Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-12

rents are always increasing, for rents
have often been known to tall; bu
such cases are only exceptions to ths
| general rule, and can easily be explain,
/ ed It is well known that lots in Chicago
which fifty years ago would have rent
ed for one hundred year, will now
command ten thousand a year, and all
over the country where any progress
| las been made rents have increased
| from one hundred to one thousand per
cent Is it any wonder then that wag-
es and Interest have fallen in many
cases 10 the lowest possible point at
| which labor CT capital can be main
tanned? The law of rent may be stat
ed as follows: Rent is determined BY
the advantage given the user over
those using the best land TO be had
free. For example: if the best land TO
be had free will yield with a given
amount OF labor ten, then land capa-
bic OF yielding twenty will rent for the
GlfereBce between ten and twenty
s1ASs AC A41S X Ia I'll atloD IG
forced lower, and lower rents will nat
urally rise higher. and higher. The
law Of wages is also based upon the
margin of culti vation, as follows:
Wages depend upon the produce
which labor can obtain on the best
land to be had free. If q man can
make two dollars per day work. ng up
on free land, he will refuse 10 work for
less by the day, and just as the mar
gin Of cultivation falls, and the free
land becomes searcer wages must fall.
Thus as rent goes up wages go down.
Interest also depends upon the margin
Of cultivation, like wages, falling as il
falls, and rising as it rises.
Interest is that increase of power
given labor by capital. For example:
4 lives by fishing, but he has no
boat, and can only catch certa in
number Of fish per day; E has boat,
and offers the use of it TO A, Or offers
to hire A to work by the day. A will
refuse TO work for less than he can
make working for himself, SO the diff
ference IN the mum beT of fish he can
catch with q boat and without boat
goes TO capital as interest. But if rent
must be paid Tor the use Of the lake,
or river that Will come out of the joint
profit or earnings Of labor and capital.
Thus il may be seen wages.and interest
will fall together: and rise together
When (as has frequently occurred in
this country rents rise 10 such point
that lator, and capital can DO longer
accede to the demand, production must
be checked, and tusiness will become
payalyzed. Labor will stand in idle
ness and capital will rust because they
are deEied acess to the earth from
which all wealth must be produced.
Thus as a country increases in popu-.
ton rents must always increase and
wages, ami interest fall.
Those who own the earth will live
III luxury upon the labors of others,
and he matter how much the produc-
tion Of wealth increases the owners of
the land a.one viii be benefited.
By owners Of land / do not mean
farmers alone; farm land is of very lit
tie value-compared with city lots worth
thousaDss. AID even millions of dollars.
But increase in population is not the
only agent that causes rents to rise. |
Every Invention every labor saving
briggs poorer land into use
lowers tile margin Of cultivation and |
raises rents. Thus have colossal for
tunes been accumulated. aud poverty |
appeared in its most terrible forms. |
Thus IS the very life Of the American |
Republic endangered by the mighty |
chasm that yawns between the rich |
and poor. Ever widening, ever deep |
eniBg, the chasm menaces the peace,
and ciyiliz ton of the world. Nor |
can il be lessened, or removed until
men are given access 10 the earth, |
without paying tribute TO their fellow
men. J. NJ. PLACE,
Chicago, III.