The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-02
VILLAGE WITHOUT A VOTE.
Hastings, n. H., Has So Existed for
Many Generations.
(From the Boston Globe }

-aAetlly NSG2tCA GllbttS.
(From the Boston Globe)
Hastings is a little village seated
amid the White Mountains on the
boundary between Maine and New
Hair 1shire and IS the most unique in
New England, perhaps in the civilized
We T..
1t contains 800 inhabitants within the
village proper with as many more at
work cutting and hauling lumber to
the village from the slopes of the sur
rounding mountains. 1t has two large
manufacturing industries large store
and boarding houses, 26 residences,
post Office, electric plant lighttng
streets, store, etc; railroad, telephone,
line school, religious societies and serv-
ices, excellent water system and sew
erage-in short, as modern convent
ences as any village of its size in New
England Yet, it is neither city, town,
plantation or even an Incorporated
place. 1t is nothing.
Its inhabitants pay no taxes Of any
sort. Babies have been born here,
have grown to manhood and become
heads OF families and never known
what it was to pay one cent of taxes.
There is of course, a wild land tax
and state tax on the mill property,
but these are paid by non-residents
and are something with which the in
habttantS have nothing to do On the
other hand, no inhabitant can vote.
They are, as q rule, we'll educated, the
daily papers have q large circulation
here, the people are well posted in cur
rent events.
Yet, here, in the very heart of New
England, is community who have no
more voice or influence in national,
state, county or town affairs than
oh h
sra. Here are gray-haired American
citizens who have never cast ballot,
and connt 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
heterogeneous population, there are no
police, not even a constable. There
was sort of a constable here, but his
commission expired about year ago
and his duties had been so light that
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 fol-
Jews the valley Of the wild river along a
Is barely room for the rails On every
other side of the VILLAGE are mountains so
sieep that even footman can climb their
25des only with difficulty. and Sc, high that
th9 sun Is visible only part of the day
When this railroad was first built a few
persons Ventured to drive cl-"aFe over
the ties: But 1t proved 50 difficult and
dangerous thet this method OF reaching
the village has been abandoned
This railroad is one Of the wonders OF
New England It penetrates fourteen
White Mountains. A ride upon it is a
new experience, even to the traveller who
mas visited every country upon the globe
You follow the sinuous Wild river. whirI-
ing around curves OF forty degrees where
i seems Impossible for a train to go; YOU
climb the sides of mountains at an eleva-
ton OF 400 feet to the mile where a horse
could scarcely go, and could not haul a
lead; you shoot down declivities, which
are almost precipces. where a break in
me ma53chinery means death. Once the
ran did run. away, ana was smashed
not usually taking passengers
t1ere was the first successful expsri-
lnent OF hauling logs by rail- upon large
scale In New England, and upon this road
was used the first patent-geared locomo-
t'Ns for mountain climbing in the east,
me school is another unique fea ture.
me me school house was built n 1892 by the
Two companies who operate here and the
teachef IS paid by contribution from
each workman of ten cents month
rms is taken from each mans wages
e9ch pay day. and is enough TO pay FOR
about thirty-fve weeks of school a wear
tbs term there are thirty-seven ruriIz
=, TIKI !, territory was granted to Richard
Batoheldor by the state of Maasachu-
serts about one hundred years arc.
=, forty years ago G. A. Hastings Of
F@fhsl and D r. Hastings of Fryeburr.
bought 2o0G0 acres here. practically ths
who!e region. In 1891 they sold the right
Of way through their territory. the mill
S Iv;,5 at The village and twenty acres 10 the
Pond vt. This company purchased al
ne same time con acres Of tIr}ber in
leans leans purchase, just across the New
They put in the big steam mill. store
most Of the houses. the electric system
water system, sewers, etc. They cut
tth2tr timber at Beans purchase and haul
II by raj to their steam mill here which
saws q oo0 feet day when run to It's full
Carl storrs may be termed the father of
~ settlement as he holds every public
office so satisfa ctorily that no other man
mas heen thought of In connection with
tho positions
lie is the company's agent. bookkeeper.
naYmaster, trial justice, postmaster. po-
lice, etc.