The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-31
A CORNER OF PIKE COUNTY.
Porter Township, It's Pooh Fab and Its Re-
publican Party of One.

PuDllcuh + III OHe.
PORT JERvIs. July 3O.-Porter township COM
prises a block Of the northeastern corner of
PENNSYLVANIA. II you will look you will find
that this part OF the map is not fertile in printed
information. Even n county map leaves tho
nam OF the town on an otherwise blank and
unsullied space. There arc no villages, no rail-
roads, no rivers. no mountain peaks. nothing of
geographical importance or interest. Even II
minute examination Of the county records fails
to show any but the most meagre statistics.
These are rather interesting when one considers
that Porter township is considerably larger in
area than Staten Island. and. as the crow flies.
is within eighty miles of New York city. There
are to-day. according to the comfy records.
twenty-three voters, eleven mules and twenty
five cattle in the township. This means about
one square mile for grazing or other purposes
forevery known domesticated inhabitant. There
are no churches and no money at interest. A
very few years ago there were only eight
voters. and the sudden increase created sus-
picion in the minds of politicians. Nothing was
ever done, for it requires a high order of courage
to interfere with the rights of mountaineers the
world over. Porter is inaccessible, being perched
on a rocky plateau. 1t is probable that there
has never been a bicycle in the township. and
the sounds Of the railroad have never ridden
the breezes. The roads leading up to it are
steep and rocky. and except for 4 narrow path
in the centre are frequently almost obIitcrrtcd
by brush and saglingf; It. Is q hard days
which Is the county scat and the only inc1r-
porated village in the county. The inhabitants
The township always goes Democratic by II
majority o. %. There is, one obdnrate citizen
Pressure has been brought TO bear on him. for
It would simplify matters if he, could be induced
to tnTn' rI hnt h he H vii s gJf, END he Tbs syG TaenSn3SkI fs a
party organization In tho township is perfect,
he says, It holds caucqses. nominates itself to
conventions, There is. one office which. by
virtue Of ho'ing rolled tho next largest
always !" se sms i'S' It Pfi IS the Office atS'', of Jn ae
tice OF the Peace. He has held it for
some years now. and has never yet heard
other Justice. one Of the faithful twenty-five.
divides his time as equally as, possible among
Which + iqrtanatSiy; not VERY Z" often, lie d@%::
the irait for his own payment. Thc case
usually involves the. cntlr; community. and
fr" ,m the nature Of things it Is hard d for the jnry,
Pooh Bah; keen-cyed and quick wittcd. enjoy
Ing his influence immGn9ely, and Keeping i by
he is addressed by tho, other two and twenty
he speaks aro typical. OF political life in
many larger communities; They nave the
Intrigue that may be seen at State conventions.
There are many political stories to tell OF Porter
methods; on" of, them involves the holding OF
the election two DAYS after tho time fiX"d by
law. was n, case of convenience. tho election
occurring In tho early spring and after a big
Of n time; honored, Joke. In neighborinG vii
la!es a lUll in the election returns always Giy"s
reports from Porter. and in places further away
the, customary majority is sometimes posted ON
81 S]tn ~ ys 4yo IN ne Go% % ird i@ 1t f. di Esr " r diry the news
Annually about 800 is due the. township as
its share, ot, the taxes Distributed among the
views II in his official capacity. The school
master gets some Of T. a littlr weather,
Of Porter. who tx also one OF The school direc,
tors, supervises the aim Of the young idea and
Tn" Seasons Of learning ARE confined To II few
weeks late in the TALL before the SHOWS isolate
tho inhahitants, and again in the early sprinl
what remains Of the money goes 70 pay the sal.
aries OF some minor otncials. Finally. II any yet
prove IN" highways. These improvements vary
according, 10 the amount OF, official bushes.
mainly Of cutting Lrush from tho r2adways
1t Is AZ this time Of the year that III" road
workers derive a c2nsidcTahlo reyc,.nnc tr2n
little extra energy. .furS and homemade rlg'
are sold in neislboring village; and thf county
pays bounty on foxes and mink and oihcr, Yer
min that are commonly supposed Ia be deirl
mental to tho rnus" Of thrifty ishandry, ~
distribute it 10 surrounding townships; IN
this may not he done without the consent .
the voters. aud their consent is nor To he had.
The meaning Of the barren strttch Of land il
OF. course easy To read, and whom il becomes
crime in this country to kill trees The history %
Porter will he an illustration Of one. reason 90
i. The magnificent forest, hundreds ot year
in slow growth, was devn 7tatcd in = few month
agricultural wealth, but not so, in Porter
Many attempts have heen made 20 fam
successful. This Is true Of the whole q
Pike county outside Of the narrow valley q
the Delaware. and ms a matter Of fact the pr'n
cipal industry OF late years for the county a
large has been whcelmen. One Of the fines
country rides in the United States Is from Por
Jeryis TO tho Water Gap. and the present excel
lence OF the roads brings thousands Of dollar
into the county every year. Everybody Keep
count Of the roads.