The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-17
PROGRESS OF THE SINGLE
TAX COLONY or FAIR HOPE

certain others who have not been SO
prosperous as the rest. have tried to
make trouble. They complain that it
is an injustice to compel everyone to
pay the same, and when they are told
that they get their compensation in
other ways they are not satisfied"
Fair Hope is NOT a democratic form
of government. 1t is as have said, a
benevolent despotism. but is prospecting
better than any other new community
in Alabama, and furnishes striking
contrast to the average southern town
by the neatness of appearances, the
pride and ambitions of its citizens and
the modern Improvements which have
been provided for them.
More Advantages Than Elsewhere.
Although their taxes are much lower
than those of any. other town of the
same size, and the people do not require
capital to purchase town lots or
is furnished the inhabitants Of any
other town in the south.
They have. for example, a water
works system which furnishes free
water from a large well near the beach
operated by steam pumping plant. 1t
is pure, hard freestone water, as good
as the best. There are free bath
houses, open to every resident
Three free schools are maintained
eight months in the year. One is an
ordinary public school, another is what
is called a school of organic educa-
tion,s' which means a school for teach
ers, and furnishes instruction in every
grade of teaching, from the kindergar-
ten to high school methods. including
manual training. The third is music
school, where instruction In instru-
mental and vocal music is furnished
free to the children Of all families who
rent corporation land. Those who live
outside the corporation pay moderate
tuition fees. There is a free public
library and village club in handsome
new concrete building. The telephon,
service is free to everybody whs, be
longs on corporation land, and nomina
rates for communication outside of tn,
colony.
The hotel. the newspaper the stores
a restaurant and other conventional
conveniences are provided by privat,
capital. and the Fair Hope Improve
ment company, whose shares are al
held in the colony, IS the largest stock
holder in most Of the enterprises. TIL
corporation OWNS Q wharf at which
anyone can land, and has made excel
lent roads at its own expense. 1t ha.
also provided a beautiful park Of fou
acres, shaded by venerable oaks drapet
with hanging moss, magnolias ant
long-needle pines, where the villager!
have picnics during pleasant weather
any enjoy one of the lovlieet views tina
can be found along the gulf coast.
The income of the corporation aver
ages about $4,000 a year, from which
all public expenses are paid. am tolt
that the officials, that is, the manager.
Of the colony, receive no salaries, bu
contribute their services. and make
their living in other ways.
The Corporation.
The Fair Hope Improvement com.
pany owns the steamer Fair Hope, the
fastest boat on Mobile bay, which
makes a round trip daily, leaving Fail
Hope at o'clock in the morning
reaching Mobile at 10, and starts or
it's return trip at 2:30 p. m. 1t has
a monopoly Of the traffic, and brings
over large. quantities of garden truck
fruit, dairy products and other provi-
sions, and carries back groceries, fur
niture and all kinds of supplies. While
there are general stores at Fair Hope
the villagers are not required to pat
ronize them. They can do their trad
ing in Mobile if they like. but the
steamship company expects fee fol
everything it carries, and is said to bt
q profitable investment. There Is 9
sawmill, also a private enterprise
which cuts about 10000 feet Of lum-
Der a day. which is nearly all consumed
in the village.
A sanitariunn, with electric appar,
atus and various Kinds Of baths, which
II is hoped will attract invalids from
the north. is about to be opened. The
largest number of the people, however
are engaged in farming. gardening ant
raising fruit. The land is the typica
"cut-over" pine forests of the gull
coast from which the stumps have beer
removed leaving black, sandy loan
which is excellent for vegetables ant
! fruit, but requires good deal Of fer
tihzing to hasten their growth.
Comfortable Living Cheap.
Every house in the village is sur
rounded by fruit trees and vegetable
gardens, and most OF them produc'
enough for family use. The ba!
abounds in fish which are as free a:
the air, and chickens and eggs ART
{ produced In the back yards. Thus i
does not cost much to live comfortabl,
at Fair Hope, and a majority of thu
villagers have small incomes, which
provide them with the luxuries of life
J with books and magazines, something
| To wear and the additional table sup
plies necessary There is no extrava'
gance, or love Of display, or rivalry II
dress or other vanities. but those wht
have the energy and the ambition car
make plenty of money by raising gar
| den truck.
- kEn y1lrn oal