Pagina 743 di 2651

The intention of the fixed capital is to increase the productive

powers of labour, or to enable the same number of labourers to

perform a much greater quantity of work. In a farm where all the

necessary buildings, fences, drains, communications, etc. are in

the most perfect good order, the same number of labourers and

labouring cattle will raise a much greater produce, than in one

of equal extent and equally good ground, but not furnished with

equal conveniencies. In manufactures, the same number of hands,

assisted with the best machinery, will work up a much greater

quantity of goods than with more imperfect instruments of trade.

The expense which is properly laid out upon a fixed capital of

any kind, is always repaid with great profit, and increases the

annual produce by a much greater value than that of the support

which such improvements require. This support, however, still

requires a certain portion of that produce.