"Each year at a stated time," the Chemist answered, "transfers of land are made. There are generally enough people who want to move to make satisfactory changes of location practical. And then of course, the government always stands ready to take up any two widely separate pieces of land, and give others in exchange out of its reserve."
"Suppose you don't like the new land as well?" objected the Very Young Man.
"Almost all land is of equal value," answered the Chemist. "And of course, its state of cultivation is always considered."
"You were speaking about not having money," prompted the Very Young Man.
"The idea is simply this: Suppose I wish to cultivate nothing except, let us say, certain vegetables. I register with the government my intention and the extent to which I propose to go. I receive the government's consent. I then take my crops as I harvest them and exchange them for every other article I need."
"With whom do you exchange them?" asked the Doctor.
"Any one I please—or with the government. Ninety per cent of everything produced is turned in to the government and other articles are taken from its stores."
"How is the rate of exchange established?" asked the Big Business Man.
"It is computed by the government. Private exchanges are supposed to be made at the same rate. It is against the law to cut under the government rate. But it is done, although apparently not with sufficient frequency to cause any trouble."
"I should think it would be tremendously complicated and annoying to make all these exchanges," observed the Big Business Man.