162 LAND AND LABOR. 



basis for estimating all. It will be observed that 

 whilst in these three industries there is shown an 

 enormous increase in production, there is an absolute 

 decrease in manual employment equal to that of 

 25,000 persons. A most startling fact, affording 

 abundant food for thought. 



Not being yet able to obtain the corresponding sta- 

 tistics for 1880, 1 am compelled to rely upon those for 

 1875. They sufficiently mark the tendencies, which 

 have in no respect diminished since that time ; but, 

 on the contrary, have notably increased in many direc- 

 tions. The Massachusetts returns are here used for 

 the reason that they are more complete and more per- 

 fectly show the advances that are made in mechanical 

 production, than do those from any other quarter. 



In all their essential features these two exhibits, 

 that from the military operations and that from the 

 Massachusetts Labor Bureau, sustain each other, the 

 army estimate indicating six millions, and the Massa- 

 chusetts estimate indicating five and one half million 

 persons as representing the idleness in our country ; 

 and they are confirmed by the incidents that have 

 marked the progress of our distress ; by the constant 

 increase in idleness of our people ; by the reduction 

 in wages ; by the vast unsaleable stocks of products 

 of every nature ; by the multitudes of manufactur- 

 ing, commercial, and financial failures ; by the idle 

 and half occupied mills, factories, and workshops of 

 every kind ; by the unoccupied stores and dwellings 

 that line our streets ; by the contraction in incomes ; 

 by the shrinkage in values of every nature ; by the 

 idleness of large capitals ; by the reduction in inter- 



