Page:On the economy of machinery and manufactures - Babbage - 1846.djvu/393

Rh so much all widths, has caused the new machines to be all wide, and capable of producing long pieces; of course to the serious disadvantage, if not utter ruin, of the small owner of narrow machines.

It has been observed above, that wages have been reduced, say 25 per cent. in the last two years, or from 24s. to 18s. a week. Machines have increased in the same time one-eighth in number, or from four thousand to four thousand five hundred, and one-sixth in capacity of production. It is deserving the serious notice of all proprietors of existing machines, that machines are now introducing into the trade of such power of production as must still more than ever depreciate (in the absence of an immensely increased demand) the value of their property."

(431.) From this abstract, we may form some judgment of the importance of the bobbin-net trade. But the extent to which it bids fair to be carried in future, when the eastern markets shall be more open to our industry, may be conjectured from the fact which Mr. Felkin subsequently states,—that, "We can export a durable and elegant article in cotton bobbin-net, at 4d. per square yard, proper for certain useful and ornamental purposes, as curtains, &c.; and another article used for many purposes in female dress at 6d. the square yard."

(432.) Of Patents. In order to encourage the invention, the improvement, or the importation of machines, and of discoveries relating to manufactures, it has been the practice in many countries, to grant to the inventors or first introducers, an exclusive