The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-26
TOWN WITHOUT GOVERNMENT.
rays No Taxes and the Inhabitants
Have No Votes.

= rom Tue new 10TH ! mes
Norway. Me-Thc state of Maine has
town within it's borders in which live
twenty-five families, where no one pays a
state or town tax or casts a vote and
where there are no roads to he repaired
when the spring freshets work havoc on
highways in other parts OF the common
wealth. There is no custom house. no
town lock-up, and no Government of any
kind, yet oA the inhabitants of TIE town
are as contented as they could wish to be.
The settlement is on LIQUIDS Island, near
PemaqUid, in Hancock county, a few miles
from Bar Harbor. Every summer visitors
on their return from a season of outing
in Maine inform their friends that there
IS an ancient place OF settlement eouth-
eeSt of Pemaquid where the inhabitants
have a peculiar dialect. and are neither
more nor less than Socialists This is
wrong, for the people of Loud's Island
know nothing about Socialism. neither are
they familiar with the principles of the
Republican Ca Democratic parties. They
have never read the platforms adopted
by any OF the national conventions, and
If they were asked could not explain what
"A majority in an electoral vote means.
The first settlers came to LIQUIDS Island
after the passing of the famous Wave
mock Indians and the coming of John
Loud. the British mau-o'- Warsman. who
deserted his ship when she was cruising
in the waters off the coast of Maine to
protect the Kings interests. Reaching
the shore, he cleared place for a home
near Marsh Harbor. 1t was also TO this
part of the coast that the English adven-
turers of early days came to hunt for
s9ssafras and peltry, the extract from the
y,f hot, = 40.
brated as remedy for scurvy and other
diseases
In those days the hills were known as
the Muscongus. Indians no doubt lived
there, for i'm later years skeletons, toma-
hawks, and other articles used in Indian
warfare have been dug up in pastures own
ed by Dexter Thompson. whose farm ex-
tends the whole length of the island on
the west side. Loud, who believed in COVER
ment by the people for the people, brought,
when he landed no rights or privilege. On
the mainland near what is now Bristol.
Loud found among the Dutch and Irish
settlers a woman whom he took wife,
and for years the couple struggled together
In the wilderness of the island for a home.
When finally Loud and his wife had pre-
pared a home they commenced to earn a
living by fishing, and, being successful
both in fishing and farming, other families
on the mainland Joined them, until early in
the present century the homes of a con-
siderable colony were established on the
island In later years the island. which
had been named in honor of the first set
tier, became forgotten when schemes of
incorporation were effected.
Prior to the civil war those who lived on
the island cast their votes with those cast
in Bristol, but later on some one said that
the votes from Loud Island were Illegal
that place not being in any county or
10 he 1tGOIGCpn In the
only grocery store on the island, and opn-
ion was divided. Some of the people were
for being incorporated at once but others
favored the existing conditions. The upshot
was that all went 90 their homes content
10 conduct their own affairs and let the
outside world do the same The colony
is prosperous and there is no indication on
the part of any one to have the island in
corporated. The nearest postoffice is Round
Pond in Pemaquid. 1t is here too, that
a person would be confined if arrested for
a misdemoanor on the island.
When the original Loud landed the tim
Der on the island was principally hardwood
such as beech, ash, maple, hickory, ham
BEAM and birch, but none Of the ancient
trees have been preserved In their place
nave sprung up spruce and pine. The soil
is a ciayey IOam, which does not bear many
crops as all look TO the sea for the su.'-
port Of their families. The island is own
ed by those who live on il, and outs de the
patches for potatoes and corn the only
crop to receive serious atten ion is hay.
There is enough OF this to feed the stock
during he winter months, as only TWO pair
of oxen and one pair of horses are owned
on the island. There being no direct tax.
the ro0r Of the isard, when there are any,
are cared Tor by sub Grip ion, ca h inhahi-
tant giving his share to defray the ex-
Dense of the unfortunate one. The poor,
IiarH -