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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 798 



epoch in Table III., while keeping firmly 

 in mind the fact that we are here dealing 

 with two ten-year periods and one five-year 

 period, it is again to be noted that both the 

 actual and percentage inereases in the 

 number of establishments are the smallest 

 of all the various increases set forth and 

 that increase for this item for the 1900- 

 05 period is not only actually less than 

 for 1890-1900 and 1880-90, as should be 

 expected, but is proportionately less, thus 

 emphasizing what has been deduced from 

 Table I. as to the increased production of 

 existing establishments. 



Likewise the consideration of the data 

 for this larger number of industries ex- 

 tending over a greater length of time shows 

 that not only is the percentage increase in 

 wages nearly as great at the census of 1905 

 as those for cost of materials and greater 

 than the value of products, but that, while 

 the proportionate increase in the number 

 of wage earners for the 1900-05 period is 

 less than that of 1890-1900, the propor- 

 tionate gain in wages is greater. In fact, 

 all statistics point to markedly improved 

 conditions for the wage earner in the chem- 

 ical industries, and to his increased par- 

 ticipation in the income from the enter- 

 prise. This fact is one to be reckoned on 

 by the chemical engineer in making up his 

 estimate for the cost of a projected enter- 

 prise which it is proposed to install. 



The statistics of Tables II. and III., on 

 the other hand, do not so markedly support 

 the deductions drawn from Table I. as to 

 the increase in cost of materials used when 



compared with the increase in the value of 

 the products in 1900-05. However, when 

 we consider the larger items included in 

 these later statistics, such as iron and steel, 

 smelting and refining of copper, lead and 

 zinc, and others, we may each of us recall 

 a variety of labor-saving devices which 

 have been invented and introduced for 

 cheapening the cost of production and 

 handling of the raw materials of these in- 

 dustries, and that the inventions have in- 

 creased in number and perfection with the 

 growth in magnitude of these industries. 



An increase in cost of materials is in 

 conformity with the long-recognized nat- 

 ural law of supply and demand. A modi- 

 fication of this law through which labor 

 may get its fair share of increase and 

 capital may get its fair share of increase 

 while the actual cost may not proportion- 

 ately be increased has been brought about 

 in recent times through the increase in the 

 magnitude of the unit of demand, or in 

 other terms, the quantity handled. As 

 stated, this has to an extent been rendered 

 possible by the introduction of labor-saving 

 machinery, much of which has been in- 

 vented in this country. 



But in my opinion, and if I read aright 

 the reports of foreign commentators on our 

 chemical industries, in their opinions, the 

 chief modification in the operation of this 

 law has been made in this country through 

 the development of "team work," though 

 the writers style it organization or system- 

 ization. 



Entering on my fortieth consecutive year 



