Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-03-22
SINGLE TAX COMMUNITY. .
Success of the Experiment at Fair.
hope on Mobile Day.


}. Bellanger, one of the members OF
the council of Fairhope, Ala. the only
single tax community in the land, is in
New Orleans on business trip, and
talked most Interestingly of the settle
ment to representative OF the Picayune.
"Falrhope," he said, SIS on the eastern
shore of Mobile bay, and about fifteen
miles from Mobile. 1t has n population
of about 200, and every soul in the com
munity is contented. The town is run as
Joint stock company, and is capitalized
at 5000. The idea which gave birth to
it was not to make money. but to test
the efficiency OF Henry Georges single
Fs& plan. The test has been success
Ia every way. There arc 10 rich men in
Fairhope, but there is none poverty
stricken.
'"ihe Fairhope company owns 1900
acres. When IL was organized and the
land bought the joint stock company plan
was adopted as the only method to Sc
cure the operation of the single tax the
DRY. The company owns these 1900
acres. and leases its land to any appG-
cant on satisfactory personality. Ihu
rental charged is based solely on tn.
value of tine ground leased, from the
standpoint of site and productivity. The
leases given are for ninety-nine years, 50
land, and no hesItancy about improving
the property.
THE Fairhope company pays all take,
out of the rents, except the taxes on
moneys and credits. This plan makes the
land values bear all the burden OF taxa
ton. and realizes the ideal of that great
thinker, Henry George. No matter how
many improvements renter puts on the
land he leases his rent is not raised.
Suppose you buy a seat in the thcater
You pay a stipulated price for it. and the
management does not charge you any
more, whether you wear clothing or jew
elry valued ut Il million dollars or attend
III the plainest attire. After you pur-
chase the seat, il makes no difference
whether you attend at all or not, in fact.
Just so with the land--the land is worth
no more with a house on it than before
the house was built. unless there are
other causes for an advance in it's value.
"Fairhope owns all its franchises. II
owns the town wharf, which is the
source of considerable revenue. 1t built
this wharf without a dollar. Instead of
paying for the material and labor in
money, it issued certificates emitting its
holders to the use of the wharf after its
completion in proportion to their con-
trihutions. Every one of these certiii-
Gates has been redeemed already, and the
company has drilled Il public well and
bought steamboat which plies between
As soon as the well is paid for the water
will be free.
There are in Fairhope four stores.
Photographic gallery, bakery. livery
stable, hotel. carpenters and mechanics
and truck farmers. Truck farming is
the principal vocation of the residents of
the community. their produce finding Il
ready market in Mobile. The company
is forbidden. under its articles of incor-
poration. from contracting interest bear
ing debts. OF course. individuals can
not mort gage leased lands. and they are
generally free from debts Of any kind.
"In short" said Mr.. Bellanger. Fair
hope is a living example of the single
tax idea
Mr.. Bellangcr is one Of the members of
the Fairhope council, of which George
Bancroft is president His associates on
the council are Frank Brown. +. \.
Parker. William Call and Nathaniel
Mershon.
II believe" said Mr.. Bellanger. in con-
clusion. that the Fairhope company will
have to extend its scope very soon, so
popular has it's system proved The COM
paay he's already secured options ON q
great deal If additional land, and its pur-
chsse is only question: of time New
Orleans picayure.