Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 October 1895 — A UNIQUE TOWN. [ARTICLE]

A UNIQUE TOWN.

Probably It Doesn't Exist, but It’s Perfectly Feasible. “I live in a town,” said the gentleman at the hotel to the reporter looking for an item, “that Is unique in its way.” “What’s the town?" inquired the reporter. “It doesn’t make any difference what the town is; it is unique.” “In what does Its uniquity consist, then?” asked the reporter, seeing that he was balked on the previous question. “It is self-supporting and there are no taxes.” “Geewhillikins!” exclaimed the reporter, “give me its address. I want to go there right away.” “No,” said the inhabitant of this Arcadian vilalge, “I shall not do anything of the kind. We don’t want any more people there at present We may after a while, but as yet we are not ready for an Increase.” “What kind of a town is it?” 4 .... “An excellent town, of course.” “I should say so. WBy don't you put it in a dime museum?” . —— ourselves easier than that.” “How do you do it?” „ “Simple enough. When we laid out the town fifteen years ago we made it a corporation that could carry on its own business. In this way the town in the disposal of lots sold only every other lot, so that now it owns half the ground it occupies. These lots it gave long-leases on at figures which enabled lessees to build good houses on for business and’ dwelling, and on conditions quite as favorable, If not more so, than those had who bought outright. We had the country around us, good In agriculture, mineral, water ’and transportation to Insure a town, and when it was once started it went ahead, until now wo nave between 5,000 and 7,000 people, and our ground rents pay all our expenses and practically leave no city tax. Then we havo some other sources of revenue from the money the corporation put into manufacturing plants and mines, and on the whole we are In clover as a community.” “Now, look here,” pleaded the reporter, “give a fellow a chance. Tell rae the name of the place and let me.&0,,,„ there, too.” But the visitor was close-mouthed and the reporter went away unsatisfied, even the hotel register conveying no information that was of any value. —Detroit Free Press.