The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-25

rncpucz1ox AND DrsrEIsUTsox.

-, 008 ~ ~ tHssso Ssssss n~s A"'se
60 ene,third Of the population belonged
- - pfodueing classss, was regarded -
nnttw q surprise. and - indicating
oomofhinG radically wrong In our economic
o,s1om. In round numbers, II appeared
fhot ON total population WAS Gssy-cne
n1litcns. u whom lsss thAn seventeen
mHllene within the rear had produced any
ding uhstsvsf.
And n ~ sevenissn millions every man
Nbo bod lsl1sd tres and converted II into
esedwsod, ssssy msn who hsd thrown up
lsEt = tranGorm part OF the open country
ln1o = tnsnpike or county road. no less
Nm svesy farmer, manufacturer. me
ehnmle a. astissns was enumerated ~ .
rsodnew. But with this liberal conssruc-
- = Shs term. not one-third OF orr peo-
- wsss peoducsrs. The remainder we're
nnode - sppear - idle consumers. or -
HING b IL distribution OF the produc-
tfeus q the cfs-third.
And H. census went on to teach that
49, Who producsd did not ~ any means
Ioal,se he Hons shars OF the ultimate
yafne q theif productions. On the con-
1eaFy. 4 vss made to appear BY unsssail-
ohts ststisttcs that - rule the distribut-
~ eaA0ss acqutrsd fortunes, while large
peepostton of the producers had IN ex-
11omeay hard time to make both ends meet
An1 superficial thinkers of-hand con-
elo1ed that unqusstionably the producers
~ besn robbed or unfairly dealt with.
Bat 4 , highly probable that the census
q 1eo0. should Il 80 into the same details,
WI shov greater ana growing disparity
r this respect With the multiplication
q labor saving machinery. The massine OF
Wealeh accumulation and tho ENLARGED
aeeie On which most productive enterprises
~ conducted, u - from year to year
taking ies ana less In the number OF per-
eons. nd much less expenditure oil man
~ ianos 70 produce al mat the world
tequlsee o. food. clothing and the neces-
oos1n ana Injuries Of NE.
1he time may come when not more
fhan snssssnth, or sven . fraction much
-, q this nations population viii be re-
CURED Or can b probably employed In
productiye snterprisss. And on mature
solecslon y WI % found tnaf this need not
necessarily Imply general disaster or dis
1soes. When u shall come TO pass that one
Ninth q the worlds population can pro-
dos Il hat The whole require, Il would
- Idly md detrinsnt to I'll II greater
psopofeion should engage IN productive In
dusiSy. Tho excess would b waste, and
vould leessn the value OF the needed
productions.
Bat With these changed conditions there
VIII eo1ne compsnsating and reeulative
change IN another direction. With oil
needed production accomplished by a
small proportion Of the population, there
win asise necessity for . larger proper
ten % engage In the work OF distribution.
This can b made clear by q simple Illus
tfation: With the labor OF Q thousand
men required 10 meet the demands OF two
thousand consumers. one-half the product
VIII b consumed by the producers and
only ons-half will require 10 10 distributed,
Wills with the same amount produced by
one hundred men nIne-tcnths will have 10
- distributed.
And contrary TO the general apprehen-
sion. - to most OF the results of produo-
uve industry. especially the heavier. more
bulky and cheaper sorts. IL costs more in
time. labor and money TO distribute than
70 produce them. This has been true
under conditions heretofore existing, but
the difference has become and Is be-
coming constantly mora uranoupcsa
and consprnous With thacs.ra