The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-06
Impending Economic, INDUSTRIAL, and
Socinl Changes.

Impending Economic, Industrial, and
Social Changes.
The most potent factor in producing the
exceptional prosperity so long enjoyed by
the people Of the United States. and their
freedom from many Of the difficulties which
have besct tho older communities OF
Europe. has been tho existence OF an i'm
mense area OF unoccupied land Of great fer
tility. to which the unemployed might freely
resort and found new homes.
Not only has the development Of areas.
wholly unpeopled forty. and even twenty.
years ago. furnished employment to large
part Of the natural increase OF the popula-
ton. but it has enabled us to absorb and
assimilate the greatest mass Of heteroge-
neous material ever added to community.
and to do this without violent disturbance
OF social or political conditions.
Beyond this the construction equipment.
and operation OF the necessary railways, the
building Of new cities. and the creation of
needed industrial equipments. have profit
ably employed an immense and progress
sively increasing working force and vast
aggregates of accommodating capital.
| All this development has been moro
or less directly due to the existence OF
| great areas of unoccupied land OF ex-
| ceptional fertility. Never has there been
SO great and rapid development of
national resources and wealth; never again
can there be. for nowhere upon the planet
exist like areas SO fertile. so inviting in all
natural resources. and so easily subdued by
reason Of the absence OF retarding forest
growths. and because OF the simultaneous
construction of means OF transport.
Much as this factor has contributed
to the material progress of the nation. it
has now largely spent it's force: In future
we must face the problem OF Il population
increasing, in the aggregate. moro rapidly
than ever, and the sharpest competition
from older communities for commercial
and industrial supremacy. with this element
OF prosperity eliminated: and it is this
elimination which portends radical changes
In the economic. political. and even social
relations Of people that can no longer
spread over overwhelming areas. but must
hereafter congregate in town and village.
The small arabic remnant Of the public do
main, the Indian reservations, and the still
unoccupied lands held by non-residents and
corporations. when all reduced to cultiva-
ton WILL with the lands now growing food
for export, probably provide sustenance.
at the present standard OF living. for some
seven or possibly eight years additions to
the population: but such fragments OF the
arabic areas will but slowly become produce
tive. and their entire reduction to cultiva-
ton is likely to require several decades.
II the remnants Of tho arabic areas yet to
be occupied are no greater than here indi-
Gated, we must, after very brief period
find employment for all additions to the
population. with little assistance from tho
and. whereas, up till now we have had the
land as resort for nearly all the increase
of the rural districts as well rs for such as
failed to mako good progress In the towns.
That the land cannot be relied upon
hereafter to furnish much additional en-
ployment unless social and economic con-
ditions shall be wholly revolutlonized, Is
rendered certain by the constantly pro-
gressve increase in the use Of labor-saving
devices upon tho farm; each new device dis
placing greater or less number OF farm
laborers who are thus forced to seek work.
in competition with others. in the towns. |
Even where the farmer does his own work. |
such devices enable him to devote more !
u
worked, and in either case to increase pro- |
duction without an increase OF labor. There |
fore. it Ia probable that II working force no |
greater than now employed will cultivate |
all the land farmed twenty years hence, |
and the people upon the farms will be In
creased only as the owners are able. by |
reason OF better returns, to cease to per-
form the manual labor.
Not only does the exhaustion OF the I'M
arabic areas promise to affect pro-
foundly the welfare OF the industrial mass
rs, by taking away the means heretofore
available for tho employment OF a large
Of the added population. but 1t
Is likely to affect the capitalist and small
and large investors In like degree even
though in wholly different manner.
The development of unoccupied areas has
furnished abundant and most profitable
employment for tho talent OF the ad-
the enterprise OF the promoter.
and the money OF the capitalist. which
has been used in such a way that his
wealth has increased as never before. the
percentage OF profits exceeding anything
known In older communities. 4 Hereafter
comparatively few great constructions will ]