The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-09-20

All IabOrlng men 20 not readily
comprehend why there should not be
steady and remuneralive work for
them one year with another, or where
the excessive competition comes from
under which they suffer. 1t Is, seem
ingly, fair proposition, that while
wOrkingmen grow in numbers the
country increases In proportion, and
thus that there should always be room
for new corners. Bat there are many
forces at work which affect US all new
combinations producing effects of
which no one is aware until he suffers
from them. The introduction of ma
chinery Is a potent cause of the LESSEN
ed demand for labor, and while the
advantages derived from it are shared
by the multitude there are individuals
and classes that are thrown out of EN-
plOyment and must find other means
of living. We will give few lllustra-
tiOns: ~.
In 1865, $4,000 people were employ
country in 1875 there were but Is, 702,
the value of clothing produced having
meanwhile increased nearly S. 900, 900.
benefit to the country at large, but
which, through sewing machines and
other devices, was able to dispense
with over Is 900 hands. What became
of them? They either sought other
work or they entered into competition
with each other, breaking down wages
and giving but the half loaf where the
whole one had been previously enjoy.
ed. g s.i s
Boots and shoes show another re-
markable decline In the number of
employees. In 1855 the estimated
number of hands in the business was
n, $50, while in 1875 we find but AS, 100,
while the product had increased from
Az, OOO, 900 pairs to nearly 10000 900
pairs. Here were $50 mouths de-
prived Of bread, and this does not tell
the whole story, fortaking the increase
of production into account, $3.50
hands should have been added to the
business, making in reality differ.
ence Of So, 700, and it Is not difficult to
conceive the effect such an increase of
busy workers would have upon the
country, for they would represent at
least three times that number, drawing
subsistence from q single branch of
business. E X
/ Ifin other tradesthere is less mark
ed discrepancy we note at least that
there is but rarely any proper legiti-
mate Increase, The production OF
wooden goods nearly doubled in ten
years, amounting in 1865 to 46,0O0,0 900
yards aud i'm 1875 to something over
80, 900, 900 yards, yet there was an in
crease Of but 2S3 workmen, while the
business should have sustained about
Is. 900 more. Cotton goods show
fairer rate of increase, yet by no means
what the workers In THAI industry
would have right to expect. 1t crept
up from 175, S75, 900 yards in 1865, to
S74. 100000 yards in 1S75--in round
numbers five hundred per cent, v lille
hands increased only from "A, $50 to co.
175, or one hundred and fifty per cent,
and 1t must. be remarked here that
there is o natural tendency to an In
crease in labor with the increase In
production, and thus we find that
while the cotton business employs
more than twice as many hands as 1t
did in 1855, there Is q sufficient compe-
tition to keep the remuneration down
to minimum-that Is to say, there is
no room for the multitude who have
been attracted to that business by Its
growth and who should, by. the laws
Of demand and supply, have found
therein something for their busy hands
to do. m le
The political economist points, Of
course, to the cheapening Of manufac-
tured articles. through machinery, as
the compensation fOrindividual losses.
We find, for instance, nm average re-
duction In the cost Of boots and shoes
from $3.50 In 1866, to $l.50 In 1875, and
to this must be added decided In
crease In the quality. The average
value OF carpets i'm 1866 was ~ per
ward. in 1875 but 20 cents per yard,
showing the igreat improvements In
and q purchasing power
among the poorer classes. There are
very few who cannot afford TO have q
decent carpet, whatever may be said OF
the wages paid TO those who weave 10.
The clothing business will perhaps
show the greatest revolution In trade
ofmodern times, for the cost has not
only been 50 largely reduced as to
make the comparative values OF 1855
and 1875 poor guide, but Its manu-.
facture has been 80 much improved ~
TO materially enoroach upon the ready
made system Of olden times. In 1895
the average value Of our wooden pro-
ducts was placed at 81 per yard, In 1875
Il ii apparent from even this hasty
glance at the, subject that vast dis.
furbing element In labor has produced
a crisls. forcing large bodies Of people
into other than their usual work, or
leaving shem 20 'els 1Cut . Prycerious
~ NJ they cap. A. we
have sAid befjfq, the empnye!S Arg
not wholly respectable for this state OF
Affairs, but the laboring people them.
selves. Two people cannot physicaify