The Louisiana populist., 1897-08-27
THE GUERNSEY PLAN.
rRuE FINANCIAL SYSTEM HAS
BEEN TESTED,
The Guernsey Market Money Should
BE Kept Before the People As An
Object Lesson--Bonds Are Worse Than
Needless.

americas greatest political economist,
'lenry George, "is the money that
iosts the people the least, and is the
hcst convenient. The best money in
The world is the greenback."
Greenbacks may be defined as paper
money, issued by the government in
payment of public expenses, and re-
seivable for all taxes. How this paper
money can be used in making neces-
lary public improvements without SELL
pg posterity into slavery by the issu-
Ance OF interest-bearing bonds was
shown in the island of Guernsey, and it
cannot be too often retold. 1t is thus
'ecounted by the Pittsburg Kansan:
"In view OF what was said last week
IN the Kansan about the possible build
Ing Of a city hall for the city Of Pitts
burg on the Guernsey market plan,
quite an extensive interest has been
created, and we have been urgently re-
quested to restate what is meant by
WIG OUOA uoCy pAdu.
1T may not be amiss to say that
Guernsey, one of the Channel islands,
in the bay of st. Michael, is 30 miles
west OF the coast Of Normandy and 50
miles south of Portland on the En-
glish coast. 1t has an area Of $4,000
acres, and population Of 10000. The
natives speak the old Norman French
to this day. st. Peters is the only
town of consequence on the island.
About q hundred years ago, when the
population on the island was about TO-
600, and that of st. Peters about 5000,
the burghers did their marketing
around the church square, In the open
air, but concluded it would be much
better to pitt up building that would
serve as a city hall and market house.
That had been concluded by their faith
ers and their grandfathers before them,
but there they were, still exposed to
the weather in doing their marketing,
and without any roomy place to hold
public meetings. A bright young man
who had studied architecture whiled
away his spare time drawing the plan
OF possible market house, city hall
and auditorium for st. Peters and the
parish councillors were greatly pleased
with 1t. What splendid addition such
building would be to St. Peters and
Guernsey. The more they thought of
it the more the need of such an insti-
tuition grew upon them, but alas, the
young architect figured out that it
would cost not less than f4.00O-$20.-
600. There was no money on hand.
Peter de lIsle Brock was governor of
Guernsey, and was a man Of great re-
sources and good Judgment. He was a
descendant OF Norman Rollo, In whose
heirs the governorship had been vested
FOR a thousand years. II anybody could
devise ways and means to put up a
$4,000 market house Peter was the
man, thought the people. A deputa-
tion Of the councillors, accompanied by
several substantial burghers called on
the governor, told him what they de-
sired, showed him the plan OF the pro-
'Tpged market house and asked him
what he thought about it.
u think this is a very good plan,"
said Pete, why don't you build IT."
1--WE have no money, and in these
troublous times we do not think we
could borrow tit should be remem-
bered times were hard at that time.
We'll, that is rather bad" responded
Peter, "but perhaps We might contrive
to get over the difficulty. Let me see,"
and he glanced again at the imposing
looking from elevation, side elevations,
plans, diagrams and specifications, pre-
pared by the young architect.
"Tcll me-" he continued, have we
the necessary rock on the island to
build it WITH" "Yes, plenty Of It."
"And brick?" 1--WE can make them"
Lumber. sand and lime" Enough to
put up hundred such buildings"
Have we the mechanics, and teams
and laborers?" Certainly" "But no
money!" mo money" Peter took a
few minutes to think and then In a
quiet but positive tone said: II think
- can manage It. After all, money
quarry rocks. nor burn bricks,
1ees nor saw It into lumber,
build-it is men who do
= you say we have the
Think We can man