The machinery and motive power are used to their utmost capacity constantly, and the economy of larger engines and machines is well known. Possibly one-fifth of the power required to move all the machines used by ten men working as independent tradesmen would provide better motion, more constant and cheaper, for the ten working together under division of labor. The waste in starting and stopping of machinery is almost entirely avoided, and the condition of the machine for doing its work well is kept up to the best. A most important saving is in diminution of waste. The shortened apprenticeship and the superior dexterity make waste from blunders almost nothing. Still more noticeable is the saving from any waste of superior abilities, either strength or judgment, upon actions requiring little ability.
Under minute division of labor a strong man is kept where he is needed and the child may serve where his powers are sufficient. The efficiency of women is recognized wherever applicable, and all the workers have their full abilities made constantly useful. Moreover, the circulating capital represented in the raw materials is kept in use much less time than under the less effective system. Since any article of manufacture passes through all the operations upon it in very much less time, the interest upon capital employed in holding the material and in supporting the labor during its changes is indefinitely less. The quicker returns from this more rapid manufacture are everywhere recognized.
_Limits of division._--With all its advantages, division of labor is limited by circumstances. It can never be applied where, because of poor roads or peculiarities of temper or habit of life, the workers are naturally separated. The necessary isolation of the farmers for the sake of space makes any combination for the sake of economy in dividing their tasks almost impracticable. Even where farms are small, few advantages from division of labor by different kinds of work can be adopted. The farmers are too far apart to work directly into each other's hands. It is limited, too, by the natural demand for the products of labor. If the labor of one man can supply all need of iron work in his community, there is no possibility of employing ten, even with a hundred times the effectiveness. This is well illustrated in the country store, which sells everything over the same counter. Not even the grocery department can be separated until the demand is sufficient to support two store-keepers in two stores.