第759页 / 共2651页

It is sufficiently obvious, and it has partly, too, been

explained already, in what manner every saving in the expense of

supporting the fixed capital is an improvement of the neat

revenue of the society. The whole capital of the undertaker of

every work is necessarily divided between his fixed and his

circulating capital. While his whole capital remains the same,

the smaller the one part, the greater must necessarily be the

other. It is the circulating capital which furnishes the

materials and wages of labour, and puts industry into motion.

Every saving, therefore, in the expense of maintaining the fixed

capital, which does not diminish the productive powers of labour,

must increase the fund which puts industry into motion, and

consequently the annual produce of land and labour, the real

revenue of every society.