The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-27
QUEEREsT OF VILLAGES.
Odd Conditions of Life in the Isolat-
ed Community of Hastings.

From the Daily Kennebec Journal
The village of Hastings is the most
peculiar community in the state. 1
not in the whole United States. For
while it is a good sized village and
has electric lights, a faultless water
system and telephone and telegraph
stations the residents seldom, If ever
have any money and many of the
children who have not been outside Of
the place would not know what a
dime is.
The place Is located on the western
border Of the state between Maine and
New Hampshire and from the location
1t will be seen that the only business
is that of numbering. The people
neither pay taxes nor vote and even
though many of the people have spent
their lives in the place, they would
not know how to mark a ballot. From
this it is not to be inferred that the
| people are not intelligent, for they
have the daily papers and are we'll
| posted on current events.
The town Is practically isolated from
| the outside world. There is no such
| thing as carriage road leading into
| the place and the only means by when
| a person can get in and out is over the
| railroad, which is yearly being pushed
| farther and farther into the wood.
The reason for the town being so pc
| culiar is this: One hundred years ago
| Richard Batchelder was granted the
| land from the state of Massachusetts.
| About forty years ago 10000 acres of
the land was bought by G.. A. Hast
| ings, of Bethel, and d. r. Hastings, of
| Fryeburg. They sold a right of way
| through the territory to the Wild
| River Lumber company. This right
| of way was gained that the company
| might have chance to operate 10000
acres of land across the New Hamp-
| shire line.
| With so much of a start made the
company commence operations. 4
small stream flows through the gorge
and along this the company built
railroad so as to connect the Grand
| Trunk road. A sawmill was built,
and that the people working in the
sawmill might have places in which to
live, small, cheap houses were erectei 1
from the stock gotten out in the saw
| mill.
A sewerage system was next built
and then came electric lights, the
power being furnished by the stream.
The place is in a valley, with noun
tains on all sides, and from an excel
lent spring at the side Of one of these
elevations a supply of the purest wa
ter is gained. Instead of having the
water brought into the houses 1t is
| brought to tubs and from these the
people get their supply of water. The
water works, like the whole town, be-
long to the company, the houses are
the property of the company, the
stores In the village form one OF the
company's assets. 1t is for the reason
that everything belongs to the COM
pany that the people do not have to
pay taxes and do not know what
money is.
The men are all employed by the
company and are paid off only when
they leave the community. When
the rent comes due that amount is de-
Quoted from the wages due the ten
ant. When a man wants anything
at the store he uses his coupons. In
stead of issuing money the company
isues a book that has much the ap-
pearance of a mileage book. Each
sheet represents so many checks or
coupons and these are good at any
store. AS the company owns the
store they dictate what shall be the
legal tender.
II the men want wood for fuel they
can have all the refuse from the mill
free. If the company sends the wood
small sum, 80 cents a cord is
charged.
The place was recently visited by an
Augusta man, who said that while he
was there the men used to shoot deer
out of the windows Of the sawmill
In speaking further of the town he
said that there is no constable, as none
Is necessary. The whole authority oi
the place is vested in one man, whC
is the agent of the company and look:
after the mill and other property.