The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-01-23
Where does Wealth come From2


If a dealer in drygoods takes an account
ofhis stock of property, a portion of it will
be set down as number Of yards Of CLOTH
Let us examine piece Of this-say piece
of sheeting see where the wealth in it
comes from. In the first place, the cotton
was raised on Southern Plantation The
seed was planted in the ground, aud when
the plant came up it was plowed and hoed
tin the cottor was ripe, when it was picked,
baled and sent to market. BY this process
no new matter was created. 1t is regarded
by chemists and Philosophers as settled, that
matter cannot be produced by man. The
elements which form the cotton were previ-
ously floating in the air OF resting in the
earth. All that the planter did was to bring
them together in new combinations, by
which process he gave them value. 1t will
be found that all production Of wealth con-
sists in changing the relation, or form, of
location of some portion of matter in way
to impart to it value. After the cotton
reached the shipping port it was placed on
board of vessel and sent over sea to the
manufacturer. BY this change of location
additional value was given to it, The mer-
chant 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 it into a web oil
cloth; by this change of its form-of its sev
eral parts in relation to each other-giving
it additional value. 1t then passes into the
hands of the trader; who separates the large
quantity into small parcels convenient for
use aid transports it into the neighborhoods
where it is wanted. BY thus changing its
location, and the relation Of its several parts
to each other, he imparts to it additional
value. The trader is producer of wealth
In the same sense as Is the farmer or the
manufacturer.
There was time when there was nc
wealth in the world: it is now to be reckon
ed by millions of millions, and five exam
inc each item of it, we shall find that all OF
this wealth has been produced by making
changes in the form, or the relation Of the
parts, or the location, of the several articles
of which wealth consists.
Let us take one more case-that of a shin.
A certain value is given to the logs by cut.
ting them down and transporting them to
the saw mill-changing their location. They
receive additional value by being sawn into
plank or Understanding the surplus,
changing the relation of their several parts
to each other. The transportation to the
shipyard gives them additional vaue-chan.
ging their location. Then cutting away the
portions which are not wanted, and placing
the materials together in the ship. gives
them another instalment of value. The
ship constitutes $50, 900 worth, or $500, ,O0C
Of the wealth of the world, and all this wealth
has been produced by changing the form oi
some material substance, or the relation ol
its several parts to each other, or its location
| in such way as to impart value to it.
1t will be observed that the reason why
these changes give value to the m aterial is
they advance it a step in the process of adap.
ting it to crafty some human want If la.
Dor is bestowed upon al 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 the laborer or of the
labor Of the world. If a 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 o
mankind. If manufacturer makes such
changes in the forms of his articles as to in.
crease their usefulness, he does not, by such
changes, add anything to their value or tc
his own wealth. fla merchant buys hides in
New York and transports them to Buenos
Ayres, where they are worth less than they
are in New York, he not only loses his owr
money, but diminishes the wealth of the
world by the operation.