Palisadian., 1925-09-25
Alabama Utopia
At Fairhope Has
Put Single Tax Over

Fut On1Slc L DIX OVci
Mr.. Thos B. Lyon, one of the pio-
neers of the Single Tax colony or
Fairhope, Ala, was guest OF the
Ernest Sibleys for several days last
week. He left for Washington ON
Tuesday last. Mr.. Lyon, or Uncle
I Tom" as his Palisade friends call
him. is unique and interesting char
acter. He thinks the single tax idea
in practice fulfills all of the advan-
tages claimed for it in its theory and
so long advocated by the late Henry
George. In talk with the editor OF
The Palisadian on Monday evening
last Mr. Lyon said many interesting
things about the success Of Fairhope,
and spoke most agreeably of E. Yam
cey Cohen formerly of Palisade, and
who has been resident of the Single
Tax colony for twenty years, also one
of it's ablest advocates. Mr. Cohen is
not at Fairhope this year for business
reasons, but he is still the guiding ad-
vocate of the colony.
what is the population OF Fair
hope?" Mr.. Lyon was asked.
81 should say close to three thou
sand,' he replied.
rs it growing?"
"Why, yes, it's growing, but not in
a boomtown way. 1t isn't town
where riches are a possibility. The
colony owns the property on which
the town is built, and, as no land or
lots can be sold, making money be-
yond a comfortable income is out OF
the question. Nobody can accumulate
property because they cannot buy it,
Doesn't a man own his own
home?"
"Well, he owns the house, but not
the land The colony owns all the
land"
Are there any fine homes in Fair
hope?"
"Bless you, yes-fine in the rare
peace and happiness that dominates
them, but in cost very modest.
Houses never cost over $4,000 to 49,
,, 900 each, and there are not many of
the $4,000 kind"
!, , How do the people make living?"
"Well, in the usual way All have
some kind of avocation. Men are in
business, the women keep house,
teach school, do their own work, and
some few are in business in Mobile,
over across the bay We have six
boats a day to and from Mobile, and
the traffic is not heavy. Where Fair
hope is was once all pine trees. Now
many pines are gone and oaks and
other trees have supplanted them, es-
pecially in the town, where we have
nice shade trees of oak, elms and 9th
ers"
what are the institutions of Fair
hope?"
"Well we have six churches, public
schools and an odd school, a great
one, too, called the Organic School.
1t is odd because it is difficult 1t has
no methods of competition or force.
It's graduates, however, manage to
enter colleges anywhere. The system
is form of the honor plan. They
have no competitions, no examina-
tions, no urge to any pupil. They
are taught from books like other pu-
pills, but that is all. Generally they
have high efficiency as pupils, but it
takes the colleges to find out their
real culture and educational value. 1t
all sounds odd to you, no doubt, but
the system is sound enough"
How does single tax work in prac-
tice?"
Just like they tell you in speeches
al, ;,,
and wants to become a colonist,. He
may, if of good morals and character.
He is leased piece of land, generally
fifty feet by two hundred feet and he
pays from $40 to $50 a year. He
builds his own house, or has it done,
out of pine lumber from the prop
erty. One of these days this may
change when the pineIis all used"
What is the income from rentals?"
"A total of about $4,000 a year.
This money pays for all the municipal
expenses"
DO you have police force?"
"Oh, yes, one town marshall; that's
all He's all the force we have. He
doesn't have much to do, and draws
small pay. When he's off duty there
is just the same kind of good behav
ior by everybody. The church in
fuence is great. We have Methodist,
Christian, Baptist, Episcopal, Catho-
lis and a Quaker Meeting House.
They all get along we'll together. Mrs.
Johnson runs the great Organic
School. 1t is twenty years old now.
1t is sort of advanced kindergarten
in way, made so by the simple sys-
tenn they use to convey knowledge"
Mr.. Lyon dwelt upon Fairhope so
entertainingly that it was a pleasure
to hear him talk. He is the builder
of the town. A carpenter by trade, he
is modest to timidity, has world of
humility, and is man of tender emo
tions. He said the churches are all
built of wood, there being no demand
for brick or stone except for chimneys
The climate is moderate. They are
about forty miles from Pensacola,
Florida, and not far from the west
Florida line. The people are refined,
and the social atmosphere, he says, is
beautiful. No man can possible take
advantage over another, and Fairhope
lis the ultima thule of the highest
aims and ideals of Utopia. Since hap
I