The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-03-15
A CORPORATION TOWN.

Where One Man is Absolute Rulcr
and There Is no Private Owner.
ship.
Springfield Republican.
Probably the most remarkable town
in tho United States is Polzer, S. G..
Though ilourishing, progressive bus.
mess centre, with population Of over
5000, 1T has no city government, no
councils, no mayor and no police. Ia
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 cX-
istence II years, and presents one Of
the most Interesting phases Of the
study Of the municipal problem that
ever confronted the student. 1t has
no newspaper, no courts, no lawyers,
40 saloons, no theaticS, no politicians,
and In the ertire population Of 5000
not one face is black. There is no
private ownership, everything in tho
city, land, buildings and manufacture
| ing Industries belonging exclusively to
The great corporation which establish
ed the town. In its entire history
there has never been single murder
, committed, and the city has never cx-
perienced strike or any kind OF labor
disturbance. The anteceden,s OF all
persons coming into the town as re.
Sidents and employees are carefully in
vestigatcd, and only those bearing uu-
tarnished regulations are permitted to
remain. The town has several line
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 500, 900 Of their savings.
One man has supreme authority
over the entire town and its uhabl-
tants. This man is the president OF
company which founded and owns
the town. Ellison a. Smyth. When
interv ewed for the Mail and Express
recently, MIR. Smyth remarked
Our system dues away with all the
evils Of politics and otlice 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
dltlons. There Is a 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 citizcns arc not burden
ed with exorbitant taxes, neither arc
they compelled TO maintain useless
E,P
one in PelZer must work FOR q living,
and time serving politicians and those
who live' at the expense OF other peo-
pie give our town Il wide berth. 1t is
to this fact that | ascribe great
measure OF ou" success, for | am firmly
convinced that most Of the lawlessness
which exists in great cities proceeds
directly from the pe"nicious influence
OF the politicians.
While Pelzer is essentially 8 cot
ton town, this is not our only industry.
There are, besides the four great cot
ton mills, an oil mill, a broom and
mattress company and q 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, tho sanitary work and the
street cleaning and repairing. Eight
hours is the limit Of days work, and
we keep Saturday half-noliday all the
year round. Our employees occupy
some 800 or more cottages, built for
them by the company, and each is sur
rouudcd 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 citiZCns own their own
horses and vehicles.
The public school system is highly
efficient, and the schools are kept open
| ten months In year. Those who
| work at the mills are required to leave
| their work at some stated time each
week in order to receive instruction.
Education is compulsory, and our
system includes all grades. Every
tfort is made to combine the educa-
tlonal and practical, and all those
| students who manifest particular anti
tude are selected for advanced educa-
tlonal courses; Women are furnished
the same facilities as men.
We have no local newspaper, and
we don't want any. Oar reading rooms
subscribe to 25 leading dailes, which
are sont here from all tho 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 Gon't
need any. Oar citizens live in peace
and friendship. Tncy do not quarrel !:
they have no financial claims against
each other, and the triing occasional
| differences which occur | am able to
lawyer to live here, another would soon
move in to fight him, and the result
would be djscord. 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
furnishes more than half the business
OF a police force"
-" The Russia one of the leading
newspapers Of ST. Petersburg, has &