46 WAGES AND EMPIRE 



these centre round iron and coal — and, of course, the 

 scientific knowledge which permits of their use. 



The most useful medium for employing the dis- 

 coveries of science is the metal iron. Nearly all the 

 means by which it has been possible to add to human 

 energy and to increase its efficiency depend for their 

 success upon the use of iron : as, for instance, the imple- 

 ments of agriculture, the machines of manufacture, 

 and the vehicles of the modern transport system. 



The use of iron induces a need for coal ; without 

 this cheap form of energy for smelting and treatment 

 the great employment of iron upon which civilisation 

 rests would be impossible. 



Coal beyond its use for the treatment of iron also 

 plays a second r61e ; it affords a source of energy far 

 beyond that of the capacity of human beings and makes 

 possible the cheap manufactures and economic transport 

 of the day. 



The part played by manufacture is likewise twofold. 

 Manufacture makes up iron both into implements for 

 the agriculturists and into engines for its own use and 

 for the transporter. In addition, supplied with iron 

 machinery and coal energy the manufacturer makes up 

 the products of agriculture. 



The emplojonent of iron and coal creates the need 

 for a transport system, since the products of manufac- 

 ture must be delivered to each separate farm, and the 

 raw material for treatment collected from every separate 

 holding. 



The natural spots for the production of iron wares 

 and the manufacture of raw products are the seats of 

 the most favourable occurrence of coal and iron ; there 

 the miner, the iron worker, and the manufacturers of raw 

 products all assist in the application of science to the 

 making of food in the following way : 



The miners and the fashioners of iron are nothing more 



