The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-11
From NE Losdsn BEE Hive.
THE A b C OF SOCIAL SCIENCE


We have said that wealth 10 greatly In
creased by the division Of labor; by which
ia meant, that some persons work at one
Eind Of labor or employment, and some 81
smother, or that diffren persons work 81
different branches OF the % e business, ano
,hus CO .ope, ate TO produce he finished ar
,icle: examples Of which may be seen IN
watch making, pin making. needle IN king.
and varians other kinds OF manufactures.
Bv this division OF labor, or by person de-
voting himself solely to one particular
trade. or branch Of manufacture, ne acquires
superior skill and 6sSieriiy ia his work,
and is enabled TO make the article be is eIn
pIoyed on much better and quicker than u
be had ffersut kinds, or branches OF iabo,
to perform and in this way he - enabled
to increase the general stock Of wealth for
the benefit Of the community.
Without this division Of labor in many
kinds Of manufactures, the article produced
would not only be inferior 80 that which
We now eujny, but it would take so much
time tn complete it, by one individual ex-
ecunng every part Of il. that its cost would
be such as not 70 be purchased by any but
the most wea Thy. We need but refer ~
watch, tie parts Of which pass through the
hands OF a hundred and two oistinci
branches before it is compl,t ted or TO q
broadclosh coat, and the numerous hsnds
and branches OF business 10 has to pass
through, "from the person Who shears the
wool 70 the tailor who Cts il to the back. =
But the great advantages Of the dIv'sian
Of labor j. seen IN other employ menss, -
in manufacturer We need but refer e.
one or Two mentioned BY Professor Whats-
w; one is the conveyance OF letters by the
Post-ofice, where some man delivers NJ
many hundreds Of letters in a few hours -
would otherwise take as many huDdred
messengers to perform"
Another is the conveyance OF goods from
on country to another, or 70 oitfeIe nt parss
Of the ssDe country, which IS Performed
chespiy e&pediti,esiy by means OF lew
hands, compared to the nua.bsrs that must
have been employed, in addition 10 the great
expense that must have been incurred, II
every person engaged in business nad 70
fetch home tue materials he required, and
10 convey The finished articles 10 the places
they are required finally TO be sent.
Another example VI the great benefit OF
the division Of labor is seen in the claes oil
shopkeepers, who obtain the commodities
SuCJ uCaf IN A@t ~ 4u1uts~heo ttOhA@ saFc
merchant or wholesale dealer, aud distribute
them out in such quaint lies as their ecstom-
ers may require; when, without thIs useful
class OF persons, people would have TO 60 or
send to the wholesale warehouse, often at
great distance, and purchase what they
vented Wholesale, which IN most cases
would be boy ond their means, and often 10
such quantities Is might become deteriorated,
or rendered useless before thc- would be
able TO consume them
BY the div islon Of labor, too, joined TO the
cooperation Of many IncIviduals, intent
merely 10 pursuing their own private inter-
ests, our towns and cities are supplied With
every kind Of necessary aud convenience /,
and that, too, in a manner far superior 10
what could possibly be done by any govern
ment or body OF individuals, however anxi-
Gus they might be TO perform the duty
Without this division Of labor in society
every person would have to build his own
habitation, raise bis own food, make his own
clothing, and manufacture every article Of
necessity and convenience be requires for
himself and family thus being obliged To
keep himself fully occnpiei 10 providing the
means Of subsistence and articles OF the most
inferior description, with little or no time
for mental improvement, the instruction Of
his family, or the eradication Of the tastes,
pleasures, and amusemenIs now accessible to
him.
Without the division of labor ssuines could
not have been dug, metals wrought, towns
erected, factories built, machinery formed,
ships built, railroads made, and books anu
newspapers produced as the numerous per-
sons engaged in all these operations must
have their food, clothing, hsbisation and
comforts provided for them by Others, while
they are engaged IN these different under
takings.t The division Of labor, however,
cannot be successfully carried on, says Mr..
Babbage, unless there is great demand for
the productions made By IL, nor without
large outlay Of capital.
Next week Mechanical and Chemical In
vennons."
: Professor Whstslys Lestsrs.
ar. Wan. Ellis PrnEresass LablF.