Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-21
@iseellanenus &eaaina.
A CORPORATION TOWN.
Where One Man is Absolute Ruler and
There is no Private Ownership.

"hoFe ono MAN is ADsoiute huier ana
There is no Private Ownership.
Springfield Republican.
Probably the most remarkable town
in the United States is PeIzer, S. G.
Though fiourishing, progressive busi-
hess ceutre, with population of over
5000, it has no city government, no
councils, no mayor and no police. In
spite of this extraordinary condition of
affairs, the city has the reputation of
being one of the best regulated cities
in the country. 1t has been in exist.
eDce II years, and presents one Of the
most interesting phrases of the study
Of the municipal problem that ever
confronted the student. 1t has no
newspapers, no courts, no lawyers,
no saloons, no theatres, no politicians,
and in all entire population of 5000
not one face is black. There is no
private ownership, everything in the
city, land, buildings and manufactur-
ing industries belonging exclusively TO
the great corporation which establish
ed the town. In its entire history
there has never been single murder
committed, aud the city has never ex-
pcrienced strike or any kind of labor
disturbance. The antecedents of all
persons coming into the town as resi-
dents and employees are carefully in.
vestigated, and only those bearing un-
taruished regulations are permitted to
remain. The town has several fine
schools, there are free circulating
library and reading rooms, which are
free TO every resident. The citizens
are industrious and thrifty, and in the
only bank of the town have invested
over 800, 900 of their savings.
One man has supreme authority
over the entire town and its inhabi-
tants. This man is the president of
the company which founded and owns
the town-Ellison A. Smyth. When
interviewed for The Mail and Express
recently, Mr.. Smyth remarked:
"Our system does away with all the
evils of politics and Office seeking. Of
course, you might argue that it vests
great deal of power in the hands of
one man and that the abuse of this au-
thority might result in dangerous con-
ditions. There is q certain element of
truth in that but we have been living
under this system for II years and our
city is one of the best governed in the
country: Our citizens are not burden
ed with exorbitant taxes, neither are
they compelled to maintain useless
and expensive officeholders. Every
one in Pelzer must work for living,
and time serving politicians and those
who live at the expense of other peo-
ple give our town wide berth. 1t is
to this fact that I ascribe great meas.
ure of our success, for / am firmly
convinced that most of the lawlessness
which exists in great cities proceeds
directly from the pernicious influence
of the politicians.
"While Pelzer is essentially cot
ton town, this is not our only industry.
There are, besides the four great cot
ton mills, an oil mill, broom and
mattress company and savings bank.
The Pelzer manufacturing company
bears all the expenses incident to the
operation of the city, and does all the
municipal work required, including
lighting, the sanitary work and the
street cleaning and repairing. Eight
hours is the limit of days work, and
we keep Saturday half-holiday all the
year round. Our employees occupy
some 900 or more cottages, built for
them by the company, and each is sur
rounded by a large garden. Large
pastures are maintained for the cattle,
which the people own and which con-
sist of cows, horses, sheep and goats.
Many of our citizens own their own
horses and vehicles.
"The public school system is highly
efficient, and the schools are kept open
ten months in a year. Those who
work at the mills are required to leave
their work at some stated time each
week, in order 10 receive instruction.
Education is compulsory, and our sys-
TEN includes all grades. Every effort
is made TO combine the educational
and practical, and all those students
who manifest particular aptitude are
selected for advanced educational
courses. Women are furnished the
same facilities as men.
"We have no local newspaper, and
we don't want any. Our reading rooms
subscribe to 25 leading dailies, which
are sent here from all the prominent
cities and contain all the information
that is necessary to keep our people
in touch with the outside world. We
have no law courts because we don't
need any. Our citizens live in peace
and friendship. They do not quarrel
they have no financial claims against
each other, and the trifing occasional
differences which occur / am able to
decide myself. If we allow one
lawyer to live here, another would soon
move into fight him, and the result
would he discord. We have no alder
men, no courts, no municipal councils,
no police. The residents keep the
peace and get along comfortably with
out them. We have no drunkenness
because we don't permit liquor within
the city limits, and drunkenness fur
nishes more than half the business Of
a police force"
e6- Senator Mayfield, of Denmark,
has laid out a grove of 20 acres and
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