PART THREE
Tee FieLp oF MANUFACTURE
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS OF MANUFACTURE
As students of industrial geography, our main problem in regard to
manufacturing is to find out why factories are located in certain parts
of the world.
There are at least eight conditions that favor the location of manu-
facturing industries.
(1) Energetic and inventive
people
(2) Nearness to fuel or to
abundant water power
(8) Nearness to raw materials
4) Convenient transportation
facilities
Nearness to markets
Large supply of efficient
labor
Abundant capital for
investment
(8) The advantage of an
early start
Industries in relation to human ability. In a broad way race
and climate exert the most powerful influence on the general location
of manufacturing industries. In almost every factory in our north-
ern states men and women are working vigorously and rapidly, with
their minds and muscles constantly alert. This kind of efficient work
is rarely found except in places inhabited by a few energetic races
and where the climate is invigorating. On a hot day in summer we
seldom feel like doing our best work. From our feelings on such
days we can readily see why tropical races have a reputation for lazi-
ness, and why it is difficult to secure efficient labor where the tem-
perature is constantly high. In regions of excessive cold, efficient
labor is again scarce; even in the northern parts of the United States
factory operatives accomplish less in winter than in the spring and
fall. In the southern states, on the other hand, the work falls off
considerably during the hot summers.
The mind and body are most stimulated to efficient work and peo-
ple enjoy the best health in the cooler portions of the temperate zone,
particularly in those parts which have frequent changes of weather
and frequent rainfall. Such regions are the home of the most active
and inventive races, and include the chief industrial countries, —
the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzer-
land, and northern Italy.
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