"urn"t, II Syndicate Of English capital
Isis founded Il town which they called
tl"vr0Un. at the uncturc OF the river
l6ruic and Lake Superior. Tnis is in
the heart Of the pine woods district Of
Wisconsin, where winter rules II good
portion Of the year, but where sum
n"r Is more than delightful while it
lasts.
When thH town was first built Il long
/ turnpike road waS instructed at the
expense Of the syndicate. ThiS was
the towns main and only street Of inn
prrtanrr. Along its sides were built
the cottages in which those who wish
ed TO become residents were to live,
roumy stores that il WAS hoped would
hc titled with goods and largely patron
iH"u. and hotel that really deserved
Il hotter fate.
tGUrr used to br from 800 TO 900 bona
til" rrsidrnts, people who had gone to
I t,"vcdon because 1t was represented to
. them that hero realty would he Il
" Mecca for all those who wished to say
larrwru 10 poverty and place them
. selves on intimate terms with riches.
. The turnpike street is still there, and
the buildings also remain. But Of the
. Uld.timr residents not one is left.
TrAupvIIlc has heretofore been with
on: 4 municipal governments for tho
tramp and law and order have never
been remarkably good friends. There
has hrVu Il great Grange, however.
: For two years the matter OF OrganiHa-
t,un mas cC"n discussed by the now
cOmCrs unU the old-timrrS with great
I">t ~ .;sst 4 plan mas been hit upon
"niCu the hoho leaders believe will
solve tho problem over which they
uAvc pOnGrrc0. 1t is unQu, stionably
II" mHst n0ucI system suggested, and
:: rru aims TO be seen whether it will
prove tGc most elective.
SONG Oi the leaders vent m To Su-
l.:.y.. IT," h.U""-: town, the other
d! ~. Aaa l.c following notice
rr.n:"- II .a"-e type. copies Of Which
|e"4 pp-,e'. a. about nc place
: '' T. 81. Residents VI t!.la town:
I Tat:- ny!.c" tnat on .hc lU.h day
, Of july. l>.'I, .ucrc " 1. D.. An election
" lc.d a. tLc noe. At : &C Ock in tut
- evening tpr !. " purpuat ~ c.ecting /
- nBEpr Ot the CtE. q treasurer, IL c!crr
; ana thr"" trustees. IN accordance with
" a resolution adopted by meeting o
citizens held ii .:cn 1tu last. The OH
Gers 30 elected snal! hold their Oiiiccs
a. long a. they remain 10 the city. Du'
: 10 the event OF their departure from
Ia: city, TO De more tn:n twcntyfoul
: hours. it shall be their duty to rcsigr
: ana appoint successors.
: II shall be the duty OF the mayor
TO preside at al meetings OF the clti
: .n- 70 enforce the laws made by tut
;, DOard Of trustees, to do all in his power
= to protect the rights OF al citizens il
= q. respects and to encourage in every
"Uy the growth OF the town.
d - II snail be the duty Of the clerk tt
make and preserve the records q
ue"tingS. ard the trustees will be re
qI.rca 10 retain the custody OF al prop
q orry IN the city, and make the laws fol
the peoples government.
" COMMITTEE"
!, The seeming delay in such il move
u tncnt is explained by the fact that NJ
TO last winter the tramp was only an oc
! casiUnal visitor. At the latter time
J. Weary Wagglcs and his brethren be
= gar u enter Trampville in small bands
, and by Christmas time there were 3OI
u residents, all without visible means q
support, but all comfortable in quar-
T. tcrS OF their own selection, with plenty
= Of wood to burn from the surrounding
- forest.
9 Just now the big frame building thai
ii was once used as the city hotel Is tho
Z principal gathering place Of the citi
> H3ns In its lobby Is q great old-fash
toned fire place, and this section OF the
, hostclry serves the purposes OF Kitchen
, smoE ing room, dining room ard sleep
, ing room. Every night when the
: weather is at all chilly, giant logs bazc
= briskly in The furnace Of brick and
) pine, and the smoke rolls from the big
chimney until it looks as If ~ manufac,
, tory was getting up steam. Around
, the blazing fire tho trampS huddlc in
large numbers.
. Since the Town first became the rem
devious for the tramps there has not
been single complaint OF anything in
the nature OF outlawry. TO be sure, it
is in tho 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 mover had any request to snbduc
or discipline the tramps, and until
then they will continue to make merry
in their own way. Perhaps Trampvillc
} may become tho nucleus OF q new
sociological experiment.
$50 SE1----------
, ,nIy