PREFACE. 



No APOLOGY is necessary for the publication of a 

 work of this character. The wide - spread discontent 

 among the laboring masses throughout the country, with a 

 growing desire to know more of the causes which have led 

 to the present depressed condition of the productive 

 interests, has induced the author to give to the public a 

 work which, it is to be hoped, will at least throw some 

 light on questions concerning the interests of the producers. 

 The numerous letters containing kind words of encourage- 

 ment which the author has received in response to the 

 prospectus sent out, leads him to believe that the book 

 will be kindly received and heartily endorsed by those 

 whose interests he has endeavored to represent. The 

 preparation of such a work is not without its difficulties. 

 The author, having no extensive acquaintance or literary 

 reputation to recommend him to the task, has been com- 

 pelled to seek from comparative strangers for important 

 data. Much of the information herein contained has come 

 through official sources, and, while as a rule the author's 

 requests have been courteously responded to, in some cases 

 information has been altogether withheld or but tardily 

 given. The result is unavoidable delay in the publication 

 of the book, and a less complete work than it might other- 

 wise have been. While the author is sensible of the fact 

 that the position he has taken upon some of the great 

 questions w r ith which our people are grappling may expose 



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