The Colfax chronicle., 1891-12-19
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT.
A PIECE OF LAND.


Scenc--A Common. Labor digging tn
Co'a1 with stick, to plant potatoes.
capital passing with a spade ON his shoulder
Labor say, Capital, shall you us,
your spa ; this year?
Capital-No, I'm going a-fishing.
Labor-Lend it to me, then.
Capital--Why should I?
Labor-As good neighbor. Yor
don't want it, and it would be a great
heip to nc. / could plant more ground
and, perhaps. raise fifty more bushels
of potatoes, * had il.
Capital-Ihats very one-sided rca-
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, and I
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 n
new one for you
tNote-This is the necessary maintenance or
repiaocment Of capital which Is consumed by
use.i ~
Capital-Thats rather better, but
stiii 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 yon! 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 as leave it to rust which it will
since you're not going to use il.
Capital-Its not going to rust. I'll tell
you what mean to do with it: Farmer
wants spade as well as you, and offers
to give yearling heifer in exchange
Tor 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, calf by her side. Don't you
think she'll be worth n good deal more
than the new spade you offer?
mote Capital proposes to take advantage
OF the active forces OF nature which manifest /
themselves in growth rs well as in the produc-
uvencss of land. and which can be made avail
nosc by Labor, or by Capital, the result of La |
bor.l
Labor-Certainly she will. never
thought of that. Yes: il you can swan
your spade for the heifer, you've a
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-I suppose quite as much as
en bushels of your potatoes will be
worth when you dig them.
Labor-I'll take the spade and give
'ou new one and ten bushels OF pota-
oes. Will that satisfy you?
Capital-l've rather set my heart on
he hcifer, and besides, your crop may
all.
Labor-I hope not; it never has ;
iowever there is some little risk, ad- :
NIT, and III give you twelve bushels in
tead OF ten What do you say?
Capitalists bargain! Here's the /.
pade, and I'll go and see about my
oat.
MOTE Thus labor employs the wealth
hich capital has accumu ated by his past la J
Or. and as both are interested in the crop la
DR. and capital bccom, partners. The ten a
lshcls which capital Is to receive for the use =
the spade may be called inicrcst to which :
is justly entitled from his ability to ex.
'ange the spade for something which will c
We him an equal profit by Its mere growth q
I'd the other two bushels arc for insurance
'ainst the risk Of failure OF the crop.l
ENTER LANDOWNER =
Landowner Cleaning over fence)- h
uilo Labor! What are you at work 4
1 that moorlaud for? The soil is much d
stter on this side of the fence. You
IN raise fifty bushels more potatoes l.
re than you can there, with the same y
ork. You'd much better hire this lot !.
meS wouldn't charge you much for I,
e use of it. =
Labor--It's true that the soil is bet :,
r. and / should plant there if you
Idn't fenced it in; but you know as
ell as do that this common is free, ;,
ID that every thing can raise on it is
inc; while if should plant on that =,
lie OF the fence you'd clap me in Jail Y
trespassing, or else you'd let me q
lse crop and then take all away
,m me. unless l came to your terms. ~
le laws seem to be made for you land 80
'ners! What right had you to fence N
the best land? 1t was all common W
ce. If you were cultivating it. %
'uldn't have a word to say; your right ~
1t is as good as mine, or that of any 81
dy else; but it's no better, and l -,
MT see what right you have to keep ,vI
off of it, when you don't want to
tivate in yourself e.
did cultivate it for ~,
ne years, and / fenced it to keep the sh
tie away; hauled off the stone and 80
lined it. and got good crops
.abor--Did the crops repay you for
at you laid out? nj,
.andowner-Pretty well. you may as
ieve; you don't suppose that was ex
n fool as to make the improve FRI
nts If l hadn't been sure of that in,
I've got some better land that ba
an to till this year, and should like Th
let this lot to you at fair rent ON
n ohOv--Vac. I \.