The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-11-25
PRIVATE. OWNERS !:
TAX NATION FOR
SOCIAL: GROWTH
BY SCOTT NEARING.

ACH1DO, 0NOVs 1f.-1ue Landlords
of New York own New York city. The
people of the United States own New
York. harbor. The city is theirs. The
harbor is ours. This difference'in own
ership makes an astounding difference
in the way we handle the two. prop
critics.
Privately owned resources yield
profit; publicly owned resources yield
service. The landlords get rent for
their ownership of New York. The
people Of the United States get use
for their ownership of the harbor..
Rent is the return for the private
ownership of a natural resource. Use
is the return for the public OWNERSHIP,
sof:t natural resource. The relation be-
tween a resource held for profit and a
resources employed for service is
splendidly, illustrated by the situation
in New York.
). The land value Of New York city on
Jan: 1, 1916; as given by tn commits
sloner Of taxes and "assessme It's, was
$4,6000,000,000.* This value was sep
arate from the buildings and other
improvements on the land which
amounted to a little les than $3,00o,-
900, 0O8:>- A few years ago, New
York was bought for song. To-
day that same land is worth more
than $4,000, 100000.
Public Property Useful.
No valuation has ever been put up
on New York harbor. If it were not
for the harbor New Yor!: could not be
the city that it is. The many cities
that surround it; the railroads that
run into it; the trade that passes
through it would 60 elsewhere. The
value OF the harbor is immense
yet we take so little interest in the
subject that no effort has ever bee,,
made to compute it. Who cares what
New York harbor is worth so long as
every one is free to use it?
A private syndicate, owning New
York harbor could capitalize it at
hundreds of millions or even billions
and realize a handsome return on
their investment. BY taxing the trade
that passed through the harbor they
could pay dividends on an Immense
valuation. New York harbor, private
ly owned, and capitalized at it's full,
earning power would yield huge prof.
its to its posses5ors.
The landlords who own New York
tax every person ard everything that
seeks to make use o.: the. land lying
around Now York harbor. The per-
manent dweller, the traveller, the cot
ton, silk, and wheat that pass through
the city are all taxed to make up the
rental return to the landlords of New
York. II this return is only four -
cent on the assessed value Of. the
1CvN So Yo;k
pay $1S0,000,O0O,a year to the owners
of New York city because they own it.
Private Rent EFFORTS.
Every increase IN trade. industry
and population increases the taxing
power of the owners Of New York city:
More business means higher land VAL
ues and higher land values mean mc:c
rent. What effect has business deve1-
op,nent On the harbor? It increases
the use of this public property.
New York harbor has never been
capitalized. Even the improvements
upon it are paid for out; of govern
ment receipts. The million dollars
spent i'll blasting the channel is not
covered by stocks and bonds that will
draw dividends and interest forever
more. The improvements on New
York harbor are made for use, not
for profit.
New York city is owned by land
lords WHO reap a pros: Of hundreds
of millions in return for their bare
ownership. New York h1rbor is own
ed by the people of the United States
and is open to all for use on equal
terms. They reap profit from their
property. We, from our property, get
SERVICE