When these machines were set to work, boys were still employed to attend them ; but this again produced an inconveniency of another kind :—their parents only kept them employed whilst it suited their own conveni ency ; and whenever it appeared adviseable to place them as apprentices to any regular business, they were suddenly withdrawn, frequently without notice, and the machines left vacant, until a substitute could be found and instructed. These reasons suggested the idea that young women, not under sixteen years of age, might be more beneficially employed, as the wages might be safe ly paid fully as high as could be earned by any other em ployment, and at the same time so low as to yield a great profit upon their work. By these means, and some im provements on the machinery, the work was gradually brought to the state in which the inventor left it. At this period, the following statement, taken from an average of three months, will show its actual state.
The flowers upon the cloth, it has been already ob served, were at an inch distance, and the rows placed in the bosom of each other, so as to form diamonds. When the diamonds were truly formed, there were 72 Tows in the yard, and this was most commonly the case, although sometimes the rows were a little more sparse. Hence the number of flowers upon a yard in length were 3888, and in a piece of 10 yards 38,880. But as a small excess of measure is always allowed, in general, it might be assumed, that the flowers upon a yard were 4000, and upon a piece 40,000. The number of loops or stitches in a flow er also Varied according to the pattern, but the average might be fairly taken at 30 to each. Ac cording to the common rate of paying work of this kind by the common manual process, the price might lave been pretty fairly estimated at two shillings and sixpence per yard, or twenty-five shillings per piece. These prices, indeed, are liable to almost constant fluctuation, according to the quantity in the market, and the demand for them. Sometimes three shillings, or even three shillings and six pence were given, at other times they might perhaps be obtained, for a short time, at two shillings, or two and three pence ; but the price quoted may be considered as a low average for good work. When wrought by the machine, the price was fixed at nine pence per yard, but in order to stimulate the work ers to every possible exertion, when the quantity ex ceeded 15 yards per week, one penny additional per yard was allowed as a premium, and when more than 18 yards were done, two pence per yard was allowed. The effects of this system soon became apparent. Ten yards per week were at first thought to be a great quan tity, but in less than three months, the minimum (acci dents excepted) was 14 yards, and the maximum 22 yards. The average of the whole might be taken at 15 yards, or 60,000 flowers per week. The lowest quan tity, compared with very constant exertion in the com mon way, was in the ratio of about 16 to 1, and in ordi nary cases nearly 24 to 1. Every machine therefore
enabled one person to do the work of 24. It will appear from this, that the rate of wages had risen very high, and far above that of any other employment. But as this had in a very short time arisen from the great improve ment of the business, and as the inventor considered the good faith of the company pledged at least for some time, he prevailed upon them to continue the prices without reduction, so long as he continued to manage the work, which was only a few months. What has been the rate either of work, quality, or wages, since that time, he can not say, for from this period he seldom visited the work, and a few months afterwaids, circumstances occurred which made him resolve to visit it no more. Since then he has never seen it. From these premises the follow ing practical conclusion may perhaps be fairly drawn; that where a constant demand exists for a manufacture, a reduction of the price of labour of at least three fourths of the whole must be a certain source, either of emolu ment to the adventurers, or of saving to the consumers. If the demand be such, that the former sale prices can be altogether or nearly maintained, while the expense of manufacture is greatly reduced, the emolument must accrue to the speculators. But if from competition, either of the same or similar manufactures, the sale prices are greatly reduced, the speculator may barely receive a competent profit, or may sustain an absolute loss, whilst the consumers derive the whole benefit of the discovery, by a corresponding reduction of price. A third and middle case probably comes nearer to the actual state of this and many other inventions, than either of the preceding. Taken in one point of view, an im mense saving may be apparent; whilst, on the other hand, the manufacture may be so involved in contingent expellees, and may require so great an extension of ca pital, as entirely to consume its profits, and leave an ul timate loss. In this case, an establishment was set on foot to occupy 60 of these machines, but only 12 were set to work. The rent, the millwork, and the engine, were all upon the full scale, while the productive part of the machinery was limited to one-fifth part. Against this, however, it is at least matter of serious reflection to consider, how far it might have been prudent to em bark a sum sufficient to employ the whole establishment in the manufacture of a mere article of fancy, subject to eN cry vieitssitude or caprice and fashion. Upon the whole, it scents plain, that the business was either carried by much too far, or not far enough. The cxpence was in curred, a large capital sunk, and both fortitude and ex ertion were necessary to requite what had been risked. A sudden stop of every necessary effort at the most cri tical moment was certain ruin, and that was the policy unfortunately followed.