Evening star., 1898-12-17
VILLAGE WITHOUT A VOTE
Hastings, New Hampshire, Has So Existed
for Many Generations
Its Inhabitants Pay No Taxes and Ii
Can Only BE Reached
by Railroad.


White mountains on the boundary between
Maine and New Hampshire. and as the most
unique in New England, perhaps in the
civilized world.
| 1t contains 300 Inhabitants within the vii
| lage proper. with as many more at work
cutting and hauling lumber to the village
from the slopes of the surrounding noun
tains. 1t has two large manufacturing in
dustries, large store and boarding houses.
twenty-six residences, post office, electric
plant, lighting streets, store etc; railroad,
telephone, fine school, religious societies
and services, excellent water system and
sewerage-in short, many modern con-
venences any village of its size in New
England. Yet it is neither city, town, plan
tation or even an Incorporated place. 1t is
Eothing.
Its inhabitants pay no taxes of any sort.
Babies have been born here, hate grown to
manhood and become heads of families and
| never known what 1t was to pay one cent
for taxes.
state tax on the mill property, but these
are paid by non-residents and are some
thing with which the inhabitants have
| nothing to do. On the other hand, no in
habitant can vote. They are, a rule,
well educated, the daily papers have a large
circulation here. the people are well posted
in current events.
Yet here, in the very heart of New Eng
land, is a community who have no more
voice or influence in national, state, county
or town affairs than though they lived in
the heart of Russia. Here are gray-haired
American citizens who have never cast
ballot, and cannot so long as they live here.
1t is the most cosmopolitan village in
New England. Every nation on earth is
or has been represented here.
The most remarkable thing about this
most remarkable place is the entire alb
sence of crime. Notwithstanding this he
terogeneous population there are no police,
not even a constable. There was a sort of
constable here, but his commission expired
about year ago, and his duties had been
SO light he did not consider it worth his
while to renew it.
Here is the only village in the United
States to which there Is no carriage road.
The only means of transportation to or
from the outside world is by a railroad.
This railroad starts at Gilead and follows
the valley of the Wild river along route
so narrow that in many places there Is
barely room for the rails. On every other
side of the village are mountains so steep
that even footman can climb their sides
only with difficulty and 50 high that the
sun Is visible only part of the day.
When this railroad was first built a few
persons Ventured to drive q carriage over
the ties. But it proved 30 difficult and dan
gerous that this method of reaching the vii
lage has been abandoned.
This railroad is one Of the wonders of
New England. 1t penetrates fourteen miles
into one of the widest defileS of the White
mountains. A ride upon it is a new expert
ence, even to a traveller who has visited
every country upon the globe. You follow
the sinuous Wild river, whfrling around
curves of 40 degrees, where 1t seems impoS-
sible for train to go; you climb the sides
of mountains at an elevation of 400 feet to
the mile, where horse could scarcely go
and could not haul a load; you shoot down
decliVitieS which are almost precipiceS,
where break in the machinery means
death. Once the train did run away and
was smashed, killing the trainmen. i is
freight road, not usually taking passengers
Here was the first successful experiment
of hauling logs by rail upon a large scale
In New England, and upon this road was
used the first patent -geared locomotive for
mountain climbing in the east.
The school is another unique feature. The
schoolhouse was built in 1892 by the two
companies who operate here, and the teach
er is paid by a contribution from each
workman of ten cents a month. This is
taken from each mans wages each pay
day, and is enough to pay for about thirty
five weeks of school year. This term
there are thirty seven pupils.
This territory was granted to Richard
Batcheldor by the state of Massachusetts
about one hundred years ago
Forty years ago G. a. Hastings Of Bethel
and d. R. Hastings of Fryeburg bought
20 coo acres here, practically the whole re-
gion. In 1891 they sold the right of way
through their territory, the mill site at the
village and twenty acres to the Wild River
Lumber Company of Island Pond, VT. This
company purchased, at the same time, 40.-
600 acres of timber in Beans Purchase. just
across the New Hampshire line.
They put in the big steam mill, store,
most of the houses. the electric system, wa
ter system. sewers, etc. They cut their
timber at Beans Purchase and haul 1t by
rail to their steam mill here, which saws
6i. 900 feet day when run to its full capac
ity.
Carl Storrs may be termed the father of
the settlement. as he holds every public Of
flee satisfactorily that no other man has
been thought of in connection with the DO
sitions.
He is the -ompany's agent, bookkeeper,
paymaster, trial justice, postmaster, police,
etc.