The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-09-14
A CITY WITHOUT
A GOVERNMENT

I American ship-that is if one ex-
cepts In the early days the steal
ing OF stick of timber, two-by-
! four or foot board by some house
| less new arrival to support his tent
home and keep it from being blown
away by the wind. Yet a theft of
this sort was condoned as a phil
anthropic man would condone the
act OF hungry man in taking
loaf OF bread from the bakers
window.
Formerly everyone lived in tents
and left them all day, housing their
belongings without keys or locks,
but their possessions were always
as secure as money in a safe de
post vault.
Perhaps one-half of the popula-
ton still live in tents which are
simply tied up when leaving them
and there Is never complaint that
they have been disturbed. A bar
room brawl may be precipitated,
but before the participants can
draw a gun or knife, a dozen pairs
OF hands are laid upon each and
the affair is over almost before it
begins. Then a round of drinks
usually re-establishes friendship
and good humor. Occasionally it
is necessary to take offenders be-
fore the justice of the peace, who
is an officer of the county, not of
the city" where a fine is inn
posed which enriches the Golfers of
the county rather than of Gold
field. which in fact has no "city
Golfers"
Withal there is order, order with
out law, perhaps paradox but a
fact nevertheless. Life is not men
aced and property is not molested
How is this accomplished, what
caused this condition of peace and
security to prevail, may be asked.
There is only one answer as there
is only one force which produces
1t. 1t is public sentiment-public
sentiment now and then enforced
at the muzzle Of a A Colts. but
public sentiment endorsed and up
held by the community at large,
nevertheless.
Is there character too objec-
tionable whose presence the COM
munity believes is not to be de-
sired. and of whom It would be
well to be rid, a Committee" quiet
ly and uostentatiously wait upon
the person" and informs him that
Tonapah, where the railroad ends.
lies just 81 miles to the north,
that the road Is good and we'll trav.
eled, and that within one hour from
the time he Is thus addressed the
committee" would be pleased to
see him kicking up dust in that
direction" This procedure has thus
far never failed to accomplish the
desired results.
II a place of business is unsani-
tary. representative OF the com
mittee" waits upon the proprietor
and suggests In q mandatory sort
OF way that he "clean up" that
he abate the nuisance. that he fill
the cesspool. that he remove or
| burn garbage. and it has never hap
pened yet that there was not
speedy compliance.
When the streets become litter
ed. public sentiment adjudged that
they should be cleaned. and they
were cleaned and are kept clean.
Subscriptions were sought from
each business man according to his
frontage and there was cheerful
and ready response. Furthermore,
the streets were sprinkled and are
kept sprinkled. garbage boxes were
placed at intervals along the
streets and public sentiment COM
PEELED that they be used so that
litter be kept from the streets.
Goldfield can not become an in
corporated city within two years
at least. although 1t Is a modern
| city In every other way except in
corporation. The fact of its mush-
room growth Is accountable to
large extent for its present unor-
ganized condition. The state legis-
lature meets only once In two
years. At the last session in Janu-
airy the people of Goldfield were
too busy with money-making affairs
to give attention to the matter of
incorporation. and as there was
little or no need for such action,
everything being orderly and pub
lie needs being we'll supplied, It
was not regarded as necessary to
make Goldfield a 'city" in the &C
copied meaning of the term. But
1t is city. nevertheless. with a
city's thrift. energy, business, pub
lie spirit and enterprise. Perhaps
two years hence 1t may become an
Incorporated city with a municipal
government, hut even then the
! so0yarnment" cnuld Scarce ha Inn.