498 THE APPLICATIONS OF PHYSICAL FORCES. [BOOK iv. 



to adjust those that may be slightly crumpled, and to inspect the 

 work. 



We have ventured to reprint these details regarding one modern 

 special use of steam, as it is the one by which civilization and a 

 knowledge of science is being most rapidly advanced. 



For some years past steam and machine presses have been 

 employed in lithography, though previously they had been only 

 used in typography. The results obtained are remarkable ; and the 

 rapidity of printing has introduced an important economy into an 

 industry which the rivalry of typographical productions was seriously 

 menacing. 



VIII. STATISTICS OF STEAM-ENGINES. 



We will conclude this rapid review of the innumerable applications 

 of steam by giving some statistical facts of a general nature calculated 

 to prove the truth of the following assertion, that steam is the 

 origin of the most fertile revolution that has hitherto transformed the 

 producing processes of mankind ; and to justify the name of the age 

 of steam sometimes given to our times. 



In England, according to Fairbairn, the total amount of horse- 

 power employed reaches the enormous number of 3,650,000 a force 

 equivalent to the labour of 76,000,000 workmen, that is, more than 

 twenty times as great as the total number -of hands employed in 

 British industries. In 1874 the export of articles manufactured by 

 steam brought 138 millions. 



In 1865, there were in France 19,724 steam-engines having together 

 242,209 horse-power. In this number locomotives are not included, 

 and they number more than 4,000. This is for France an increase 

 of productive power equivalent to a working population of more than 

 5,000,000 men ; a result certainly exceeded at the present time. In 

 Paris alone at the same time there were 1,189 engines moved 

 by steam, with a total of 9,782 horse-power ; or if we include the 

 suburbs (in the department of the Seine only), there were 2,480 

 engines with a total horse-power of 19,150. To reckon the locomo- 

 tion on railways of passengers and merchandize would greatly 

 increase the services, which, according to the above figures, steam 

 renders to that country. 



