ople
increases them. For this reason, rents are highest in great cities,
lowest in the sparsely settled country, touching zero on lands occupied
by nomads. Land values, are affected in the same way. This will give us
a clue, to the transitory character of wealth composed of values. It
will give us another reason, for the shrinkage in value of farm lands,
and the increased wealth of cities; which follows the migration of
people from country to city.

"We may now consider another important factor, which affects rent values
in great cities. It is the spur of a sharp want, of the urgent necessity
of helplessness, which must drive and control the actions of a large
majority of the inhabitants. The presence of these elements is
necessary, in order to create the highest markets for rents. The larger
the throng and the keener the necessities of the crowd of bidders
competing, the higher the prices they will pay for rent. Under the reign
of the competitive system, this is a conclusive demonstration of the
truth of the saying, 'That the necessities of the poor, are the
opportunities of the rich.' Is anything further needed, to prove that
the competitive system is the essence of a cruel barbarism, which blots
the civilization and shames the humanity of the republic? Why not change
it for the co-operative system?

"Under the progressive and beneficent reign of co-operation, there would
be homes for the homeless, land for the landless, work for the
unemployed and independence for all. This would mean, a total absence of
want; that imperative spur, which is so necessary to the life of
competition.

"Transportation and taxation, are two factors yet unnoticed, which
materially affect rent values in great cities.

"Taking up the question of transportation; we soon discover its
importance. The great manufacturing city, is the center of a complete
network of railroads. The inhabitants of the city, are at the mercy of
these railroads. Nominally, they are supposed to be competing lines. As
a matter of fact, by means of traffic association, they become one huge,
consolidated monopoly. A monopoly so dangerous, so powerful, so
unscrupulous, and so voracious, that it does not hesitate in fixing and
maintaining rates so exorbitant, as to be actually prohibitory, at least
so far as two-thirds of the city dwellers are concerned. Meanwhile the
monopoly arbitrarily depresses rents and land values in the country,
while it increases them in the c