Principles of Political Economy: Abridged with Critical, Bibliographical, and Explanatory Notes, and a Sketch of the History of Political Economy
John Stuart Mill · en
In spinning very fine cotton thread, England’s natural climate
gives in some parts of the country such advantages in proper
moisture and electric conditions that the operation can be carried
on out-of-doors; while in the United States it is generally
necessary to create an artificial atmosphere. In ordinary spinning
in our country more is accomplished when the wind is in one
quarter than in another. The dry northwest wind in New England
reduces the amount of product, while the dry northeast wind in
England has a similar effect, and it is said has practically
driven the cotton-spinners from Manchester to Oldham, where the
climate is more equably moist. The full reasons for these facts
are not yet ascertained.
Experts in the woolen industry, also, explain that the quality and
fiber of wool depend upon the soil and climate where the sheep are
pastured. When Ohio sheep are transferred to Texas, in a few years
their wool loses the distinctive quality it formerly possessed,
and takes on a new character belonging to the breeds of Texas. The
wool produced by one set of climatic conditions is quite different
from that of another set, and is used by the manufacturers for
different purposes.
In hot regions, mankind can exist in comfort with less perfect housing,
less clothing; fuel, that absolute necessary of life in cold climates,
they can almost dispense with, except for industrial uses. They also
require less aliment. Among natural advantages, besides soil and climate,
must be mentioned abundance of mineral productions, in convenient
situations, and capable of being worked with moderate labor. Such are the
coal-fields of Great Britain, which do so much to compensate its
inhabitants for the disadvantages of climate; and the scarcely inferior
resource possessed by this country and the United States, in a copious
supply of an easily reduced iron-ore, at no great depth below the earth’s
surface, and in close proximity to coal-deposits available for working it.
But perhaps a greater advantage than all these is a maritime situation,
especially when accompanied with good natural harbors; and, next to it,
great navigable rivers. These advantages consist indeed wholly in saving
of cost of carriage. But few, who have not considered the subject, have
any adequate notion how great an extent of economical advantage this
comprises.