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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