Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1953

Carbon of a letter from Heath to Richard N. Smith, Box 18595, Dallas 18, Texas

November 7, 1960

 

 

Dear Dick:

 

     Many thanks for yours, too. I’m glad many people liked what I presented. At St. Louis and Chicago, a goodly number of substantial people declared their full acceptance of the proprietary idea. They had asked for six books. All of them were sold and orders taken for two more which were sent them from Maryland. I am mailing two to you from here. You can use the proceeds for your organization, whatever it may be, so it is libertarian. If more are wanted they can be had from Maryland or from The Bookmailer, Murray Hill Station, New York 16 … postpaid.

 

     I am glad the idea grows on you the more you think of it. It does with most people. The shopping centers are almost entirely a retail commercial /development/ but there are many industrial communities and many housing communities, such as Park Labrea in Los Angeles. It is only a matter of profit and time until the proprietary communities will include business, industrial and residential sections all under the same corporate (non-political) administration.

     Of course the public will have to get acquainted with the advantages of enjoying property by leasehold and without the responsibilities of ownership, the same as large business organizations are doing increasingly all the time. The proprietary authority will be at pains to supply its inhabitants according to their needs, wishes and desires by giving them the use of property in great variety and according to demand while relieving them entirely of all the responsibilities of ownership and — eventually — liability for taxes. The community is operated as a unified whole, ownership in it being not of separate pieces but of undivided interests in the whole.

     You can find a whole lot more about this in the book, and it will be good too if we can, as you say, “chunk it around a bit” when you get to Los Angeles this month. Let me know well in advance of your coming so I can meet you and probably have some large real estate interests lined up.

     You can find me most of the time at Room 462, West Hall, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont — telephone National 6-9511, extension 2048. If I should not be there, you can reach me at 312 Halesworth, Santa Ana, and Telephone Kimberly 2-7941. It would be best to always write at both places or else phone, for quick communication. I can put you up at either place.

     Looking forward to seeing you,

                           

                            Spencer Heath