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men。 Everywhere have the cultivation of national language and



literature; have the civilising arts; and the perfection of



municipal institutions kept equal pace with the development of



manufactures and commerce。 It is from manufactures that the



nation's capability originates of carrying on foreign trade with



less civilised nations; of increasing its mercantile marine; of



establishing a naval power; and by founding colonies; of utilising



its surplus population for the further augmentation of the national



prosperity and the national power。



    Comparative statistics show that by the complete and relatively



equal cultivation of manufactures and agriculture in a nation



endowed with a sufficiently large and fertile territory; a



population twice or three times as large can be maintained; and



maintained; moreover; in a far higher degree of well…being than in



a country devoted exclusively to agriculture。 From this it follows



that all the mental powers of a nation; its State revenues; its



material and mental means of defence; and its security for national



independence; are increased in equal proportion by establishing in



it a manufacturing power。



    At a time where technical and mechanical science exercise such



immense influence on the methods of warfare; where all warlike



operations depend so much on the condition of the national revenue;



where successful defence greatly depends on the questions; whether



the mass of the nation is rich or poor; intelligent or stupid;



energetic or sunk in apathy; whether its sympathies are given



exclusively to the fatherland or partly to foreign countries;



whether it can muster many or but few defenders of the country 



at such a time; more than ever before; must the value of



manufactures be estimated from a political point of view。







Chapter 18







The Manufacturing Power and the Natural Productive Powers of the



Nation。







    The more that man and the community perfect themselves; the



more are they enabled to make use of the natural powers which are



within their reach for the accomplishment of their objects; and the



more does the sphere of what is within their reach extend itself。



    The hunter does not employ the thousandth part; the shepherd



not the hundredth part; of those natural advantages which surround



him。 The sea; foreign climates and countries; yield him either



none; or at least only an inconsiderable amount of enjoyment;



assistance; or stimulants to exertion。



    In the case of a people in a primitive agricultural condition;



a large portion of the existing natural resources lies yet



unutilised; and man still continues limited to his nearest



surroundings。 The greater part of the water power and wind power



which exists; or can be obtained; is unemployed; the various



mineral products which the manufacturers so well understand how to



utilise profitably; lie dead; various sorts of fuel are wasted or



regarded (as; for instance; peat turf) as a mere hindrance to



cultivation; stone; sand; and lime are used but little as building



materials; the rivers; instead of being means of freight and



transport for man; or of fertilising the neighbouring fields; are



allowed to devastate the country by floods; warmer climates and the



sea yield to the agricultural country but few of their products。



    In fact; in the agricultural State; that power of nature on



which production especially depends; the natural fertility of the



soil; can only be utilised to a smaller extent so long as



agriculture is not supported by manufacturing industry。



    Every district in the agricultural State must itself produce as



much of the things necessary to it as it requires to use; for it



can neither effect considerable sales of that which it has in



excess to other districts; nor procure that which it requires from



other districts。 A district may be ever so fertile and adapted for



the culture of plants yielding oil; dyeing materials; and fodder;



yet it must plant forests for fuel; because to procure fuel from



distant mountain districts; over wretched country roads; would be



too expensive。 Land which if utilised for the cultivation of the



vine and for garden produce could be made to yield three to four



times more returns must be used for cultivating corn and fodder。 He



who could most profitably devote himself solely to the breeding of



cattle must also fatten them: on the other hand; he who could most



profitably devote himself merely to fattening stock; must also



carry on cattle breeding。 How advantageous it would be to make use



of mineral manures (gypsum; lime; marl); or to burn peat; coal; &c。



instead of wood; and to bring the forest lands under cultivation;



but in such a State there exists no means of transport by means of



which these articles can be conveyed with advantage for more than



very short distances。 What rich returns would the meadows in the



valleys yield; if irrigation works on a large scale were



established  the rivers now merely serve to wash down and carry



away the fertile soil。



    Through the establishment of manufacturing power in an



agricultural State; roads are made; railways constructed; canals



excavated; rivers rendered navigable; and lines of steamers



established。 By these not merely is the surplus produce of the



agricultural land converted into machinery for yielding income; not



merely are the powers of labour of those who are employed by it



brought into activity; not only is the agricultural population



enabled to obtain from the natural resources which it possesses an



infinitely greater return than before; but all minerals; all



metals; which heretofore were lying idle in the earth are now



rendered useful and valuable。 Articles which could formerly only



bear a freight of a few miles; such as salt; coals; stone; marble;



slate; gypsum; lime; timber; bark; &c。; can now be distributed over



the surface of an entire kingdom。 Hence such articles; formerly



quite valueless; can now assume a degree of importance in the



statistical returns of the national produce; which far surpasses



the total of the entire agricultural production in previous times。



Not a cubic foot of water…fall will then exist which is not made to



perform some service; even in the most distant districts of a



manufacturing country; timber and fuel will now become valuable; of



which previously no one knew how to make any use。



    Through the introduction of manufactures; a demand for a



quantity of articles of food and raw materials is created; to the



production of which certain districts can be far more profitably



devoted than to the growth of corn (the usual staple article of



rude agricultural countries)。 The demand which now springs up for



milk; butter; and meat adds a higher value to the existing pasture



land; and leads to the breaking up of fallows and the erection of



works of irrigation。 The demand for fruit and garden produce



converts the former bare agricultural land into vegetable gardens



and orchards。



    The loss which the mere agricultural State sustains by not



making use of these natural powers; is so much the greater the more



it is fitted by nature for carrying on manufactures; and the more



its territory is adapted for the production of raw materials and



natural powers which manufacturers specially require; that loss



will therefore be the greatest in mountainous and hilly countries



less suitable for agriculture on the whole; but which offer to



manufactures plenty of water power; of minerals; timber; and stone;



and to the farmer the opportunity of cultivating the products which



are specially required by the manufacturer。



    Countries with a temperate climate are (almost without



exception) adapted for factories and manufacturing industry。 The



moderate temperature of the air promotes the development and



exertion of power far more than a hot temperature。 But the severe



season of the year; which appears to the superficial observer as an



unfavourable effect of nature; is the most powerful promoter of



habits of energetic activity; of forethought; order; and economy。



A man who has the prospect before him of six months in which he is



not merely unable to obtain any fruits from the earth; but also



requires special provisions and clothing materials for the



sustenance of himself and his cattle; and for protection against



the effects of cold; must necessarily become far more industrious



and economical than the one who merel

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