The sun., 1902-03-09
THE SINGLE TAX IN PRACTICE
The Town OF Fairhope Run on Henry
Georges Plan.
From the Nep Orleans Pieovuns

J. Bellanger. one OF the members OF the
Council OF Fairhops. Ala. the only single tax
community in tho land. Is In New orleans on
a business trip, and yesterday he talked
most interestingly OF the settlement TO
representative Of the Piedgure.
"Fairhope." he said. is on the eastern
shore OF Mobile Bay and about fifteen miles
from Mobile. II has population OF about
two hundred and every soul in the COM
munity il contented The town is run as a
Joint stock company and is capitalized at
81, 900. The idea which gave birth to II was
not TO make money, but to test the efficiency
Of Henry Georges single tax plan. The
test has been a success in every way, There
are no rich men in Falrhope. but there is
none poverty stricken.
The Fairhope Company owns 200 acres.
when it was organized and the lana bought
the joint stock company plan was adopted
as tho only method TO secure the operation
Of the single tax theory. The company
owns these 200 acres and leases 1t. land TO
any applicant OF satisfactory personality.
The rental charged Is based solely on tho
value Of tho ground leased, from the stand
point OF site and productivity. The leases
given are for nlnety-nine years. so that tho
renters have a good hold on the land. and no
hesitancy about improving the property.
The Fairhopc Company pays all taxes
out Of the rents, except the taxes on moneys
and credits. This plan makes the land values
bear all the burden of taxation, and realizes
the ideal of that great thinker. Henry George.
No matter how many improvements renter
puts on the land lac leases, his rent Ia not
raised. suppose you buy seat in the the
atrc. Yon pay a stipulated price for H. nnd
the management does not charge you any
more whether YOU wear clothing or jewery
valued At million dollars or attend in the
Il makes no difference whether you attend
&. ~ AL or not, IN fact just SO with land
iahd S,oo IS wqr, t & no more % Hh E, house on Il
are other causes Tor an advance In IT, value.
-fairhopc owns Gli it, franchises. II owns
the town wharf. which is the source Of con
sidordhl" rcycnuc II built this wharf with
out dollar. Instead of paying for the ma
tHria and labor IN money it issued ceTtih-
Gates emitting the holders to the use Of the
wharf Htter its completion in proportion to
their contributions. Every one Of these
the company has drilled a public well and
bought steamboat, which plies between
fmrhope and Mobile, on the same plan. ~
soon a. the We'll i paid for. the water Will
be free.
There are in Fsirhope four storcs. q pho
tograph gallery. bakery, a livery stable
farmers. Truck farming j. the principal
vocation Of the residents of the community
Mobile. The company is forbidden, under
| IT, articles OF Incorporation, from contracting
| yiduals cannot mortgage leased lands, and
| they are generally free from debts oi any
klnd,
In short said Mr. BellanGer. "FOirhope
II living example of tho single tax idea.
r. Mt Beliens"r Is one of the members OF The
| Fuirhope Council. of which George Bancroft
| Is President. His associates on the council
| Call and Nathaniel Mershon
| i believe, said Mr.. Bellanger, In con-
| clusion, that the Fairhops Company will
| nave TO extend Its scope very soon. 80 popu-
| lar has its system proved. The company has
| already seCurcl options on n great deal OF
addi,ionhl lanf and its purchase is only a
question q tin