按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the mind of some one： what guarantee is there that； along with the increase
in the supply of labourers； there will be a corrsponding demand for their
services on the part of contractors？＇22＇ It may be reassuring to note； first
of all； that many of those who have already embarked on mining
operations＇23＇ will be anxious to increase their staff of labourers by hiring
some of these public slaves （remember； they have a large capital at
stake；＇24＇ and again； many of the actual labourers now engaged are
growing old）； and secondly； there are many others； Athenians and
foreigners alike； who； though unwilling and indeed incapable of working
17
… Page 18…
On Revenues
physically in the mines； will be glad enough to earn a livelihood by their
wits as superintendents。＇25＇
＇22＇ Or； 〃with this influx （multiplying） of labourers there will be a
corresponding increase in the demand for labour on the part of the
lessees。〃
＇23＇ Or； 〃got their mining establishments started。〃
＇24＇ Or； 〃of course they will； considering the amount of fixed capital
at stake；〃 or； 〃since they have large resources at their back。〃 I have
adopted Zurborg's stopping of this sentence。
＇25＇ See 〃Mem。〃 II。 viii。 1； for an illustrative case。
Let it be granted； however； that at first a nucleus of twelve hundred
slaves is formed。 It is hardly too sanguine a supposition that out of the
profits alone；＇26＇ within five or six years this number may be increased to
at least six thousand。 Again； out of that number of six thousandsupposing
each slave to being in an obol a day clear of all expenseswe get a
revenue of sixty talents a year。 And supposing twenty talents out of this
sum laid out on the purchase of more slaves； there will be forty talents left
for the state to apply to any other purpose it may find advisable。 By the
time the round number＇27＇ of ten thousand is reached the yearly income
will amount to a hundred talents。
＇26＇ 〃Out of the income so derived。〃
＇27＇ Or； 〃full complement。〃
As a matter of fact； the state will receive much more than these figures
represent；＇28＇ as any one here will bear me witness who can remember
what the dues＇29＇ derived from slaves realised before the troubles at
Decelea。＇30＇ Testimony to the same effect is borne by the fact； that in spite
of the countless number of human beings employed in the silver mines
within the whole period；＇31＇ the mines present exactly the same
appearance to…day as they did within the recollection of our forefathers。＇32＇
And once more everything that is taking place to…day tends to prove that；
whatever the number of slaves employed； you will never have more than
the works can easily absorb。 The miners find no limit of depth in sinking
shafts or laterally in piercing galleries。 To open cuttings in new directions
to…day is just as possible as it was in former times。 In fact no one can take
18
… Page 19…
On Revenues
on himself to say whether there is more ore in the regions already cut into；
or in those where the pick has not yet struck。＇33＇ Well then； it may be
asked； why is it that there is not the same rush to make new cuttings now
as in former times？ The answer is； because the people concerned with the
mines are poorer nowadays。 The attempt to restart operations； renew plant；
etc。； is of recent date； and any one who ventures to open up a new area
runs a considerable risk。 Supposing he hits upon a productive field； he
becomes a rich man； but supposing he draws a blank； he loses the whole of
his outlay； and that is a danger which people of the present time are shy of
facing。
＇28＇ Or； 〃a very much larger sum than we have calculated on。〃 Lit。
〃many times over that sum。〃
＇29＇ Or； 〃tax。〃 See below； S。 49； for the whole matter see Thuc。 vii。
27； vi。 91； Xen。 〃Mem。〃 III。 vi。 12； in reference to B。C。 413； when
Decelea had been fortified。 As to the wholesale desertion of slaves；
〃more than twenty thousand slaves had deserted； many of them
artisans；〃 according to Thucydides。
＇30＇ Or； 〃the days of Decelea。〃 Lit。 〃the incidents of Decelea。〃
＇31＇ I。e。 〃of their working since mining began。〃
＇32＇ Lit。 〃are just the same to…day as our forefathers recollected
them to be in their time。〃
＇33＇ Or； 〃whether the tracts already explored or those not yet opened
are the more prolific。〃
It is a difficulty； but it is one on which； I believe； I can offer some
practical advice。 I have a plan to suggest which will reduce the risk of
opening up new cuttings to a minimum。＇34＇
＇34＇ Or； 〃I have a plan to make the opening of new cuttings as safe as
possible。〃
The citizens of Athens are divided； as we all know； into ten tribes。 Let
the state then assign to each of these ten tribes an equal number of slaves；
and let the tribes agree to associate their fortunes and proceed to open new
cuttings。 What will happen？ Any single tribe hitting upon a productive
lode will be the means of discovering what is advantageous to all。 Or；
supposing two or three； or possibly the half of them； hit upon a lode；
19
… Page 20…
On Revenues
clearly these several operations will proportionally be more remunerative
still。 That the whole ten will fail is not at all in accordance with what we
should expect from the history of the past。 It is possible； of course； for
private persons to combine in the same way；＇35＇ and share their fortunes
and minimise their risks。 Nor need you apprehend； sirs； that a state mining
company； established on this principle； will prove a thorn in the side＇36＇
of the private owner； or the private owner prove injurious to the state。 But
rather like allies who render each other stronger the more they
combine；＇37＇ so in these silver mines； the greater number of companies at
work＇38＇ the larger the riches they will discover and disinter。＇39＇
＇35＇ 〃To form similar joint…stock companies。〃
＇36＇ See 〃Cyneg。〃 v。 5。
＇37＇ Or； 〃deriving strength from combination。〃
＇38＇ Co…operators。
＇39＇ Reading ｛ekphoresousi｝； after Cobet。
This then is a statement； as far as I can make it clear； of the method by
which； with the proper state organisation； every Athenian may be supplied
with ample maintenance at the public expense。 Possibly some of you may
be calculating that the capital＇40＇ requisite will be enormous。 They may
doubt if a sufficient sum will ever be subscribed to meet all the needs。 All
I can say is； even so； do not dispond。 It is not as if it were necessary that
every feature of the scheme should be carried out at once； or else there is
to be no advantage in it at all。 On the contrary； whatever number of houses
are erected； or ships are built； or slaves purchased； etc。； these portions will
begin to pay at once。 In fact； the bit…by…bit method of proceeding will be
more advantageous than a simultaneous carrying into effect of the whole
plan； to this extent： if we set about erecting buildings wholesale＇41＇ we
shall make a more expensive and worse job of it than if we finish them off
gradually。 Again； if we set about bidding for hundreds of slaves at once we
shall be forced to purchase an inferior type at a higher cost。 Whereas； if we
proceed tentatively； as we find ourselves able；＇42＇ we can complete any
well…devised attempt at our leisure；＇43＇ and； in case of any obvious failure；
take warning and not repeat it。 Again； if everything were to be carried out
at once； it is we； sirs； who must make the whole provision at our
20
… Page 21…
On Revenues
expense。＇44＇ Whereas； if part were proceeded with and part stood over； the
portion of revenue in hand will help to furnish what is necessary to go on