The most carefully-conducted investigation has been that of Professor Schulze-Gaevernitz, who, basing his arguments upon a close study of the cotton industry, has related his conclusion most clearly to the evolution of modern machine-production. The earlier evidence merely established the fact of a co-existence between high wages and good work, low wages and bad work, without attempting scientifically to explain the connection. Dr. Schulze-Gaevernitz, by his analysis of cotton spinning and weaving, successfully formulates the observed relations between wages and product. He compares not only the present condition of the cotton industry in England and in Germany and other continental countries, but the conditions of work and wages in the English cotton industry at various times during the last seventy years, thus correcting any personal equation of national life which might to some extent vitiate conclusions based only upon international comparison. This double method of comparison yields certain definite results, which Dr. Schulze-Gaevernitz sums up in the following words:--"Where the cost of labour (_i.e._ piece wages) is lowest the conditions of labour are most favourable, the working day is shortest, and the weekly wages of the operatives are highest" (p. 133). The evolution of improved spinning and weaving machinery in England is found to be attended by a continuous increase in the product for each worker, a fall in piece wages reflected in prices of foods, a shortening of the hours of labour, and a rise in weekly wages. The following tables, compiled by Dr. Schulze-Gaevernitz, give an accurate statement of the relations of the different movements, taking the spinning and weaving industries as wholes in England:-- SPINNING. ----------+-----------+-------------+---------+---------+------------ | Product | Number of | Product | Cost of | Average | of yarn | workers | per | labour | yearly | in | in spinning | worker | per lb. | wages. | 1000 lbs. | mills. | in lbs. | | ----------+-----------+-------------+---------+---------+------------ | | | | s. d. | £ s. d. 1819-21 | 106,500 | 111,000 | 968 | 6 4 | 26 13 0 1829-31 | 216,500 | 140,000 | 1546 | 4 2 | 27 6 0 1844-46 | 523,300 | 190,000 | 2754 | 2 3 | 28 12 0 1859-61 | 910,000 | 248,000 | 3671 | 2 1 | 32 10 0 1880-82 | 1,324,000 | 240,000 | 5520 | 1 9 | 44 4 0[228] ----------+-----------+-------------+---------+---------+------------ WEAVING.