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           BusinesswasexcellentwhenGovernorWilliamWyattBibb,withaviewtopromotingthenewlycreatedcounty’sdomestictranquility,dispatchedateamofsurveyorstolocateitsexactcenterandthereestablishitsseatofgovernment.Thesurveyors,Sinkfield’sguests,toldtheirhostthathewasintheterritorialconfinesofMaycombCounty,andshowedhimtheprobablespotwherethecountyseatwouldbebuilt.HadnotSinkfieldmadeaboldstroketopreservehisholdings,MaycombwouldhavesatinthemiddleofWinstonSwamp,aplacetotallydevoidofinterest.Instead,Maycombgrewandsprawledoutfromitshub,Sinkfield’sTavern,becauseSinkfieldreducedhisgueststomyopicdrunkennessoneevening,inducedthemtobringforwardtheirmapsandcharts,lopoffalittlehere,addabitthere,andadjustthecenterofthecountytomeethisrequirements.Hesentthempackingnextdayarmedwiththeirchartsandfivequartsofshinnyintheirsaddlebags—twoapieceandonefortheGovernor.

           Becauseitsprimaryreasonforexistencewasgovernment,MaycombwassparedthegrubbinessthatdistinguishedmostAlabamatownsitssize.Inthebeginningitsbuildingsweresolid,itscourthouseproud,itsstreetsgraciouslywide.Maycomb’sproportionofprofessionalpeopleranhigh:onewenttheretohavehisteethpulled,hiswagonfixed,hisheartlistenedto,hismoneydeposited,hissoulsaved,hismulesvetted.ButtheultimatewisdomofSinkfield’smaneuverisopentoquestion.