122 Economy of Machinery and Manufactures. 



to six pence per diem. Now it is obvious, that if a man, who is 

 qualified to perform a more difficult process worth six shillings per 

 day, spends a part of his time in a process which can be done, by a 

 child for six pence, he must either lose the difference of wages for 

 the time so occupied, or the pins must be set at a higher price for 

 his compensation. 



From an analysis, given by Mr. Babbage, it appears, that it takes 

 ten persons seven hours and a half to make a pound weight of pins, 

 and that if one pecson, qualified to perform the most difficult parts, 

 were to do the whole work, the pins must cost three times and three 

 quarters as much as they do under the present system. 



Division of labor has been carried to the greatest extent in watch- 

 making. It was stated before a committee of the House of Com- 

 mons, "that there are one hundred and two distinct branches of this 

 art, and that the watch finisher, v(?hose business it is to put together 

 these scattered parts, is the only one of the one hundred and two 

 persons, who can work in any other department than his own." 



Another consequence of the economy arising from division of la- 

 bor, has been the establishment of large manufactories. To consider 

 the steps by which they become extended, may not be without inter- 

 est. In any of the arts, labor not economically applied, will enhance 

 the cost of the article, and if the material for the manufactured ar- 

 ticle, in the several stages of its progress, must be conveyed from 

 one operator to another, it can be done at the least expense, when 

 they are all working in one establishment. A demand for the arti- 

 cle produced, causes the introduction of steam and other machinery, 

 which greatly increases the quantity of the product. The proprietor 

 having invested considerable capital in machinery, finds that he can 

 increase ]iis profits, by a small addition of floating capital, in working 

 it night and day. Working the machines night and day, renders it 

 necessary that a person should admit the workmen when they relieve 

 each other, and his rest would be no more disturbed by admitting a 

 large than a small number. The good performance and duration of 

 machines depend much on repairing every "shake," or imperfection, 

 or injury, as soon as it appears ; and a workman accustomed to ma- 

 chine making, will adjust or make repairs better than any other, and 

 by being resident on the spot, will reduce the expense of the wear 

 and tear of the machinery. A single machine could not warrant so 

 great an expense ; therefore, the manufactory should contain enough 

 of machines to employ the whole time of a machinist to keep them 



