FARM MACHINERY 87 



both for and against the use of machine power. So far as routine 

 work is concerned, I venture to say that the evil is not inherent 

 in, nor pecuhar to, the use of machine power. 



The primary purpose and usual effect of the use of any ma- 

 chine is the production of utilities at a less expenditure of time, 

 energy, and money.^ But this is only another way of saying that, 

 when aided by machine power, a given expenditure of time, 

 energy, and money will produce a greater quantity of utilities. 

 Utilities are the means of satisfying wants ; and the satisfaction 

 of wants is essential to life and happiness. The use of machinery, 

 by supplying wants, does, therefore, one of two things : either it 

 enables a larger number of persons to get a living, or it enables 

 a given number "to get a better living." ^ Anyone will, I think, 

 admit that the utilities supplied by machine power have not all 

 been consumed in better livings. A very great part of this addi- 

 tional means of satisfying wants has been devoted to the main- 

 tenance of .a more numerous population. That this is true must 

 be self-evident when we consider how greatly the supply of utili- 

 ties has been increased by the use of machinery,^ and how utterly 

 impossible it would be for the labor force now in existence, un- 

 aided by machinery, to provide even the ordinary necessaries of 

 life as we now count necessaries.^ 



By lightening the tasks of those who labor with their hands, 

 and by increasing the quantity of the necessaries of life which 

 a given amount of labor can procure, machinery has not only 

 favored a higher standard of living, but has increased the chances 



1 Les outils ne sont que des machines simples et les machines ne sont que 

 des outiles compliques que nous ajoutons a nos bras pour en augmenter la puis- 

 sance ; et les uns et les autres ne sont, a beaucoup d'egards, que des moyens 

 d'obtenir le concours des agens naturels. Leur resultat est evidemment de donner 

 moins de travail pour obtenir la meme quantite d'utilite, ou, ce qui revient 

 au meme, d'obtenir plus d'utilite pour la meme quantite de travail humain. 

 J. B. Say, " Traite d'economie politique," p. 85 



2 Powers, Labor Making Machinery, p. 27. 

 8 See page 45. 



* Selbst der Aermste hat in unserer Arbeitstheilung doch mehr zu geniessen 

 als wenn er im ungeselligen Zustand lebte : die bei uns am iibelsten gestellt sind, 

 Krankliche ohne Vermbgen, Familienvater mit allzu vielen Kindern, etc., wiirden 

 im Ucwalde einfach verhungern. Roscher, " Grundlagen der Nationaloko- 

 nomie" (edition of 1900), p. 166 



