Chapter 26. Machinery and Labor

1. Do you think that the amount of work is reduced by new machinery? Point out ambiguities in the question.

2. What is the difference to the workman whether he becomes more efficient or works with a better machine?

3. Is the work of any kind fixed in quantity? What would cause it to change?

4. What kinds of laborers were thrown out of employment by the invention of the type-writer? What kinds of labor found employment as a result of its invention? Was the net result a gain or a loss of employment?

5. Answer the same questions with regard to the invention of railroads, mowing-, binding-, and threshing-machines; or the new roller-process of flour milling.

6. Can you describe from your own experience any example of readjustment of labor due to introduction of new machinery?