The Strong Trade Position of Manufacture. 71 



merely mention it here as showing how favorable to man- 

 ufacture were market conditions. 



Manufacturees in Position to Adjust Supply to 



Demand. 



Not only has there been a great demand for manufac- 

 tured products because of the rapid industrial develop- 

 ment of a new country, but the industry is one that can 

 protect itself when production threatens to outrun de- 

 mand. Price is thus maintained in bad years or at least 

 held to a far higher level than would be the case if the 

 supply of products were not under control. When prod- 

 ucts begin to accumulate, by concert of action the mills 

 can be run fewer hours, or a portion of the workmen laid 

 off, or the mills shut down for davs or weeks. Some- 

 times it is said that rival establishments are paid to 

 remain idle. In these ways manufacturers can protect 

 their interests, but largely at the expense of their work- 

 men. 



Farmers have no such control over production, as 

 months before it is known what the harvest will be. the 

 seeds are x)laced in the ground. 



In manufacture cost of production can be ascertained, 

 as the items of cost are in terms of dollars and cents. 

 The resulting advantage is that a person will stubbornly 

 refuse to sell for less than the cost. Price is thus held 

 nearer to a fair level than it otherwise would be. This 

 is worth a great deal to all in that line. When cost is 

 unknown the seller's position is weak. He can give no 

 reason for his price and does not know but what he can 

 afford to sell for less. Furthermore, if a man finds after 

 fair trial that he cannot obtain cost price, he under- 

 stands without a long ruinous delay that he must quit the 



