, 1935-02-21
LETTERS to
the EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
To the Editor:
To keep the spectators from grab
bling the business sites on the
Brownsville canal. the commissioners
bought the land on both sides and
are holding it for the use OF ship
ping interests that will occupy 1t.
this was, Of course, the proper thing
TO do. As otherwise the shippers. and
through them, the public. would
have been subjected TO all kinds Of
exploitation by the professional land
grabberS. In thus heading off the
spectators in the canal zone this
writer believes the canal commission
erS set a mighty good example for
other public servants IN this part Of
the country.
There is not a doubt in the world
that the future farmers Of the Rio
Grande Valley need protection from
land speculation fully as much as the
business men who might occupy the
canal rights Past experience teaches
US that the moment the proposed
water improvement projects OF the
Rio GTande River are assured the
farming land affected thereby will
90 up in price. Not only will the
price be raised, but the chances r
altogether in favor Of the prices be-
coming ~prohibitive.
Now there are millions Of farm
families living IN different parts OF
the country who are occupying sub
marginal land. These families could
nave their economic conditions i'm
proved UNNECESSARILY if they were
brought down here and placed on
parcels OF this rich land, properly
priced. But, bringing families here 10
i've on land the interest charges Of
which more than eat up their earn
ingS Is not helping them q particle
because their net returns would be
less than they were before.
Now whats the matter with the
proper authorities doing for the fu-
ture farmers OF this rich region what
The canal commissioners have done
lor the shipping interests: that Is.
assure these farmers land minus the
inflated prices.
OF course this Job could not be
done in just the same manner as the
canal commissioners did their. To
prevent the initiation Of farm lane
values would require an application
Of the Henry George philosophy 70
our taxing methods. This philosophy
eliminates personal property and I'M
provementS from taxation, and does
not fine a lar extra Tor growing an
orchard, for making other improve
mentS, or for equipping his farm WITH
i've stocks, tools, and machinery. IN
other words this arrangement would
lower the farmers taxes and raise
those Of the Spectator, causing IN
improved land to 60 down in value
and farms to 20 up. The use OF a
wider application OF this principle
would mean improved markets foI
peoples products since cheap lano
means greater opportunity Tor LABOR
which in its turn means hlgheT
wages and increased purchasing
power.
If the foregoing proposition seems
hard on the people who have tnelr
money invested in unimproved lano'
! would remind this class hal they
are on the ship with the rest OF US
and that the problem now Is M
Of keeping the old ship ailoat.
OF course we can 90 on letting a
privileged class soak up the oppor-
tunities that belong TO the rank ano
file but experience shows In the enc
that that procedure produces a SquaIl
that nobody survives.
For that very good reason II Is 70
the interest of all classes, the priv
ileged one along with the rest, ina
cur leaders lay out a course that VIII
be good going for the majority, ~
ing sure that the minority likewise
will find smooth sailing over such a
route.
Very truly yours.
EDWARD WORKMAN,
member OF the La Feria Dlstrlct
Rio Grande Valley Vegetable Grow
ers' association.