THE ANTAGONISM OF SOCIAL FOHCES. 139 



quickly become soiled, machines will rapidly wear out. To replace 

 the worn out or consumed, to re])air the broken or deca^'ed, roquires 

 toil, and we hjive no evidence that we can ever be free from tlie 

 necessity foi' toil. 



But some of the scarcity values do not possess this trtinsitory char- 

 acter. The value of a city lot continues as long as the jiopulation 

 clusters round that spot. It lequi res no effort to maintain its value, 

 for it is not subject to decay or consumption, like other utilities. To 

 allow such values to be approj)riated by individuals, therefore, allows 

 them not merely to become rich without effort, but allows their 

 wealth to continue undiminished for ages. The division of society 

 into toilers and idlers is thus perpetuated. 



Let a drought con)e till water becomes a salable commodity, then 

 the populace become poorer in water. If a few individuals possess 

 some unfailing springs, then the increased value of water would 

 render these persons richer. Let population increase till land 

 becomes relatively more scarce, the people are poorer iii land ; but 

 values advance and the holders become richer. Here we notice a 

 movement in society not mutually enriching, but enrichment of one 

 part accompanied by, and as the consequence of, the impoverishment 

 of the rest of society. This is a movement not harmonious, but 

 antagonistic, enriching one by impoverishing another. 



Scarcity itself is a calamity. To be cooped up in tenements is not 

 the kind of life that is resorted to of free choice ; a breathing space 

 would be no small fortune to many in our most congested centres of 

 population. But by our present system this calamity is not simi)le, 

 but compounded and intensified. 



Let jiopulation become dense, and we must not only crowd each 

 other to the degree of discomfort and inconvenience, but we must 

 furnish the owner of the land with wealth, in some cases to an 

 enormous amount ; we must board, lodge, and furnish him and his 

 family, it may be in princely style. Two calamities — first, crowiling ; 

 second, tribute to idleness. First, imi)overishment in space ; second, 

 impoverishment in surrender of product to a non-producer. The 

 calamity is comj)ounded. 



But this is not all. The division in society is still further inten- 

 sified by another characteristic of the law of values. With increased 

 poj)ulation there is diminished comjietition for the sale of lands. 



