Produced by Suzanne Shell, Christopher Lund and PG Distributed Proofreaders FREELAND A SOCIAL ANTICIPATION BY DR. THEODOR HERTZKA TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR RANSOM 1891 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE This book contains a translation of _Freiland; ein sociales Zukunftsbild_, by Dr. THEODOR HERTZKA, a Viennese economist. The first German edition appeared early in 1890, and was rapidly followed by three editions in an abridged form. This translation is made from the unabridged edition, with a few emendations from the subsequent editions. The author has long been known as an eminent representative of those Austrian Economists who belong to what is known on the Continent as the Manchester School as distinguished from the Historical School. In 1872 he became economic editor of the _Neue Freie Presse_; and in 1874 he with others founded the Society of Austrian National Economists. In 1880 he published _Die Gesetze der Handels-und Sozialpolitik_; and in 1886 _Die Gesetze der Sozialentwickelung_. At various times he has published works which have made him an authority upon currency questions. In 1889 he founded, and he still edits, the weekly _Zeitschrift für Staats-und Volkswirthschaft_. How the author was led to modify some of his earlier views will be found detailed in the introduction of the present work. The publication of _Freiland_ immediately called forth in Austria and Germany a desire to put the author's views in practice. In many of the larger towns and cities a number of persons belonging to all classes of society organised local societies for this purpose, and these local societies have now been united into an International Freeland Society. At the first plenary meeting of the Vienna _Freilandverein_ in March last, it was announced that a suitable tract of land in British East Africa, between Mount Kenia and the coast, had already been placed at the disposal of the Society; and a hope was expressed that the actual formation of a Freeland Colony would not be long delayed. It is anticipated that the English edition of _Freiland_ will bring a considerable number of English-speaking members into the Society; and it is intended soon to make an application to the British authorities for a guarantee of non-interference by the Government with the development of Freeland institutions. Any of the readers of this book who wish for further information concerning the Freeland movement, may apply either to Dr. HERTZKA in Vienna, or to the Translator. A.R. ST. LOYES, BEDFORD: _June_, 1891. AUTHOR'S PREFACE