The Colfax chronicle., 1891-11-14


ducinR weslth. society seems TO be
round shouldercd. Single tax men do
not propose putting it in . wise. 1t Is
socialism that proposes this Single
tax men would simply cut the gives
~. n.-.-;-. -f ~. c;.r,.
:. -. >>e~
Houston. Tex, juno 1o.-EDIToR En-
PRESS: As Aye Bee has made an hon.
est inquiry concerning the doctrine of
the single tax on land values. will at-
tempt to inform him ss briefly as possi-
bic, on the points he has mentioned
The doctrine in question does not pro-
pose distribution of land, as some
misinformed persons suppose, nor does
It mean confscation of land titles
But the intention is to put an end to the
injustice Of the present system of land
ownership by recognizing and guaran-
tceing the equal right Of all citizens to
the value and use OF land Tho earth
belongs to the people If any have
legal right to exclude all others from q
portion Of it for the purpose of resi-
dence or cultivation, or to appropriate
It's products to his own use and benefit.
he should ray the rental value of the
unimproved site for the common bene-
At Of the community. The fund SO de-
rived may be termed tax or rent and
would constitute revenue for public
purposcA All values to land springing
from human exertion and labor to make
Il productive, to improve and l,eautify
IL, would be products OF labor aud nom
Your correspondent il con-
fused by the terms land and land val
uea BY the term land value is 10 be
understood the natural value OF and
arising from fertility or location, on
both, computed apart from all improve
ment bestowed ON IL, or buildings built
upon it This value may arise from
natural advantages. such as fertility Of
soii. mineral deposits, water power.
etc; and such as arise from the dcvel-
opment Of society-such rs the growth
Of towns and cities, tho expansion Of
commerce and all internal improve
mentA
The two Fundamental principles on
which the single tax is urged are: /.
The natural value of land is the bounty
Of nature and not the product of any
mans labor, and therefore belongs NOT
10 any individual, but to. population
generally. 2 The value which accrues
10 land from the general development
Of the community is the result Of the
labor Of all and should therefore be-
long to all These two values should
therefore be taxed for the public good
The converse OF these two propositions
IRE wholly untenable.
Aye Bee can readily distinguish be-
tween tho terms land and land values
ls above explained He should see that
he effect Of this tax would be to take
and out Of speculation, for no one
would hold unimproyed land ont of use
when all or nearly all of its rental value
would be taken for the public use. The
lite would Be improved in order to pro-
luce income, or sold to another who de-
ired to improve. This would bring
much land on the market to escape tax
Itlon. with view to put money into
improvements which would
my. Much land on the market would
mean cheaper land. cheaper farms and
,uilding sites When little or no CANT
al could buy : site, more capital wonld
y left to put Ass houses and all sorts
4 improvements This would cause
much building snd conseouentIv
demand for latuy for r.tss
II. and for All yh.t :. ~.
,,too,,a - tha ,.S,...s.. u.., .no
neculative valre ~ l.rd ,.na 49," . INC