The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-23
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
A PIECE OF LAND.
Ey Francis G. shaw.

Labor say. Capital, shall you use
your spade this year?
Capitalize, I'm going a-fishing.
Labor-Lend it to me. then.
Capital-Why should 1?
Labor-As u good neighbor. You
don't want it, and it would be great
help to he. could plant more ground,
and, perhaps. raise fifty more bushels
OF potatoes, it had it.
Capital--Ihats a very one.sided rea-
son. You'd wear it out by the end OF
the year. You'd have your fifty bush
els extra. and should have no spade.
You'd be so much better OFF, aud
should be SO much worse of than | am
now. There's not much good neighbor-
hood in that
Labor-Oh, I'd give it back to you
Just as good as it is now; or I'd make a
new one for you
Note This is the necessary maintenance OF
replacement OF capital which is consumed by
use.
Capital--That's rather better, but
still it's not fair. You'd have your fifty
bushels more, which you couldn't have
raised without my spade, while should
be no better off than am now. No.
thank you! I'll keep my spade. Go
make one for yourself. 1t took me ten
days to make this.
Labor-Yes, but this is the season for
planting, and I haven't the time to
spare; want to use it now. / can't
see why you shouldn't let me have it as
well Us leave it to rust, which it will
since you're not going to use it.
Capital--It's S not going to rust. I'll tell
you what mean to do withit Farmer
wants spade as well as you, and offers
to give yearllng heifer in exchange
for this one I'm on my way now to
make the swap, and get her. l shall
turn her out on the common, and by the
end of the year shall have cow with,
perhaps, a calf by her side. Don't you
think she'll be worth good deal more
| than the new spade you offer?
| [NorE Capital proposes to take advantage
| OF tho active forces OF nature which manifest
| themselves In growth rs we'll as in the produc'
| tiyeness Of land and which can be made avail
able by Labor, or by Capital, tho result Of La
| bor.]
Labor-Certainly she will. I never
thought of that! Yes; if you can swap
your spade for the heifer, you've q
right to as much return from one as
from the other But how much do you
expect to gain if you do make the ex-
change?
Capital suppose quite as much as
ten bushels OF your potatoes will be
worth when you dig them.
Labor-I'll take the spade and. give
yon new one and ten bushels of pota-
toes VIII that satisfy you?
| Capital-I've rather set my heart on
the heifer, and besides, your crop may
i fail.
Labor-I hope not; it never has.
However, there is some little risk. ad-
NIT, and I'll give yon twelve bushels in
stead of ten. What do you say?
| Capital.-It's a bargain! Here's the
spade and I'll 80 and see about my
boat.
which capital has accumu ated by his past 10.
bor and as both are interested in the cop, 10.
bor and capital becoms partners. Tho ten
bushels which capital Is to receive for the use
OF the spade may be c.llcd interest to which
he is Justly entitled. from his ability to ex-
change tho spade for something which will
give him an equal profit by its mere growth,
and the other two bushels are for insurance
against the risk OF failur, OF the crop.l
ENTER LANDOWNER.
Landowner cleaning over fcncc)-
Hullo. Labor! What are you at work
on that moorland for? The soil is much
better on this side of the fence. You
can raise fifty bushels more potatoes
here than you can there, with the same
work. You'd much better hire this lot
of me; wouldn't charge you much fol-
the use of it.
Labor-It's true that the soil is bet
ter, and should plant there ii yor
hadn't fenced it in: but you know as
well as do that this common is free
and that every thing can raise on it i:
mine; while if should plant on tha'
side of the fence you'd clap me in Jail
for trespassingi or else you'd let nj
raise crop and then take all away
l
The laws seem to be made for you land
owners! What right had you to fenc'
in the best land? 1t was all common
once. If you were cultivating it,
wouldn't have word to say; your righ
to it is as good as mine, or that OF any
body else; but it's no better, and
don't see what right you have to keel
me off of it, when you don't want tt
cultivate in yourself
Landowner did cultivate 1t 70
some years. and fenced it to keep tn
cattle away; hauled of the stone am
drained it, and got good crops.
Labor-Did the crops repay you TO
; what you laid out?
Landowner-Pretty well, you ma
believe; you don't suppose that wa
3 such fool as to make the improve
ments i'll hadn't been sure of tina
: But I've got some better land that
!, mean to till this year, and should lik
c to let this lot to you at fair rent
!. Labor-Yes; Isuppose you have take
I the cream out of this. But what do yo
call fair rent?
I.andowner-Let me see! The lar
i is still good deal better than the con
I. mon, and easier to work than when
d enclosed it. The drains are there, an
s there are no stones on the ground; b
}. sides, the fence is good for three year
Is and you'll have to fence your commc
lot il you want to made a crop That
t something for yon to consider. The
!" are real advantages.
n Labor-Yes that's SO. Well! I thir
,e it will be fair IL agree to give you on