Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1338

Carbon of a letter to Robert E. Ely, Town Hall Club, 123 West 43rd Street, New York NY

January 24, 1941

 

 

 

 

Dear Dr. Ely:

 

     The writer is planning to be in New York for a few days beginning January 30^th.

 

     Remembering several pleasant contacts with you at the Town Hall Club and your particular interest in matters of social and economic significance, I am writing to suggest the possible pleasure to both of us of sitting down together either at luncheon or elsewhere, you being my guest, for a discussion of the fundamentals of social organization with particular reference to the extension of contractual relationships (as opposed to coercive and compulsive ones) through a better understanding of private property and, especially, with reference to private property in land. This institution, I think, has never been examined from the functional point of view. I have made an attempt in this direction, as indicated by the enclosed pamphlet entitled, ”Private Property in Land Explained.” I am sending this little pamphlet to you in the thought that you may find it interesting as a perhaps unique and heretofore neglected approach to an understanding of the social order and its basic processes. I shall appreciate very much having you give me your intellectual reaction as to what I have attempted to do.

 

     Assuming your interest in land administration in its practical aspects, I am also sending you two other little pamphlets suggesting a practical technical for the rehabilitation of real estate values. The first and smaller of these is really a recapitulation of the other in interrogative form.

 

     I recall with pleasure your suggestion in early December that we have some discussion of these matters after the 12^th. I shall be very happy, indeed, if it is convenient to do so during my forthcoming visit to New York.

 

     Please communicate with me at the Woodstock Hotel where I will be arriving on the 29^th.

 

                            Yours sincerely

 

 

                                 Spencer Heath

 

SH:ML

 

Enc. Private Property in Land Explained

     Questions

     Administration

 

P.S. Please let me assure you that my interest in all of the above matters is wholly esthetic and intellectual, and that I do not seek nor contemplate obtaining from any source material aid or personal prestige.

                                                    S.H.