The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-19

OIu FOrPe township came III 1Of con-
siderable comment since the election
returns showed it to be capable of mus
terirg only fifteen votes and it won
the distinction of being unique in hav-
ing cast an unanimous vote for one
of the Democratic candidates.
But that's only small part of its
uniquity.
1t is positively teeming with remark
able and peculiar features.
In one respect it is unique, not only
locally, but among all the municipal
tiles of the civilized world perhaps. II
Is absolutely without even the SEM
bance Of a government.
The township is the remnant OF what
was once the fourth largest political
division of Lackawnna county. A troll
ley car company wanted to extend d
line through the township but as the
property holders at large are the lesis-
lators of township and property hold
ers at large being rather unwieldy
body, the trolley company proceeded to
have the township changed into a bo-
rough so that it would have only
borugh council of six instead of
whole townspeOple to deal with.
How it secured franchise from the
induced to grant is another story Suf-
ficient TO this tale is it that the Della
ware. Lackawanna and Western COM
pany had 5O0-acre tract of farm land,
underlaid with coal, at the extreme
northwestern corner of the township,
and this tract was not included within
the limits of the newly created bO-
rough. but allowed to remain by itself
lit Of Il
Forge.
TWO YEARS OLD.
1t has now been in existence over
two years and in al that time its more
than three dozen inhabitants have been
content to worry along withou, at"
tempting to establish a government.
Almost all of the aforesaid more
than three dozen inhabitants are
thrifty. economical German or Swiss
farmers who do not go in very strong
for luxuries and as nothing has us vet
arisen to necessitate any local govern
ment they have been satisfied to take
chances on securing life. liberty and
pursuit of happiness without the aid of
the usual municipal suretes 20 these
ends
one of the things. in this happy con-
ditiOn is the fact that the Delaware,
Lacliawanna and Western company
| owns every square foot of the lane.
and is good enough to repair at it's own
expense all of the mile and three-quar-
ters of public road in which the town
ship abOunds The second element
contributing to the townships enjoy
ment of its unique distinction is the
fact that there are not enough chill
dren in the municipality to warrant
the maintenance of Il school. The chill
dren are farmed out to one or the
other of the adjacent school districts.
Thirdly. there is no saloon, licensed
or otherwise, in the township, and this
avoids the necessity of officers to
whom the county can turn over share
of the liquor license fees, and inciden-
tally. the good, peaceable character Of
the citizens mainly-makes squires
and consta bles altogether uncalled for.
There being no expenses, there is
no need of taxes. and without taxes
there is no call for supervisors. asses
sor. collector treasurer, town clerk or
auditor.
AN OFFICE FOR EACH~VOTER.
1t is a pity, too, in one regard, that
township do not formulate a govern
ment and fill the municipal offices, for
there would he Just exactly one office
apiece for the fifteen voters: Super
vsors. .; justice of the peace, /: treas
urer. / assessor, l. constable, /; tax
collector. /. clerk I; auditor. !: school
directors, 6. Having in mind the fact
that there is only one Republican in
the township, think of the magnani-
nifty the majority party would have
the opportunity of displaying! Not 10
mar this delightful mental picture one
should Dear not in mind the fact that
any two township offices are incom-
Dathle.
There are four Nagelis, four Weisen-
llues. two Schultheises. two I<oehlers,
one Taylor and two hired farm hands,
making up the voting population. Next
year it Is expected the vote will be in
creased fully thirty-three and a third
per cent. as three young men of the
town will in the interim have attained
their majority, and the Schultheises
intend to hire two more men and so
into the milk buSineSS