The record-union., 1894-01-29
NATURE, LAND AND RENT.
The Third Lecture of the University
Extension Course.
Professor Plehn's Interesting Lecture
on Economics of InduStry-His
Views of Henry George.

Professor Carl G. Plehn gave another
one of his interesting lectures in the [ nj
versity Extension course at Foresters'
Hall on Saturday night to large and at
tentive audience.
The Professor is an unassuming
speaker. discarding all rhetorical flour
ish and adopting more of conversa-
tional tone. He speaks with great delib-
Grafton, allowing each sentence to sink
into his hearers mind and understand
ing, so as to prepare the way for the next
utterance. AS his audiences come for the
purpose of being instructed rather than
amused, this is an excellent thing, and
when he enunciates a new proposition he
repeats il, after slight pause, that the
audience may fully grasp it and more
easily comprehend what follows and its
application to the subject:
The following is synopsis of his lect-
ure:
Puny man can do nothing without
natures assistance. His feeble strength
would not keep life in his body for a
single day without her aid. She supplies
the materials he needs for the satisfaction
Of his wants. She furnishes the forces
to work for him. On the other hand she
opposes obstacles to his advance. 1t is
only when he SubdueS her and makes her
his servant that he can benefit by her
bounty.
The degree in which nature supplies
mems wants in different places and at
different times has often determined the
degree Of civilization. The most import
ant elements of the latter being due it
would often seem to the diligence and en-
ergy with which he overcomes the OBJ
stacles which she places in his way. The
movement of civilization has been from
the south toward the north, the east to-
ward the west. The greatest advances
each time seem to have been made by
those peoples whose training and ener-
gies come from the colder climate. Gil
matte conditions are, therefore, OF vast
Importance. They must be for the best
results, such as do not enervate, and
while permitting abundant supplies for
life, open on to continual activity.
Geographical advantages of certain
countries again have been of the utmost
importance. Until 1880 the only cheap
and rapid means Of transportation was by
water. England owes much of her COM
mercial greatness to her favorable lOca-
ton in this respect.
Land as a means of dwelling and rest
ing place early came to be of importance.
But in the earliest stages of economic life
its value was small. 1t required a vast
area to support single family in the
hunting and pastoral stage. But when
fixed habitation became the rule, and
mans labor was applied directly to land,
it was ascribed a value which has steadily
increased ever since. AS mere location,
a convenient spot for buildings, it obtains
it's highest value Land on Threadneedle
street, London, or Wall street, New York,
could be paved with gold an inch thick
before the value of the pavement exceeded
that of the land under IT.
But as the prime requisite of production
it plays another part. Most OF the raw
materials for all industry are thus pro-
vided. The food supplies for the support
of labor is won from 1t and labor thus
rendered possible. Its fertility is becom-
ing more and more under control OF man.
The lecturer then referred to some of the
different extremes in agriculture. Rota-
ton of crops renders 1t possible to work a
field continually. The different crops not
taking the same substance from the soil
each year, the rest necessary is obtained
without loss of time.
But although the fertility of land is
somewhat under mans control, il is not
absolutely so. Nature sets limit to the
possible increase The old and famous
law of diminishing comes into play. a
point is attainable in the cultivation of
land where an increase in the amount OF
labor and capital applied ceases 10 yield q
proportionate increase In product. In
this respect agriculture is governed by a
principle directly the opposite OF that
governing the increase of manufactures.
So absolutely essential to all produc-
ton is the assistance OF land to-day that
its appropriation or possession by an in
dividual enables that individual to levy
tribute on all the rest of the population
indirectly and directly on him who uses
it. Land laws authorizing private owner
ship of land are to-day so old that some
people are inclined to regard them as the
laws of God or of nature. There is, how
ever, no natural or reasonable basis for
private ownership of land beyond the
fact that the available quantity is limited
and becomes more so in proportion to
the needs of the people as population in
creases in number.
Private ownership of land is an his
torical growth. 1t is not universal even
to-day, and certain lands, although fertile,
are so located that they are not yet avail
able for production or offer so few ad-
vantages that their value has not led men
to take them in private possession.
The history of the rise of private
ownership of land is extremely interest
ing and instructive, especially in view of
beginning of our present system dates
no further back than the close Of the
great migration.
Roman and Grecian land tenure was SO
varied in form that it has no traceable in
huence on present forms.
The history Of private ownership of
land was then traced. First there was
community ownership. This was then
seized by the chief, who determined
thereafter on what terms land should be
held and used. This development has
gone farther in this country than in any
European country except France. Traces
of ola teudal tenure still remain every
where except in America and France
Rent results from this ownership, from
the monopoly by the individual of
natural agency absolutely necessary to
production and limited in quantity.
''Rent, in the broadest sense, is any kind
of gain arising from monopoly, whether
of land, capital or talent-income which
falls to the possessor of any productive
agency simply because of its scarcity.
Rent forms no part of the cost of produc-
ton and is payment for no service. 1t
sweIls individual incomes only at the ex-
pense of society as a whole. 10 the total
measure of the world it adds nothing.
nor does it subtract. 1t does not cause
high prices but is caused by them, In
amount it is determined by the advantage
good land has over poorer land which is
necessarily cultivated because society
needs the product. and because new lands
must be resorted to, since the law of
diminishing returns prevents the in
crease of the product on the good SOIL"
This was illustrated by a diagram.
Different forms of agricultural rent in