258 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



ularly appeal to the artistic and esthetic demands of man, as wants 

 of this latter sort develop, skilled workers will he gradually transferred 

 from one class of industry to the other. Successful skilled workmen 

 require clean, commodious and healthy home and shop environment. 

 A demand for skilled craftsmen points toward a revival of village in- 

 dustry; because in the village or the suburbs only, as a rule, can such 

 an environment be found at an expense which is not prohibitive. The 

 use of water power and electrical transmission is especially suitable 

 for furnishing power to small establishments. An authority on this 

 subject has recently stated that about four fifths of the total water- 

 power of the United States is found in falls furnishing less than one 

 thousand horse-power; and that many now unutilized falls may be 

 acquired and equipped to furnish electrical energy at a very reasonable 

 cost per horse-power developed. The economic and industrial advan- 

 tages are not all monopolized by the large business; but governmental 

 regulation of railroads and of the exploitation of natural resources 

 can also do much toward giving the small fellow and the small munici- 

 pality a ' square deal.' 



The steady increasing attention granted to art, architecture and 

 the crafts movement, and the growing demand for public parks and 

 playgrounds, are not entirely disconnected or distinct from the move- 

 ment toward the suburbs. This latter movement has, to date, chiefly 

 affected the well-to-do and the better paid class of artisans; but it is 

 destined to persist until the homes and the environment surrounding the 

 poorest are bettered. The cities are indeed growing very rapidly; but 

 the foreshadowing of a new, more hopeful movement is there in their 

 midst. Every demand for civic beauty and cleanliness is a demand 

 for space and rapid transit. 



A cursory glance at the worker employed in machine production 

 reveals the fact that he has been reduced to the position of a mere 

 machine tender. Long hours devoted to this kind of work makes a 

 man narrow, it blunts his sensibilities ; he finally becomes like unto the 

 machine he tends. Machine production is a necessary accompaniment 

 of our civilization; the machine is to remain among us, nor do we 

 wish to dispense with its services. The machine must be used so as 

 to benefit, not degrade mankind. The hope of the worker is in a 

 shorter working day. If a shorter working day is obtained will the 

 worker, is he able to, improve his leisure time? In other words, is a 

 desirable and beneficial use of leisure time probable in the crowded 

 portion of a city with its dull, monotonous scenery; its noise, hurry 

 and smoke; its foul odors, bad streets and worse places of amusement 

 or debauchery; its lack of natural scenery, fresh air and wholesome 

 food? Amelioration of conditions is possible, feasible and desirable; 

 but a movement of manufacture to the suburbs, the development of 



