AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT 



705 



What is to be said in explanation of the relatively greater 

 progress of the cities in wealth ? Has it been achieved by de- 

 priving the farmer of a portion of his earnings ? In reply to 

 these questions, it is to be observed that the unparalleled accumu- 

 lation of wealth that has marked the career of the United States 

 has for the most part taken place since the introduction of steam 

 as a motive power, and that prior thereto the disproportionate 

 distribution of wealth between city and country did not i 

 The following table shows the increase of steam power in the 

 United States since 1 840 : 



HORSE POWER OF STEAM IN THE UNITED STATES 



This table should be compared with the one given above show- 

 ing the distribution of wealth. Stub a comparison rend 

 unnecessary to argue that the swiftness with whieh wealth has 

 been produced and accumulated in tin- United States would have 

 been impossible in the absence of steam. In illustration of the 

 efficiency of steam as a wealth-producer in the industrial wild 



n will suffice. It is estimated that by 



vertin- the en. : -v stored up in c steam the productive 



cflu iency of labor is multiplied six hundred times. 



