Hutchinson gazette., 1900-06-07
O1TX WITHOUT GOVERNMENTS.
HAasIInRS, Town in Maine, Holds No
RIscIlOns and HAS No OnlcerS.

RIsctOns and Has No Onlcers'
The village Of Hastings is the most
peculiar community In the State OF
Maine, II not In the whole United
States. For while II ia good sized
village and has electric lights, a
faultless water system and telephone
and telegraph stations the residents
seldom, II ever, have any money and
many OF the children who have not
been outside Of the place would not
know what dime IL.
The place In located on The western
border of the state between Maine
and New Hampshire and from the l0-
cnNon II will be seen that the only
business IL that OF numbering, The
people neither pay taxes or vote and
though many of the people have
spent their lives In the place, they
would not know how 10 mark bal
lot, From this II IL not TO be In
ferred that the people are not intel
llgent, for they have the daily papers
and are well 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 which person can get In ana
out IL over the railroad, which Is
yearly being pushed farther into the
wood.
The reason for the town being so
peculiar Is this; One hundred years
ago Rlshard Bntchelder was granted
the land from the State OF Mnssu'
chusetts, About forty years ago
10000 acres Of the land was bought
by G. A. Hastings OF Bethel, and d.
X, Hastings OF Fryeburg, They sold
n right OF way through the terri
tory TO the Wild River Lumber Com
pany. This right Of way wns gain
ed that the company might have u
chance TO operate 10000 acres OF
land across the New Hampshire line,
With so much OF start made the
gorge and along this the company
road 80 as to connect with
the Grand Trunk road. A saw
mul was built, and that the people
working In the sawmlll might have
places In which to live small cheap
houses were erected from the stock
gotten out In the snwmill,
A sewerage system was next built
and then came electric lights, the
power being taken from the
stream. The place Is in valley,
with mountains on all sides, and
from an excellent spring at the side
OF one Of these elevations supply
of the purest water is gained. In
stead of having the water brought
tubs and from these the people get
their supply OF water, The water
works, like the whole town, belong
to the company, the houses are the
property Of the company, the stores
in the village form one OF the COM
pany's assets, II 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 Ia
deducted from the wages due the
tenant. When man WANTS any.
/ thing ait the store he uses his GU
pons. Instead of issuing money the
company issues book that has
much the appearance Of mileage
book. Each sheet represents SC
many checks or coupons md these are
good at any store, As the company
owns the store they dictate what
shall be the legal tender.
They can have all the refuse from
the mill free. II the company sells
the wood n small sum. so cents n
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 saw
mill. He said that there IL no con-
stable, ms none is necessary. The
whole authority of the place Is yes.
ted In one man, who Is the agent OF
the company and looks after the
mill and other property.
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