The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-17
SOUTHERN VILLAGE OF pEop, :
LIVING BY THEIR OWN
PLAN, A SUCCESS.
Every House surropnded by Frui,
Trees-No Extravaganza and No
Povsrty-AIl Live cheapIy.

MOBILE, Ala, April 17.-(Special-
On beautiful wooded bluff eighty
ieet above the waters of Mobile bay
and about fifteen miles across the wa :
ter from this city, is village called
Fair Hope, and there is a good deal of
significance in the name. It occupies
a most delightful location, with a lux
ur1ant soil, healthful although not
invigorating climate. and other sur
roundings favorable to the DEVELOPMENT
OF ideals 1t is by far the most pros
porous and promising community in
Baldwin county. The population il
composed entirely Of educated and Gull
tured white people. Many of them diff
Ter from the remaining eighty-five mil
lions of our body polite upon cues
tons of political economy and other
conventional ideas. Some of them be-
long to the sclass that are called
'cranks" Independence of thought is
perhaps the most characteristic feature
of the little colony.
Fair Hope was started in January
1896, by e. D. CASTOR, James Ballangee
j. B. Hunnel and Alfred Wooster of
Des Moines. Iowa, who came down here
selected the site occupied by the viii.
lage. and bought 1000 acres of land
for the purpose Of putting into active
practice the favorite theory of the late
Henry George. Although no restrfc-
ton is made. every person who Joins
the colony is expected to contribute
his snare to the general well-being
and assist in the development Of the
economic policy, based upon the gen.
eral principle that all men are equally
entitled to the use Of the earth
Every One Rents the Ground.
No one owns the soil on which he
lives. The corporation, in which eveyr
person has share who desires to buy
it, owns the land, which extends 1900
feet along the bluff overhanging Mo-
bile bay, and extends back Eve miles
Into the country. Everybody pays rent
to the corporation, and has perpetual
lease. Each tenant can build a home
after his own fancy or cultivate the
soil according to his own theories OF
agriculture. Residence lots, SO by $50
in size, rent from SO to SIS year, ac-
cording to location; business lots cost
from $25 to $50 a year, and farming
land from IS to IS cents an acre per
year, according to location The occu-
pant is practically the owner of the
land for which he pays such rent, and
may dispose Of it If he desires to do SO,
subject to the approval of the duec-
tors of the corporation, who exercise
a sort of benevolent despotism. It 10, not
necessary to be member of the cor
poration to enjoy it's benefits, and
land outside the corporation property
can be purchased for an average OF
S25 an. acre, more or less. according 70
the quality of the soil and the loca-
ton. Nobody in the colony pays any
further taxes The treasurer or the
CORPORATION pays the state and county
assessments.
The idea of public ownership and
single tax Is thus exemplif1ed In con-
trast 70 private ownership and general
taxation i'm the remainder OF the county
and state The theories OF Mr.. George
are carried out so far as the laws OF
Alabama will permit. Severay dlin-
entities were presented to the leaoe!s
oe +ha colony. who were compelled 70
r,odifv their plans accordingly. Yne
n,re single tax idea cannot, they say
10 carried out in this country. Inc
hast Mr. Castor, the father or the coi-
onv and his associates couio 90 "AS
to organize q corporation. Duy
tract of land, lease it in small io.s -
aoIon,sts provide all public uuiities'
49, tho state and county taxes IN
,,,nn and get their money back Ny
rentals. o.,or "a
The president Of the corporation -
Mr. Frank L. Brown. formerly VI ~
oaoo. the treasurer Is James Beliansee'
re erst man to bny a share OF s'ocA'
.na the secretary is Mr.. CASTOR VIZ
has always held that once.
Some Discomfort Felt. :,
Gentlemen started out as pio-
,,suallv start, went through
80 nanv experiences. suffered con-
.ssrah,a hardship under circumstance
.e na.mrally favorable. and have sue
ceeded beyond the expectations =. .ha,
neonle. although not so Wen as p,,,r
| honea for themselves Iney
| 49, - hte experiment couio
80 ont TO the full exempiincs''on
rIaurv ceorse's theories II "ou'
success. The failures tnes
a+ with are attributed 10 III.
| nav. of the state laws. Wnel :,
.es here they thought they coul0
| .nes than they have found p,ae
,,o.l or possible. and they lnis' end
| ucai u ,,ra the consistency anu
III q ,.;,;tv of human nature.
aoa rood deal of kicklns'
p
There Is s,a TOO 9 good many moro critics c.
om,tivated, thinking people WIN .nan
business talent more ss snsor'e aIrerences
psrl na,r,on Several gentlemen In the
o of op,n ape confident that IT would
e oU > greater success If the mans ssa
m nssn had been in theH hands s. ,nsesse
OFT those of Mr.. Castor, AR. ssna tsey
| and Mr.. Brown. Fur'ne.n nanr
/ ~@ Including ID0uy