Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1915 — Where Money Is Useless. [ARTICLE]

Where Money Is Useless.

The Island of Ascension, in the Atlantic, belonging to Great Britain, is of volcanic formation, eight miles by six in size, and has a population of about 450. It was uninhabited until the confinement of Nepoleon at St. Helena, when it was occupied by a small British force. It is 250 miles northward of St. Helena. Vast numbers of turtles are found on the shores and it serves as a depot and watering place for ships. Ascension is governed by a Captain appointed by the British Admiralty. There is no private property in land, no rents, no taxes and no use for money. The flocks and herds are public property, and the meat is issued as rations. So are the vegetables grown on the farms. When an island fisherman makes a catch he brinfgs it to the guard room, where it is issued by the sergeantmajor. Practically the entire population are sailors, and they work at most of the common trades. The ■muleteer is a Jack tar, so is the gardener, so are the shepherds, the stockmen, the grooms, masons, carpenters and plumbers. Even the island trapper who gets reward? for the tails of rats is a sailor. The climate is almost perfect and anything can be grown.—London Herald.