Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/886

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870 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the people. In the preparation of this as well as of some of the following reports assistance may be obtained from Dr. C. R. Hender- son's Catechism for Social Observation.

3. General discussion. This may be upon the special report or upon the general topic. In either case illustrations of the main point, the effect of land on population, should and doubtless will be contributed.

THIRD MEETING.

1. General topic : Land Ownership. References :

Cobden Club Systems of Land Tenure (London, Macmillan, 1870).

A most valuable collection of essays on land tenure and land laws

in different countries. De Coulanges, Origin of Property in Land (London, Swan, 1892).

A historical study with conclusion representing quite fairly the

present aspect of the controversy as to the origin of landed property

in communal ownership, or in private ownership. Godwin, Political Justice (London, Swan, 1890), bk. viii.

A classic among writings favoring communism. Lafargue, Evolution of Property (London, Swan, 1890).

Arguments based largely on anthropological data, with conclusion

favoring communal holding. Mill, Principles of Political Economy (New York, Appleton, 1893), bk.

ii, chs. i and 2.

A clear, fair statement in short space of the leading aspects of the

question. Spencer, Principles of Sociology (New York, Appleton, 1892), Vol. II,

ch. 15.

Conclusion regards land nationalization as a possibility.

2. Special Report on the Ownership of Land in the District Studied.

Use a map to illustrate as far as possible the distribution of land among the people. Show the relative number of the population owning land. Study the causes preventing the number from being larger. Show the values of land, the increase or decrease over former val- ues and the causes to which it is due. Study also the method of taxing real estate, and in every way possible try to get at the actual facts in regard to the ownership of land in your own com- munity.

3. General discussion, topic : Collective vs. Private Ownership of Land. References :

Bosanquet, Aspects of the Social Problem (London, Macmillan, 1895), ch. 17.