The Nevada Democrat., 1861-02-21
where Does wealth Come From


If dealer in dry goods takes an account
OF his stock of property, portion of it will
be set down as number of yards of cloth.
Let US examine piece of sheeting-and
see where the wealth in it comes from. In
the first place, the cotton was raised on a
Southern plantation. The seed was planted
in the ground, and when the plant came up
1t was plowed and hoed till the cotton was
ripe, when il was picked, baled and sent to
market. BY this process no new matter
was created. tits regarded by chemists
and philosophers as settled, that matter
cannot be produced by man. The elements
which form the cotton were previously
floating in the air or resting in the earth.
All that the planter did was to bring them
together in new combinations, by which
process he gave them value. Il will be
found that all production of wealth con.
sists 10 changing the relation, or form. or
location of some portion OF matter in way
to impart to 1t value. After the bale Of
cotton reached the shipping port it was
placed on board of vessel and sept over
sea to the manufacturer. BY the change Of
location additional value was given to H.
The merchant is not only just as really
producer of wealth as the farmer, but he
produces wealth in the same way. Both of
them give value to matter by changing its
location. The manufacturer draws the
cotton out into long slender threads. and
weaves II into web of cloth; by this
change Of its form of its several parts in
relation to each other-giving ie additional
value. 1t then passes into the hands of the
trader; who separates the large quantity
into small parcels convenient for use. and
transports it into the neighborhoods where
It is wanted. BY thus changing its loca-
tton. and the relation of its several parts to
each other, he imparts to it additional val
ne. The trader is producer of wealth in
the same as is the farmer or the manufac.
turer.
There was a time when there was no
wealth in the world: it is now to be reck-
oned by millions of millions, and If we ex-
anime each item of it, we shall find that all
of this wealth has been produced by ma.
king changes in the form, or the relation of
the parts, or the location, Of the several ar.
ticles Of which wealth consists.
Let us take one more case-that of a shin.
A certain value is given to the logs bv cut.
ting them down aud transporting them 20
saw mill-changing their location. They
receive additional value by being sawn in
TO plank or Understanding the surplus.
changing the relation of the several parts
to each other. The transportation to the
shipyard gives them additional vaIue--
changing their location. Then, cutting
away the portions which are not wanted
and placing the materials together ia the
ship, gives them another instalment of val.
ne. The ship constitutes $50, 900 worth. or
SOC, 900, and all this wealth has been pro.
duced by changing the form of some mate
rial substance, or the relation Of it's several
parts to each other, or it's location. In such
way as 10 impart value to it.
1t will be observed that the reason why
these changes give value to the material Is
that they advance II step In the process
Of adapting 1t to crafty some human want.
Ii labor is bestowed upon an article in a
way not to have this effect, such labor adds
nothing to its value, and of course does not
increase the wealth either Of Iaborer or of
the world. II farmer works the whole
season to raise crop which will satisfy no
want, his seasons labor adds nothing to his
own wealth or the wealth of mankind. Ifa
manufacturer makes such changes in the
forms Of his articles as not to increase their
usefulness, be docs not, by such changes add
anything to their value or TO his own wealth.
II merchant buys hides In New York and
transports them to Buenos Ayres, where
they are worth less than they are In New
York. be not only loses bis own money, but
diminishes the wealth Of the world By the
peration.-[S Scientific American.