The Farm City and the Garden City 223 



tion of "unearned increment" in his land created by the 

 labor and presence of the entire community. 



An interesting case arose quite early in the history 

 of the movement. At the end of the first year a settler 

 applied for permission to sell. It was found that the 

 price he would receive represented a profit of $8,000 

 on his investment. He was told that this profit was 

 due, in large part, not to his own exertions, but to the 

 achievement wrought out by a hundred families, with all 

 their private and public improvements. He was per- 

 mitted to sell at a price that returned his entire invest- 

 ment, together with 6 per cent interest and $2,000 more 

 as compensation for his year's work. The remainder 

 of the profit was given to the community that had 

 rightfully earned it and could apply it to useful pur- 

 poses for the common benefit. 



Such a system does no injustice to the man who is 

 working in good faith to build a home on the land. The 

 other kind have no moral right to speculate at the ex- 

 pense of their fellows. 



