Changes

Galt's Gulch did not have many ordinances as such. The Gulch was in essence a [[feudalism|feudal]] society. [[Midas Mulligan]] was the landlord (hence John Galt's custom of calling the place Mulligan's Valley), and all rents flowed to him. The community had no "village plan commission" or "zoning board." As the landowner, Midas made his own decisions about land-use planning and seems to have tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. Aside from such questions, under [[Judge Narragansett]]'s guidance, the residents of the Gulch probably conducted their affairs according to the principles of English [[Common Law]].

Galt's Gulch did not have many ordinances as such. The Gulch was in essence a [[feudalism|feudal]] society. [[Midas Mulligan]] was the landlord (hence John Galt's custom of calling the place Mulligan's Valley), and all rents flowed to him. The community had no "village plan commission" or "zoning board." As the landowner, Midas made his own decisions about land-use planning and seems to have tried to be as unobtrusive as possible. Aside from such questions, under [[Judge Narragansett]]'s guidance, the residents of the Gulch probably conducted their affairs according to the principles of English [[Common Law]].

John Galt described the Gulch to [[Dagny Taggart]] as a place of rest. The Gulch had no [[police]] force or [[sheriff]], because it had no [[crime]]. Indeed it was not a state of any kind, but a strictly voluntary association of homesteaders. Judge Narragansett's judicial activities were probably limited to the occasional Request for Judicial Intervention to ratify [[arbitration]] agreements. The judge might also have reopened his [[law]] practice to assist his neighbors with the drawing-up of [[contract]]s.

John Galt described the Gulch to [[Dagny Taggart]] as a place of rest. The Gulch had no [[police]] force or [[sheriff]], because it had no [[crime]]. The closest thing it had to an executive authority was a three-man Committee of Safety, consisting of John Galt, Francisco d'Anconia, and Ragnar Danneskjold. Indeed it was not a state of any kind, but a strictly voluntary association of homesteaders. Judge Narragansett's judicial activities were probably limited to the occasional Request for Judicial Intervention to ratify [[arbitration]] agreements. The judge might also have reopened his [[law]] practice to assist his neighbors with the drawing-up of [[contract]]s.

However, the Gulch had several unwritten customs which arose, as Galt also explained, as a reaction to the things that the residents sought to rest ''from.'' No one ever remained in the Gulch at another person's expense, nor asked nor granted any unremunerated favors. Every resident was expected to pay his rent to Midas Mulligan, or else pay room and board to the leaseholder of any house in which he stayed. Similarly, no one ever "borrowed" something belonging to another; instead one ''rented'' it and was expected to negotiate a rent with the owner. (And if one discovered that he was renting the same article often enough to make it a significant expense, then he might ask Midas Mulligan for a loan, if necessary, and buy the article.)

However, the Gulch had several unwritten customs which arose, as Galt also explained, as a reaction to the things that the residents sought to rest ''from.'' No one ever remained in the Gulch at another person's expense, nor asked nor granted any unremunerated favors. Every resident was expected to pay his rent to Midas Mulligan, or else pay room and board to the leaseholder of any house in which he stayed. Similarly, no one ever "borrowed" something belonging to another; instead one ''rented'' it and was expected to negotiate a rent with the owner. (And if one discovered that he was renting the same article often enough to make it a significant expense, then he might ask Midas Mulligan for a loan, if necessary, and buy the article.)