The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-09
WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT.
GreentOwn, Ind, Has No Mayor, Mar
shall, Policeman or Peace officer.
From the Chicago Chronicle.

shall, Policeman or Peace officer.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
The city of Greentown, Ind, is perhaps
the least governed city of its size in
America. Although it has 5000 inhabitants
the town has no Mayor, marshal, police
man or other peace officer, nor even a
constable The town is governed by a
board of trustees, who meet once a month
to allow electric light bills, gas water
and other claims. A justice of the peace
residing in the suburbs resigned a few
weeks ago, having no official business
The city charter provides for no Mayor
or policeman, and the duties of marshal
are performed when required, which is
very seldom, by the street commissioner.
A regular marshal was elected year ago,
but resigned because there was nothing
for him to do. The street commissioner
was then engaged, without any additional
compensation, to act as marshal whenever
occasion should require.
The Jail was sold years ago for a stable
and there is absolutely no place in which
an arrested person could be confined pend
ing trial. There are three saloons in the
place, and they do a good business in beer
and ale, but sell very little spirituous IL
quor. The worse offense that has occur
red in the town in years is the hilarity
consequent upon too liberal beer drinking.
The offender is never locked up nor even
fined. He is escorted home and never fails
10 go in quiet and peaceable manner.
The Oldest inhabitant does not remember
of an arrest having occurred In the town.
The present street commissioner, however,
denies this soft Impeachment. He says
that he did arrest a man once. 1t was for
an attempted assault that took place in
the country, and when the man was
brought to trial he proved his innocence.
After ALL this is not a blot on Green
towns fair escutcheon.
The town has five churches, and they are
full every Sunday. The principal industry
Is the making of glass tableware. The
company Is the Indiana lumber Company
and is owned by the employees. The man
aEement of the affairs of the company is
in board composed of the men who act
ually work in The factory. There has
nvver been a strike in the factory, nor the
least bit of trouble. II runs the year
round, has not stopped since it first start
ed, six years ago, IL does not belong to
any trust, nor are It's affairs dominated by
any outside influence whatever. The pres
ident of the concern is David Jenkins, who
came to Greentown from Findlay, o., sew
eral years ago.
Greentown is in the heart of the gas
bell. and the Chicago Natural Gas Com
pany mas It's great pumping STATION just
west of the city limits. This pumping sta
ton is within itself good sized town.
The company has built rows of beautiful
cottages for it's employees, each surrounded
by its velvet lawn and fairly embowered
with flowers N. A. Covalt, postmaster at
Greentown gives ii as his opinion that the
reason Greentown is enabled to get along
without government is because the citi-
zens are all quiet, that everybody has
work. and, therefore has not time to make
any trouble, and the further fact that
they have good class Of citizens.
Everybody is employed and everybody is
contented Likewise everybody Is proud
of the reputation The little city has of be-
ing the largest city on earth without an
actual government being required to keep
II in order. The town is just beginning to
boom large buildings are being erected
and the general air of thrift is manifest
everywhere.