FIRST  BOSTON  OBJECT  LESSON  59

ings  should,  in  a  comprehensive  sense,  be  “altered
to  suit  tenants”?
A  Striking  Illustration  of  a  Common  Fact
The  land  in  Winter  Street,  which  was  assessed  at  less
than  $4  per  square  foot  in  1850,  was  assessed  in  1907
at  1130  per  squar&  foot.  During  the  fifty-seven
years  intervening,  the  income,  above  taxes,  from
the  land,  in  rent  and  appreciation  has  amounted
to  an  average  of  150  per  cent  annually  on  the
investment  of  1850.
Three  Burdens  for  “Business  and  None  for  the
Landlord
Query.  Is  that  a  constitutionally  “just  and
reasonable”  system  of  taxation  which  constrains
the  business  man  of  Winter  Street  to  erect  at
his  own  expense  a  basis  of  taxation,  pay  the
tax  itself,  and  then  turn  over  without  consideration ­
  the  very  basis  itself  to  the  pocket  and
Profit  of  another  man?  Should  not  the  land  be
taxed  until  it  is  at  least  as  profitable  to  use  it  as
to  hold  it  out  of  use?
Leading  Questions
Query.  Why  should  not  Winter  Street,  with  its
concentrated  business  and  highest  land  values  in
Boston,  have  the  best  buildings,  with  the  best  attainable ­
  equipment,  elevators,  ventilation,  heat,  light,
Water,  sanitation,  etc.?
Query.  Wherever  business  has  up-to-date  accommodations, ­
  as  in  the  Exchange  Building  on  State
Street  and  the  new  Tremont  Building  on  Tremont