MINUTES OF PKOCEEDINGS OF 
220 
attracted to these, have at length arrived at such dimensions as to form 
great towns and cities which, in case of invasion, would demand protec¬ 
tion. Thus we are brought to the conclusion that, in selecting a site 
for the establishment of manufactures of war materiel, one of the first 
requisites is the presence on the spot, or at any rate in its immediate 
vicinity, of the raw material, in the shape of coal and iron. A place of 
arms so situated would further possess the advantages of deriving pro¬ 
tection from the fortified places in its vicinity; for these latter, being 
great centres of wealth and commercial activity, should not be left 
undefended. 
'Facilities for Manufacture. 
Great facilities will be afforded for the manufacture of war materiel if 
the arsenals be placed in districts where skilled labour already exists in 
large quantities. In our manufacturing districts there exist whole popu¬ 
lations of colliers, of iron-workers, of artisans, and of mechanics, of 
whom the two last-mentioned classes could be initiated with the utmost 
facility into the technicalities required for the special manufacture of 
war materiel. In most instances the growth of these industrial and 
manufacturing populations has been the work of many years. They 
have grown up pari passu with the extension of the various works and 
industries which first called them into existence. Any sudden cessation 
of manufacturing effort, owing either to strikes or war, has a most 
disastrous effect among many thousands of working hands. In the 
latter case, however, we may very largely avail ourselves of the skilled 
labour of the civil population in the manufacture of war materiel. In 
establishing, therefore, our manufactures of war materiel in the midst 
of an industrial population of mechanics and artisans, we not only pro¬ 
vide ourselves with the means of obtaining an almost unlimited supply 
of skilled labour, but we possess facilities for keeping that skilled labour 
up to the standard of efficiency—which, owing to constant improvements 
in manufacture, is a necessity in both peace and war. We, moreover, 
possess the means of, to a certain extent, averting that widespread 
misery and destitution which would be produced among our industrial 
population by a war which should cause any great cessation of commer¬ 
cial enterprise and activity. 
Distribution to Consumers. 
With regard to the great industrial manufactories of general materials^ 
it is the whole population of the country who are the consumers, and 
consequently they are generally found surrounded by a perfect network 
of roads, railways, and canals, radiating in every direction, and affording a 
ready means of distributing the manufactured merchandise throughout the 
country. In the case, however, of military manufactures of war materiel, 
it is the army alone which are the consumers ; and therefore they should 
be situated in positions affording every facility of supply to depots in 
the way of numerous and easy communications, both for outlet and 
ingress. There can be no doubt but that, within certain limits, decen¬ 
tralisation, both of manufacture and supply, is to the advantage of the 
