Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1448

Carbon of letter from Heath to E. Paul duPont, Montchanin, Delaware

End of April, 1947?

Dear Mr. duPont:

     Returning to New York on the 28th I was much pleased to find your letter of the 23rd replying to mine of the 11th from Barranquilla, Colombia and I hope, as you suggest, to have the pleasure of a talk with you at some early date.

     Since my somewhat early retirement from active bus­iness in 1932, I have concentrated my attention (as a research engineer) chiefly upon the structure and func­tioning of the social organization of men in free contrac­tual relationships, entirely apart from their organization under the compulsions of government. In this examination of the world of non-coercive, reciprocal and thereby cre­ative relationships I have found great interest and charm not only in its present limited operation and results but even more so in the potencies and promises revealed. I have found the basic social process no more complex than that of simple mechanical movements or chemical reactions — in fact, basically the same, however greatly they may be elaborated.

     I have formulated quite a good deal but published very little so far. There is no popular or wide interest in objective examination and discovery, yet there is no other basis for a consistently successful technology in any field. Discoveries must always be made by but few, put into practice by few and their benefits conferred upon mankind with profit from the many to recompense the few — always by no other process but contract and ex­change, lest all liberty be lost.

     Henry George proposed a Philosophy of Freedom but the technology he proposed was not contract and consent, not natural law, but the compulsions of government en­forcing man-made law. I enclose for your inspection copy of a critical commentary on this that I had printed some time ago. I have elsewhere set the matter out in its own light and without critical reference. Of this John Chamberlain has written, “The only reasoned answer to Henry George that I have ever seen, and after all these centuries I believe that someone has at last discovered and formulated the true functions of private property in land.”

     Currently I am trying to get some competent analyst to help me write a prospectus for the organization of major land owning interests in New York City into a community corporation for the manufacture of ground rent through providing tax-ameliorations and other community-wide services and immunities to the inhabitants, their enter­prises and occupations. Such community corporation would hold the titles for former owners, they (or their successors) holding now as stockholders the same proportionate, but undivided, interests as before. With proper management such a corporation could build perhaps billions in values. It could curb destructive taxation both directly by its great influence and eventually cut ground from under predatory government by supplying public services pro­fitably instead of at a total budgetary loss each year. Such a public authority, proprietary instead of political, would create values, not destroy them.

     As in my last letter, I offer these matters, and espe­cially the printed material, for your thoughtful consid­eration rather than for any immediate or early conclusions upon them, either pro or con.

Very truly yours,

 

  Spencer Heath