Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1341

Carbon of letter from Heath to 0. A. Dykstra, President, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

January 25, 1941

 

 

 

Dear Doctor Dykstra:

A number of persons have suggested to the writer that owing to your well-known interest in the adminis­tration of municipal affairs, you would be interested in some of the research he has been doing in connection with the institution of property in land and with the special reference to its possible bearing upon public and municipal administration.

 Accordingly, I take the liberty of enclosing, here­with, an interpretation of the above-named institution which has been made, I think, for the first time from the functional or administrative point of view. The result of this analysis and interpretation has suggested practical measures lying within the power of the organized real estate interests of almost any community for the rehabilitation of their properties and values through giving constructive attention to and protection of the business and economic interests of those who occupy or may be attracted to occupy their communities and properties. The practical business aspect of this matter is being brought to the attention of real estate interests with a view of their giving constructive business services to their communities and, thus, restoring their now precarious incomes and declining values.

 Of the enclosed two pamphlets entitled, “Real Estate, How To Raise and Restore Its Income and Value” with the sub-titles, respectively, of “Questions For The Considera­tion Of Land Owners” and “The Administration of Property As Community Services”, the first of these is, in a brief interrogative form, an epitome of what is set out at greater length in the second.

 Your eminent position in the world of public affairs and your distinguished services in the field of municipal administration give me much confidence that you will give the matter I am sending to you more than a social and superficial attention. You will note that this approach to municipal problems is from an unusual and heretofore much neglected direction, and that the policies suggested are in line with the proven principles of profit­able and beneficial business.

 For some years since my rather early retirement from business and professional activities, I have pursued some investigations into the fundamentals of business administration with particular reference to its applica­bility to public and community affairs. The results of this are briefly epitomized in the several pamphlets which I enclose. I anticipate that your examination of these may well suggest to you the desirability of the ideas set out and policies proposed being brought to the attention of competent minds for their evaluation and, perhaps, further research in the same general direction. If I am right in this, please let me have your suggestions as to persons, institutions or organizations through whom it might be appropriate to bring these matters forward for discussion and, possibly, further research. I am confident that a public purpose may thus be served, and am happy to be in a position to give freely of my own time and modest resources to that end.

 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 any material aid or personal prestige.

Trusting you may regard this letter as containing a contribution to rather than an intrusion upon your own interests, and awaiting your kind response, I am,

Very truly yours,

Spencer Heath

SH:ML

Enc.